Abstract: Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion.

Abstract: Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion.

Abstract: A local oscillator circuit and a corresponding method are provided. The local oscillator circuit includes a memory connected to a processor. The memory is configured to store local oscillator parameters corresponding to a plurality of center frequencies of a frequency spectrum. The processor is configured to apply the stored LO parameters when switching the frequency spectrum for a mixed-mode spectrum communication. The local oscillator also includes a plurality of registers connected with the processor, the plurality of registers configured to control switching of the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: Embodiments provide transmitter topologies that improve the power efficiency and bandwidth of RF transmitters for high transmission power applications. In an embodiment, the common-emitter/source PA of conventional topologies is replaced with a current-input common-base/gate PA, which is stacked on top on an open-collector/drain current-output transmitter. The common-base/gate PA protects the output of the transmitter from large output voltage swings. The low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA makes the PA less susceptible to frequency roll-off, even in the presence of large parasitic capacitance produced by the transmitter. At the same time, the low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA reduces the voltage swing at the transmitter output and prevents the transmitter output from being compressed or modulated, In an embodiment, the DC output current of the transmitter is reused to bias the PA, which results in power savings compared to conventional transmitter topologies.

Abstract: Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion.

Abstract: Digital to analog converter (DAC) with ternary or tri-state current source. A DAC including a number of ternary or tri-state devices operates based upon codewords provided thereto. Generally, each respective codeword bit directs operation of one of the respective ternary or tri-state devices within the DAC. Each ternary or tri-state device operates in at least three respective operational states (e.g., based upon the respective values of +1, ?1, or 0 being provided thereto). In a current source implementation, each respective current source is implemented to deliver current, draw current, or neither delivered or draw current. In a voltage source implementation, each respective voltage source is implemented to provide a positive voltage, a negative voltage, or provide no voltage. A DAC coding table may be designed based upon characterization of codewords provided to one or more DACs (e.g., based upon a distribution, a probability density function (PDF), etc. of such codewords).

Abstract: A tuner front-end circuit for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal includes a first filter block that terminates the RF signal for unwanted frequency bands; a second filter block that provides selectivity within the unterminated signal by separating the unterminated signal into a plurality of separate signals, each of a different desired frequency band; and an amplifier block that amplifies each of the separate signals. One or more of the amplified separate signals can be provided to a tuner. The circuit can also include a daisy chain output block that provides the amplified separate signals to one or more additional tuners. One or more tracking filter blocks can also be included to provide further selectivity to the amplified separate signals and to reject signals at specific harmonics to prevent degradation of a signal-to-noise ratio. A method of processing an RF signal is also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to continuous descent approaches that ensure the greatest certainty in arrival time. The continuous descent approach is flown by maintaining an aerodynamic flight path angle, thereby allowing a ground speed to be followed with greater accuracy. An improvement is described that accounts for turns made during continuous descent approaches that may otherwise cause a drift away from the desired ground speed, and hence arrival time. A correction to the aerodynamic flight path angle is used that produces a compensatory change in the potential energy of the aircraft upon completing the turn to balance the anticipated drift in kinetic energy.

Abstract: A system or apparatus for monitoring an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip includes: a sense circuit at least partially constructed on the IC chip and configured to produce one or more sense signals each indicative of a corresponding process-dependent circuit parameter of the IC chip; and a digitizer module configured to produce, responsive to the one or more sense signals, one or more digitized signals each representative of a corresponding one of the sense signals. A controller is configured to determine a value of one or more of the process-dependent circuit parameters based on one or more of the digitized signals.

Abstract: Embodiments provide transmitter topologies that improve the power efficiency and bandwidth of RF transmitters for high transmission power applications. In an embodiment, the common-emitter/source PA of conventional topologies is replaced with a current-input common-base/gate PA, which is stacked on top on an open-collector/drain current-output transmitter. The common-base/gate PA protects the output of the transmitter from large output voltage swings. The low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA makes the PA less susceptible to frequency roll-off, even in the presence of large parasitic capacitance produced by the transmitter. At the same time, the low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA reduces the voltage swing at the transmitter output and prevents the transmitter output from being compressed or modulated. In an embodiment, the DC output current of the transmitter is reused to bias the PA, which results in power savings compared to conventional transmitter topologies.

Abstract: Embodiments provide transmitter topologies that improve the power efficiency and bandwidth of RF transmitters for high transmission power applications. In an embodiment, the common-emitter/source PA of conventional topologies is replaced with a current-input common-base/gate PA, which is stacked on top on an open-collector/drain current-output transmitter. The common-base/gate PA protects the output of the transmitter from large output voltage swings. The low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA makes the PA less susceptible to frequency roll-off, even in the presence of large parasitic capacitance produced by the transmitter. At the same time, the low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA reduces the voltage swing at the transmitter output and prevents the transmitter output from being compressed or modulated. In an embodiment, the DC output current of the transmitter is reused to bias the PA, which results in power savings compared to conventional transmitter topologies.

Abstract: Embodiments provide histogram-based methods and system to estimate the transfer function of an ADC, and subsequently to linearize a non-linear ADC transfer function. Embodiments include blind algorithms that require no a priori knowledge of the input signal distribution. Embodiments can be implemented using cumulative (i.e., cumulative distribution function (CDF)) or non-cumulative (i.e., probability density function (PDF)) histograms. According to embodiments, a non-linear transfer function can be estimated by linearly approximating successive local intervals of the transfer function. Linearly approximated successive local intervals of the transfer function can then be used to fully characterize and closely estimate the transfer function.

Abstract: Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an area, cost, and power efficient multi-service transceiver architecture. The multi-service transceiver architecture simplifies receiver/transmitter front ends needed for a multi-service architecture, by replacing significant portions of multiple receiver and/or transmitter front ends with a single ADC and/or DAC, respectively. In embodiments, a plurality of received service contents are combined into one composite analog/RF signal and applied to an ADC. The ADC converts the composite signal into a composite multi-service digital signal. Digital techniques are then used to separate the plurality of service contents into a plurality of respective digital streams that each can be independently demodulated. Similarly, in the transmit direction, a plurality of digital streams, including a plurality of service contents, are combined into one composite digital signal.

Abstract: Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention, as further described below, provide active termination circuits that can be used with power transmitter circuits. Embodiments reduce power loss due to impedance matching and increase power efficiency in power transmitter circuits. In particular, embodiments provide active termination circuits that can be configured to draw minimal amounts of the output current generated by the power transmitter circuits. At the same time, embodiments achieve optimal impedance matching, thus enabling optimal power transfer to the load. Further, embodiments can be controlled adaptively in real time to reduce parasitic effects on power transfer and to optimize impedance matching. Embodiments can be implemented using various transistor technologies (e.g., MOSFET, BJT, etc.), and can be used with a variety of power transmitter circuits, including, for example, power DACs, analog/digital RF transmitters, and analog/digital PAs.

Abstract: A frequency translation module for a broadband multi-channel communication system may include an analog signal converter, a digital channel selection device, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The analog signal converter is configured to receive a plurality of analog signals, to select analog signals residing in a predefined frequency band, and to convert each of the selected analog signals into a digital signal. The digital channel selection device is configured to process digital signals corresponding to the selected analog signals and to generate a composite output of digital signals representative of the selected analog signals. The D/A converter is configured to translate the composite output to an analog signal output decodable by a receiver. Further, the frequency translation module may include a mixer configured to upconvert the analog signal output to a frequency decodable by the receiver.

Abstract: A programmable gain attenuator (PGA) configured to receive a signal at an input and provide an attenuated version of the signal at an output is provided herein. The PGA includes a resistor coupled between a first tap and a second tap, where the first tap is coupled to the input of the PGA. The PGA further includes two sets of switches. The first set of switches is coupled in parallel between the first tap and the output, and the second set of switches is coupled in parallel between the second tap and the output. The attenuation setting of the programmable gain attenuator can be determined by controlling each set of switches.

Abstract: A highly integrated set-top box is implemented on a single semiconductor substrate. For instance, an analog RF tuner is implemented on the same substrate with a digital receiver, and audio-video back-end circuits. The single chip set-top box can be used for satellite, cable, internet, or terrestrial TV applications, or other applications. As a result, the substrate area, assembly time, and associated costs per chip are reduced.

Abstract: Rollover operative digital to analog converter (DAC). With respect to a codeword that is provided to a DAC, a processing module (e.g., a rollover processor) operates to compare the codeword to threshold(s) in accordance with adaptively partitioning the codeword into one or more sub-codewords when the codeword has a magnitude greater than at least one of the thresholds. In instances that the codeword is less than a threshold, the codeword may be provided directly to a DAC for use in generating a first analog signal. However, if the codeword is a larger than a threshold, then that portion of the codeword which is greater than the threshold may be provided to an alternative component such as one or more auxiliary or additional DACs, one or more other circuitry components, etc. in accordance with generating at least one additional analog signal to be combined with the first analog signal.