Signal Selection Based On Frequency (e.g., Tuning) Patents (Class 455/150.1)
  • Publication number: 20140148110
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for accessing broadcast media items and segments from non-broadcast sources. In response to detecting that a user has not finished listening to a broadcast segment (e.g., a radio segment), an electronic device can automatically identify and access an alternate, non-broadcast source for the same broadcast segment (e.g., a corresponding podcast episode). Using the electronic device, a user can play back the segment from the non-broadcast source, starting playback at the last position of the broadcast segment when the user stopped listening to the broadcast. In some embodiments, the electronic device can update library counts (e.g., play counts and new/not new tags) based on media items and segments played back as part of a media broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ingrassia, Jeffery Lee
  • Publication number: 20140141737
    Abstract: An anti-jamming system includes a tunable negative jamming signal feedback loop for feedback suppression of a received jamming signal. The system includes a zero IF phase locked loop (PLL) jamming signal receiver having a synchronous demodulator and a phase detector. A VCO is included in the PLL, as well as a phase detector and a loop filter. A replica jamming signal generator includes a tracking modulator with a baseband signal input coupled to an output of a synchronous demodulator in the receiver and a carrier input provided by the VCO. An output of the tracking modulator is negatively fed back to the input of the receiver to suppress the jamming signal in the received input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventor: Wolfdietrich Georg KASPERKOVITZ
  • Patent number: 8731111
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tunable wideband solar radio noise measurement is provided. Accordingly, it is possible to directly measure the absolute flux of solar radio waves in a desired frequency band using a tunable receiver, and accordingly, to protect radio communication broadcasting systems located on the earth from its damage caused due to radio burst, noise and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jae Woo Park, Cheol Oh Jeong, Jae Hoon Kim, Jung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8712355
    Abstract: A method, transceiver integrated circuit (IC), and communications device for generating antenna tuning states derived from a pre-established trajectory of tuning states to adjust a detected signal level towards a preset, given value. A tuning state generation (TSG) controller determines whether a detected signal level matches a given value. If the detected signal level does not match the given value, the TSG controller selects an initial preset tuning state from a pre-established trajectory corresponding to a pre-identified operating condition that best matches a current operating condition. The TSG logic forwards the initial preset tuning state to the antenna tuner to trigger impedance transformation. Following generation of the initial preset tuning state, the controller receives an updated detected signal level. If the updated detected signal level fails to match the given value, the controller generates an incremental tuning state that is interpolated between the initial and a final preset tuning states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Gregory R. Black, William P. Alberth
  • Patent number: 8699984
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting a noise figure in a radio receiver. An example method includes receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal at a RF receiver section. The RF receiver section includes at least one RF receiver element. The RF receiver element is controllable by at least one tuning variable. The RF signal is processed to generate a processed analog signal, which is converted to a digital signal. The digital signal is used to determine a performance parameter. The at least one tuning variable of the at least one RF receiver element is controlled to adjust the noise figure based on the performance parameter. In another aspect of the invention, an example radio receiver is provided. The radio receiver includes a RF receiver section having at least one RF receiver element. A controller determines a performance parameter using the digital signal and controls the at least one tuning variable to adjust the noise figure based on the performance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Armando J. Mendoza, Noshir B. Dubash
  • Patent number: 8699977
    Abstract: A receiver including: an antenna for receiving signals in a plurality of frequency ranges; a plurality of amplifiers, each of the plurality of amplifiers being configured to amplify signals in one of the plurality of frequency ranges; a plurality of receive paths, each of the plurality of receive paths connecting an output of the antenna to an input of one of the plurality of amplifiers, wherein each of the plurality of receive paths includes a power detector for monitoring signal power in the receive path and a switch which can be operated to activate or deactivate the receive path, wherein the switch of each receive path is operable to deactivate the receive path if an overload condition is detected by the power detector of that receive path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Babitch, Joakim Landmark, Behzad Sheikholeslami, Peter Topham
  • Patent number: 8687630
    Abstract: A communication device for transmitting and receiving messages via an emergency notification network. The communication device includes a receiver configured to receive a data packet from a data broadcasting system, a processor operably connected to the receiver and configured to process the data packet, a memory operably connected to the processor and configured to store data, a mesh network transceiver operably connected to the processor and configured to transmit the received data packet via a mesh network to at least a second communication device, and an output device operably connected to the processor and configured to present an alert corresponding to the data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Metis Secure Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David Hochendoner, Timothy Means, Storm Orion
  • Patent number: 8670077
    Abstract: A method of performing a service scan for available channels across a bandwidth of an input signal, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a power spectrum of the input signal bandwidth; analyzing the power spectrum to identify a list of candidate channels, each candidate channel being identified by at least a center frequency; processing each of the candidate channels in a receiver unit to extract service information, if present, relating to the candidate channel; and storing the service information for the channel in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ewout Brandsma, Klaas de Waal, Konstantinos Doris, Erwin Janssen
  • Publication number: 20140065993
    Abstract: An adaptive stepped gain amplifier, for example for use in broadband receivers, has a step size which is dynamically compensated (for each received frequency) to cope with step error caused by frequency dependence of the amplifier performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: NXP B. V.
    Inventors: Fabien Laurent Michel Deforeit, Sebastien Robert, Sebastien Amiot
  • Patent number: 8655263
    Abstract: A method for searching for a broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster, when a terminal needs to receive the broadcast/multicast service in the broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster, the terminal synchronizes to a non broadcast/multicast single frequency network cell which is associated with the broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster; and the terminal searches for the broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster on the basis of the information indicated by the system information in the non broadcast/multicast single frequency network cell. So that the UE can search for the corresponding MBSFN cluster, and can receive the MBMS service in the searched MBSFN cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: China Academy of Telecommunications Technology
    Inventors: Xuelong Wang, Yu Ding, Shiyan Ren, Lei Mao
  • Publication number: 20140038535
    Abstract: The purpose of dynamically tuning in dense arrays is to improve power received and signal quality. In traditional phased array the inherent design procedure is to design for good matching over the frequency and scan angle of operation. Typically this is done in the overall design based on a priori knowledge of the frequency, relative phasing and amplitude distribution of all the elements. With this a priori knowledge the design can be done based on known mutual coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: AEREO, INC.
    Inventor: Aereo, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8644532
    Abstract: A method of the present invention includes coordinating tuning to the same channel of a radio band wherein the following steps are performed: tuning to a channel, within a radio band, that uses a side band; receiving control information in the side band of the channel; and processing the received audio information in the channel using the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Quintic Holdings
    Inventors: Yifeng Zhang, Kou-Hu Tzou, Pengyi Hong, Hangwei Guo
  • Patent number: 8615236
    Abstract: Techniques to dynamically manage wireless connections using feature prioritization are described. For example, a mobile computing device may comprise a connection management module operative to access a list of one or more wireless networks, compare feature set information for the one or more wireless networks, select a wireless network based on the comparison, and initiate a wireless connection using the selected wireless network, wherein the feature set information is contained in the list. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Kashikar, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 8611843
    Abstract: A filter package for communications equipment includes two or more filters in die form, each having a different frequency response. A first switch and a second switch are operatively connected to the filters and are configured to select a desired filter for operation in a signal stage of the equipment. The filters are aligned and stacked one over the other in the form of a package having an input terminal that is tied to a common terminal of the first switch, and an output terminal tied to a common terminal of the second switch. When the input and the output terminals of the filter package are connected to corresponding terminals of an intermediate frequency (IF) stage in a communications transceiver, the package can support both narrowband and wideband waveforms defined by the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Vogas
  • Patent number: 8606193
    Abstract: An RF transceiver integrated circuit has a novel segmented, low parasitic capacitance, internal loopback conductor usable for conducting IP2 self testing and/or calibration. In a first novel aspect, the transmit mixer of the transceiver is a current mode output mixer. The receive mixer is a passive mixer that has a low input impedance. In the loopback mode, the transmit mixer drives a two tone current signal to the passive mixer via the loopback conductor. In a second novel aspect, only one quadrature branch of the transmit mixer is used to generate both tones required for carrying out an IP2 test. In a third novel aspect, a first calibration test is performed using one quadrature branch of the transmit mixer at the same time that a second calibration test is performed using the other quadrature branch, thereby reducing loopback test time and power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jin-Su Ko, Michael Kohlmann, Bahman Ahrari
  • Patent number: 8605835
    Abstract: A wideband carrier frequency error calculator that, for each of a plurality of location patterns, calculates a cumulative value through a predetermined process performed on signals output by an orthogonal transformer for a plurality of sub-carrier positions determined according to a given location pattern while simultaneously shifting the signals output therefrom by one sub-carrier unit along the carrier direction and that also calculates wideband carrier frequency error according to carrier direction discrepancies calculated as maximum values within the cumulative value, and a carrier frequency error corrector that applies corrections to carrier frequency discrepancies according to the wideband carrier frequency error so calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8598992
    Abstract: A RFID transponder includes a resonant circuit for providing a clock signal at a predetermined clock frequency, a self-calibration stage for calibrating the resonant circuit's current clock frequency towards the predetermined clock frequency. The self-calibration stage is adapted to compare a first clock frequency of the resonant circuit determined during an interrogation period, during which the resonant circuit is excited by an external RF signal, with a second clock frequency determined during a frequency maintenance period, during which the resonant circuit is excited internally through an oscillation maintenance circuit of the RFID transponder and to calibrate the resonant circuit towards the predetermined clock frequency based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Hertwig
  • Patent number: 8599312
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a mixed-signal tuner for analog and digital TV reception incorporates a demodulator for analog TV, employing various features for resolving limitations of the analog circuitry and for achieving compatibility with various global TV standards. Such features, which may be present in one or more embodiments, include the use of a variable sample rate in all digital clocks for frequency planning, and use of a microcontroller (MCU) to control various circuitry of the tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Hendrickson, David Trager, Mitch Reid, Li Gao, John Khoury
  • Patent number: 8588704
    Abstract: A test station may include a test host, a tester, and a test chamber. Multiple devices under test (DUTs) may be placed in the test chamber during device characterization operations. Radio-frequency signals may be conveyed from the tester to the multiple DUTs using a radiated arrangement through an antenna in the test chamber. The tester may broadcast downlink test signals in parallel to the multiple DUTs. The DUTs may simultaneously synchronize with the downlink test signals and measure radio-frequency performance levels while receiving the downlink test signals. The test host may direct the tester to gradually lower its output power level. The DUTs may be used to determine downlink sensitivity by monitoring the measured radio-frequency performance levels as the output power level of the tester is lowered. Simultaneously downlink sensitivity testing may be performed for multiple modulation schemes and data rates for any communications protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Adil Syed, Tomoki Takeya
  • Patent number: 8588846
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a multi-modal user equipment (UE) configuration method. In some embodiments, the method includes: configuring the UE so that it supports a plurality of radio access technologies (RATs), wherein each of the plurality of RATs is associated with a predetermined maximum number of layers that the UE may be instructed by a network node to monitor simultaneously; configuring the UE so that it is operable to transmit to the network node RAT capability information identifying the plurality of RATs supported by the UE; and configuring the UE to monitor simultaneously not more than X layers associated with one of the plurality of RATs, wherein X is less than the predetermined maximum number of layers associated with the RAT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Muhammad Kazmi
  • Patent number: 8588715
    Abstract: A receiver (200) that receives a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter includes a receiving unit (2042) that receives a signal that is wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter at one of a plurality of transmission frequencies, a receiving frequency change determining unit (2048) that determines whether a receiving frequency is to be changed, based on the signal received by the receiving unit, and a communication error acceptance time setting unit (2046) that sets an acceptance time as a period of time for which communication errors after confirmation of a receiving operation are accepted, based on the signal received by the receiving unit. The communication error acceptance time setting unit sets the acceptance time to different periods of time, depending on whether the receiving frequency change determining unit determines that the receiving frequency is to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Arinobu Kimura, Hiroki Okada, Hiroko Murakami, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20130288625
    Abstract: A mobile radio receiver for a vehicle. The mobile radio receiver includes a tuner front-end section, a location data port, a sensor port, and a data processing unit. The location data port is used for receiving tuner location data. The sensor port is used for receiving one or more sensor signals. The data processing unit is operably connected with the tuner front-end section, with the location data port, and with the sensor port. The data processing unit further comprises predetermined tuner location data and predetermined relationship data sets for determining a set of tuner front-end section parameters based on the sensor signals. The mobile radio receiver provides an operational mode, a checking mode, a tuner parameter adjustment mode, and a tuner parameter application mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Syaiful Bakhri, Wei Ming Dan Chia, Brian Sunil Nicholas Fernandes, Mintak Lee, Yinn Sinn Tang, Ye Yuan
  • Patent number: 8571600
    Abstract: Described in example embodiments herein are techniques that combine at least two network (communication) technologies (such as protocols, signaling methods, etc.) and limit when a wireless device employs one of the technologies. In an example embodiment, a passive technology, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, can be employed to determine whether a certain network technology is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shantanu Sarkar, Roger Chi-yee Cheung, Morris J. Katz
  • Patent number: 8571500
    Abstract: Disclosed is an emergency broadcast radio receiver. The receiver can comprise a signal detector circuit adapted to detect, when powered, a predetermined emergency broadcast signal, and a timing generator circuit adapted to couple a battery to the signal detector circuit to periodically power the signal detector circuit. The receiver also can comprise a demodulator circuit adapted to demodulate, when powered, an audio signal modulated on a radio frequency signal at a tuning frequency. The signal detector circuit can be adapted, on detection of the predetermined emergency broadcast signal, to couple the battery to the demodulator circuit to power the demodulator circuit. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Advance Alert Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Stephen James Robson
  • Patent number: 8571142
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using non-crystal-based reference oscillators in the transmission and reception of frequency-modulated signals are disclosed. To protect against intrusion on neighboring designated frequency bands, guard bands, having a collective width greater than the total expected error based on the contribution of the frequency error from the non-crystal-based oscillators in the transmitter and/or receiver, can be designated. To protect against inter-channel interference within a designated frequency band, transmitters and receivers can include static sub-bandwidths wider than any possible total frequency error, such that it would be impossible for a transmitter or receiver to attempt to communicate on an unintended sub-band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Songping Wu, Gang Liu, Daxiao Yu, Yonghua Song
  • Publication number: 20130273865
    Abstract: A wireless signal receiving system, having an antenna, for receiving a wireless signal comprising a channel. The system also includes a tuner, coupling to the antenna, for converting the frequency of the wireless signal to generate a conversion signal. In addition, the system includes a processing unit, coupling to the tuner, for controlling the signal receiving direction of the antenna to detect the wireless signals of a first direction and a second direction, using the tuner to generate a first conversion signal and a second conversion signal so as to obtain a first reference value and a second reference value, and generating a control signal according to the first reference value and the second reference value to control the selected receiving direction of the antenna while the antenna is to receive the wireless signal of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Jen-Chieh LO, Yi-Cheng CHEN, Chia-Ta LAI
  • Publication number: 20130273864
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an abbreviated electronic program guide are provided. Some embodiments include receiving a radio signal that includes an audio content portion and an auxiliary information display portion, determining whether the vehicle is in operation, and in response to determining that the vehicle is not in operation, providing the auxiliary information display portion for display in the vehicle. In response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, some embodiments may be configured to create an altered auxiliary information by removing content from the auxiliary information display portion, provide the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle, and provide the altered auxiliary information for display in the vehicle, wherein the altered auxiliary information includes only a subset of features from the auxiliary information display portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean L. Helm
  • Publication number: 20130244600
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for configuring a single chip radio tuner having a configurable front end, which may be adapted within an integrated circuit (IC). The method may include setting a controller of the tuner with configuration information for a radio in which the tuner is located. Then, control signals responsive to the configuration information can be sent to the configurable front end to configure the tuner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Dan B. Kasha, Jing Li, Russell Croman, Michael Johnson, Scott D. WIllingham
  • Patent number: 8532601
    Abstract: An integrated low-IF (low intermediate frequency) terrestrial broadcast receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous and cost-efficient solution. The integrated receiver includes a mixer, local oscillator generation circuitry, low-IF conversion circuitry, and DSP circuitry. And the integrated receiver is particularly suited for small, portable devices and the reception of terrestrial audio broadcasts, such as FM and AM terrestrial audio broadcast, in such portable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: G. Tyson Tuttle, Dan B. Kasha
  • Patent number: 8533612
    Abstract: A user interface for interacting with an emergency notification system. The user interface comprises at least one software module installed on a computer readable medium and containing instructions for operating a computer processor. The instructions comprise first instructions for causing the processor to display on a computing device display an alert selection window configured to receive a user entered alert message; second instructions for causing the processor to display on the computing device display a group selection window configured to receive a user selection of one or more notification units to receive the alert message; and third instructions for causing the processor to display on the computer device display a selection button for instructing the processor, upon selection, to transmit the alert message to the selected one or more notification units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventors: David Hochendoner, Tim Means, Charles Kollar, Blerta Lindqvist, William McHenry
  • Patent number: 8514989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving a communication channel modulated on one or more carrier frequencies. The receiver may include a gain adjustable RF amplifier, a wideband signal power measurement circuit, and control logic. The control logic may be adapted to use outputs of one or more measurement circuits to classify interfering signals based on measured signal power and spectral proximity to the one or more channel carrier frequencies, and to adjust the gain of the radio frequency amplifier based on the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Siano Mobile Silicon Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Oren, Noam Lavi
  • Patent number: 8515411
    Abstract: Described in example embodiments herein are techniques that combine at least two network (communication) technologies (such as protocols, signaling methods, etc.) and limit when a wireless device employs one of the technologies. In an example embodiment, a passive technology, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, can be employed to determine whether a certain network technology is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shantanu Sarkar, Roger Chi-yee Cheung, Morris J. Katz
  • Publication number: 20130210377
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (100) carries out diversity reception and a noise cancellation process, and a signal combining section (combining circuit (123)) combines a plurality of received signals in a case where the diversity reception is carried out and combines a received signal and a noise signal in the noise cancellation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinori Kondo, Hiroyuki Takebe
  • Patent number: 8509711
    Abstract: Wireless terminals, systems, and methods use interlaced diplexers. A first diplexer can provide a first pair of bands separated by a first separation band, and a second diplexer can provide a second pair of bands separated by a second separation band. The first separation band and the second separation band can overlap. Transceivers (comprising transmitters and receivers) can be coupled to the diplexers to provide frequency-division duplex communications using one or both of the pairs of bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Bagley, Thomas R. Giallorenzi, Radivoje Zarubica, Robert G. Rebolledo, Richard G. Edwards, Robert M. Gillespie, Linda J. McMillin, Stephen M. Dudley
  • Patent number: 8509208
    Abstract: Aspects relate to frequency estimation and tracking. Frequency information is extracted based on an observation of a single symbol carrying pilot tones, which can be at any bandwidth location. Specifically, the frequency error information is extracted after selecting tones assigned to a specific user. The frequency error can be corrected based on the estimation. Further, the disclosed aspects can be applied to multi-path environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Roberto Rimini, Jun Ma
  • Patent number: 8509718
    Abstract: An antenna tuner unit (ATU) that provides broadband tuning is disclosed. The disclosed ATU includes a radio frequency (RF) switch circuit having an N number of switch inputs, wherein N is a natural number equal to 2 or greater. An N number of reactance elements are coupled in series between an RF input and one of the N number of switch inputs. Taps between adjacent pairs of the N number of reactance elements, wherein each of the taps is coupled to a corresponding one of the N number of switch inputs. The ATU further includes a capacitive element for each of the taps, wherein each capacitive element is coupled between a corresponding one of the taps and a voltage node. In at least one embodiment, each of the capacitive elements is made up of a programmable capacitor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat Khlat, Marcus Granger-Jones
  • Patent number: 8498366
    Abstract: A system and technique for providing to flexible, programmable frequency estimators and spectrum analyzers that can operate over extremely large bandwidths and yet provide high spectral resolution are described. The system and technique may include a cascaded super-heterodyne apparatus for estimating a frequency and a bandwidth of signals proximate in frequency to a desired signal, a tunable filter coupled to an input of a receiver, and a tuner which receives a signal from said cascaded super-heterodyne apparatus and tunes the filter to filter out unwanted signals from the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Soumyajit Mandal, Serhii M. Zhak, Rahul Sarpeshkar
  • Patent number: 8498596
    Abstract: A signal quality estimator for estimating the quality of signal reception in a signal receiver, the signal quality estimator comprising: a first filter for filtering a signal received by the receiver to isolate a frequency band therein; and a signal analyzer for forming an indication of the degree to which the amplitude of the signal in that frequency band varies over time, to serve as an estimate of the quality of signal reception in the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventor: Andrei Barbu Popescu
  • Patent number: 8498603
    Abstract: Systems are disclosed that utilize AC-coupled filtering to reduce DC offset, with aspects dynamically correcting instantaneous DC offset generated from the AC-coupled filtering. A DC offset correction circuit for an radio frequency (rf) receiver, comprising a switchable high pass filter configured to receive a signal, the switchable high pass filter including a plurality of high pass filters connected in parallel, wherein at least one of the plurality of high pass filters has a tunable corner frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Turgut Aytur
  • Patent number: 8489050
    Abstract: A method for tuning to a radio broadcast frequency in a portable terminal is disclosed. The method includes: determining whether a condition for requiring tuning information is satisfied; computing tuning information using received signal strength indication (RSSI) values of signals received by frequencies if a condition for requiring tuning information is satisfied; and tuning to a radio broadcast frequency corresponding to a radio broadcasting requested by a user, using the computed tuning information, and receiving radio broadcast signals. The tuning information includes: a threshold of RSSI serving as a reference value determine the presence of a radio broadcasting channel; and a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) value to minimize noise levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu Sung Han
  • Patent number: 8489049
    Abstract: A receiver can extract digital data from wireless radio frequency signal. The digital data contains at least two compressed digital audio data each associated with a different audio program. One compressed digital audio data is delivered in a first frequency band and the other compressed digital audio data in a second frequency band. A user can select the audio program. The receiver also receives a command instructing the receiver to receive digital audio data from a communication channel in a frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Hark C Chan
  • Patent number: 8478216
    Abstract: A host system for searching for or tuning to one or more radio stations includes a host processor and a data processor. The data processor is configured to receive a command from the host processor. The data processor is further configured, based on the command, to perform multiple search operations for radio stations without interrupting the host processor, to search for a radio station based on radio data system (RDS) data without interrupting the host processor, or to tune to a radio station based on RDS data without interrupting the host processor. A method is also provided for searching for or tuning to one or more radio stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: James Tadashi Masamoto
  • Patent number: 8472903
    Abstract: An entertainment systems having enhanced functionally and methods therefor are provided. Embodiments of the system allow an operator to assign multiple groups of radio stations to the radio station presets of the system according to different geographical regions located along a calculated route. As the system travels along the calculated route, the radio station presets of the system are updated to correspond to the present location of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventor: Christopher Tarte
  • Patent number: 8467758
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a register outputs a first control code in first and second operation modes, saves the first control code as a third control code at an end of the first operation mode, and outputs the third control code at a beginning of a third operation mode. In the first operation mode, a digital-to-analog converter supplies a control signal with a control voltage to a voltage controlled oscillator. In the second operation mode, the control signal is supplied to a buffer amplifier, the amplifier drives a bandlimiting filter, and the filter generates the control voltage. In the third operation mode, the control signal is supplied to the filter, and the filter generates the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihide Sai
  • Patent number: 8467752
    Abstract: A receiving device that can maintain a desired search condition is provided. There are provided storing means (RAM 15b) for storing a category contained in upper category information of a channel under reception, display means (LCD 17) for displaying the stored category, instructing means (touch panel 18) for accepting an instruction of execution of search, searching means (main microcomputer 15) for searching a channel containing the stored category as the upper or lower category information when the search execution is instructed, tuning means (satellite tuner 12) for tuning and receiving the searched channel, and control means (main microcomputer 15) for shifting to a state that the category of the search condition can be input when the search execution is instructed, storing the category concerned as a new search condition into the storing means when the category is input and making the searching means perform search, and making the display means display the category concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiichi Iwasa
  • Patent number: 8462887
    Abstract: A receiver is set forth that includes a tuner circuit and a converter circuit. The tuner circuit provides an analog signal corresponding to a modulated signal that is received on a selected channel. The converter circuit includes a sample clock that is used to convert the analog signal to a digital signal at a conversion rate corresponding to the frequency of the sample clock. The sample clock is selectable between at least two different clock frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: King Chun Tsai, Patrick Clement, David Cousinard
  • Patent number: 8463215
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for configuring a single chip radio tuner having a configurable front end, which may be adapted within an integrated circuit (IC). The method may include setting a controller of the tuner with configuration information for a radio in which the tuner is located. Then, control signals responsive to the configuration information can be sent to the configurable front end to configure the tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Dan B. Kasha, Jing Li, Russell Croman, Michael Johnson, Scott D. Willingham
  • Patent number: 8457574
    Abstract: A tuner front-end circuit for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal includes a first filter block that terminates the RF signal for unwanted frequency bands; a second filter block that provides selectivity within the unterminated signal by separating the unterminated signal into a plurality of separate signals, each of a different desired frequency band; and an amplifier block that amplifies each of the separate signals. One or more of the amplified separate signals can be provided to a tuner. The circuit can also include a daisy chain output block that provides the amplified separate signals to one or more additional tuners. One or more tracking filter blocks can also be included to provide further selectivity to the amplified separate signals and to reject signals at specific harmonics to prevent degradation of a signal-to-noise ratio. A method of processing an RF signal is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ramon Gomez
  • Publication number: 20130130634
    Abstract: A mechanism for providing tuning values to an RF radio module that, does not have memory for storing tuning values. Tuning values are requested from a server maintaining tuning values. The request is made by a device including the RF radio module for which the tuning values are requested. Requested tuning values are then received in accordance with the request. The received tuning values are stored in to a memory of the device including the RF radio module and applied to the RF radio module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Renesas Mobile Corporation
    Inventors: Seppo ROUSU, Juha Valtanen
  • Patent number: 8447251
    Abstract: An audio signal processing circuit comprising: a modulation circuit configured to output a modulated signal of a frequency corresponding to an input audio signal; a drive circuit configured to generate a driving current for driving the modulation circuit based on a control signal; an audio detection circuit configured to detect presence or absence of the audio signal input to the modulation circuit; and a control signal generation circuit configured to generate the control signal for generating the driving current in the drive circuit when the presence of the audio signal is detected and generate the control signal for stopping generation of the driving current in the drive circuit when the absence of the audio signal is detected for a predetermined period, based on a detection result of the audio detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Toru Odajima, Masahiro Obuchi