Patents by Inventor Keith Manssen

Keith Manssen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9742375
    Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a tunable capacitor having a decoder for generating a plurality of control signals, and an array of tunable switched capacitors comprising a plurality of fixed capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches can be controlled by the plurality of control signals to manage a tunable range of reactance of the array of tunable switched capacitors. Additionally, the array of tunable switched capacitors is adapted to have non-uniform quality (Q) factors. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Patent number: 9698858
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which can include computer instructions to determine a subset of use cases from a group of use cases stored in a memory of a communication device, and to determine a target use case from among the subset of use cases based on an operational parameter associated with a transceiver of the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Carsten Hoirup, Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Patent number: 9671765
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process that assigns a respective priority level to each of a number of tuning algorithms controlling different tunable elements of a communication device. A first tuning algorithm is executed according to a first priority level assigned to the first tuning algorithm. A remaining number of the tuning algorithms are executed to determine whether the first tuning algorithm has affected a tuning state of any of the remainder of tuning algorithms. A second of the number of tuning algorithms is executed in response to a stability condition of the first tuning algorithm and according to a second priority level assigned to the second tuning algorithm. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Carsten Hoirup, Matthew Russell Greene, Simon Andrew Hughes, Steven Mark Morelen, Victor Galperin, John Hanford Spears
  • Patent number: 9608591
    Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a tunable capacitor having a decoder for generating a plurality of control signals, and an array of tunable switched capacitors comprising a plurality of fixed capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches can be controlled by the plurality of control signals to manage a tunable range of reactance of the array of tunable switched capacitors. Additionally, the array of tunable switched capacitors is adapted to have non-uniform quality (Q) factors. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Patent number: 9564944
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network including a tunable reactance circuit configured to be coupled to at least one of a transmitter portion and a receiver portion of a communication device, where the tunable reactance circuit is adjustable to a plurality of tuning states, and where the determination of a tuning state is based on whether detected signal measurements are determined to be invalid and is based on information from at least one of an open-loop or closed-loop feedback configuration of the tunable reactance circuit. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Greene, Wayne Smith, David Schlueter, John Spears
  • Patent number: 9548716
    Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a tunable capacitor having a decoder for generating a plurality of control signals, and an array of tunable switched capacitors comprising a plurality of fixed capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches can be controlled by the plurality of control signals to manage a tunable range of reactance of the array of tunable switched capacitors. Additionally, the array of tunable switched capacitors is adapted to have non-uniform quality (Q) factors. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Publication number: 20160373146
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network including a tunable reactance circuit configured to be coupled to at least one of a transmitter portion and a receiver portion of a communication device, wherein the tunable reactance circuit is adjustable to a plurality of tuning states, and wherein the determination of a tuning state is based on parameters associated with a detected interference. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: KEITH MANSSEN, MATTHEW RUSSELL GREENE, WAYNE SMITH, DAVID SCHLUETER, JOHN SPEARS
  • Patent number: 9450637
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network including a tunable reactance circuit configured to be coupled to at least one of a transmitter portion and a receiver portion of a communication device, wherein the tunable reactance circuit is adjustable to a plurality of tuning states, and wherein the determination of a tuning state is based on parameters associated with a detected interference. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene, Wayne Smith, David Schlueter, John Spears
  • Publication number: 20160269055
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, determining, by a controller of a mobile communication device, a phase shift criteria and an amplitude shift criteria associated with a modulation being implemented by the mobile communication device. The controller can determine a group of tuning steps that satisfies the phase and amplitude shift criteria and that provides a desired tuning step for a matching network of the mobile communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: MATTHEW GREENE, CARSTEN HOIRUP, KEITH MANSSEN
  • Patent number: 9374113
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, determining, by a controller of a mobile communication device, a phase shift criteria and an amplitude shift criteria associated with a modulation being implemented by the mobile communication device. The controller can determine a group of tuning steps that satisfies the phase and amplitude shift criteria and that provides a desired tuning step for a matching network of the mobile communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew Greene, Carsten Hoirup, Keith Manssen
  • Patent number: 9350405
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a controller that determines a radiated throughput for at least one of an uplink throughput or a downlink throughput of the communication device, reduces transmit power for the communication device responsive to the radiated throughput satisfying a throughput threshold, and tunes a matching network of the communication device responsive to the radiated throughput not satisfying the throughput threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Lizhong Zhu, Joseph Caci, Keith Manssen
  • Publication number: 20160080026
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which can include computer instructions to determine a subset of use cases from a group of use cases stored in a memory of a communication device, and to determine a target use case from among the subset of use cases based on an operational parameter associated with a transceiver of the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Carsten Hoirup, Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Patent number: 9231643
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which can include computer instructions to determine a subset of use cases from a group of use cases stored in a memory of a communication device, and to determine a target use case from among the subset of use cases based on an operational parameter associated with a transceiver of the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Carsten Hoirup, Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Publication number: 20150142139
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process that assigns a respective priority level to each of a number of tuning algorithms controlling different tunable elements of a communication device. A first tuning algorithm is executed according to a first priority level assigned to the first tuning algorithm. A remaining number of the tuning algorithms are executed to determine whether the first tuning algorithm has affected a tuning state of any of the remainder of tuning algorithms. A second of the number of tuning algorithms is executed in response to a stability condition of the first tuning algorithm and according to a second priority level assigned to the second tuning algorithm. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Carsten Hoirup, Matthew Russell Greene, Simon Andrew Hughes, Steven Mark Morelen, Victor Galperin, John Hanford Spears
  • Patent number: 9020446
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to perform actual measurements of one or more performance parameters of a communication device according to a subset of tuning states of a tunable matching network operable in a communication device, determine estimated measurements of the one or more performance parameters of the communication device for a portion of the tuning states not included in the subset of tuning states according to the actual measurements, identify a data set for each of the one or more performance parameters from at least portions of the tuning states and the actual and estimated measurements, and determine from at least a portion of the date sets one or more tuning states that achieve at least one desirable performance characteristic of the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Daniel Charles Boire, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Patent number: 8948889
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting a plurality of use cases of a communication device, determining an initial tuning state for each of a plurality of tuning algorithms according to the plurality of use cases, configuring each of the plurality of tuning algorithms according to their respective initial tuning state, executing a first tuning algorithm of the plurality of tuning algorithms according to an order of execution of the plurality of tuning algorithms, detecting a stability condition of the first tuning algorithm, and executing a second tuning algorithm of the plurality of tuning algorithms responsive to the detected stability condition of the first tuning algorithm. Each tuning algorithms can control one of a tunable reactive element, a control interface, or both of one of a plurality of circuit components of a radio frequency circuit. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Carsten Hoirup, Matthew Greene, Simon Andrew Hughes, Steven Mark Morelen, Victor Galperin, John Spears
  • Publication number: 20150031314
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network including a tunable reactance circuit configured to be coupled to at least one of a transmitter portion and a receiver portion of a communication device, wherein the tunable reactance circuit is adjustable to a plurality of tuning states, and wherein the determination of a tuning state is based on parameters associated with a detected interference. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Greene, Wayne Smith, David Schlueter, John Spears
  • Publication number: 20140378076
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network including a tunable reactance circuit configured to be coupled to at least one of a transmitter portion and a receiver portion of a communication device, where the tunable reactance circuit is adjustable to a plurality of tuning states, and where the determination of a tuning state is based on whether detected signal measurements are determined to be invalid and is based on information from at least one of an open-loop or closed-loop feedback configuration of the tunable reactance circuit. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Greene, Wayne Smith, David Schlueter, John Spears
  • Publication number: 20140327493
    Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a tunable capacitor having a decoder for generating a plurality of control signals, and an array of tunable switched capacitors comprising a plurality of fixed capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches can be controlled by the plurality of control signals to manage a tunable range of reactance of the array of tunable switched capacitors. Additionally, the array of tunable switched capacitors is adapted to have non-uniform quality (Q) factors. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene
  • Publication number: 20140327492
    Abstract: The present disclosure may include, for example, a tunable capacitor having a decoder for generating a plurality of control signals, and an array of tunable switched capacitors comprising a plurality of fixed capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches can be controlled by the plurality of control signals to manage a tunable range of reactance of the array of tunable switched capacitors. Additionally, the array of tunable switched capacitors is adapted to have non-uniform quality (Q) factors. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Keith Manssen, Matthew Russell Greene