Abstract: A plurality of auxiliary transmitters associated with at least one main transmitter, transmitting broadcast area wide programming for their respective broadcast areas, wherein a mechanism enables switching on transmission of localized auxiliary information content by at least one of the plurality of auxiliary transmitters, wherein the at least one of plurality of auxiliary transmitters transmits localized auxiliary information content on a single frequency network transmission frequency, and wherein the localized auxiliary information content includes a data item that enables retrieval of promotional information from a remote server, when the data item is analyzed by a software application.

Abstract: Radio broadcasting equipment and functionality enable a radio broadcaster to reduce the size of an interference overlap resulting from main transmitter and booster signal transmitter overlap during zone casting by using an alternate main transmitter with an antenna pattern that differs from the main transmitter antenna pattern during zone casts. Radio broadcasting equipment is also provided that provides a mechanism to ensure that the handoffs occur in the gaps between songs, advertisements, or other content of both the main and the zone casting signals.

Abstract: An audio amplifier includes a digital signal processor (DSP) that contains a noise shaping quantizer having an integrating error amplifier. The integrating error amplifier contains integrators connected in a feedback loop, a summer supplied with an output of each of the integrators, and a saturation function module producing a saturation function. A multiplier is disposed between each pair of adjacent integrators. The multiplier receives a signal from one of the adjacent integrators and the saturation function and supplies a signal to the other of the adjacent integrators. The saturation function decreases the effect of all of the integrators except an integrator to which an input signal to the integrating amplifier is supplied using an input signal to and/or an output signal from the noise shaping quantizer. This permits the duty ratio of the output signal from the noise shaping quantizer to extend from 0% to 100%.

Abstract: An audio amplifier includes a digital signal processor (DSP) that contains a noise shaping quantizer having an integrating error amplifier. The integrating error amplifier contains integrators connected in a feedback loop, a summer supplied with an output of each of the integrators, and a saturation function module producing a saturation function. A multiplier is disposed between each pair of adjacent integrators. The multiplier receives a signal from one of the adjacent integrators and the saturation function and supplies a signal to the other of the adjacent integrators. The saturation function decreases the effect of all of the integrators except an integrator to which an input signal to the integrating amplifier is supplied using an input signal to and/or an output signal from the noise shaping quantizer. This permits the duty ratio of the output signal from the noise shaping quantizer to extend from 0% to 100%.

Abstract: A communications unit (2) and method (50) for providing a transmission packet (30), the transmission packet (30) comprising a data independent field (32) and a payload field (33). The unit (2) and method (50) performs processing digital data (54) to provide a modulated digital payload. The method then performs a step (55) of obtaining pre-defined modulated transmission protocol bits stored in a memory. Then a combining step (56) provides for combining the modulated digital payload and the predefined modulated transmission protocol bits to provide the transmission packet (30), wherein the modulated digital payload is in the payload field (33) and the modulated transmission protocol bits are in the data independent field (32).

Abstract: A power amplifier circuit for receiving a variable envelope input signal and for producing an amplified output signal is provided. The power amplifier circuit includes an envelope approximation circuit, an envelope amplifier circuit, a phasor approximation circuit, a quadrature modulation circuit, and a power amplifier. The envelope approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated envelope signal, corresponding to the amplitude of the variable envelope input signal. The bandlimited estimated envelope signal is then amplified by an envelope amplifier circuit. The amplified envelope signal is then coupled to the supply input of the power amplifier. The phasor approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated phasor signal. The quadrature modulation circuit receives the estimated phase signal and produces a modulated phase signal.

Abstract: To address the need for a power modulator that can efficiently operate within a wideband, high-speed communication system, a method and apparatus for power modulation is provided herein. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention an envelope reference signal is filtered in such a way that the bandwidth is reduced while keeping the instantaneous level of the filtered signal is greater than the unfiltered envelope level. Because the bandwidth of the envelope signal is reduced, efficient operation of the switching modulator can be achieved within wideband, high-speed communication systems.

Abstract: A power amplifier circuit for receiving a variable envelope input signal and for producing an amplified output signal is provided. The power amplifier circuit includes an envelope approximation circuit, an envelope amplifier circuit, a phasor approximation circuit, a quadrature modulation circuit, and a power amplifier. The envelope approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated envelope signal, corresponding to the amplitude of the variable envelope input signal. The bandlimited estimated envelope signal is then amplified by an envelope amplifier circuit. The amplified envelope signal is then coupled to the supply input of the power amplifer. The phasor approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated phasor signal. The quadrature modulation circuit receives the estimated phase signal and produces a modulated phase signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier circuit for receiving a variable envelope input signal and for producing an amplified output signal is provided. The power amplifier circuit includes an envelope approximation circuit, an envelope amplifier circuit, a phasor approximation circuit, a quadrature modulation circuit, and a power amplifier. The envelope approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated envelope signal, corresponding to the amplitude of the variable envelope input signal. The bandlimited estimated envelope signal is then amplified by an envelope amplifier circuit. The amplified envelope signal is then coupled to the supply input of the power amplifer. The phasor approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated phasor signal. The quadrature modulation circuit receives the estimated phase signal and produces a modulated phase signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier circuit for receiving a variable envelope input signal and for producing an amplified output signal is provided. The power amplifier circuit includes an envelope approximation circuit, an envelope amplifier circuit, a phasor approximation circuit, a quadrature modulation circuit, and a power amplifier. The envelope approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated envelope signal, corresponding to the amplitude of the variable envelope input signal. The bandlimited estimated envelope signal is then amplified by an envelope amplifier circuit. The amplified envelope signal is then coupled to the supply input of the power amplifer. The phasor approximation circuit receives the variable envelope input signal and produces a bandlimited estimated phasor signal. The quadrature modulation circuit receives the estimated phase signal and produces a modulated phase signal.

Abstract: To address the need for a power modulator that can efficiently operate within a wideband, high-speed communication system, a method and apparatus for power modulation is provided herein. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention an envelope reference signal is filtered in such a way that the bandwidth is reduced while keeping the instantaneous level of the filtered signal is greater than the unfiltered envelope level. Because the bandwidth of the envelope signal is reduced, efficient operation of the switching modulator can be achieved within wideband, high-speed communication systems.

Abstract: A device (400), method (1200), phone (400) and basestation (400) for providing scalar measurement-based predistortion for linearization in a radio frequency RF power amplifier, includes: a polynomial predistortion unit (406), coupled to receive an input baseband signal and polynomial coefficient weights, for predistorting the baseband signal to provide a predistorted baseband signal in accordance with the polynomial coefficient weights; an RF modulator (402), coupled to the polynomial predistortion unit (406) and to an RF generator (403), for modulating the predistorted baseband signal to provide an RF signal; an RF power amplifier (401), coupled to the RF modulator (402) and to a power supply (408), for amplifying the RF signal to provide an amplified RF signal, a scalar cost function generator (405), coupled to receive the amplified RF signal, for computing a scalar cost function; and a coefficient update unit (407), coupled to receive the scalar out-of-band-energy cost function, for tuning the polynomial c

Abstract: A method (200) and device (100) provide an efficient linear power amplifier that generates a variable-envelope radio frequency RF signal. The method includes the steps of: A) using an efficient envelope-following unit to output a supply voltage in accordance with a variable envelope of an input baseband signal, wherein using the efficient envelope-following unit includes: 1) using a bandwidth-limiting mapping unit to determine a reference signal based on the baseband signal; and 2) using an envelope-tracking power converter to output a supply voltage, responsive to the reference signal, to the linear RF power amplifier; B) providing an RF input signal with amplitude and phase information to a linear RF power amplifier; and C) using the linear RF power amplifier to output a power-efficient amplified variable-envelope RF signal with substantially a same amplitude and phase information as the RF input signal.

Abstract: A method (300, 400), device (100, 200), phone (200) and base station (200) provide an efficient tracking power converter for variable signals. The tracking power converter includes a feedforward feedback control unit that is coupled to receive a reference signal and to receive at least one feedback signal and is used for determining an optimal control signal in accordance with a predetermined scheme, a pulse width modulation unit that is coupled to the feedforward feedback control unit and is used for modifying a duty ratio to provide a switching signal, and a power converter that is coupled to the pulse width modulation unit and to a power source and is used for providing the dynamic variable output signal.

Abstract: A low power regenerative feedback device and method automatically increases bias current during positive large-signal slewing, enabling output to change faster. When the device is not in a positive slew, bias currents are unchanged, providing a low standby current. Since regenerative feedback is internal and automatic to the device, current is increased only for the device driving an active column of an LCD panel. Thus, the present invention is power efficient. In addition, the AC response of the device is preserved because the device utilizes a regenerative feedback circuit that does not add appreciable excess phase shift. The device achieves an output that switches readily from positive supply to negative supply.

Abstract: A communication system, such as a hearing aid or a public address system, may include a microphone for inputting audio information to the system, an amplifier for amplifying audio frequency signals inputted to the microphone, and a speaker for outputting amplified audio frequency signals into the environment which provides an acoustic feedback path between the speaker and the microphone. The invention provides an identification circuit for dynamically identifying those parameters associated only with acoustic feedback, and a correction circuit whose transfer function is established in accordance with the parameters identified by the identification circuit. The transfer function of the correction circuit is such that the effect of acoustic feedback is cancelled from the transfer function of communication system. The identification circuit is constructed and arranged to identify said parameters in response to a turn-on of the system, or to an automatically-sensed threshold change in gain of the amplifier.