Patents Examined by Charles Chow
  • Patent number: 7937054
    Abstract: A receiver comprising at least one micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) antenna-select switch, a MEMS filter bank communicatively coupled to the antenna-select switch and a plurality of intermediate frequency modules communicatively coupled to the MEMS filter bank and the non-MEMS filter array, wherein each independent channel supported by the receiver has at least one associated intermediate frequency module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: E. F. Charles LaBerge, Andrzej M. Peczalski
  • Patent number: 7917116
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for antenna selection diversity with prediction. An antenna diversity system may use information that it has stored on the antenna selection process in previous frames to predict the starting receiving antenna and the starting transmission antenna for the next frame. The prediction may be based on which antennas were selected in previous frames or may be based metrics associated with performance of the antennas. Prediction may be based on a majority polling scheme of previously selected antennas in a determined number of previous frames. Prediction may also be based on a weighted sum of at least one selection metric for all antennas in a determined number of previous frames. Antenna prediction provides a significant performance improvement by reducing the processing and operational overhead in cases where a transmit or a receive antenna dominates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Min Chuin Hoo, Rajendra Tushar Moorti
  • Patent number: 7917091
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating In-phase and Quadrature imbalance within a receiver are described. A calibration process can inject a calibration tone to an RF or IF portion of a receiver. The receiver can frequency translate the tone to distinct I and Q calibration signals. The receiver upconverts the I and Q calibration signals to complementary sidebands or images using distinct and substantially matched upconverters. The complementary sidebands are mixed together to generate an error signal. The receiver determines a phase and amplitude correction based on the error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Montemayor, Sheng Ye
  • Patent number: 7916681
    Abstract: A wireless communication device or system generates transmit power control feedback for a received power control channel by determining a command error rate (CER), or by identifying a target signal quality for the power control channel according to a defined signal-quality-to-CER mapping function. Generally, the power control channel does not include error-coded data to use for CER estimation. However, in one embodiment, the channel does include known reference bits that are evaluated for CER estimation, with the estimated CER used to set the signal quality target for inner loop power control. In other embodiments, a computed reception error probability is used to identify a CER estimate according to a defined probability-to-CER mapping function. By way of non-limiting example, these embodiments may be used to provide power control feedback for power control commands transmitted on a Fractional Dedicated Physical Channel in WCDMA systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Lennart Andersson, Yi-Pin Eric Wang, Gregory E Bottomley
  • Patent number: 7912437
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver (102) includes at least one amplifier (108, 114 and 122) for amplifying a signal received by the radio frequency receiver, an automatic gain control system (158) for controlling a gain of the at least one amplifier, and a direct current offset correction filter (142) for reducing any direct current component of the signal amplified by the at least one amplifier. The direct current offset correction filter has a bandwidth that is dynamically controlled by a change in the gain of the at least one amplifier. The radio frequency receiver also includes a digital automatic gain control unit (150) having a bandwidth that is dynamically controlled by the change in the gain of the at least one amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahibur Rahman, Charles LeRoy Sobchak
  • Patent number: 7912507
    Abstract: A base transceiver station (BTS) identifies the number of currently connected antenna units by receiving a signal to which 1 is added in each antenna unit via a signal line (16) connecting the antenna units (AU1 to AUn) in series. The target output power of each antenna unit, which is obtained by dividing the total target output power of the antenna units by the number of currently connected antenna units, is passed to each antenna unit via a signal line (14) connecting the antenna units in series. Each antenna unit controls the gain of a variable gain amplifier so that its output power becomes equal to the target output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takahito Hashigami, Toshiaki Funakubo
  • Patent number: 7907923
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for squelch gating a receiving signal depending on the level of phase noise in said receiving signal determines sampled amplitudes and sampled phases of said receiving signal, determines sampled phase noise by differentiating subsequent sampled phases, determines a squelch signal by rectifying and averaging said sampled phase noise, determines a start point of gating after a rising of said squelch signal above a higher threshold delayed by a first delay time, determines a end point of gating after a dropping of said squelch signal below a lower threshold delayed by a second delay time and gates said sampled amplitudes from said start point of gating until said end point of gating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reiner Hausdorf, Leo Brueckner
  • Patent number: 7894475
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating between a plurality of remote transceivers and a network is discussed including multiple types of serially-connected communication links, upon which data flows are established to communicate information between the remote transceivers and network. A hub is coupled to one end of a hardwired communication link while an access unit is coupled to the other end. In addition to supporting communications on the hardwired link, the hub supports communication with the plurality of remote transceivers over a wireless link of a first type. The access unit at the other end of the hardwired link is in further communication with a base station over a wireless communication link of a second type, while the base station is in further communication with the network. Based on this topology, data flows over this string of interconnected communication media support information transfers between the plurality of remote transceivers and the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Adrian Bishop, Thomas E. Gorsuch, John V. Page
  • Patent number: 7890076
    Abstract: A method of providing an input signal to a mixer circuit comprises coupling an output signal from a low-noise amplifier circuit to a mixer input of the mixer circuit via an AC coupling circuit, comprising an inductive of capacitive coupling circuit. For capacitive coupling configurations, a coupling capacitor is configured to have a capacitance value determined as a function of a transconductance sensitivity of the mixer circuit. For balanced output configurations of the low-noise amplifier circuit, matched coupling capacitors are used for coupling the balanced output signals to respective inputs of the mixer circuit. In one embodiment, the mixer circuit comprises a quadrature mixer circuit, which may be in a balanced or double-balanced configuration. In another embodiment, the mixer circuit comprises a four-phase mixer circuit, which may be configured as a balanced four-phase mixer circuit coupled to the low-noise amplifier circuit via inductive or capacitive embodiments of the coupling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Sven Mattisson, Magnus Nilsson, Andreas Nydahl, Thomas Mattsson
  • Patent number: 7881339
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to selectively assign interlace preference factors to a plurality of user terminals to use a plurality of interlaces. These methods and apparatuses may improve capacity compared to a system that allows each user terminal to transmit data in every interlace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: John Edward Smee, Jilei Hou, Kiran Kiran, Naga Bhushan, Rashid Ahmed Akbar Attar
  • Patent number: 7865163
    Abstract: A time constant automatic adjusting circuit comprises: a filter circuit varying a phase of an clock signal to be input so as to output the clock signal; a phase comparison circuit comparing a phase of an output signal of the filter circuit with the phase of the clock signal, and outputting a predetermined voltage when the phase of the output signal and the phase of the clock signal are the same; at least three comparators comparing the output voltage with a plurality of different voltages; an up-down counter counting a number of output bits of either one of the at least three different voltages in accordance with an output result of the comparators; and a control circuit varying the time constant of the filter circuit in accordance with the number of output bits counted by the up-down counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Osamu Watanabe, Rui Ito, Shigehito Saigusa, Tetsuro Itakura
  • Patent number: 7865159
    Abstract: An RF switch is used in the signal path to an amplifier, for example between a receiving antenna and an amplifier. The switch is used to alternately connect the amplifier between a normal signal source for the amplifier and a fixed load for calibration. The power difference between the two switch states at the output of the amplifier would then yield a calibrated measurement of a signal value, such as rise over thermal (RoT). The amount of time spent in the calibration position is maintained at a minimized level so as to reduce impact on the normal operation of the amplifier. The invention provides an ability to estimate traffic load in a repeater system based on RoT measurements of repeater reverse-link output power by determining a reverse link gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard F. Dean
  • Patent number: 7856221
    Abstract: Mixer topologies that have sufficiently high IIP2 and sufficiently low quadrature error to make zero IF receivers possible without special calibration techniques. This simplifies the receiver, avoids circuit startup delay and provides more stable performance over time and temperature. The methodology to achieve this performance in preferred embodiments consists of as many as three elements: (a) a high power local oscillator buffer circuit capable of driving low impedance loads coupled to the bases of the bipolar mixer transistors, (b) an optimized bias block for the mixer core and (c) incorporating two or more electronically programmable quad sections and selecting the best quad for use. Other types of transistors may also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Johannes J. Hageraats
  • Patent number: 7844304
    Abstract: A power supply for a communications device, including a controllable regulator that varies power drawn from a power input according to communications requirements of the communications device. The controllable regulator increases power drawn from the power input immediately before an increase of power is required by the communications device when a magnitude of a rate of change of required power exceeds a predetermined level. An active filter is connected to an output of the controllable regulator. The active filter is controlled to variably divert power that is output from the controllable regulator in excess of what is required by the communications device, wherein electromagnetic emissions resulting from the rate of change of power are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy E. Snodgrass
  • Patent number: 7840195
    Abstract: A multifunction RF circuit on a single semiconductor chip. The multifunction RF circuit includes a power amplifier circuit, a mixer circuit forming an integral part of the power amplifier circuit and a low-pass filter circuit. The power amplifier circuit may include two amplifier circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Marc Jan Georges Tiebout
  • Patent number: 7826814
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer comprises: a single-tone signal generator which outputs signals of a single frequency; a frequency multiplier which generates one or more intermediate signals having different frequencies based on frequencies of input signals and outputs the same as output signals; a frequency selector; a mixer; and a frequency synthesizer control circuit which includes a frequency synthesizer control terminal, wherein an output of the single-tone signal generator is set as an input of the frequency multiplier, one or more outputs of the frequency multiplier are set as one or more inputs of the frequency selector, an output of the frequency selector and one output of the outputs of the frequency multiplier are set as first and second inputs of the mixer, and an output of the mixer is set as an output of the frequency synthesizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Masuda
  • Patent number: 7818034
    Abstract: A holster or carry holder (100) for a mobile device (150) forms an assembly or combination (200) that includes a first housing (102) and a second housing (112) pivotably coupled to the first housing. The second housing can receive and carry the mobile device in at least a first position or closed position (FIG. 2) enabling access to a top mounted interface on the mobile device. The second housing can further pivot about a pivot point (108) to a second position substantially orthogonal to the first position enabling access to both the top interface and to a rear interface of the mobile device. The first housing can include a retention tab (104) on a top portion of the first housing for retaining the mobile device within the carry holder. The carry holder can further include a belt clip (106) coupled to the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott H. Richards
  • Patent number: 7778619
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for automatic frequency correction of a local oscillator. The apparatus receives a carrier signal. The carrier signal includes a code sequence known to the apparatus. The apparatus downconverts the carrier signal to a baseband signal using the local oscillator. The apparatus performs a block correlation of the samples of the baseband signal with the known code sequence to generate a frequency error signal. The frequency error signal is fed back to the local oscillator to correct the frequency error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Aykut Bultan, Donald M. Grieco
  • Patent number: 7778625
    Abstract: An operation-mode control unit controls switching of an operation mode of a portable wireless terminal apparatus between a normal mode and an alarm mode. An alarm-data sending unit sends data pertaining to a situation of a user to a predetermined destination as alarm data, when the operation mode is switched to the alarm mode. In the normal mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs normal functions, such as a phone call and an e-mail. In the alarm mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs a user protecting function in addition to the normal functions, such as sending the alarm data to the predetermined destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Yamauchi, Masahiro Harima, Atsushi Ito, Eriko Ito
  • Patent number: 7715891
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus which is used while connected to a plurality of antennas, the receiving apparatus receiving a radio signal through the antennas to perform a predetermined process to the received radio signal, the radio signal being transmitted from a body-insertable apparatus inserted into a subject, includes a receiving antenna selection unit that selects the antenna which is suitable for reception of the radio signal when the radio signal is transmitted from the body-insertable apparatus; a sequential antenna selection unit that sequentially selects each of the plurality of antennas when performance inspection of the plurality of antennas is performed; and a signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process to the radio signal received through the antenna, the antenna being selected by the receiving antenna selection unit or the sequential antenna selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Fujita, Ayako Nagase, Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi