Including Balanced To Unbalanced Circuits And Vice Versa Patents (Class 330/301)
  • Patent number: 11901867
    Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit includes a first and second amplifiers that output a differential signal in a radio-frequency band, a first inductor having a first end connected to an output end of the first amplifier, a second inductor having a first end connected to an output end of the second amplifier, a choke inductor connected to second ends of the first and second inductors, a first and second capacitors, and a switch that connects the second capacitor in parallel to the first capacitor or terminates a parallel connection of the first and second capacitors. A resonant circuit formed by connecting the first or second inductor in series with the first capacitor has a different resonant frequency from a resonant circuit formed by connecting the first or second inductor in series with the parallel-connected first and second capacitors. These resonant frequencies correspond to second harmonic frequencies of the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuri Honda, Jun Enomoto, Fumio Harima, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11855667
    Abstract: Methods and devices for radio frequency (RF) loopback for transceivers are described. A transceiver for communicating RF signals with a target device may transmit signals at a transmit frequency and receive signals at a (different) receive frequency. The transceiver may include a waveguide diplexer for separating and combining signals based on frequency. The transceiver may be configured to couple a loopback signal from a common port of the waveguide diplexer; the loopback signal may be based on a transmit signal. The transceiver may include a loopback translator to translate the loopback signal from the transmit frequency to the receive frequency and provide the translated loopback signal to a receiver used for receiving signals from the target device. The receiver may compare the translated loopback signal with a representation of the transmit signal to generate a compensation signal. A transmitter may use the compensation signal to adjust subsequent transmit signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth V. Buer, Ramanamurthy V. Darapu, Martin Gimersky, David E. Pettit, Bill T. Agar
  • Patent number: 11616521
    Abstract: A radio-frequency module includes an integrated circuit (IC) device and an external inductor provided outside the IC device. The IC device includes a plurality of low-noise amplifiers, one or more inductors, and a switching circuit. The plurality of low-noise amplifiers includes a plurality of transistors in one to one correspondence. The one or more inductors are coupled to one or more of the plurality of transistors. Each inductor is coupled to the emitter or source of a corresponding one of the plurality of transistors. The switching circuit is coupled between the emitter or source of each of the plurality of transistors and the external inductor. The external inductor is coupled between the switching circuit and ground in series with each of the one or more inductors via the switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11575349
    Abstract: In some embodiments, radio-frequency amplifiers can include a plurality of narrow band power amplifiers implemented. Each narrow band power amplifier can be configured to operate with a high voltage in an average power tracking mode and be capable of being coupled to an output filter associated with a respective individual frequency band. Each narrow band power amplifier can be sized smaller than a wide band power amplifier configured to operate with more than one of the frequency bands associated with the plurality of narrow band power amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip John Lehtola
  • Patent number: 11496100
    Abstract: A matching network is a matching network of a power amplifier circuit that outputs a signal obtained by a differential amplifier amplifying power of a high-frequency signal. The matching network includes an input-side winding connected between differential outputs of the differential amplifier; an output-side winding that is coupled to the input-side winding via an electromagnetic field and whose one end is connected to a reference potential; a first LC series resonant circuit including a capacitive element and an inductive element connected in series with each other, and being connected in parallel with the input-side winding; and a second LC series resonant circuit including a capacitive element and an inductive element connected in series with each other, and being connected in parallel with the output-side winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Takenaka, Masahiro Ito, Tsuyoshi Sato, Kozo Sato, Hidetoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11294420
    Abstract: A low voltage drive circuit (LVDC) includes a drive sense circuit operable to convert analog outbound data into an analog transmit signal and convert analog receive signals into analog inbound data, a transmit digital to analog circuit operable to convert transmit digital data into the analog outbound data, and a receive analog to digital circuit including an analog to digital converter, a digital filtering circuit, and a data formatting module. The data formatting module includes a sample and hold circuit operable to sample and hold an n-bit digital value of filtered digital data from the digital filtering circuit to produce an n-bit sampled digital data value, a digital to digital converter circuit operable to adjust formatting of the n-bit sampled digital data value to produce a formatted digital value, and a data packeting circuit operable to generate a packet of received digital data from a plurality of formatted digital values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11251766
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that allow for correcting a residual frequency offset in the GHz frequency range by using low-complexity analog circuit implementations of a broad-band frequency detector that comprises two analog polyphase filters in a dual configuration. Each filter comprises an RC network of cross-coupled capacitors that facilitate filters with opposite passbands and opposite stop-bands. In various embodiments, the outputs of the two filters are combined to obtain power metrics that when subtracted from each other, deliver a measure of the imbalance between the positive and negative halves of a frequency spectrum. Since the measure is substantially proportional to a frequency offset within a linear range spanning 5 GHz or more, the polyphase filters may be used in a broad-band frequency detector that, based on the measure, adjusts the frequency offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Razzell
  • Patent number: 11057005
    Abstract: An amplifier for converting a single-ended input signal to a differential output signal. The amplifier comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor. The first transistor, configured in common-source or common-emitter mode, receives the single-ended input signal and generates a first part of the differential output signal. The second transistor, also configured in common-source or common-emitter mode, generates a second part of the differential output signal. The third and fourth transistors are capacitively cross-coupled. The amplifier further comprises inductive degeneration such that a source or emitter of the first transistor is connected to a first inductor and a source or emitter of the second transistor is connected to a second inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Pete Sivonen, Jarkko Jussila, Sami Vilhonen
  • Patent number: 11038475
    Abstract: A low-power, low-noise amplifier with a negative feedback loop is provided. A low noise amplifier (LNA) includes a common gate (CG) amplifier, a common source (CS) amplifier having a gate connected to a source of the CG amplifier, a differential current balancer (DCB) connected to an output end of the CG amplifier and an output end of the CS amplifier, a symmetric load connected to the DCB, and a current bleeding circuit with one end connected to the output end of the CS amplifier and another end connected to the symmetric load, the current bleeding circuit including an active element and a load corresponding to the symmetric load, and an output end of the active element is connected to a gate of the CG amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KNU-INDUSTRY COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Ku Duck Kwon
  • Patent number: 10707823
    Abstract: High-frequency amplifier circuitry includes first amplifier circuitry, second amplifier circuitry, and noise figure improving circuitry. The first amplifier circuitry includes a first transistor and a grounded-gate third transistor. The first transistor has a source grounded via a first source inductor and a gate to which an input signal is applied. The third transistor is configured to output from a drain a signal obtained by amplifying a signal outputted from a drain of the first transistor. The second amplifier circuitry includes a same circuit constant as a circuit constant of the first amplifier circuitry and includes a second transistor and a grounded-gate fourth transistor. The noise figure improving circuitry connects the source of the first transistor and the source of the second transistor to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Seshita, Yasuhiko Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 10659712
    Abstract: A signal transfer circuit includes a transmission circuit, a conversion circuit and a sensing output circuit. The transmission circuit outputs a driving signal to a signal line. The conversion circuit receives an input signal that is a single-ended signal transferred through the signal line and converts the input signal to a differential signal including a first output amplified signal and a second output amplified signal. The first output amplified signal swings downwardly from a first output DC level and the second output amplified signal swings upwardly from a second output DC level that is lower than the first output DC level. The sensing output circuit generates an output signal based on the differential signal. The number of the signal lines is reduced without decrease in performance of signal transfer, and sizes of the signal transfer circuit and the device including the signal transfer circuit are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONCIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok-Yong Park, Hee-Sung Chae
  • Patent number: 10615756
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for LNAs with mid-node impedance networks are provided herein. In certain configurations, an LNA includes a mid-node impedance circuit including a resistor and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel, a cascode device electrically connected between an output terminal and the mid-node impedance circuit, and a transconductance device electrically connected between the mid-node impedance circuit and ground. The transconductance device amplifies a radio frequency signal received from an input terminal. The LNA further includes a feedback bias circuit electrically connected between the output terminal and the input terminal and operable to control an input bias voltage of the transconductance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Engin Ibrahim Pehlivanoglu
  • Patent number: 10425050
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an amplification circuit, an apparatus for amplifying, a low noise amplifier, a radio receiver, a mobile terminal, a base station, and a method for amplifying. An amplification circuit (10) for amplifying a radio signal comprises a first amplification stage (12) configured to amplify an input signal, Vin(t), to obtain an intermediate signal. The amplification circuit (10) further comprises a cascoding circuit (14) configured to amplify the intermediate signal to obtain a first output signal Voutn(t). The amplification circuit (10) further comprises a second amplification stage (16) configured to amplify the intermediate signal to obtain a second output signal, Voutp(t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Ashkan Naeini, Robert Kostack, Herbert Stockinger
  • Patent number: 10396734
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential transimpedance amplifier. The differential transimpedance amplifier includes a common gate amplifier configured to receive an electrical signal from an input node, and a common source amplifier configured to have a feedback resistor and receive the electrical signal form the input node. An output signal of the common gate amplifier and an output signal of the common source amplifier form a differential signal pair. The common gate amplifier and the common source amplifier each includes a load having a transformer which removes an effect of parasitic capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: EWHA UNIVERSITY—INDUSTRY COLLABORATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Sung Min Park
  • Patent number: 10361662
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low noise amplifier including a current bleeding circuit. The low noise amplifier includes a common gate amplifier, a common source amplifier of which a gate is connected to a source of the common gate amplifier, a symmetric load connected to an output end of the common gate amplifier and an output end of the common source amplifier, and a current bleeding circuit of which one end is connected to the output end of the common source amplifier and another end is connected to the symmetric load, and including an active element and a load corresponding to the symmetric load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: KNU-INDUSTRY COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Ku Duck Kwon
  • Patent number: 10348261
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential transimpedance amplifier. The differential transimpedance amplifier includes a common gate amplifier configured to receive an electrical signal from an input node, and a common source amplifier configured to have a feedback resistor and receive the electrical signal form the input node, wherein an output signal of the common gate amplifier and an output signal of the common source amplifier form a differential signal pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: EWHA UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Sung Min Park
  • Patent number: 10340889
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for reducing noise in a non-Foster circuit having at least a pair of cross coupled transistor devices, each transistor device of the pair of cross coupled transistor devices having a pair of current carrying electrodes. The method and apparatus involves coupling inductors with each pair of the current carrying electrodes of each of the cross-coupled transistor devices in the non-Foster circuit, the inductors also being coupled with voltage and/or current sources associated with or coupled to the non-Foster circuit. The nominal values of the inductors are selected to provide a load asymmetry, so that the load inductor in the input side of the non-Foster circuit has a larger inductance than the load inductor at the output side of non-Foster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Zhiwei A. Xu, Carson R. White, Jonathan J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 10044385
    Abstract: Provided is a transmitter. The transmitter includes a signal combiner configured to amplify a first differential radio frequency (RF) signal modulated to be transmitted through a first frequency band and a second differential RF signal modulated to be transmitted through a second frequency band non-adjacent to the first frequency band and summate the amplified first differential RF signal and the amplified second differential RF signal in a current mode to generate an RF signal and a power amplifier configured to amplify the generated RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Dong Woo Kang, Cheon Soo Kim, Jang Hong Choi
  • Patent number: 10044400
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transmit-receive switch has an antenna port, first and second transmit differential ports and first and second receive differential ports. Transmit transistor switches are connected to the transmit differential ports. Primary and secondary windings of a transmit coupled inductor transformer are connected to the transmit transistor switches. Receive transistor switches are connected to the receive differential ports. Primary and secondary windings of a receive coupled inductor transformer are connected to the receive transistor switches. A first balun inductive winding is connected to the antenna port, and a second balun inductive winding is connected to the transistor switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisette L. Zhang, Oleksandr Gorbachov
  • Patent number: 9948248
    Abstract: An amplifier for converting a single-ended input signal to a differential output signal. The amplifier comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor. The first transistor, configured in common-source or common-emitter mode, receives the single-ended input signal and generates a first part of the differential output signal. The second transistor, also configured in common-source or common-emitter mode, generates a second part of the differential output signal. The third and fourth transistors are capacitively cross-coupled. The amplifier further comprises inductive degeneration such that a source or emitter of the first transistor is connected to a first inductor and a source or emitter of the second transistor is connected to a second inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Pete Sivonen, Jarkko Jussila, Sami Vilhonen
  • Patent number: 9685698
    Abstract: Multi-tap switchable antenna apparatus for use with mobile devices and other applications, and methods of utilizing the same. In one embodiment, the multi-tap switchable antenna apparatus includes a main radiator coupled to an antenna feed or source. Galvanically connected to the main radiator is a plurality of switchable antenna radiators which are in turn connected to an nPmT switch. The output of the nPmT switch can be connected to a variety of differing electronic component impedances. By altering the state of the nPmT switch, the operational length of the antenna (and hence, the operational frequency band of the antenna) can be varied. Performance characteristics associated with a given implementation of the multi-tap switchable apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: PULSE FINLAND OY
    Inventor: Prasadh Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 9647638
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing transmit signal interference is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a signal and amplifying the received signal. The received signal is then mixed with an intermediate frequency signal to obtain a baseband modulated signal. The baseband modulated signal is first filtered in an RC filter. The resulting signal is then divided by a preselected amount and the first divided portion is sent to a main path of a biquad filter, which produces a first stage biquad filtered signal. The second portion of the divided signal is sent to an auxiliary path of the biquad filter, and produces a second filtered signal. The first and second signals are then recombined and sent to the second stage of the biquad filter, where further filtering takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mohammad Bagher Vahid Far, Cheng-Han Wang, Jesse Aaron Richmond, Thinh Cat Nguyen, Abbas Komijani, Yashar Rajavi, Alireza Khalili
  • Patent number: 9614498
    Abstract: An active balun circuit includes a CG transistor having a source terminal thereof connected to an input terminal and a gate terminal thereof grounded, a CS transistor having a gate terminal thereof connected to the input terminal and a source terminal thereof grounded, an asymmetrical transformer, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The asymmetrical transformer includes a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil includes a first inductor connected to the CG transistor and a second inductor connected to the CS transistor. The secondary coil includes a third inductor associated with the first inductor and a fourth inductor associated with the second inductor. The first output terminal outputs a first signal generated at the third inductor, and the second output terminal outputs a second signal generated at the fourth inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Takeuchi, Koji Tsutsumi, Takayuki Nakai, Eiji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9565505
    Abstract: The excursion of a loudspeaker cone is estimated using a reference signal in one example, a primary signal, produced by a cone of a loudspeaker, is received and a reference signal produced simultaneously with the primary signal by the loudspeaker cone is received. The reference signal causes an excursion of the loudspeaker cone that is amplitude modulated by the excursion caused by the primary signal. An amplitude modulation of the reference signal is determined and an excursion of the loudspeaker cone is determined using the determined amplitude modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL IP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Ronig, Markus Hammes, Christian Kranz
  • Patent number: 9503053
    Abstract: An active balun uses two inverters to produce a differential output from a single-ended input. A current source supplies current to both inverters and a current sink sinks current from both inverters. The inverters include bias resistors coupled between their inputs and outputs. A coupling capacitor couples the output of the first inverter to the input of the first inverter. Values of the bias resistors and the coupling capacitor may selected to assure stability of the active balun. The values may be programmable, for example, based on a desired operating frequency. The current source may be biased by a common-mode feedback circuit based on the common-mode voltage of the differential output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sunyoung Kim, Cheng-Han Wang
  • Patent number: 9300337
    Abstract: A device includes, a reconfigurable baseband filter configured to receive a communication signal having a first carrier and a second carrier, the first carrier and the second carrier having non-contiguous respective frequencies, the reconfigurable baseband filter having a first filter portion and a second filter portion, the first filter portion and the second filter portion each comprising respective first and second amplification stages, and a plurality of switches associated with the first filter portion and the second filter portion, the plurality of switches for configuring the reconfigurable baseband filter into a plurality of sub-filters, each configured to generate at least one of a low pass filter output and a bandpass filter output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Aleksandar Miodrag Tasic, Klaas van Zalinge, Gurkanwal Singh Sahota, Jeremy Darren Dunworth
  • Patent number: 9281787
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a low-noise amplifier (LNA) having a balun configuration. The LNA includes a DC current path coupling a first DC supply node to a second DC supply node. First and second output nodes and first and second input nodes are spaced apart along a length of the DC current path. A single-ended radio frequency (RF) input terminal is configured to deliver a single-ended RF signal to the first and second input nodes. A differential RF output terminal is made up of the first and second output nodes. The first and second output nodes are configured to cooperatively establish a differential output signal based on the single-ended RF signal. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Vadim Issakov
  • Patent number: 9263998
    Abstract: A low-noise amplifier accepts a single-ended input signal at an input port and provides a differential output signal at an output port. Each of a pair of transistors in the amplifier has a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals that share a common terminal. A feedback circuit is electrically connected between the non-common output terminal and the non-common input terminal of a closed-loop one of the transistors and is electrically disconnected from any two terminals of an open-loop one of the transistors. The input port has a signal-carrying input terminal electrically connected to the non-common input terminal of both of the transistors and a ground terminal. The output port has a positive terminal electrically connected to the common terminal of the open-loop transistor and a negative terminal electrically connected to non-common output terminal of the closed-loop transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung-Chuan Pai
  • Patent number: 9093978
    Abstract: A balun is disclosed that includes a main tank circuit, and at least one auxiliary tank circuit. The main tank circuit includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The auxiliary tank circuit, which includes an auxiliary winding magnetically coupled to the primary and secondary windings and terminated in a capacitor, is electrically isolated from the main tank circuit and from an output port of the balun. The frequency responses of the main tank circuit and the auxiliary tank circuit may combine to result in a composite frequency response that is wider than the frequency response of the main tank circuit. The auxiliary tank circuit may be formed within an interior area of the primary and secondary windings of the main tank circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Alborz Jooyaie, Shervin Moloudi
  • Patent number: 9054648
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wideband active balun LNA topology with narrow-band filtering and noise cancelling. The amplifier includes three transconductance stages, a feedback network, and a load. The first and second transconductance stages are connected in parallel to receive the input signal. The differential output of the first transconductance stage is fed back to voltage input through a differential-to-single-end-end feedback network, while the output of the first transconductance, passing through the third transconductance, is added to the output of the second transconductance stage in proper phase. The present invention accomplish both wideband low-noise amplification and narrow-band filtering without inserting interface stages, thereby improving the linearity and noise performance of the whole circuit. Noise cancellation technique is implemented in differential way to ensure the low noise figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignees: MONTAGE TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD., SUZHOU MONTAGE MICROELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Xu
  • Patent number: 9048789
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a low-noise amplifier (LNA) having a balun configuration. The LNA includes a DC current path coupling a first DC supply node to a second DC supply node. First and second output nodes and first and second input nodes are spaced apart along a length of the DC current path. A single-ended radio frequency (RF) input terminal is configured to deliver a single-ended RF signal to the first and second input nodes. A differential RF output terminal is made up of the first and second output nodes. The first and second output nodes are configured to cooperatively establish a differential output signal based on the single-ended RF signal. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventor: Vadim Issakov
  • Patent number: 9042844
    Abstract: A transceiver includes: a power amplifying circuit arranged to generate differential output signals during a transmitting mode of the transceiver; a balance-unbalance circuit arranged to convert the differential output signals into a single-ended output signal; a switchable matching circuit arranged to receive the single-ended output signal on a signal port of the transceiver during the transmitting mode, and to convert a single-ended receiving signal on the signal port into a single-ended input signal during a receiving mode of the transceiver; and a low-noise amplifying circuit arranged to convert the single-ended input signal into a low-noise input signal during the receiving mode. The power amplifying circuit, the Balun, the switchable matching circuit, and the low-noise amplifying circuit are configured as a single chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ti-Ku Yu, Sang Won Son, Chia-Hsin Wu, Tsung-Ming Chen, Wei-Chia Chan
  • Publication number: 20150137892
    Abstract: A polarity-switching amplifier circuit includes: a first amplifying transistor and a second amplifying transistor, a transformer which includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a polarity-switching controller. An unbalanced input signal is input to the first amplifying transistor and the second amplifying transistor. The transformer receives an output signal of the first amplifying transistor and an output signal of the second amplifying transistor as a balanced signal input to the primary winding, and outputs a signal from the secondary winding. The polarity-switching controller turns on one of the first amplifying transistor and the second amplifying transistor and turns off the other thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Lt d.
    Inventors: Isao Imazeki, Masaki Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 9030262
    Abstract: An input receiver circuit including a single-to-differential amplifier and a semiconductor device including the input receiver circuit are disclosed. The input receiver circuit includes a first stage amplifier unit and a second stage amplifier unit. The first stage amplifier unit amplifies a single input signal in a single-to-differential mode to generate a differential output signal, without using a reference voltage. The second stage amplifier unit amplifies the differential output signal in a differential-to-single mode to generate a single output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chul Cho, Yoon-Joo Eom, Young-Jin Jeon, Yong-Cheol Bae
  • Publication number: 20150109059
    Abstract: A system includes a differential circuit, multiple cross-coupled transconductance circuits. In some implementations, the differential circuit may include an inductor coil in a balun or transformer. The cross-coupled transconductance circuits may act to reduce the internal resistance of the differential circuit to increase the quality factor of the differential circuit. The cross-coupled transconductance circuit may be connected at differential points along the differential circuit and be engaged and disengaged to linearize the quality factor of the differential circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ali Afsahi
  • Patent number: 8975965
    Abstract: A differential signal correction circuit is disclosed. The differential signal correction circuit may comprise a first single-ended-to-differential converter and a second single-ended-to-differential converter. Each one of the two converters may comprise an input port and two output ports. The converters may be configured to perform a first phase correction for a pair of differential signals and output a first output signal and a second output signal. The first output signal is fed back to the first converter through one of the output ports of the first converter, and the second output signal is fed back to the second converter through one of the output ports of the second converter so as to perform phase correction and amplitude correction for the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Shuo-Chun Chou, Hsi-Han Chiang, Chorng-Kuang Wang, Shen-Iuan Liu
  • Patent number: 8970305
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit including an amplifier, a first feedback path, and a second feedback path. The amplifier is configured to amplify an input signal in accordance with a gain. The first feedback path includes a first capacitance, and responsive to the input signal being within in a first frequency range, the first feedback path configured to provide feedback from the output of the amplifier to an inverting input of the amplifier. The second feedback path includes a first resistance connected in series with a second capacitance, and responsive to the input signal being within in a second frequency range, the second feedback path is configured to provide feedback from the output of the amplifier to the inverting input of the amplifier. The second frequency range is less than the first frequency range, and the gain of the amplifier levels off according to a value of the second capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Farbod Aram
  • Publication number: 20150042340
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for amplifying a radio-frequency signal and an MRI system comprising the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Keqiu Zeng, Yong Liu, Tao Wang
  • Publication number: 20150035609
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises a first stage that functions as a single-ended to differential converter for signals in a low frequency range and a second stage that is electrically connected to the first stage and functions as a single-ended to differential converter for signals in a high frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Neil Adams
  • Patent number: 8912788
    Abstract: System and methods for detecting substances such as explosives via the nuclear quadrupole resonance effect. We observe that the nuclear quadrupole resonances of explosives located within a cavity portal involve continuous Rabi transitions which are nonlinear processes since stimulated emission occurs. In other words, where there are no resonances caused by the presence of an explosive, high average power and low average power measurements should be identical. However, when resonances are stimulated by the system, the difference between these two conditions can be compared to determine a correction to measurements made when a person located in the cavity has explosive material on their person, without the need for separate empty portal or elaborate calibration procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: AMI Research & Development, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Judy Feng, William Mouyos, Benjamin McMahon
  • Patent number: 8860507
    Abstract: An amplifier includes a transformer and a first stage gain circuit. The transformer includes a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil is utilized for receiving an input signal. The first stage gain circuit has a first input port, which is coupled to the primary coil. The first stage gain circuit is utilized for gaining the input signal so as to generate a first output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Hsien-Ku Chen, Chia-Jun Chang, Ka-Un Chan, Ying-Hsi Lin
  • Publication number: 20140266469
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a low-noise amplifier (LNA) having a balun configuration. The LNA includes a DC current path coupling a first DC supply node to a second DC supply node. First and second output nodes and first and second input nodes are spaced apart along a length of the DC current path. A single-ended radio frequency (RF) input terminal is configured to deliver a single-ended RF signal to the first and second input nodes. A differential RF output terminal is made up of the first and second output nodes. The first and second output nodes are configured to cooperatively establish a differential output signal based on the single-ended RF signal. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Vadim Issakov
  • Patent number: 8786372
    Abstract: This application reduces the power of series combined transformers and of parallel combined transformers while maintaining efficiency. In one embodiment, a series combined transformer is provided with a switch between a first primary inductor and a second primary inductor, in order to provide at least two modes. In a high power mode, the switch is open and the series combined transformer operates normally. In a low power mode, the switch is closed, one amplifier from a first differential amplifier pair is shut down, one amplifier from a second differential pair is shut down, and the series combined transformer operates efficiently in a low power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne D. Tattershall, David E. Jones
  • Patent number: 8742851
    Abstract: A CMOS distributed amplifier with distributed active input balun is disclosed. Each gm cell within the distributed amplifier employs dual-output two-stage topology that improves gain and linearity without adversely affecting bandwidth and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Amin Jahanian, Payam Heydari
  • Patent number: 8711831
    Abstract: A new design configuration of an RF-transceiver front end is proposed. The Power Amplifier (PA) output stage of the transceiver comprises a cascode circuitry of N-type transistors with open-drain-configuration. The cascode-transistor is acting as a common-gate-transistor, whose gate is controlled to block the transmitting-(TX) path. The Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) input stage uses a common-gate configuration of a p-channel MOS-transistor that is controlled by the voltage at the bulk terminal. Lifting the bulk potential of this PMOS-transistor above its source potential disables the receiving-(RX)-path. This design allows low cost implementation for TDMA-RF-transceivers especially for Bluetooth-Solutions. The number of external components is reduced. No additional TX/RX switch is required. The same port and the same matching elements for the antenna's bandwidth adaptation are used for both the TX-path and the RX-path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Rahim Akbari
  • Patent number: 8633771
    Abstract: There is provided a power amplifier including an amplifying unit having at least two cascode amplifiers connected in parallel to amplify an input signal; and a bias supply unit supplying bias power to a common gate node of the two cascode amplifiers, and removing a signal of a pre-set frequency band corresponding to a baseband at the common gate node by controlling impedance of the common gate node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Bon Hoon Koo, Byeong Hak Jo, Ki Yong Son, Yoo Sam Na, Song Cheol Hong
  • Patent number: 8604882
    Abstract: A circuit for single ended to differential conversion is disclosed. The circuit comprises a source for providing a single ended signal; and a transformer for receiving the single ended signal. The transformer includes first and second inductors. The first and second inductors are mutually coupled. When the operating frequency changes, a phase difference of currents flowing through the inductors changes, and therefore a phase difference between effective impedance of the first and second inductors changes to maintain a substantially 180 degree phase difference due to the mutual coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ralink Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Chiyuan Lu
  • Patent number: 8587381
    Abstract: An amplifier and a method are provided for converting a single ended signal to an amplified differential signal. The amplifier comprises an input configured to receive a single ended signal, a differential amplifier that outputs an amplified differential signal based on the single ended signal, and a compensator coupled to the differential amplifier and configured to inject an adjusted distortion compensating signal based on the even order distortion signal to compensate for a distortion in the amplified differential signal. The method comprises receiving a single ended signal, converting the single ended signal to an amplified differential signal, and generating a distortion compensating signal to substantially cancel an even order distortion signal injected to the differential signal by the converting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Danilo Manstretta, Fernando DeBernardinis
  • Patent number: 8576008
    Abstract: An RF receiver is described comprising a common gate common source LNA with a variable resistor in the source of the common gate transistor, a variable resistor in the source of the common source transistor, and a variable resistor in the RF input. A Smart Gain Control varies the resistance in the resistors to produce linear amplification in the LNA while maintaining input matching. Further, a broad dynamic range RSSI is described that implements a feedback control loop to maintain signal power within a sensitivity range of the power detector in the RSSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: SiTune Corporation
    Inventors: Saeid Mehrmanesh, Vahid Mesgarpour Toosi
  • Patent number: 8576012
    Abstract: A single-to-differential conversion circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a transforming unit. Each of the first and second transistors has first, second and third terminals. The transforming unit has first, second, and third induction elements. The first induction element has a first inductive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor, and a second inductive terminal coupled to a voltage source. The second induction element has a first inductive terminal to be coupled to the voltage source, and a second inductive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor. The third induction element has a first inductive terminal coupled to the first terminals of the first and second transistors, and a second inductive terminal coupled to ground. The third induction element electrically couples to the first and the second induction elements according to first and second coupling parameters, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Hsien-Ku Chen