Having Frequency-responsive Means Or Phase-shift Means In Feedback Path Patents (Class 330/294)
  • Patent number: 11469718
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit amplifies a radio-frequency signal. The amplifier circuit includes an amplifier, an input matching circuit connected to an input side of the amplifier and matches impedance, and a protection circuit connected to a node in a path within a path between an input matching circuit and the amplifier. The protection circuit includes a first diode connected between the node and a ground, and a second diode connected in parallel with the first diode and connected in a direction opposite to the first diode between the node and the ground. A threshold voltage of each of the first diode and the second diode is greater than a maximum voltage amplitude of the input signal at the node and is less than a difference between a withstand voltage of the amplifier and the bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Tabei, Ken Wakaki, Masamichi Tokuda, Daisuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11444585
    Abstract: A power amplifier includes power amplification circuits in a plurality of stages including a first stage and a second stage, each power amplification circuit including a transistor. The power amplification circuit in the first stage includes a first impedance circuit between an emitter of the transistor and a reference potential. The first impedance circuit has an impedance that does not vary with frequency or an impedance that varies with frequency. The power amplification circuit in the second stage includes a second impedance circuit between an emitter of the transistor and a reference potential. The second impedance circuit has an impedance that does not vary with frequency or an impedance that varies with frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuri Honda, Fumio Harima, Kenji Mukai
  • Patent number: 10340961
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first transmit path, a second transmit path, and a switch element. The first transmit path can provide a first radio frequency (RF) signal in accordance with a nominal specification. The second transmit path can provide a second RF signal in accordance with an intermittent specification, in which the first and second RF signals are within the same transmit band. The switch element can provide the first RF signal as a transmit mode output in a first state and provide the second RF signal as the transmit mode output in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Richard King, Peter Phu Tran, Nick Cheng, David Richard Pehlke
  • Patent number: 10014889
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first transmit path, a second transmit path, and a switch element. The first transmit path can provide a first radio frequency (RF) signal in accordance with a nominal specification. The second transmit path can provide a second RF signal in accordance with an intermittent specification, in which the first and second RF signals are within the same transmit band. The switch element can provide the first RF signal as a transmit mode output in a first state and provide the second RF signal as the transmit mode output in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Richard King, Peter Phu Tran, Nick Cheng, David Richard Pehlke
  • Patent number: 9882538
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods related to matching an impedance of the power amplifier to an impedance of the antenna in a power amplifier module that includes an amplifier circuit residing on a first semiconductor die and an output matching network (OMN) that includes a first partial OMN and a second partial OMN. The first partial OMN resides on the first semiconductor die and matches an output impedance of the amplifier circuit to an input impedance of the second partial OMN. The second partial OMN matches an output impedance of the first partial OMN with an input impedance of the antenna and is not part of the first semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Darcy Poulin, Apostolos Samelis, Edward John Wemyss Whittaker
  • Patent number: 9438180
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is disclosed. The RF power amplifier includes an impedance transformation circuit, a current unit gain amplifier, and an output match circuit. The impedance transformation circuit receives a first input power signal and outputs a second input power signal correspondingly, wherein the impedance transformation circuit transforms an input impedance to an output impedance according to an impedance matching parameter for increasing power added efficiency of a pre-stage circuit. The current unit gain amplifier provides a linear transimpedance so as to transmit an input current to an output impedance, and then generate a linear output power for increasing power added efficiency of the current unit gain amplifier, wherein the impedance matching parameter is determined by a first system voltage, a second system voltage, and a predetermined power gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Po-Chih Wang, Ya-Wen Yang
  • Patent number: 9410862
    Abstract: A device for measuring pressure having at least one pressure sensor with at least one active sensor surface, an oscillating and/or variable temperature counter-surface arranged opposite the at least one sensor surface, wherein the sensor surface and the counter-surface are arranged in a hollow body, and the hollow body has at least one opening, and wherein at least one alternating signal amplifier is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PFEIFFER VACUUM GMBH
    Inventor: Armin Conrad
  • Patent number: 9294053
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit includes a first transistor configured to convert an input voltage signal to a current signal, a second transistor configured to convert the current signal to an output voltage signal, and a variable active inductor in which resistors and a switch are arranged between a gate and a drain of the second transistor. The amplifying circuit further includes a third transistor configured to draw a current and connected in parallel to the first transistor and a bias circuit configured to control individually a current flowing through the first transistor and a current flowing through the third transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokio Endou, Manabu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9218847
    Abstract: A method of testing a one or more components of a data storage system introduces a first plurality of micro-transitions into a first data write pattern, which is then written to a magnetic media. A read-back signal is generated, and a frequency response of the read-back signal is analyzed to determine performance of the one or more components of the data storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Weldon Mark Hanson, Michael Paul Salo, Alexander Taratorin, Roger William Wood
  • Patent number: 9136800
    Abstract: Devices and methods to reduce adjacent channel power of an amplifier are described. The adjacent channel power can be reduced by considering the third harmonic output from the amplifier, and minimizing such third harmonic amplitude by implementing a phase shifter feedback circuit to the amplifier. The phase shifter feedback circuit can shift the phase of the feedback signal in order to reduce the third harmonic amplitude, which in turn reduces the adjacent channel power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Gaynor
  • Patent number: 9094634
    Abstract: An amplifier includes a negative gain amplifier, a load element, and a transconductance device. The negative gain amplifier has an input and an output. The load element has a first terminal coupled to a power supply voltage terminal, and a second terminal. The transconductance device has a first current electrode coupled to the second terminal of the load element, a control electrode coupled to the output of the negative gain amplifier, and a second current electrode coupled to the input of the negative gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SILICON LABORATORIES INC.
    Inventors: Yu Su, Mustafa H. Koroglu, Ruifeng Sun, Krishna Pentakota, Pio Balmelli, Ramin Khoini-Poorfard
  • Patent number: 9083281
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit comprises an analog amplifying circuit having an analog input for receiving an analog input signal to be amplified and an analog output for outputting an amplified analog signal, wherein the amplifying circuit comprises an implementation of a complex transfer function. A feedback circuit has a feedback circuit input and a feedback circuit output, wherein the feedback circuit comprises an implementation of an inverse transfer function that is an estimation of an inverse of at least a DC component of the complex transfer function of the analog amplifying circuit. The feedback circuit input is arranged for receiving a signal that is based on the amplified analog signal of the analog amplifying circuit. The analog circuit is arranged for receiving a bias signal that is based on the feedback circuit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B. V.
    Inventors: Soren Rievers, Jan Geert Prummel
  • Patent number: 9071319
    Abstract: A circuit and method for filtering adjacent channel interferers. One embodiment of an adjacent channel filtering circuit for reducing adjacent channel interference with an in-band signal, includes: (1) a radio frequency (RF) circuit configured to receive and down-convert an RF signal to a baseband signal containing an in-band signal and adjacent channel components, (2) a controlled single pole filter electrically coupled to the RF circuit and configured to reject the adjacent channel components and cause a predetermined attenuation in the in-band signal, (3) a baseband circuit coupled to the controlled single pole filter and configured to condition the baseband signal for conversion to a digital signal, and (4) a digital circuit coupled to the baseband circuit and configured to receive the digital signal and compensate for the predetermined attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Essam Atalla, Abdellatif Bellaouar
  • Patent number: 9041467
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit amplifies a signal for wireless transmission. A feedback circuit, including a capacitor, is coupled to the amplifier circuit. Components of the feedback circuit are selected based on a feedback factor such that an input impedance to the amplifier circuit has a same impedance characteristic as a feedback circuit impedance of the feedback circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Sehat Sutardja, Kan Li, Poh Boon Leong
  • Patent number: 8989307
    Abstract: A power amplifier system including a composite digital predistorter (DPD) ensuring optimized linearity for the power amplifier is described. In this system, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an analog filter, a first mixer, and the power amplifier are serially coupled to the composite DPD. A second mixer, a receive gain block, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) are serially coupled to the output of the power amplifier. A DPD training component is coupled between the inputs of the composite DPD and the ADC. The composite DPD includes a memory-based DPD, e.g., a memory polynomial (MP) DPD, a memoryless-linearizing DPD, e.g., a look-up table (LUT) DPD, and two multiplexers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hao Zhou, Ning Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150076321
    Abstract: A column readout amplifier and imaging an-ay using the same method are disclosed. The column readout amplifier includes a signal amplifier having an amplifier signal output, a first filter capacitor, a buffer amplifier having a buffer amplifier input and a buffer amplifier output, and a switching network. The switching network connects the amplifier signal output to the buffer amplifier input and the buffer amplifier output to the first filter capacitor during a first time period, and connects the amplifier signal output directly to the first filter capacitor during a second time period. The time periods can be of fixed duration or determined by the difference in potential between the input and output of the buffer amplifier. The column readout amplifier can be used in an imaging array to readout columns of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Boyd Fowler, Hung Do, Xinqiao Liu
  • Publication number: 20150070093
    Abstract: A logarithmic detector amplifying (LDA) system is provided for use as a high sensitivity receive booster or replacement for a low noise amplifier in a receive chain of a communication device. The LDA system includes an amplifying circuit configured to receive an input signal having a first frequency and generate an oscillation based on the input signal, a sampling circuit coupled to the amplifying circuit and configured to terminate the oscillation based on a predetermined threshold to periodically clamp and restart the oscillation to generate a series of pulses modulated by the oscillation and by the input signal, and one or more resonant circuits coupled with the amplifying circuit and configured to establish a frequency of operation and to generate an output signal having a second frequency, the second frequency being substantially the same as the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: DockOn AG
    Inventors: Patrick Antoine Rada, Forrest James Brown, Alexandre Dupuy
  • Patent number: 8971831
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a front-end system for a radio device, the front-end system comprising a low-noise amplifier (LNA), arranged for receiving a radio frequency input signal (RFIN) and arranged for outputting an amplified radio frequency signal (RFOUT), wherein the low-noise amplifier comprises a first differential amplifier, and a mixer (MIX), arranged for down-converting the amplified radio signal (RFOUT) provided by the low-noise amplifier (LNA) to a baseband signal (BB), by multiplying the amplified radio signal (RFOUT) with a local oscillator (LO) frequency tone, said low-noise amplifier (LNA) and said mixer (MIX) being inductively coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Vojkan Vidojkovic, Kristof Vaesen, Piet Wambacq
  • Publication number: 20140340156
    Abstract: An amplifier comprises a power amplifier for amplifying an unmodulated high-frequency input signal, a first branching device which is provided at an input terminal side of the power amplifier and extracts a signal, a second branching device which is provided at an output terminal side of the power amplifier and extracts a signal, a mixer for mixing a signal from the first branching device and a signal from the second branching device, a low-pass filter for removing a frequency band component of the input signal from an output signal of the mixer, a high-pass filter for removing a DC component from an output signal of the low-pass filter, and a wave detector for extracting a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenta KURODA
  • Publication number: 20140335808
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a configurable low-noise amplifier with programmable band-selection filters may comprise a low-noise amplifier (LNA) with a low pass filter coupled to a first input of the LNA and a high pass filter coupled to a second input of the LNA. The low pass filter and the high pass filter may also be coupled to a signal source input. Signals may be received in a pass band of the high pass filter and a pass band of the low pass filter. Input signals in the pass band of the one filter (but not signals in the pass band of the other filter) may be amplified by coupling the one input of the LNA to ground and coupling the other filter to ground utilizing a shunt resistor. The filters may be configurable and may each comprise at least one inductor and at least one capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Maxlinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Raja Pullela, Wenjian Chen, Vamsi Paidi
  • Publication number: 20140320211
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier with improved stabilization includes an input transmission circuit, an output transmission circuit, at least one cascade amplifier coupled between said input and output transmission circuits. Each cascade amplifier includes a common-gate configured transistor coupled to the output transmission circuit, and a common-source configured transistor coupled between the input transmission circuit and the common-gate configured transistor. The distributed amplifier also includes a non-parasitic resistance and capacitance coupled in series between a drain and a gate of at least one of the common-gate configured transistors for increasing the amplifier stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Keith Benson
  • Publication number: 20140320212
    Abstract: A radio frequency power amplifier amplifies an input signal at an input port, and produces an output signal at an output port. The power amplifier may include one or more amplifier stages. An amplifier stage may include an active device, and a feedback network. The feedback network may include one or more reactive elements configured to resonate at a predetermined frequency, to provide an impedance match at the input to the amplifier stage, and to provide an impedance match at the output of the amplifier stage. In some example implementations, the input and output impedance matching is caused by biasing the active device to produce a transconductance at least one of equal to or greater than a critical transconductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Nader Kalantari, James Buckwalter
  • Patent number: 8860401
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor system and a corresponding sensing method employing the sensor system. The sensor system comprises a sensor (12) having an input (20) and an output (22), a feedback path (16) from the output to the input, and a filter (14; 92) in the feedback path. The filter comprises a narrow band filter, which is tuned or tunable to a respective one of signals that are wanted signals and signals that represent interference signals. The sensor and the filter are arranged so as to alter the relative amplitudes of the wanted signals and the interference signals in order to increase the relative amplitude of the wanted signals and reduce the relative amplitude of the interference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: University of Sussex
    Inventors: Robert Prance, Helen Prance, Christopher Harland
  • Patent number: 8861749
    Abstract: An audio output circuit includes an on-chip left channel amplifier module, an on-chip center channel amplifier module, and an on-chip right channel amplifier module. A left channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip left channel amplifier module. A right channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip right channel amplifier module. A center channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip center channel amplifier module. A center channel feedback IC pin is operably coupled to an input of the on-chip center channel amplifier module to provide a feedback loop. A left jack connection is operably coupled to the left channel IC pin. A right jack connection is operably coupled to the right channel IC pin. A jack return connection coupled to the center feedback IC pin. An inductor has a first node coupled to the jack return connection and a second node coupled to the center channel IC pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew D. Felder
  • Publication number: 20140266459
    Abstract: Circuitry, which includes a package interface, an RF amplification circuit, and a closed-loop phase linearization circuit, is disclosed. The package interface receives an RF signal and provides an amplified RF signal. The RF amplification circuit amplifies the RF signal to generate the amplified RF signal, such that an intermediate RF signal is generated during amplification of the RF signal. The closed-loop phase linearization circuit endogenously establishes a target phase of the amplified RF signal using the RF signal. Further, the closed-loop phase linearization circuit applies a phase-shift to the intermediate RF signal based on a difference between the target phase and a measured phase, which is representative of a phase of the amplified RF signal, wherein the phase-shift reduces phase distortion in the amplified RF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices (Cayman Islands), Ltd.
    Inventors: Baker Scott, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold
  • Publication number: 20140139292
    Abstract: A system for power amplifier over-voltage protection includes a power amplifier configured to receive a system voltage, a bias circuit configured to provide a bias signal to the power amplifier, and a power amplifier over-voltage circuit configured to interrupt the bias signal when the system voltage exceeds a predetermined value, while the system voltage remains coupled to the power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Joel Anthony Penticoff
  • Patent number: 8704598
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a Darlington transistor pair having an input transistor and an output transistor configured to generate an output signal at an output node in response to an input signal received through the input node is disclosed. The circuit has a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) type frequency bias feedback network communicatively coupled between the output transistor and the input node for providing biasing to the Darlington transistor pair as well as for adjusting at least one characteristic of an amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor and into the frequency bias network. The circuit further includes a feedback coupling network coupled between the output node and the input node for feeding back to the input node a portion of the amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Wesley Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8688045
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter and a non-FM receiver, which may be implemented on the same IC chip. The FM transmitter may include a digital FM modulator, a lowpass filter, an amplifier, and an LC tank circuit. The digital FM modulator may receive a digital input signal, perform FM modulation with the digital input signal, and provide a digital FM signal. The lowpass filter may filter the digital FM signal and provide a filtered FM signal. The amplifier may amplify the filtered FM signal and provide an output FM signal. The LC tank circuit may filter the output FM signal. The digital FM modulator may perform FM modulation by changing a variable divider ratio of a multi-modulus divider within a PLL. A delta-sigma modulator may receive the digital input signal and generate a modulator output signal used to obtain the variable divider ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: I-Hsiang Lin, Tzu-wang Pan, Yi Zeng
  • Patent number: 8653888
    Abstract: A high-frequency signal amplifier includes an amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, and amplifying a high-frequency signal; a signal line connected between the output terminal of the amplifier and an antenna; coupled lines arranged in parallel and coupled to the signal line and having different line lengths or differently terminated ends; and phase shifters shifting phase of high-frequency signals applied via the signal line and the coupled lines, supplying the high-frequency signals to the input terminal of the amplifier, and having different amounts of phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinsuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8644773
    Abstract: A multiband low noise amplifier (LNA) with parallel resonant feedback includes an amplifier element configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal at an RF input and provide an amplified version of the RF signal at an RF output, a resistive feedback circuit coupled between the RF input and the RF output, and a plurality of series-coupled resonant circuits coupled in series with the resistive feedback circuit between the RF input and the RF output of the amplifier element, wherein each of the resonant circuits is configured to operate as an effective short circuit at a frequency other than a resonant frequency and configured to operate as an effective open circuit at the resonant frequency to decouple the resistive feedback from the amplifier element at each resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Haki Cebi
  • Publication number: 20130300507
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit amplifies a signal for wireless transmission. A feedback circuit, including a capacitor, is coupled to the amplifier circuit. Components of the feedback circuit are selected based on a feedback factor such that an input impedance to the amplifier circuit has a same impedance characteristic as a feedback circuit impedance of the feedback circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Sehat Sutardja, Kan Li, Poh Boon Leong
  • Publication number: 20130271221
    Abstract: A direct current (DC)-DC converter that includes a first switching converter and a multi-stage filter is disclosed. The multi-stage filter includes at least a first inductance (L) capacitance (C) filter and a second LC filter coupled in series between the first switching converter and a DC-DC converter output. The first LC filter has a first LC time constant and the second LC filter has a second LC time constant, which is less than the first LC time constant. The first switching converter and the multi-stage filter form a feedback loop, which is used to regulate the first switching power supply output signal based on the setpoint. The first LC filter includes a first capacitive element having a first self-resonant frequency, which is about equal to a first notch frequency of the multi-stage filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Chris Levesque, William David Southcombe, David E. Jones, Scott Yoder, Terry J. Stockert
  • Patent number: 8508294
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an amplifier circuit having a phase shift. The amplifier circuit amplifies a signal for wireless transmission. A feedback circuit is coupled to the amplifier circuit and includes a capacitor. An input impedance to the amplifier circuit has a same impedance characteristic as a feedback circuit impedance of the feedback circuit. A total phase shift of the signal for the amplifier circuit and the feedback circuit is less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Kan Li, Poh Boon Leong, Sehat Sutardja
  • Publication number: 20130137383
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a Darlington transistor pair having an input transistor and an output transistor configured to generate an output signal at an output node in response to an input signal received through the input node is disclosed. The circuit has a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) type frequency bias feedback network communicatively coupled between the output transistor and the input node for providing biasing to the Darlington transistor pair as well as for adjusting at least one characteristic of an amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor and into the frequency bias network. The circuit further includes a feedback coupling network coupled between the output node and the input node for feeding back to the input node a portion of the amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8410846
    Abstract: A variable gain amplifier includes an integrator having an input, an output and a feedback loop connected between the input and output, a plurality of input chains connected in parallel between the amplifier input and the input of the integrator, each input chain including a resistor and a first switch and a plurality of second switches, each second switch connected between an intermediate node between the resistor and first switch of a respective input chain and the feedback loop of the integrator, wherein the resistance of the resistors in the input chains is scaled by a scaling factor with respect to one another and the on-resistances of the first and second switches connected to each intermediate node are scaled by the corresponding scaling factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventor: Hashem Zare-Hoseini
  • Patent number: 8390380
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a Darlington transistor pair having an input transistor and an output transistor configured to generate an output signal at an output node in response to an input signal received through the input node is disclosed. The circuit has a frequency bias feedback network communicatively coupled between the output transistor and the input node for providing biasing to the Darlington transistor pair as well as for adjusting a phase and amplitude of an amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor and into the frequency bias network. The circuit further includes a feedback coupling network coupled between the output node and the input node for feeding back to the input node a portion of the amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Wesley Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8310310
    Abstract: An integrator circuit cancels a DC offset component related to an average DC value of a burst mode input signal from the output of an amplifier. The integrator circuit outputs an average DC value of the input signal in a response time that is shorter than the preamble of a burst mode signal. The integrator output signal remains stable within selected amplitude limits for a length of time corresponding to the data portion of a burst mode signal. A transimpedance amplifier embodiment of the invention comprises a TIA gain stage, an integrator, and a voltage-controlled current course. Other embodiments comprise an amplifier for converting single-ended input signals to differential output signals, an amplifier for differential output offset cancellation, a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit die, and a packaged semiconductor integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Gtran Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihao Lao, Hehong Zou
  • Patent number: 8294520
    Abstract: A low noise amplifying (LNA) circuit comprising an amplifying section (11, 12) and a feedback means (14) arranged for providing input matching from the output to the input. The LNA circuit further comprises at least one frequency band determining inductor (15) having a predetermined resonance frequency for influencing at least one frequency band in which the amplifying section operates. The at least one inductor is directly connected to the output of the circuit and the feedback means (14) provides a feedback connection for the section (s) to the input. In this way, the at least one frequency band in which the amplifying section operates is substantially completely determined by the at least one frequency band determining inductor (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: IMEC, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Inventor: Jonathan Borremans
  • Patent number: 8232841
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes an amplifier including an inverting input that communicates with an input signal, a non-inverting input, and an output. A first feedback path communicates with the inverting input and the output of the amplifier. A second feedback path communicates with the inverting input and the output of the amplifier. The first feedback path provides feedback at a lower frequency than the second feedback path. A first resistance has one end that communicates with the output of the amplifier. A first capacitance has one end that communicates with an opposite end of the load resistance. A second resistance has one end that communicates with the inverting input and an opposite end that communicates with the opposite end of the first resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Farbod Aram
  • Publication number: 20120086513
    Abstract: An input stage for an instrumentation system may include a resistor coupled between an input terminal and a summing node, and an amplifier arranged to maintain the voltage at the summing node. In anther embodiment, an instrumentation input system may include an input stage to receive a signal to be measured, and a variable gain amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the input stage, wherein the variable gain amplifier comprises two or more gain stages. A variable gain amplifier may include an attenuator having an input and a series of tap points and a series of low-inertia switches to steer outputs from the attenuator to an output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Barrie Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20120001694
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a linearizer circuit in which excessive delay is compensated. The linearizer circuit includes a power amplifier, forward and feedback paths, and a microprocessor. A signal from the power amplifier is routed by the forward path to be transmitted while a portion of the signal to be transmitted is routed back to the power amplifier via the feedback path. The microprocessor applies phase training signals to the forward path. The microprocessor uses the phase training signals to determine the amount of delay in the linearizer circuit and alters the frequency position of poles and zeros in the linearizer circuit to compensate for the delay. The gain of the linearizer circuit is also altered by the microprocessor depending on the measured delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Moshe Ben-Ayun, Avi Ben-Salmon, Ovadia Grossman, Mark Rozental
  • Publication number: 20110291764
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a Darlington transistor pair having an input transistor and an output transistor configured to generate an output signal at an output node in response to an input signal received through the input node is disclosed. The circuit has a frequency bias feedback network communicatively coupled between the output transistor and the input node for providing biasing to the Darlington transistor pair as well as for adjusting a phase and amplitude of an amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor and into the frequency bias network. The circuit further includes a feedback coupling network coupled between the output node and the input node for feeding back to the input node a portion of the amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Wesley Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20110222712
    Abstract: An audio output circuit includes an on-chip left channel amplifier module, an on-chip center channel amplifier module, and an on-chip right channel amplifier module. A left channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip left channel amplifier module. A right channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip right channel amplifier module. A center channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip center channel amplifier module. A center channel feedback IC pin is operably coupled to an input of the on-chip center channel amplifier module to provide a feedback loop. A left jack connection is operably coupled to the left channel IC pin. A right jack connection is operably coupled to the right channel IC pin. A jack return connection coupled to the center feedback IC pin. An inductor has a first node coupled to the jack return connection and a second node coupled to the center channel IC pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew D. Felder
  • Publication number: 20110148527
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit arranged for converting an input signal into an amplified output signal comprising: an input node (11) at an input side of said circuit for receiving said input signal (pi); an output node (9) at an output side of said circuit for outputting said amplified output signal (io); a first gain element (M1) connected between said input and output nodes and provided for converting an input voltage taken from said input signal into a current for forming said amplified output signal; a negative feedback loop (3) over said first gain element, said negative feedback loop having first elements (5, 6) arranged for providing input matching; and a positive feedback loop (2) over said first gain element, said positive feedback loop having second elements (7, 8) arranged for providing additional input matching and gain enhancement of said first gain element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: STICHTING IMEC NEDERLAND
    Inventor: Sumit Bagga
  • Patent number: 7888910
    Abstract: Techniques for sequencing switched single capacitor for automatic equalization of batteries connected in series are described herein. In one embodiment, a battery equalizer includes a single capacitor, at least two switching circuits to be coupled to each of at least two batteries coupled in series. The battery equalizer further includes at least two driver circuits corresponding the at least two switching circuits and a controller. The controller is programmed to control the driver circuits in order to drive the switching circuits to sequentially couple the single capacitor to one of the batteries coupled in series during charging and/or discharging of the batteries. Only one of the switching circuits is turned on at a given time such that only one of the batteries is coupled to the single capacitor at the given time. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: HDM Systems Corporation
    Inventor: James Jin Xiong Zeng
  • Patent number: 7852158
    Abstract: An operational amplifier includes, between an input and an output of an operational amplifier (an operational amplification stage) 10, a feedback capacitor 34 connected in negative feedback, a phase control circuit 100 having a resistor element (a resistor unit) 30 connected in series to the feedback capacitor 34. Load capacitors (load units) 32 are connected on the output side of the operational amplifier 10 and driven by an output signal from the operational amplifier 10. In a case that the capacitance values of the load capacitor 32 and 33 are increased and the phase margin of the operational amplifier becomes excessive in comparison with the optimum value, a resistance value RO of the resistor element 30 is increased to control the phase margin of the operational amplifier so as to fall within the optimum range, and thus accelerated settling properties are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kobayashi, Junji Nakatsuka
  • Publication number: 20100301946
    Abstract: A low noise amplifying (LNA) circuit comprising an amplifying section (11, 12) and a feedback means (14) arranged for providing input matching from the output to the input. The LNA circuit further comprises at least one frequency band determining inductor (15) having a predetermined resonance frequency for influencing at least one frequency band in which the amplifying section operates. The at least one inductor is directly connected to the output of the circuit and the feedback means (14) provides a feedback connection for the section (s) to the input. In this way, the at least one frequency band in which the amplifying section operates is substantially completely determined by the at least one frequency band determining inductor (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: IMEC, VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
    Inventor: Jonathan Borremans
  • Patent number: 7750739
    Abstract: A dual reactive shunt feedback low noise amplifier design may include a transconductance amplifier having a capacitor coupled across it and a pair of coupled inductors coupled across it. In one embodiment, the coupled inductors may be laid out as two overlapping coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Chang-Tsung Fu, Stewart S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7737787
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit has a transistor element that has an input terminal, an output terminal) and a third terminal. An input signal to be amplified is supplied to the input terminal. The amplified input signal is emitted as an output signal at the output terminal. The input terminal is connected with the output terminal via a first reactance. The third terminal is connected via a second reactance with a zero potential. One of the reactances is fashioned as an inductor and the other of the reactances is fashioned as a capacitor. An inductance value of the inductor and a capacitance value of the capacitor are dimensioned such that the quotient of the inductance value of the inductor and the capacitance value of the capacitor is equal to the product of a desired input impedance that is effective at the input terminal and an output impedance associated with the output impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralph Oppelt, Markus Vester
  • Publication number: 20100134190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a programmable network for a multimode conditionally stable operational amplifier are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Fabio Ballarin, Alfonso D'Andretta, Martin Clara, Antonio Di Giandomenico, Dario Giotta, Andreas Wiesbauer