Patents Examined by Khanh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8054130
    Abstract: A method and corresponding circuit that adjusts the gain of an audio output stage having a class D amplifier, this method including the steps of setting the gain to a nominal value, analyzing an output signal during successive clock periods, counting the number of clock periods during which the signal is in a state corresponding to a saturation, decreasing the gain if the number reaches, before the end of a first time interval, a value corresponding to a first percentage, maintaining the gain constant if, at the end of a second time interval, different from the first interval, the number corresponds to a second percentage being comprised between the first percentage and a third percentage, and increasing the gain if, at the end of the second time interval, the number corresponds to a fourth percentage, lower than the third percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Vincent Rabary, Robert Cittadini, Alexandre Huffenus, Gaël Pillonnet
  • Patent number: 8049563
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a distributed power amplifier topology and device that efficiently and economically enhances the power output of an RF signal to be amplified. The power amplifier comprises a plurality of push-pull amplifiers interconnected in a novel circular geometry that preferably function as a first winding of an active transformer having signal inputs of adjacent amplification devices driven with an input signal of equal magnitude and opposite phase. The topology also discloses the use of a secondary winding that matches the geometry of primary winding and variations thereof that serve to efficiently combine the power of the individual power amplifiers. The novel architecture enables the design of low-cost, fully-integrated, high-power amplifiers in the RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ichiro Aoki, Seyed-Ali Hajimiri, David B. Ruthledge, Scott D. Kee
  • Patent number: 8044716
    Abstract: An adjustable, segmented amplifier including (i) a first fixed stage configured to amplify an analog signal in accordance with a fixed amplification, and provide the analog signal amplified in accordance with the fixed amplification to a first common node. The adjustable, segmented amplifier further includes an adjustable stage comprising a plurality of independently selectable parallel amplifier segments, wherein the adjustable stage is configured to (i) amplify the analog signal provided to the first common node in accordance with an adjustable amplification that is adjustable depending upon a number of the independently selectable parallel amplifier segments having been selected to amplify the analog signal provided to the first common node, and (ii) provide the analog signal amplified in accordance with the fixed amplification and amplified in accordance with the adjustable amplification to the second common node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne Loeb, King Chun Tsai
  • Patent number: 8044720
    Abstract: An amplification circuit includes a semiconductor amplification element, a current feedback circuit that is connected to a terminal close to a ground side of the semiconductor amplification element and can control gain reduction, and a voltage feedback circuit that is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the semiconductor amplification element and can control feedback voltage. The feedback voltage of the voltage feedback circuit may be varied according to the gain reduction controlled by the current feedback circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kunishima, Akira Takayama
  • Patent number: 8044714
    Abstract: Device and method are described for amplifying pulsed RF signals, comprising one or more transistors, each comprising a drain, a gate and a source. A device synchronizes the supply for the drain with an RF pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Alain Letemplier
  • Patent number: 8044719
    Abstract: A class D amplifier circuit for generating a pulse signal whose pulse width is modulated in response to an input signal, the class D amplifier circuit includes first to fifth switching elements, a first capacitance element and a control section. The control section controls transition between a conduction state and a non-conduction state of each of the first to fifth switching elements to control a current direction flowing into a load having a first end electrically connected to the output end and a second end set to the reference potential, so that the current flows from the first end of the load to the second end of the load at a first timing and the current flows from the second end of the load to the first end of the load at a second timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Norimatsu, Morito Morishima
  • Patent number: 8042363
    Abstract: The invention relates to producing continuous organic fibers by stretching from molten minerals. These fibers can be used for producing heat resistant threads, rovings, cut fibers, fabrics, composite materials and products based thereon. The inventive glass has the following chemical composition in mass percentage: 15.9-18.1 Al2O3, 0.75-1.2 TiO2, 7.51-9.53 Fe2O3+FeO, 6.41-8.95 CaO, 2.5-6.4 MgO, 1.6-2.72 K2O, 3.3-4.1 Na2O, 0.23-0.5 P2O5, 0.02-0.15 SO3, 0.12-0.21 MnO, 0.05-0.19 BaO, impurities up to 1.0, the rest being SiO2. The inventive method consists in loading a ground composition in a melting furnace, in melting said composition, in homogenizing a melt, in consequently stabilizing the melt in the melting furnace feeder, in drawing and oiling the fiber and in winding it on a spool. Prior to loading, the composition is held in an alkali solution for 15-20 minutes, and is then washed with flowing water for 20-30 minutes and dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Viktor F. Kibol, Sunao Nakanoo, Alexandr B. Biland, Roman V. Kibol
  • Patent number: 8043455
    Abstract: A method of applying a spacer to a glass sheet while forming an insulating glazing unit includes the step of integrating the application of the sealant to the spacer body with the automated manufacturing process. The sealant is applied to the spacer body on line so that the sealant-laden spacer body may be applied to the glass without manually handling the sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Edgetech I.G., Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhard Reichert
  • Patent number: 8037919
    Abstract: A double-sided adhesive tape dispenser available for diverse width includes a main body and a winding mechanism installed inside the main body. The winding mechanism has a driving gear and a recycling gear fitted with a recycling wheel. The driving gear and the recycling gear are respectively mounted with a first adjusting member and a second adjusting member that have a certain height. A tape disk is fitted on the first adjusting member. With or without the first adjusting member and the second adjusting member, adhesive tapes with diverse widths can be applied by the adhesive tape dispenser of the invention without using an additional conventional adhesive tape dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Hsiu-Man Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8035444
    Abstract: An amplifier capable of lowering an electrical current flowing in a peak amplifier before a carrier amplifier becomes saturated to thereby improve the efficiency of an entirety of the amplifier is provided. The amplifier includes a carrier amplifier circuit having an amplifying element operable in class-AB or class-B, and a plurality of peak amplifier circuits which have amplifying elements operating in class-B or class-C and which are arranged to start an operation in stages in response to an input level. An output of the carrier amplifier circuit and outputs of the peak amplifier circuits are combined together for signal output. One of the peak amplifier circuits which is rendered operative at the lowest input level is smaller in saturation output than the carrier amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Yoichi Okubo, Manabu Nakamura, Yasuhiro Takeda, Taizo Ito, Junya Dosaka, Terufumi Nagano, Hidekatsu Ueno, Toshio Nojima
  • Patent number: 8035448
    Abstract: A fully differential amplifier includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage has two differential pairs of n-type input transistors, and two differential pairs of p-type input transistors. The output stage has a first p-type output transistor and a second n-type output transistor, the first p-type output transistor having its source coupled to a first reference voltage node and having its drain coupled to a first output node for a first component of a differential output signal, and the second n-type output transistor having its drain coupled to the first output node and having its source coupled to a second reference voltage node. A p-type input transistor and an n-type input transistor influence operation of the first p-type output transistor such that current conducted by the p-type input transistor and current conducted by the n-type input transistor contribute to the output current conducted by the first p-type output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Guillermo Espinosa Flores-Verdad, Arturo S. Scotto Guzman
  • Patent number: 8035449
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitively-coupled distributed amplifier (DA) having an input line and an output line that are coupled to one another through a broadband interface network and DA segments. The input line receives an input signal and the output line provides an output signal based on amplifying the input signal. The broadband interface network includes a group of capacitive elements coupled between the input line and the DA segments to extend a gain-bandwidth product of the DA. The broadband interface network further includes a resistor divider network coupled between the input line and the DA segments to extend a lower end of an operating bandwidth of the DA. As such, the operating bandwidth of the DA may extend from baseband frequencies to microwave frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8031003
    Abstract: An RF power amplifier includes a push-pull amplifier having field effect transistors. Temperature compensating bias circuitry provides a temperature compensated bias voltage to the transistors for decreasing the bias voltage thereof as temperature increases. The temperature compensating bias circuitry includes a temperature sensor generating a temperature signal. A first amplifier provides a first temperature dependent voltage based on the temperature signal. A second amplifier provides a second temperature dependent voltage based on the temperature signal. The first and second temperature dependent voltages change at substantially the same rate in response to the temperature signal. A potentiometer receives the first and second temperature dependent voltages such that a voltage across the potentiometer remains substantially constant when the first and second temperature dependent voltages change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Steven M. Dishop
  • Patent number: 8026764
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 8026763
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) circuit includes a power supply configured to generate a plurality of voltages, a plurality of power amplifiers, each having an RF output port and a power supply input port, a switch network having a plurality of input ports coupled to the power supply and a plurality of switch network output ports coupled to the power supply input ports of the plurality of power amplifiers, wherein the switch network is configured to output selected ones of the plurality of voltages from the plurality of switch network output ports, at least two of the switch network output port voltages capable of being different ones of the plurality of voltages, and an RF power combiner circuit having a plurality of input ports coupled to RF output ports of the plurality of power amplifiers and an output port at which is provided an output signal of the RF circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Joel L. Dawson, David J. Perreault, SungWon Chung, Philip Godoy, Everest Huang
  • Patent number: 8020600
    Abstract: A sheet sticking apparatus includes a first feeding device for feeding out a first sheet having an adhesive layer on one surface thereof, a second feeding device for feeding out a second sheet, and a folding device for folding the second sheet. The sheet sticking apparatus further includes a pressing device for sticking the folded second sheet to the adhesive layer of the first sheet so as to overlap the folded second sheet and the adhesive layer of the first sheet together, and for pressing the first sheet in a state where the adhesive layer of the first sheet is partially exposed out of the second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8022772
    Abstract: A cascode amplifier with protection circuitry is described. In one exemplary design, the amplifier includes multiple branches coupled in parallel, with at least one branch being switchable between “on” and “off” states. Each switchable branch includes a gain transistor coupled to a cascode transistor. The gain transistor amplifies an input signal and provides an amplified signal in the on state and does not amplify the input signal in the off state. The cascode transistor buffers the amplified signal and provides an output signal in the on state. The output signal swing may be split between the gain transistor and the cascode transistor in both the on and off states with the protection circuitry. Each transistor may then observe a fraction of the voltage swing. The voltage splitting in the off state may be achieved by floating the gain transistor and shorting the gate and source of the cascode transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Marco Cassia, Gurkanwal Singh Sahota
  • Patent number: 8022771
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods utilize an advanced linearized trans-impedance amplifier (ATIA) that allows for the recovery and amplification of low amplitude analog and digital signals. This disclosure further describes unique approaches of addressing issues inherent in the transmission and reception of small amplitude multi-carrier signals used for distribution of voice, video, and data communications over both fiber optic cables and free space transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Parsec Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Neenan, Christopher G. Szymanski, Eric E. Crawford
  • Patent number: 8021595
    Abstract: A method of producing a panel having at least one feature comprising a discontinuation in curvature of surface in the surface, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first reinforced layer of long and/or continuous parallel fiber reinforced thermoplastic of a first polymer (102a, 104a); providing a core layer of thermoplastic with at least roughly 70% by volume of a second polymer which is compatible with the first polymer (106); providing a second reinforced layer of long or continuous parallel fiber reinforced thermoplastic of the first polymer (102b, 104b); stacking the layers such that the reinforced layers are separated by the core layer; introducing the stack into a panel mould and heating the mould to at least the melting point of the predetermined polymer to consolidate the layers and form the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: B.I. Group, Plc
    Inventor: Michael Ian Birrell
  • Patent number: 8016011
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a labeling apparatus that allows a labeling operation to be carried out continuously for a long period without the need of cleaning, even if the easy-to-peel labels are used. To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a conveying drum for correcting a position of a label applied with glue, while transferring the label. The conveying drum includes a predetermined groove extending circumferentially along an outer surface of the conveying drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Suntory Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Daisuke Ito, Toshiya Kobayashi, Mitsugu Yamada