Patents Examined by Thanh Cong Le
  • Patent number: 7409192
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for direct-conversion transmission generates a first frequency signal that is non-harmonically related to a transmit frequency signal, divides the first frequency signal to obtain a mixing frequency signal, divides the first frequency signal to obtain an intermediate frequency reference signal, generates the transmit frequency signal by using the mixing frequency signal to downconvert the transmit frequency signal into an intermediate frequency feedback signal, and phase-locks the intermediate frequency feedback signal to the intermediate frequency reference signal. The transmit frequency signal may be phase modulated, and may serve as an input to a saturated-mode power amplifier that can be configured for corresponding amplitude modulation. Alternatively, the un-modulated transmit frequency signal serves as the carrier signal input to a quadrature modulator, which imparts I/Q modulations to it, thereby producing a modulated carrier signal for input to a linear power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Frank Lombardi, John G. Freed, Martin Isberg
  • Patent number: 7403758
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for linearized balanced signal mixing. A signal mixing circuit (10) for translating a radio frequency (RF) signal is provided comprising an input amplifier (12), a mixer network (14), and an output buffer amplifier (18). The input amplifier (12) is configured to produce an amplified RF signal and cancel an input third-order intermodulation (IM3) distortion in the amplified RF signal with a cross-coupled feedback amplifier (13). The mixer network (14) is configured to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal based on the amplified RF signal and a local oscillator signal. The output amplifier (18) is configured to buffer the IF signal and cancel an output IM3 distortion in the IF signal with a cross-coupled feedback amplifier (19). The input amplifier (12) and cross-coupled feedback amplifier (13) also serve as a bias current source for the mixer network (14), thus lowering the supply voltage required for the mixing circuit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semicondutor, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Rector
  • Patent number: 7400908
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal comprises three body elements connected by a multi-functional hinge member for movement from a closed folded operative position to a flipped open first operative position revealing a display carried by one body element and a first keypad carried by a second body element and to a folded keyboard flipped open position revealing an arrangement of keys carried by the third body element and the second body element on the side opposite the first keyboard. The first body element carrying the display is rotated in a plane parallel with the plane of the display to reveal the display for usage with the flipped open folded keyboard in a second operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Jarmo Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 7392026
    Abstract: A multi-band high gain mixer and quadrature signal generator allows a receiver system to receive signals at multiple frequency bands without requiring significant hardware duplication. A single mixer directly receives any of three communication frequency bands such as Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Personal Communication Services (PCS), Digital Communication System (DCS), and Japan and US W-CDMA 800 bands without amplification. A Serial-Parallel Interface selectably forwards RF signals within the receiver's frequency channels to the mixer for demodulation into in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals at a common IF output from the multi-mode receiver. Significant power and cost advantages are attained by elimination of duplicate mixers and amplifier stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammed S. Alam, Daniel L. Kaczman
  • Patent number: 7383027
    Abstract: A transmission circuit capable of transmitting a modulated wave signal using polar modulation in a broad band and with low power consumption is provided. The transmission circuit generates an amplitude signal and a phase signal based on data to be transmitted, and separates the amplitude signal into a low-frequency amplitude signal and a high-frequency amplitude signal. The transmission circuit amplitude-modulates the phase signal in a broad band using the high-frequency amplitude signal in a high-frequency voltage control section 104 and an amplitude modulation section 105 and amplitude-modulates the phase signal into low power consumption using the low-frequency amplitude signal in a low-frequency voltage control section 106 and amplitude modulation section 107.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Matsuura, Hisashi Adachi
  • Patent number: 7383034
    Abstract: A frequency conversion circuit is provided capable of suppressing noise converted from about a frequency twice as large as a local signal to a reception band frequency, which performs modulation by mixing an input signal with a local signal. The frequency conversion circuit includes a first transistor whose base is electrically connected with one of a first input terminal pair inputted with the input signal; a second transistor whose base is electrically connected with the other of the first input terminal pair; third and fourth transistors whose emitters are electrically connected respectively with a collector of the first transistor; fifth and sixth transistors whose emitters are electrically connected respectively with a collector of the second transistor; and a differential noise suppression circuit provided between the collector of the first transistor and the collector of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Shima, Toshifumi Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7383024
    Abstract: Architectures for a class of multi-band handsets are described. These architectures separate linearity requirements from isolation requirements and reduce the number of throws on switches requiring linearity through the use of distributed switching, filter structure placement between the switch functions, not sharing a power amplifier between frequency bands that have a Tx to Rx overlap, and simplifying the switching structure using filtering networks or multiple antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP Pte Ltd
    Inventors: William Carrol Mueller, Michael Louis Frank
  • Patent number: 7383031
    Abstract: A receiving circuit for a radio-wave clock broadcast wave having a frequency converter that converts a received signal of the radio-wave clock broadcast wave into a signal of a frequency in the bandwidth of an AM radio broadcast. The converted-into signal is input to a first high frequency amplifier of an AM radio receiver of a heterodyne type comprising the amplifier, an oscillator, a frequency mixer generating a signal of an intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier amplifying the signal of the intermediate frequency, and a detector. Time correction is performed on the basis of a demodulated signal of the radio-wave clock broadcast wave output from the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumihiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7379718
    Abstract: Briefly, a method an apparatus of a power management system of a semiconductor device capable of managing a power consumption of the semiconductor device by varying an operating voltage of the semiconductor device according to a voltage value based on a reference number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Dor, Charles Roth, Mark Fullerton
  • Patent number: 7376405
    Abstract: Interruption of a reception signal is achieved by placing a first low noise amplifier into the sleep state, and short-circuiting a shunt switch provided between differential input terminals of a second low noise amplifier during a DC offset canceling period. Further, an antenna switch is switched to a circuit system where DC offset canceling is not performed for preventing the input of the reception signal to a circuit system where DC offset canceling is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kurimoto, Makoto Nakamura, Tomonori Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7376398
    Abstract: A method for implementing a smart antenna in establishing association between a station (STA) and an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network begins by transmitting a beacon frame by the AP on one antenna beam. The beacon frame is received at the STA, which measures the signal quality of the beacon frame. The AP switches to a different antenna beam and repeats the method until the beacon frame has been transmitted on all antenna beams. The STA associates to the AP that transmits the beacon frame with the highest signal quality on one of its antenna beams. A similar method may be used in which the STA sends a probe request frame to the AP, which then responds with probe response frames sent on multiple antenna beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Roy, Paul Marinier, Arty Chandra, Inhyok Cha
  • Patent number: 7369817
    Abstract: A pin layout which prevents degradation of a frequency characteristic of a low noise amplifier and a receiving mixer included in a semiconductor integrated circuit for dual-band transmission/reception wherein the circuit of the low noise amplifier is provided at a position where the distance from the end of a pin outside the package of the low noise amplifier to the pad is the shortest; ground pins of two low noise amplifiers and the high frequency signal pins are arranged respectively so as not to be adjacent to each other; the power source and ground pin of the low noise amplifier, and the power source and ground pin of the bias circuit are respectively separated; and high frequency signal wires do not intersect each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kumiko Takikawa, Satoshi Tanaka, Takashi Hashimoto, Yoshiyuki Okabe
  • Patent number: 7369831
    Abstract: An SW control circuit turns ON and OFF a switch circuit provided between a reception antenna and an RF amplifier circuit, based on a noise removal control signal which is generated by a timing generation circuit and has a constant pulse width and a constant pulse interval, and thus the antenna is periodically short-circuited. In this way, even when the antenna receives a signal mixed with noise signals, accumulated energy due to the noise signals is periodically released, and thus the noise signals can be removed from the reception signal, and long lasting influence caused by the accumulated energy of the noise signals can be also removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Someya
  • Patent number: 7369874
    Abstract: Provided is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receive sensitivity-improving apparatus and method in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile terminal, which improves a GPS receive sensitivity by preventing a reference frequency variation caused by a thermal transient in the CDMA mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a transmitter equipped with CDMA/PCS (Personal Communication System) Power Amplifying Modules (PAMs) and a receiver equipped with a CDMA/PCS reception module and a GPS reception module. The CDMA/PCS PAMs remain turned on irrespective of the mobile terminal's operation modes. The CDMA/PCS reception module is turned on in a CDMA/PCS mode, and the GPS reception module is turned on in a GPS mode. The GPS receive sensitivity-improving apparatus and method prevents a GPS receive sensitivity from being affected by a module arrangement on the PCB of the mobile terminal, thereby making it possible to manufacture smaller, lighter and more compact mobile terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yun-Cheol Ha
  • Patent number: 7366479
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal including a separate antenna for receiving multimedia public broadcasting signals. The mobile communication terminal has a sender/receiver antenna, a diversity antenna for performing a diversity function, a diplexer connected to the sender/receiver antenna for outputting signals from the sender/receiver antenna, a satellite antenna detachably mounted on the mobile communication terminal for receiving multimedia public broadcasting signals or satellite broadcasting signals. A receiving/transmitting signal processing section is provided for processing signals transmitted from the sender/receiver antenna, the diversity antenna and the satellite antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-Hyung Lee, Wan-Jin Choi, Joung-Sub Shin
  • Patent number: 7363020
    Abstract: A diode mixer comprises a mixer diode section which has a first circuit including an inductor and a capacitor connected in series and a diode connected in parallel with the first circuit and which includes a first connecting portion to which one end of the first circuit and the anode of the diode are connected, and a second connecting portion to which the other end of the first inductor circuit and the cathode of the diode are connected; an LO signal port connected to the first connecting portion via a first branching circuit and receiving an LO signal; an IF signal port connected to the mixer diode section via a second branching circuit; and an RF signal port connected to the mixer diode section through a third branching circuit. The inductor and the capacitive component of the diode constitute a resonant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koh Kanaya
  • Patent number: 7363012
    Abstract: A transmission power control device which amplifies in a driver amplifier 2, and in a power amplifier 4 to which the output from the driver amplifier is inputted, so that the power of a signal to be transmitted may become predetermined target transmission power, detects an electric-current which flows to the power amplifier 4 from a power supply, and adjusts the gain of the driver amplifier 2 based on this detected electric-current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Ando
  • Patent number: 7363017
    Abstract: A high frequency module used as a unit circuit making up a phased array antenna, in which the module may be reduced in size with reduction in cost. A high frequency module 10 includes a dielectric substrate 1 having both surfaces metallized. The dielectric substrate has a first metallized layer 2 and a second metallized layer 3 formed on both surfaces and has a low noise amplifier and the phase shifter IC 9 mounted on the metallized layer 2 on one surface. The high frequency module 10 also includes a low noise transistor 7 and a distributed constant circuit 12, formed on the one surface of the dielectric substrate 1 to form the low noise amplifier together, and an input terminal 5, an output terminal 6 and power supply terminals 15A to 15D formed by leading out the metallized layer 2 on the one surface to the opposite side surface of the dielectric substrate 1 in such a manner as to maintain insulation from the metallized layer 3 on the opposite side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miya, Kazuharu Kimura
  • Patent number: 7359679
    Abstract: A wireless access point is equipped with both an omnidirectional antenna and a directable antenna that can be selectively directed to any of a plurality of directional spaces overlapping the network space served by the omnidirectional antenna. The directable antenna is directed to an optimal directional space for a client when the access point is communicating with the client at a high data rate. The access point can intermittently exchange information with other clients using the omnidirectional antenna. The omnidirectional antenna enables broadcast signals to be transmitted to any client in the entire network space, but at a lower data rate. A preferred data rate and an optimal client directional space are re-determined periodically or as necessary based on parameters such as the data rate, signal strength, and rate of success in communicating data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne G. King, Craig Steven Ranta, Edward C. Giaimo, III, James Brennan
  • Patent number: 7359694
    Abstract: An RF mixer includes a diode quad including first, second, third and fourth carbon nanotube diodes, each carbon nanotube diode including a p-n junction The mixer also includes a RF input coupled each of the diodes, and a local oscillator input coupled with each of the diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: John Xavier Przybysz, John Douglas Adam, Hong Zhang, Howard Fudem
  • Patent number: 5101900
    Abstract: In a well treatment method, a fluid is positioned in a wellbore have formation perforations in alignment with the portion thereof to be treated. A gas generator is positioned in proximity with the fluid and is actuated to disperse the fluid within the wellbore in accordance with a pressure/time relationship. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid is a fluid resin material which is polymerized following operation of the gas generator to form a consolidated, porous, permeable matrix which retains sand and other fine materials while permitting the flow of production fluid into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Oryx Energy Company
    Inventor: John M. Dees