Beat Frequency Patents (Class 331/37)
  • Patent number: 11888585
    Abstract: A network subscriber of an automation communication network is provided to exchange data with further network subscribers in the automation communication network at a predetermined clock frequency. The network subscriber has an internal clock for synchronizing the data exchange with at least one other network subscriber. The internal clock is embodied to provide a time as an integer count value. The clock frequency is determined in such a way that a period duration per clock pulse cannot be represented as an integer count value by the internal clock. A method of operating the network subscriber in the automation communication network comprises the following method step: the internal clock is incremented with a predetermined sequence of integer increments. The sequence of integer increments is predetermined such that a sum of the integer increments corresponds to an integer multiple of the period duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 11831278
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator device includes first and second voltage-controlled oscillators, a first switch group including two first switches, and a second switch group including two second switches. The first voltage-controlled oscillator includes a first inductor group, a first negative resistance circuit and a first voltage output terminal group. The second voltage-controlled oscillator includes a second inductor group, a second negative resistance circuit and a second voltage output terminal group. For the first switch group, first control terminals are electrically connected to the first voltage output terminal group, first input terminals are electrically connected to the second voltage output terminal group, first output terminals are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Chang, Yu Lee, Hua-Shan Hu, Ching-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 11496164
    Abstract: Transmitters, sensor systems, and methods of transmission include a frequency adjuster coupled to a ring oscillator to reduce latency and power consumption and to receive a signal from the ring oscillator. The frequency adjuster includes logic circuits to adjust the signal to a selected transmission frequency band. A band switch is coupled to the ring oscillator and the frequency adjuster to select logic circuits within the frequency adjuster to determine the selected transmission frequency band from a set of output frequency bands. A first radio front end is coupled to the frequency adjuster to transmit the signal on the selected transmission frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sudipto Chakraborty, Rajiv Joshi
  • Patent number: 11171636
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to provide phase imbalance correction. An example system includes a phase detector to obtain a first signal and generate a first output, a comparator coupled to the phase detector, the comparator to generate a second output based on the first output, and an amplifier coupled to the comparator, the amplifier to adjust a first phase response of the first signal based on the second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tolga Dinc, Salvatore Luciano Finocchiaro, Gerd Schuppener, Siraj Akhtar, Swaminathan Sankaran, Baher Haroun
  • Patent number: 10376205
    Abstract: An electronic tuning fork device including a control unit including a processor, electrically connected to an input unit and the display component, wherein the processor is configured to generate a first square wave signal and determine a gain parameter according to a predetermined mode, wherein the gain parameter is a value selected from between a predetermined maximum value and a predetermined minimum value, a frequency divider electrically connected to the processor, configured to down-convert the first square wave signal and output a second square wave signal, a first waveform conversion circuit, electrically connected to the processor, configured to convert the first square wave signal into a first sine wave signal, a second waveform conversion circuit, electrically connected to the frequency divider, configured to convert the second square signal into a second sine wave signal, a mixer, electrically connected to the first and second waveform conversion circuits, configured to mix the first sine wave sig
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE PRECISION INSTRUMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Jean Marie Binier
  • Patent number: 10187021
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for DC offset compensation. An amplifier receives an input signal (AIN) and provides an amplified output signal (SOUT) and a feedback path provides DC offset compensation. The feedback path comprises at least one voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a counter. The VCO provides, over time, a first VCO output signal based on said amplified output signal and a second VCO output signal based on a reference signal (VREF). The counter generates first pulse counts based upon the first VCO output signal and second pulse counts based upon the second VCO output signal and provides a compensation signal based on a comparison of the first and second pulse counts. One voltage controlled oscillator may sequentially receive a signal based on said amplifier output signal and the reference signal from a multiplexer so as to sequentially produce the first and second VCO output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John Paul Lesso
  • Patent number: 9667369
    Abstract: A video signal and an audio signal are TMDS transmitted from a source device to a sink device. Through a reserved line and a HPD line provided separately from a TMDS transmission line, an Ethernet™ signal is bidirectionally transmitted, and also, a SPDIF signal is transmitted from the sink device to the source device. The Ethernet™ signal bidirectionally transmitted between Ethernet™ transmitter/receiver circuits is differentially transmitted by an amplifier and is received by the amplifier. The SPDIF signal from a SPDIF transmitter circuit is common-mode transmitted from an adder and is received by the adder to be supplied to the SPDIF receiver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Gen Ichimura, Hidekazu Kikuchi, Yasuhisa Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9529380
    Abstract: A circuit for generating a local oscillator signal includes: at least one divider module configured to receive an input signal and divide a frequency of the input signal by a division ratio; and a load circuit coupled to the at least one divider module, the load circuit configured to provide balanced current pulses that substantially reduce at least a portion of harmonic current ripples in the local oscillator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sujiang Rong, Rajagopalan Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 9531571
    Abstract: An agile transceiver including a receiver channel that includes an input, a coarse tracking filter coupled to the input, the coarse tracking filter having a set of at least two bandpass filters for filtering signals from the input into at least two coarse pass bands, a mixer coupled to an output of the coarse tracking filter, a selected local oscillator coupled to the mixer for mixing with the output of the coarse tracking filter and shifting a desired coarse pass band to near a base band, a fine tracking filter for filtering the shifted and desired coarse pass band to a fine pass band, and a band pass ?? demodulator for converting signals in the fine pass band from analog into digital. The agile transceiver may include a corresponding transmitter channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Zhiwei A. Xu, Yen-Cheng Kuan, James Chingwei Li, Donald A. Hitko, Joseph F. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9263855
    Abstract: Pulse power can be stabilized by applying spectrally narrow pulses to a laser diode during gain switching. An injection locking laser with a narrow emission bandwidth is tuned to a gain bandwidth of a laser diode to be gain switched. The injection locking emission is pulsed to provide locking pulses that are attenuated and then coupled to a laser diode. A gain switching pulse drive is applied to the laser diode in the presence of the attenuated locking pulses. The gain switched output is then stabilized with respect to pulse energy and pulse amplitude, and is suitable as a seed pulse for lasers to be used in materials processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: nLight Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy S. McComb, Dennis McCal
  • Patent number: 9019019
    Abstract: The invention concerns an oscillator generating a wave composed of a frequency of on the order of terahertz from a beat of two optical waves generated by a dual-frequency optical source. The oscillator includes a modulator the transfer function of which is non-linear for generating harmonics with a frequency of less than one terahertz for each of the optical waves generated by the dual-frequency optical source, an optical detector able to detect at least one harmonic for each of the optical waves generated by the dual-frequency optical source and transforming the harmonics detected into an electrical signal, a phase comparator for comparing the electrical signal with a reference electrical signal, and a module for controlling at least one element of the dual-frequency optical source with a signal obtained from the signal resulting from the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Universite de Rennes 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Mehdi Alouini, Goulc'hen Loas, François Bondu, Marc Vallet, Marc-Olivier Brunel, Marco Romanelli
  • Patent number: 9000848
    Abstract: Mechanical resonating structures are used to generate signals having a target frequency with low noise. The mechanical resonating structures may generate output signals containing multiple frequencies which may be suitably combined with one or more additional signals to generate the target frequency with low noise. The mechanical resonating structures may be used to form oscillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sand 9, Inc.
    Inventor: Pritiraj Mohanty
  • Patent number: 8570089
    Abstract: An embodiment of a circuit for driving an under-damped system comprises first and second signal generators. The first generator is operable to generate a first drive signal. And the second generator is operable to receive the first drive signal and a second drive signal, and to generate from the first and second drive signals a system drive signal having a first amplitude for a first duration and having a second amplitude after the first duration, the system drive signal operable to cause the under-damped system to operate in a substantially damped manner. Either or both of the first and second generators may be programmable such that one may adjust the response of any under-damped system by generating an appropriate drive signal instead of by physically modifying the system itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics R&D Co. Ltd. (Shanghai)
    Inventors: Sarah Gao, Jianhua Zhao, Wadeo Ou
  • Patent number: 8346163
    Abstract: A system for distributing radio frequency signals using a data cable system includes a method and components that receive a radio frequency (RF) signal, identify at least one unoccupied channel on the data cable system, convert the RF signal to the frequency associated with an unoccupied channel as a converted signal, insert the converted signal into the cable, extract the converted signal from the cable as an extracted signal, convert the extracted signal to a transmission frequency as a transmission signal, and transmit the transmission signal at the transmission frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
    Inventors: Allan Bartlett, Alan Law, Toby Proctor
  • Patent number: 8264284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an atomic frequency acquisition device comprising a gas cell (400) filled with an atomic gas, a laser light source (100) emitting a laser beam which enters the gas cell (40) and excites a first energy transition of the atomic gas, a local oscillator (700) for generating an oscillator frequency in a frequency range including a frequency of a HFS transition of the atomic gas, and a modulator (600) modulating the laser light source (100) so as to emit laser radiation modulated with the oscillator frequency. An optical reflector (500) is arranged behind the gas cell (400) to reflect the laser beam after passage through the atomic gas so as to re-enter the laser cavity. A photodetector (200) detects beat frequencies caused by self-mixing interference within the laser cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Holger Moench
  • Patent number: 8242857
    Abstract: A single side band (SSB) mixer includes an in-phase SSB mixer unit and a quadrature-phase SSB mixer unit. The in-phase SSB mixer unit generates an in-phase output current, and includes a first transformer load in which a portion of a quadrature-phase output current flows. The quadrature-phase SSB mixer unit generates the quadrature-phase output current, and includes a second transformer load in which a portion of the in-phase output current flows. The SSB mixer may be used in a wide frequency band without degrading frequency selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-Goo Moh
  • Patent number: 8174328
    Abstract: A dual-band wideband local oscillation signal generator includes an oscillation unit, a division unit, a poly phase filter (PPF), a switch unit, and a single side band (SSB) mixer. The oscillation unit is configured to generate a positive in-phase (IP) signal, a negative in-phase (IN) signal, a negative quadrature-phase (QN) signal, and a positive quadrature-phase (QP) signal. The division unit is configured to divide frequencies of the IP signal and the IN signal and generate an RF signal. The PPF is configured to receive the IP signal and the IN signals inputted to the division unit, and generate an LO IP signal, an LO IN signal, an LO QP signal, and an LO QN signal. The switch unit is configured to receive the generated LO signals and select a high band frequency signal or a low band frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Bong-Hyuk Park, Kwang-Chun Lee, Hyun-Kyu Chung
  • Patent number: 8169266
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include circuits and methods for improving the spectral purity of mixer circuits. In one embodiment the present invention includes a mixer circuit comprising a first transistor having a gate, a source and a drain, a second transistor having a gate, a source and a drain, a first capacitance coupled between the source of the first transistor and the source of the second transistor and a bias circuit having an input, a first output coupled to the source of the first transistor and a second output coupled to the source of the second transistor. The present invention may be advantageously used in a wireless transmitter application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: WiLinx Corporation
    Inventors: Edris Rostami, Rahim Bagheri, Masoud Djafari, Abbas Komijani
  • Patent number: 8120433
    Abstract: Provided are a multi-output oscillator using a single oscillator, and a method of generating multiple outputs. The multi-output oscillator includes: an oscillator outputting the single frequency; a multiplier multiplying the single frequency to output a first frequency; a first frequency divider dividing the single frequency by a first division factor; a first mixer outputting a second frequency by mixing an output of the first frequency divider and an output of the multiplier; a second frequency divider dividing the single frequency by a second division factor; a second mixer mixing the output of the second frequency divider and the output of the first mixer to output a third frequency; and a third mixer mixing the output of the second frequency divider and the output of the multiplier to output a fourth frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kwang-Seon Kim, Woo-Jin Byun, Min-Soo Kang, Bong-Su Kim, Tae-Jin Chung, Myung-Sun Song
  • Patent number: 8116677
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Meng-An Pan, Hung-Ming Chien, Shahla Khorram, William T. Colleran, Jacob Rael, Masood Syed, Brima Ibrahim, Stephen Wu, Shervin Moloudi
  • Patent number: 8031010
    Abstract: The present invention is a Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC)-enabled Time and Frequency Standard (CTFS) architecture. The CTFS architecture includes a microcontroller, a Time Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCCO) circuit which is connected to the microcontroller, and a Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) which is connected to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured for selectively causing the CTFS to provide a TCCO circuit-based output frequency when the CTFS has not locked to a predetermined atomic resonance, and is further configured for causing the CTFS to provide a CSAC-based output frequency when the CTFS has locked to a predetermined atomic resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy W. Berquist, Robert A. Newgard, Joseph M. Bohl
  • Patent number: 7986192
    Abstract: Provided are a harmonic rejection mixer and a harmonic rejection mixing method. A plurality of oscillator signals having a ? duty cycle and uniform phase differences may be generated and a differential or quadrature mixer with harmonic rejection may be realized by using the oscillator signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Sang-sung Lee, Sang-gug Lee
  • Patent number: 7970358
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Hooman Darabi, Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7925222
    Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for simultaneous FM transmission and FM reception using a shared antenna and a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) may be disclosed. In a FM transceiver that receives FM signals at a frequency f1 and transmits FM signals at a frequency f2, aspects of the method may include generating via a DDFS, a signal corresponding to a difference between f1 and f2 to enable simultaneous transmission and reception of FM signals via shared antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7809338
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. An input baseband signal is interpolated and upconverted in the digital domain to an IF. The LO operates at a frequency which is a n/m division of the target RF frequency fRF. The IF frequency is configured to ½ of the LO frequency. The upconverted IF signal is then converted to the analog domain via digital power amplifiers followed by voltage combiners. The output of the combiners is band pass filtered to extract the desired replica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Yossi Tsfati
  • Patent number: 7805122
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. The signal is input to a synthesizer timed to a rational multiplier of the RF frequency fRF. The signal is then divided to generate a plurality of phases of the divided signal. A plurality of combination signals are generated which are then multiplied by a set of weights and summed to cancel out some undersired products. The result is filtered to generate the LO output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory Lerner, Nir Tal
  • Patent number: 7783251
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Meng-An Pan, Hung-Ming Chien, Shahla Khorram, William T. Colleran, Jacob Rael, Masood Syed, Brima Ibrahim, Stephen Wu, Shervin Moloudi
  • Patent number: 7778610
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. The use of analog mixers of the prior art is avoided and replaced with an XOR gate configured to generate the correct average frequency. The edges are dynamically adjusted by ±T/12 or zero based on the state of the controlled oscillator down-divided clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert B. Staszewski, Nir Tal
  • Patent number: 7756472
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Hooman Darabi, Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Shahla Khorram, Brima Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 7756487
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. The input signal is fed to a synthesizer timed to a rational multiplier of the RF frequency L/N fRF. The clock signal generated is divided by a factor Q to form 2Q phases of the clock at a frequency of L(N*Q)fRF, wherein each phase undergoes division by L. The phase signals are input to a pulse generator which outputs a plurality of pulses. The pulses are input to a selector which selects which signal to output at any point in time. By controlling the selector, the output clock is generated as a TDM based signal. Any spurs are removed by an optional filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory Lerner, Nir Tal, Robert B. Staszewski
  • Patent number: 7728684
    Abstract: Device and method for temperature compensation in a clock oscillator using quartz crystals, which integrates dual crystal oscillators. The minimal power consumption is achieved through an efficient use of a processor in charge of the synchronization of the two oscillators. The invention is particularly adapted for the provision of a precise reference clock in portable radiolocalization devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Andrew Tozer
  • Patent number: 7701299
    Abstract: A low phase noise PLL synthesizer is described in which an initial tuning mechanism uses a conventional divider loop to lock a VCO to a desired output frequency. Once initial lock is achieved, the divider loop is switched out of the circuit in favor of a low phase noise mixer loop. The local oscillator signal for the mixer is derived from the same low phase noise source as the phase comparison frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Phase Matrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Oleksandr Chenakin
  • Patent number: 7701300
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizing apparatus and method for a multi-band radio frequency (RF) receiver is provided. The frequency synthesizing apparatus includes a simple circuit configuration with a single SSB mixer and thus, may synthesize six high frequency signals. Signals to be inputted into the SSB mixer include a first signal and a second signal. The first signal is generated based on a VCO and a PPF. Also, the second signal is selected from a plurality of frequency divided signals which are generated by dividing a signal generated in the VCO via a plurality of dividers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Chul Park, Hyun Soo Chae, Hoon Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7652542
    Abstract: A signal generator generates a first internal signal including frequency f1, a second internal signal including frequency f2, and a third internal signal including frequency f3 twice as high as frequency f2, and selects and delivers one from among a first output signal including frequency f1, a second output signal including frequency f1+f2, and a third output signal including frequency f1+f3, using the first, second, and third internal signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Matsuno
  • Patent number: 7598815
    Abstract: Multiple carrier frequencies are provided from a phase locked loop, especially closely adjacent quadrature amplitude modulated subcarriers for multiplexed data communications. A quadrature voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and cascaded frequency dividers provide feedback to a phase comparator to lock the VCO to a reference signal. In addition to frequency divider outputs for use as subcarriers, e.g., binary division factors of the VCO frequency, a quadrature mixer multiplies and adds corresponding quadrature components at two of the frequencies, to generate a differential signal at a difference frequency. The mixer may be outside of the feedback signal path but preferably is in the feedback path to suppress noise. A polyphase filter converts the mixer output to a quadrature signal useful as a subcarrier. The technique efficiently generates sequential integer multiples of a basic frequency, such as sixteen adjacent integer multiples of a frequency reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jinghong Chen, Chunbing Guo, Fuji Yang
  • Patent number: 7589597
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer with a single PLL and multiple SSB mixers is presented. The frequency synthesizer includes a single PLL outputting a reference signal that is fed to a plurality of dividers coupled in sequence. The outputs from the dividers are mixed by the SSB mixers to produce signals with different frequencies. These signals with different frequencies can be selected through use of multiple selectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Chang, Sheng Yen, Wei Gao
  • Patent number: 7558556
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Shervin Moloudi, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7512378
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Meng-An Pan, Hung-Ming Chien, Shahla Khorram, William T. Colleran, Jacob Rael, Masood Syed, Brima Ibrahim, Stephen Wu, Shervin Moloudi
  • Patent number: 7411461
    Abstract: A control loop (10) for producing an output signal with a stable nominal frequency is provided. The control loop includes inputs for reference (11) and oscillator (25) output signals, a beat frequency generator (12) for producing a signal with a frequency that is the difference between the oscillator and reference signal frequencies, an ADC (14) to convert the beat frequency to a digital beat frequency signal, an estimator (17) for estimating the frequency or phase of the beat signal, an adder (18) for combining an offset and modulation signal and the estimated frequency or phase of the beat signal into an added signal, and a DAC (23) for generating an analogue control signal for controlling the oscillator output frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Tait Electronics Limited
    Inventor: William Mark Siddall
  • Publication number: 20080180180
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer, especially for use with a time-base generator of a fill-level meter employing the radar principle is designed to output a first frequency signal and a second frequency signal at mutually slightly different frequencies. The synthesizer incorporates a reference oscillator operating at a reference frequency and a control oscillator regulated at a control frequency. A first frequency divider with a division factor V1 is connected in line with the reference oscillator and a second frequency divider with the division factor V2 is connected in line with the control oscillator, which frequency dividers serve to output the first frequency signal and the second frequency signal, respectively. The result is a stable frequency synthesizer with a large phase-control bandwidth and consequently an extremely short transient response time as well as broad-band phase-noise suppression. A method for operating the synthesizer is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Musch, Burkhard Schiek, Michael Gerding
  • Publication number: 20080157883
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a local oscillation generator includes a mixing stage for receiving a primary frequency and one of a number of related frequencies. The local oscillation generator further includes a first transconductance stage to provide a first related frequency to the mixing stage when a first switch selectably enables a first power path in the first transconductance stage. The local oscillation generator further includes a second transconductance stage to provide a second related frequency to the mixing stage when a second switch selectably enables a second power path in the second transconductance stage. The local oscillation generator further includes a number of dividers, where an output of a first divider provides the first related frequency to an input of the first transconductance stage, and where an output of a second divider provides the second related frequency to an input of the second transconductance stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Qiang Li
  • Publication number: 20080055010
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. The input signal is fed to a synthesizer timed to a rational multiplier of the RF frequency L/N fRF. The clock signal generated is divided by a factor Q to form 2Q phases of the clock at a frequency of L(N*Q) fRF, wherein each phase undergoes division by L. The phase signals are input to a pulse generator which outputs a plurality of pulses. The pulses are input to a selector which selects which signal to output at any point in time. By controlling the selector, the output clock is generated as a TDM based signal. Any spurs are removed by an optional filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Gregory Lerner, Nir Tal, Robert B. Staszewski
  • Publication number: 20080056337
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. A synthesizer provides 4/3 the desired frequency fRF. This frequency is divided by two to obtain in-phase and quadrature square waves at ? fRF. The in-phase signal is divided by two again to obtain in-phase and quadrature square waves at ? fRF. The signals are then logically combined using XOR operations to obtain I and Q branch signals containing spectral spurs. Since the spurs are located in non-disturbing bands, they can be filtered out resulting in the desired output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Nir Tal, Yossi Tsfaty, Robert B. Staszewski, Gregory Lerner
  • Publication number: 20080055008
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. The use of analog mixers of the prior art is avoided and replaced with an XOR gate configured to generate the correct average frequency. The edges are dynamically adjusted by ±T/12 or zero based on the state of the controlled oscillator down-divided clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Robert B. Staszewski, Nir Tal
  • Publication number: 20080055009
    Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. The signal is input to a synthesizer timed to a rational multiplier of the RF frequency fRF. The signal is then divided to generate a plurality of phases of the divided signal. A plurality of combination signals are generated which are then multiplied by a set of weights and summed to cancel out some undersired products. The result is filtered to generate the LO output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Gregory Lerner, Nir Tal
  • Patent number: 7321268
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer with a single PLL and multiple SSB mixers is presented. The frequency synthesizer includes a single PLL outputting a reference signal that is fed to a plurality of dividers coupled in sequence. The outputs from the dividers are mixed by the SSB mixers to produce signals with different frequencies. These signals with different frequencies can be selected through use of multiple selectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: VIA Technologies
    Inventors: Ronald Chang, Sheng Yen, Wei Gao
  • Patent number: 7319366
    Abstract: A local oscillator without a frequency divider is provided. The local oscillator includes a quadrature voltage controlled oscillator generating I and Q signals having a frequency which is one-third of a local oscillation frequency, and a differential second-harmonic signal having a frequency which is two-thirds of the local oscillation frequency, a poly-phase filter converting the differential second-harmonic signal input from the quadrature voltage controlled oscillator into I and Q signals, and a single side band (SSB) mixer receiving the I and Q signals having the frequency which is one-third of the local oscillation frequency from the quadrature voltage controlled oscillator as an input and receiving the I and Q signals having the frequency which is two-thirds of the local oscillation frequency from the poly-phase filter as an input, and outputting the I and Q signals having the local oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Research and Industrial Cooperation Group
    Inventors: Nam-Jin Oh, Sang-Gug Lee
  • Patent number: 7299006
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Meng-An Pan, Hung-Ming Chien, Shahla Khorram, William T. Colleran, Jacob Rael, Masood Syed, Brima Ibrahim, Stephen Wu, Shervin Moloudi
  • Patent number: 7289783
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include circuits and methods for improving the spectral purity of mixer circuits. In one embodiment the present invention includes a mixer circuit including a bias circuit, the bias circuit comprising a first transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein the drain is coupled to a first input of the mixer circuit, a first sensing circuit coupled to the source of the first transistor, and a first comparison circuit coupled to the first sensing circuit, wherein the first comparison circuit receives a feedback signal from the first sensing circuit and a reference voltage, and in accordance therewith, generates a bias control signal to control the bias at the gate of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: WiLinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Edris Rostami, Rahim Bagheri, Masoud Djafari, Abbas Komijani
  • Patent number: 7136622
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Hung-Ming Chien, Meng-An Pan