Abstract: A packaged capacitor component such as a surface mount technology capacitor component may be formed with multiple self-resonant frequencies. The capacitor component may include multiple capacitor portions separated by dielectric layers. The capacitor portions may each be formed from interleaving conductive layers. Additional dielectric layers may be interposed between the interleaving conductive layers. Each capacitor portion may be characterized by a corresponding self-resonance frequency. If desired, a packaged capacitor component having multiple self-resonant frequencies may be formed by stacking multiple surface-mount capacitor components. Each of the stacked surface-mount capacitor components may include interleaving conductive layers that are centered between top and bottom surfaces of that component. Packaged capacitor components having multiple self-resonance frequencies may be used as direct-current blocking capacitors or decoupling capacitors.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a circuit to determine the power lost between a network device and a network power supply. Using this determination, an embodiment of the network device may increase its power consumption by an amount equal to the difference between the actual cable power loss and the worst-case cable power loss. This allows the network device to draw more power than allowed by network power standards without triggering the power-limiting circuitry of the network power source or overloading the network power device. The network device can determine an operating configuration that utilizes this additional power consumption to improve performance. The network device may also determine the existence of network power device or cable fault conditions, and adjust its operating configuration as necessary. Operating configurations can include enabling additional or more powerful wired or wireless network interfaces.

Abstract: A packaged capacitor component such as a surface mount technology capacitor component may be formed with multiple self-resonant frequencies. The capacitor component may include multiple capacitor portions separated by dielectric layers. The capacitor portions may each be formed from interleaving conductive layers. Additional dielectric layers may be interposed between the interleaving conductive layers. Each capacitor portion may be characterized by a corresponding self-resonance frequency. If desired, a packaged capacitor component having multiple self-resonant frequencies may be formed by stacking multiple surface-mount capacitor components. Each of the stacked surface-mount capacitor components may include interleaving conductive layers that are centered between top and bottom surfaces of that component. Packaged capacitor components having multiple self-resonance frequencies may be used as direct-current blocking capacitors or decoupling capacitors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a system propagating home networking communications signals over telephone lines to a system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable system to a television device. A three port adapter has a phone line port, a first coaxial cable port and a second coaxial cable port. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the phone line port through a low pass filter and wideband balun adapted to pass home networking communications signals while being adapted to reject television signals. The first coaxial cable port is also coupled to the second coaxial port through a high pass filter while being adapted to reject home networking communications signals. The phone line port is coupled to the system propagating home networking communications signals. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the system propagating television signals over coaxial cable. The second coaxial cable port to the television device.

Abstract: A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a system propagating wireless home networking communication signals to a system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable system to a device capable of receiving television signals that includes a three-port adapter having an antenna port, a first coaxial cable port and a second coaxial cable port. The antenna port is coupled to the system propagating home networking communications signals. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable. The second coaxial cable port is coupled to a device capable of receiving television signals.

Abstract: A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method and system implementing wireless communication using one or more antenna elements in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more antenna elements are placed in the integrated circuit substrate. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, one or more antenna elements can be placed inside the integrated circuit packaging at a position above the substrate. In another embodiment of the invention, one or more antenna elements can be placed on the outer surface of the integrated circuit package. In further alternate embodiments of the invention, multiple antenna elements are placed inside or on the surface of the integrated circuit with the individual antenna elements being placed in an orientation to optimize signal strength. In one embodiment, multiple antenna elements are placed inside or on the surface of the integrated circuit in an orientation to maximize the signal strength for an RF signal at a single frequency.

Abstract: A wireless network card includes an adaptable antenna connection structure that includes connections for one or more internal antennas and for one or more Radio Frequency (RF) connectors that may be coupled to one or more external antennas. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and electronic components located thereon form the wireless network card. The PCB includes a removable portion that, when removed, leaves an opening that receives an RF antenna connector. When the PCB is used to create a client wireless network card, one or more surface mount antennas are mounted on the PCB and coupled to surface mount antenna conductive pads formed thereon. The wireless network card may include (1) the surface mount antenna; (2) the RF connector; or (3) both the surface mount antenna and the RF connector.

Abstract: An improved directional coupler that significantly reduces the signal degradation problems associated with distortion caused by circuit elements used to measure the transmitted power. In a selected embodiment, the directional coupler of the present invention comprises a plurality of active elements, such as capacitors, that have values selected to ensure that the distortion created by circuit elements used to measure forward transmitted power. In an embodiment of the invention, capacitors have values selected to minimize in-band distortion signals at the fundamental carrier frequency of the transmitted signal and also at the second and third harmonics of the fundamental carrier frequency.

Abstract: A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A wireless network card includes an adaptable antenna connection structure that includes connections for one or more internal antennas and for one or more Radio Frequency (RF) connectors that may be coupled to one or more external antennas. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and electronic components located thereon form the wireless network card. The PCB includes a removable portion that, when removed, leaves an opening that receives an RF antenna connector. When the PCB is used to create a client wireless network card, one or more surface mount antennas are mounted on the PCB and coupled to surface mount antenna conductive pads formed thereon. The wireless network card may include (1) the surface mount antenna; (2) the RF connector; or (3) both the surface mount antenna and the RF connector.

Abstract: A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A wireless network card includes an adaptable antenna connection structure that includes connections for one or more internal antennas and for one or more Radio Frequency (RF) connectors that may be coupled to one or more external antennas. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and electronic components located thereon form the wireless network card. The PCB includes a removable portion that, when removed, leaves an opening that receives an RF antenna connector. When the PCB is used to create a client wireless network card, one or more surface mount antennas are mounted on the PCB and coupled to surface mount antenna conductive pads formed thereon. The wireless network card may include (1) the surface mount antenna; (2) the RF connector; or (3) both the surface mount antenna and the RF connector.

Abstract: An improved method and system for optimum placement of multiple antenna elements on circuit boards for wireless communication systems used in portable devices such as laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Multiple antenna elements are placed on a circuit board with the individual antenna elements being placed such that they are orthogonal with respect to each other. In one embodiment of the present invention two antenna elements are placed on a circuit board in an orthogonal orientation to maximize the signal strength for an RF signal at a single frequency. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, four antenna elements are placed on the circuit board to maximize the signal strength for RF signals at two different frequencies. In the various embodiments of the present invention the gain characteristics of the various antenna elements are enhanced by placing the individual antenna elements in a predetermined orientation with respect to a ground plane on the circuit board.

Abstract: An improved directional coupler that significantly reduces the signal degradation problems associated with distortion caused by circuit elements used to measure the transmitted power. In a selected embodiment, the directional coupler of the present invention comprises a plurality of active elements, such as capacitors, that have values selected to ensure that the distortion created by circuit elements used to measure forward transmitted power. In an embodiment of the invention, capacitors have values selected to minimize in-band distortion signals at the fundamental carrier frequency of the transmitted signal and also at the second and third harmonics of the fundamental carrier frequency.

Abstract: A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a system propagating wireless home networking communication signals to a system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable system to a device capable of receiving television signals that includes a three-port adapter having an antenna port, a first coaxial cable port and a second coaxial cable port. The antenna port is coupled to the system propagating home networking communications signals. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable. The second coaxial cable port is coupled to a device capable of receiving television signals.

Abstract: A wireless network card includes an adaptable antenna connection structure that includes connections for one or more internal antennas and for one or more Radio Frequency (RF) connectors that may be coupled to one or more external antennas. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and electronic components located thereon form the wireless network card. The PCB includes a removable portion that, when removed, leaves an opening that receives an RF antenna connector. When the PCB is used to create a client wireless network card, one or more surface mount antennas are mounted on the PCB and coupled to surface mount antenna conductive pads formed thereon. The wireless network card may include (1) the surface mount antenna; (2) the RF connector; or (3) both the surface mount antenna and the RF connector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a system propagating home networking communications signals over telephone lines to a system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable system to a television device. A three port adapter has a phone line port, a first coaxial cable port and a second coaxial cable port. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the phone line port through a low pass filter and wideband balun adapted to pass home networking communications signals while being adapted to reject television signals. The first coaxial cable port is also coupled to the second coaxial port through a high pass filter while being adapted to reject home networking communications signals. The phone line port is coupled to the system propagating home networking communications signals. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the system propagating television signals over coaxial cable. The second coaxial cable port to the television device.