Automatic Patents (Class 455/234.1)
  • Patent number: 8619199
    Abstract: A demodulator includes an analog to digital converter configured to receive a television signal from a tuner and output a corresponding digitized television signal, where the television signal comprises a digital television signal or an analog television signal. A first gain module is configured to generate, based on the digitized television signal, a first feedback for adjusting the television signal provided to the analog to digital converter by the tuner, where the first feedback is applied to the television signal regardless of whether the television signal is a digital television signal or an analog television signal. A second gain module is configured to generate second feedback for further adjusting the television signal provided to the analog to digital converter by the tuner, where the second feedback is provided to further adjust the television signal only when the television signal is an analog television signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Zhang, Xiaolin Che, Kok-Wui Cheong
  • Patent number: 8619914
    Abstract: Provided are a receiver and a receiving method for a scalable bandwidth in a mobile station of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system. The receiving method includes the steps of: (a) filtering a received RF signal; (b) oscillating a frequency according to a center frequency control signal to output a local oscillation frequency; (c) down-converting the filtered RF signal by using the local oscillation frequency; (d) scalable-filtering the down-converted signal while adjusting a bandwidth according to a bandwidth control signal; (e) controlling gain of the scalable-filtered signal; (f) converting the gain-controlled analog signal into a digital signal by using a sampling frequency matching with a corresponding bandwidth according to an ADC control signal; and (g) demodulating the converted digital signal, outputting the center frequency control signal, the bandwidth control signal, and the ADC control signal according to control information received from an upper layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon-Sik Lee, Nam-Il Kim, Hyeong-Geun Park, Il-Gyu Kim, Young-Hoon Kim, Seung-Chan Bang
  • Publication number: 20130344833
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to envelope power supply calibration of a multi-mode RF power amplifier (PA) to ensure adequate headroom when operating using one of multiple communications modes. The communications modes may include multiple modulation modes, a half-duplex mode, a full-duplex mode, or any combination thereof. As such, each communications mode may have specific peak-to-average power and linearity requirements for the multi-mode RF PA. As a result, each communications mode may have corresponding envelope power supply headroom requirements. The calibration may include determining a saturation operating constraint based on calibration data obtained during saturated operation of the multi-mode RF PA. During operation of the multi-mode RF PA, the envelope power supply may be restricted to provide a minimum allowable magnitude based on an RF signal level of the multi-mode RF PA, the communications mode, and the saturation operating constraint to provide adequate headroom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc
    Inventors: Brian Baxter, Jason Millard, Roman Zbigniew Arkiszewski, Steven Selby
  • Patent number: 8614603
    Abstract: An auto leveling circuit suitable for use in an RF receiver. The auto leveling circuit comprises a plurality of automatic gain control (AGC) circuits each having at least one amplifier stage to amplify an RF signal according to at least two incrementally discrete levels. In order to selectively control gain, the AGC circuits further comprise peak detectors to detect the amplitude of the amplified RF signal and comparators to compare the amplitude of the RF signal with a threshold value indicative of a saturation point of the amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell D. Wyse, Mark A. Willi
  • Publication number: 20130337758
    Abstract: A wireless receiver includes a low noise amplifier (LNA), a tuner, a demodulator, and an automatic gain controller (AGC). The LNA receives a radio frequency (RF) signal and amplifies the received RF signal. The tuner converts the amplified RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The demodulator demodulates the IF signal. The AGC generates a gain control signal. The LNA applies normal mode to amplify the received RF signal when the gain control signal is larger than a first predetermined voltage; and enters a degradation mode to reduce the strength of the received RF signal when the gain control signal is below a second predetermined voltage lower than the first predetermined voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: KUO-CHIN HSIEH
  • Patent number: 8606205
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus converges a gain to a target gain even when a fish bone effect signal is included having a low power period in which signal power decreases abruptly compared to average signal power. The receiving apparatus (100) receives a signal including the fish bone effect signal having the low power period (FBE signal period) in which signal power decreases abruptly compared to average signal power. A FBE detecting section (133) detects an FBE signal period of a low power period based on a gain error corresponding to a difference between target power and average signal power of the received signal of the adjusted gain. Further, the gain error correcting section (134) selects a lower value than 1 as a convergence coefficient in the FBE signal period of a low power period, multiplies the gain error with the selected convergence coefficient and corrects the gain error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Urushihara, Isao Imazeki
  • Publication number: 20130324065
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies and discloses a method and an apparatus for auto gain control (AGC) in a radio receiver, which can ensure that a radio frequency device, an analog device, and various nodes in a digital domain are non-saturated and that useful signal power is adjusted to a certain power level. According to the present invention, total signal power on an air interface is subtracted from a preset first target power to obtain an analog auto gain control (AAGC) gain, and then a second target power is subtracted from an interference signal power in a digital baseband to obtain a digital auto gain control (DAGC) gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianhua Qin, Junshi Chen, Yunbao Zeng
  • Publication number: 20130316670
    Abstract: Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) low noise amplifiers (LNAs) supporting carrier aggregation are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device, an integrated circuit, etc.) includes a MIMO LNA having a plurality of gain circuits, a drive circuit, and a plurality of load circuits. The gain circuits receive at least one input radio frequency (RF) signal and provide at least one amplified RF signal. Each gain circuit receives and amplifies one input RF signal and provides one amplified RF signal when the gain circuit is enabled. The at least one input RF signal include transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies to the wireless device. The drive circuit receives the at least one amplified RF signal and provides at least one drive RF signal. The load circuits receive the at least one drive RF signal and provide at least one output RF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aleksandar Miodrag Tasic, Anosh Bomi Davierwalla, Berke Cetinoneri, Jusung Kim, Chiewcharn Narathong, Klaas van Zalinge, Gurkanwal Singh Sahota, James Ian Jaffee
  • Publication number: 20130316669
    Abstract: Low noise amplifiers (LNAs) supporting carrier aggregation are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device, an integrated circuit, etc.) includes first and second amplifier circuits and a divert cascode transistor. Each amplifier circuit may include a gain transistor and a cascode transistor. The divert cascode transistor is coupled between the output of the first amplifier circuit and the gain transistor in the second amplifier circuit. The first and second amplifier circuits receive an input radio frequency (RF) signal including transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies to a wireless device. The first and second amplifier circuits and the divert cascode transistor are controlled to amplify the input RF signal and provide (i) one amplified RF signal for one set of carriers in a first operating mode or (ii) two amplified RF signals for two sets of carriers in a second operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anosh Bomi Davierwalla, Aleksandar Miodrag Tasic
  • Patent number: 8594600
    Abstract: An integrated RF device includes at least one RF amplifier configured to be electrically coupled alternatively to a selected one of a RF signal input and a RF test source. A first mixer stage includes a first local oscillator and is electrically coupled to the at least one RF amplifier. At least one second mixer stage includes a second local oscillator and is electrically is coupled to the first mixer. The at least one baseband amplifier is electrically coupled to the second mixer. At least a selected one of the RF amplifier and the baseband amplifier has at least one actuator and at least one actuator terminal configured to provide an actuator setting. A method to self-heal an integrated RF receiver device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Joseph C Bardin, Ali Hajimiri Seyed
  • Patent number: 8594601
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for on-demand linearity in a receiver are provided. In this regard, in a receiver such as on-chip receiver, a strength of a signal received by one or more antennas may be measured and linearity of the receiver may be controlled in response to the measured signal strength. The linearity may be controlled based on signal strength of in-band and/or out-of-band signals and by configuring component(s) of the receiver. Exemplary components may comprise one or more filter, amplifier, mixer, analog-to-digital converter, feedback loop, and equalizer and/or post corrector. Linearity may be increased, by switching one or more feedback loops and/or an equalizers and/or post correctors into a signal path of the receiver. Power consumption may be decreased, at the expense of reduced linearity, by switching one or more feedback loops and/or an equalizers and/or post correctors out of a signal path of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20130309988
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting adaptive control loop behavior based on, for example measured artifacts of the radio environment. In one embodiment, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE) adjusts one or more Automatic Gain Control (AGC) loops based on a measured Doppler spread of received signals. Specifically, one or more AGC parameters (e.g., set-point, loop gain, etc.) are selected based on a measured Doppler spread. The one or more AGC parameters are configured to optimize both the AGC headroom (e.g., dynamic range) and the signal to quantization plus noise ratio (SQNR) of the receiver under dynamic wireless fading channels for the detected Doppler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Patent number: 8588727
    Abstract: An adaptive linearity communication device and its operation are disclosed. The adaptive linearity communication device may include a component having a linearity dependent upon a bias and a processor configured to change the bias in response to the detection of a connection between the wireless communication device and a high-capacity power source. A method of operating an adaptive linearity communication device having a bias dependent component where the device is configured to operate in a high efficiency mode in the absence of a connection between the device and a high-capacity power source, may include determining whether a high-capacity power source is connected to the wireless communication device, and varying the operation of the bias dependent component based on whether a high-capacity power source is connected to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stanley S. Toncich, Samir S. Soliman, Amol Rajkotia
  • Publication number: 20130303101
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gain control circuit including: an amplifying section configured to amplify an input voltage in such a manner that amplitude of an output voltage at an output terminal is kept constant; an allowable voltage acquirer configured to acquire an allowable voltage of an apparatus connected to the output terminal; a voltage divider configured to divide the output voltage according to a ratio between a maximum voltage of the amplified input voltage and the allowable voltage; and an adjusting section configured to further amplify the amplified input voltage according to the ratio and supply a resulting voltage to the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Yoneyama, Noboru Sasho, Takeo Tokunaga
  • Publication number: 20130301764
    Abstract: Functionality can be implemented for automatic gain control (AGC) in a wireless network device to determine whether to change the gain of the wireless network device based on determining the strength of an RF signal. At various time instants, the strength of the RF signal can be compared against different thresholds to determine the presence of and severity of the saturation of the RF front end. The gain settings can be adjusted based on comparing the strength of the RF signal with a set of thresholds. This can help the wireless network device receive RF signals with little or no distortion, and can minimize RF saturation, gain compression, false detection and other performance degradation at the wireless network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: QUALCOMM Incorporated
  • Publication number: 20130288631
    Abstract: Methods and systems for receiving signals via a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include selectively enabling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) coupled to the antenna. The selective enabling may be based on a desired gain level applied to a signal received from the antenna. The LNAs may be coupled to ports on the antenna based on an input impedance of the LNAs and an impedance of the ports. Each of the LNAs may be configured for optimum linearity in different gain ranges, which may be proportional to the input impedance of the LNAs. The antenna may be integrated on a chip with the LNAs, or may be located external to the chip. The antenna may include a microstrip antenna. The LNAs may include variable gain and may be enabled utilizing a processor. Linearity on demand may be enabled via the selective enabling of the LNAs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8571504
    Abstract: A receiver (400; 500) comprising an amplifier (406; 506) having an input (408) and an output (410). The input (408) of the amplifier is configured to receive a signal. The receiver also comprises a feedback path (412; 512) between the output (410) and the input (408) of the amplifier (406; 506), wherein the feedback path (412; 512) includes a filter (402; 502) and a buffer amplifier (414; 514) in series. The input of the buffer amplifier (414; 514) is connected to the output (410; 510) of the amplifier (406; 506). The output of the buffer amplifier (414; 514) is connected to the input of the filter (402; 502). The output of the filter (402; 502) is connected to the input (408; 508) of the amplifier (406; 506). The filter (402; 502) is configured to pass signals having a desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Sebastien Robert, Walter Jaudard
  • Publication number: 20130281039
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a direct path block with an input and an output, and a feedback block with an input and an output, the input of the direct path block being adapted to receive a multi-channel input signal with a given frequency range and the output of the direct path block being adapted to output an output signal with a base band frequency range, the output of the direct path block being coupled to the input of the feedback block and the input of the direct path block being coupled to the output of the feedback block. The direct path block comprises a first transposing unit (4) adapted to transpose the input signal to the base band frequency range and the feedback block comprises a filtering unit (3) adapted to filter the transposed signal at the output of the direct path block, a second transposing unit (5) adapted to transpose the filtered signal to the given frequency range and to feed back the transposed signal at the input of the direct path block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventors: Philippe Cathelin, Christian Izquierdo, Franck Montaudon, Andreas Kaiser
  • Patent number: 8565358
    Abstract: A system provides closed-loop gain control in a WCDMA mode and open loop control in an EDGE/GSM mode. Gain control is distributed across analog devices and a digital scaler in a wireless receiver. In the WCDMA mode, a loop filter generates an error signal that is forwarded to analog and digital control paths. The analog control path includes a first adder, a programmable hysteresis element, and a lookup table. The analog control signal is responsive to thresholds, which when used in conjunction with a previous gain value determine a new gain value. The digital control path includes a second adder, a programmable delay element, and a converter. A control word is responsive to a difference of the error signal, a calibration value, and the analog control signal. Blocker detection is provided in the WCDMA mode of operation. A controller sets system parameters using a state machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaleh Komaili, John E. Vasa, Thomas Obkircher
  • Patent number: 8565255
    Abstract: A transceiver including: an antenna configured to a receive a first signal transmitted on a radio frequency channel; and a peak-to-sidelobe ratio determination unit configured to generate a second signal based on a ratio, in which the ratio is based on a peak value and a sidelobe value, and the peak value and the sidelobe value are determined based on a non-correlated version of the first signal. The transceiver further includes a carrier sense unit configured to, based on the second signal, generate a third signal indicating (i) whether the radio frequency channel is busy or (ii) whether the first signal is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Hsiao-Cheng Tang, Yungping Hsu, Guorong Hu, Weishi Feng
  • Patent number: 8554251
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing signals are disclosed. The apparatus may include a transceiver configured to receive a first paging signal during a first cycle, a memory, and a processor configured to store the received first paging signal in the memory, to switch the transceiver to an off state after the first paging signal is stored in the memory, and to process the stored first paging signal while the transceiver is in the off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Supratik Bhattacharjee, Joseph C. Chan, Brian C. Banister, Shivratna G. Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8548409
    Abstract: A receiver front end includes a plurality of in-phase and quadrature phase receive processing blocks operable at first and second frequency bands and further includes a plurality of filtering and amplification blocks disposed within a corresponding ingoing signal path, a plurality of received signal strength indicator (RSSI) blocks coupled to receive an ingoing analog signal from a corresponding plurality of nodes disposed throughout the ingoing signal path, each of the plurality of RSSI blocks producing a signal strength indication, and wherein a baseband processor is operable to receive a selected signal strength indication and to produce at least one gain setting to at least one amplification block within the in-phase or quadrature phase receive processing blocks. In operation, the baseband processor receives a signal strength indication from each RSSI block to determine a total amount of gain and appropriate gain distribution within the receive signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Amit G. Bagchi
  • Publication number: 20130237169
    Abstract: A transceiver includes a receiver section and a transmitter section. The receiver section converts an inbound Multiple Frequency Bands Multiple Standards (MFBMS) signal into a down converted signal, wherein the inbound MFBMS signal includes a desired signal component and an undesired signal component. In addition, the receiver section determines spectral positioning of the undesired signal component with respect to the desired signal component and adjusts at least one of the MFBMS signal and the down converted signal based on the spectral positioning to substantially reduce adverse affects of the undesired signal component on the desired signal component to produce an adjusted signal. The transmitter section converts an outbound symbol stream into an outbound MFBMS signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: John Walley, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Brima Babatunde Ibrahim, Arya Reza Behzad, Vinko Erceg, David Rosmann
  • Patent number: 8532235
    Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) delay and multiply receiver is formed of a receive antenna; a variable gain attenuator connected to the receive antenna; a signal splitter connected to the variable gain attenuator; a multiplier having one input connected to an undelayed signal from the signal splitter and another input connected to a delayed signal from the signal splitter, the delay between the splitter signals being equal to the spacing between pulses from a transmitter whose pulses are being received by the receive antenna; a peak detection circuit connected to the output of the multiplier and connected to the variable gain attenuator to control the variable gain attenuator to maintain a constant amplitude output from the multiplier; and a digital output circuit connected to the output of the multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: Gregory E. Dallum, Garth C. Pratt, Peter C. Haugen, Carlos E. Romero
  • Patent number: 8532039
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic resource allocation of an RF sampling system based on a signal quality measurement determined by generating a plurality of time-interleaved samples from a received radio frequency (RF) signal and combining the plurality of time-interleaved samples to generate the signal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanbir Haque, Leonid Kazakevich, Scott M. Newton
  • Patent number: 8526549
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit is provided. The signal processing circuit, adjusting a received radio frequency (RF) signal according to a gain, and generating a digital signal accordingly, the signal processing circuit including a signal analysis circuit, for analyzing the digital signal to generate the gain, determining whether the received RF signal is a target signal, and generating a reference value according to the digital signal, and a baseband circuit, for performing a carrier frequency offset (CFO) compensation to the digital signal according to the reference value, wherein, the reference value is generated while the signal analysis circuit is determining whether the received RF signal is the target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsiang Chuang, Tien Hsin Ho, Shao Ping Hung, Tai-Lai Tung
  • Patent number: 8526897
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a controller is coupled to at least first and second signal processors (at least one of which includes analog demodulation circuitry and another of which includes digital demodulation circuitry). The controller may operate to disable the first signal processor responsive to a control signal that indicates that a second signal (corresponding to a demodulator output) is available from the second signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Henson
  • Patent number: 8526907
    Abstract: The method and apparatus disclosed herein reduces the power consumption of a wireless transceiver by reducing the power consumption associated with the corresponding wireless receiver. Generally, a power mode selection unit enables or disables a low power mode based on a dynamic range requirement for the receiver. More particularly, when the dynamic range requirement is less than or equal to a threshold, the power mode selection unit lowers the transconductance of an RF front-end amplifier in the receiver and enables a negative resistance at an output of the RF front-end amplifier. When enabled, the negative resistance compensates for the gain lost by lowering the transconductance of the RF front-end amplifier, which enables the front-end gain associated with the low-power mode to be maintained relative front-end gain associated with the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventors: Pete Sivonen, Jarkko Jussila
  • Publication number: 20130225107
    Abstract: Techniques for using a narrow filter located before a power amplifier to reduce interference in an adjacent frequency band are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device) includes the narrow filter and the power amplifier. The narrow filter is for a first frequency band (e.g., Band 40) and has a first bandwidth that is more narrow than the first frequency band. The narrow filter receives and filters an input radio frequency (RF) signal and provides a filtered RF signal. The power amplifier receives and amplifies the filtered RF signal and provides an amplified RF signal. The apparatus may further include a full filter for the first frequency band and located after the power amplifier. The full filter receives and filters the amplified RF signal and provides an output RF signal when it is selected for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mark Vernon Lane, Chang-Ho Lee, Christian Holenstein, Mahim Ranjan, Praveen-Kumar Sampath, Frederic Bossu, Sumit Verma, Wesley Alan Sampson
  • Patent number: 8521114
    Abstract: Automatic Gain Control AGC circuit comprising a PIN-diode attenuator having an input and an output and a control circuit connected to the attenuator so as to read a signal at the attenuator output. The control circuit is configured to supply a feedback control signal to the attenuator based on an error signal between the signal read at the attenuator output and a reference signal, so as to modulate an attenuation level of said attenuator and maintain a substantially constant power level at the attenuator output. The control circuit particularly comprises at least a resistor and a capacitor which define a time constant of the AGC circuit, so that the AGC circuit features a main pole depending on such time constant and on a voltage of the feedback control signal. The control circuit also comprises a variable gain block, which receives the feedback control signal and which is configured to modulate the main pole proportionally to a variable gain (G) of the gain block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventor: Antonio Carugati
  • Patent number: 8521116
    Abstract: In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, systems, methods and devices are configured to facilitate RF envelope amplitude control. For example, a RF envelope amplitude control system comprises: a RF amplifier, wherein the RF amplifier is associated with a feedback device that is configured to create a first feedback signal representing the power in an RF output signal; a transmit waveform generator configured to generate a reference waveform signal; an adaptive table waveform generator configured to compare the reference waveform signal and the first feedback signal and to create a second feedback signal based on that comparison; and a loop filter configured to combine the reference waveform signal, the first feedback signal, and the second feedback signal to form an amplifier control signal, wherein the amplifier control signal is provided to the RF amplifier to adjust the RF output signal to conform to a specified RF envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Lang
  • Patent number: 8514122
    Abstract: An analog-digital conversion system comprising at least one variable gain amplifier amplifying an input signal e, an analog-digital converter CAN digitizing said signal e, an interference-suppressing digital processing module, processing the digitized signal, also comprises a first automatic gain control AGC loop, called the analog AGC loop, that compares an estimate of the output power of the CAN converter with a control setpoint g1 called the control setpoint of the analog AGC loop, a gain ga used to control the variable gain amplifier being deduced from this comparison. The system also comprises a second automatic gain control AGC loop called the digital loop, said digital loop comparing an estimate of the power after the interference-suppressing digital processing with a predetermined control setpoint gn, the analog AGC loop being controlled by a control setpoint deduced from this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Nicolas Martin, Jean-Michel Perre, David Depraz
  • Patent number: 8514991
    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: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Siano Mobile Silicon Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Oren, Noam Lavi
  • Patent number: 8515385
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alerts to end users of networked enabled portable devices are provided so that the end users are made aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. In various embodiments, a portable device is enabled to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. The user can be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, the user can optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, and/or the user can otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data, such as a link to the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: DeWayne Allan Sennett, Brian Kevin Daly
  • Publication number: 20130208609
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which PAPR for an input of an AGC in a wireless receiver is generated. The AGC may provide a gain-controlled signal to a correlator when the PAPR of the input does not exceed the threshold ratio and may clamp the gain of the gain-controlled signal when PAPR of the input is large. A large PAPR may cause termination of search for a signal of interest in a current channel. The search may be resumed in a non-adjacent channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Qualcomm Incorporated
  • Patent number: 8509722
    Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling frequency drift in satellite broadcast systems. A receiver antenna system for a direct broadcast satellite signal communications system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises an oscillator, a mixer, coupled to the oscillator, for converting satellite signals at a first frequency to signals at an intermediate frequency, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, coupled to the mixer, for receiving the signals at the intermediate frequency and for converting the signals at the intermediate frequency at near-real-time to a digital data stream, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), coupled to the A/D converter, for processing the digital data stream, and a drift estimator, coupled to the DSP, the drift estimator determining a frequency drift of the oscillator, wherein the receiver antenna system corrects the frequency drift of the oscillator using the determined frequency drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Popoli
  • Patent number: 8509725
    Abstract: A processing device (40) for processing an analog complex input signal generated by downconversion of an aggregated-spectrum radio-frequency signal in a radio-receiver (10), wherein the complex input signal comprises a plurality of sub bands (S1-S4) scattered across a total frequency band (4) of the complex input signal. The processing device (40) comprises a plurality of processing paths (P1-PN). wherein each processing path (P1-PN) is adapted to process an associated sub band (S1-S4). Each processing path comprises a complex mixer (CM1-CMN) adapted to frequency translate the complex input signal, and an analog channel-selection filter (CSF1-CSFN) arranged to filter an output signal of the complex mixer (CM1-CMN) and pass the frequency translated associated sub band (S1-S4). A control unit (60) is adapted to receive control data indicating frequency locations of the sub bands (S1-S4) and, for each processing path (P1-PN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Lars Sundström, Bengt Lindoff, Sven Mattisson, Filip Oredsson, Tony Petersson, Imad ud Din
  • Publication number: 20130203370
    Abstract: A wireless communication receiver includes a circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a processing circuit. The circuit receives a wireless signal and outputs an analog signal according to a gain index. The ADC converts the analog signal to a digital signal. The processing circuit adjusts the gain index according to a clipping number of the ADC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventor: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
  • Patent number: 8483639
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing automatic gain control in a receiver are disclosed. The apparatus may include an amplifier, and the gain control may be based on an output from the amplifier during a time period in which a target signal is not present at the output of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Chong U. Lee, Amal Ekbal, David Jonathan Julian, Jun Shi
  • Publication number: 20130165059
    Abstract: Provided is a beamforming apparatus in a receiver in a mobile communication system. The beamforming apparatus includes a Local Oscillator (LO) signal generator for generating an LO signal; a phase shifter for generating a predetermined number of phase-shifted LO signals with respect to the generated LO signal; a switching network for mapping the phase-shifted LO signals to RF signals received via a plurality of receive paths; and a mixer for mixing the RF signals with the mapped LO signals to down-convert a frequency of the RF signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicants: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KAIST), SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KAIST)
  • Patent number: 8472573
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a method of receiving an input signal. The method, in various embodiments, includes detecting a peak of the input signal and detecting an envelope of the input signal. In various embodiments, the peak and envelope are used to identify out-of-band blocking signals and to adjust gain control. The method also includes comparing the peak to a first threshold Tp and comparing the envelope to a second threshold Te. In the method, if the peak is above the first threshold and the envelope is below the second threshold, then ignoring the input signal. If the envelope is above the second threshold, the method includes applying automatic gain control to decode information encoded in the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Publication number: 20130156134
    Abstract: A receiver for a wireless communication device provides a dual path receiver receiving first and second protocol-agnostic, uncorrelated receive signals simultaneously. The dual path receiver generating first and second offset IF signals from the simultaneously received first and second protocol-agnostic, uncorrelated receive signals. The receiver utilizes at least one converter for converting the first and second offset IF signals into at least one serial synchronous interface (SSI) signal representing the spectrum at IF. At least one processor receives the at least one SSI signal and applies parallel processing paths to demodulate the at least one SSI signal into separate baseband signals. The processor provides interference detection of, and level control for, the first and second offset IF signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ariel L. Galan, Young-Seo Park, Charles H. Carter, Charles R. Ruelke, Darrell Stogner
  • Publication number: 20130149981
    Abstract: A technique for cancelling out target IM2 components in a wireless receiver's mixer output is disclosed. A differential RF signal and a differential local oscillator (LO) signal are mixed by a mixer to demodulate the RF signal. A first common node signal is generated between a first resistor and a second resistor coupled across the mixer's differential output terminals. A second common node signal is generated between a third resistor and a fourth resistor coupled across the differential output terminals, where a capacitor is coupled between the second common node and a power supply terminal. The second common node signal provides a stable reference signal for IM2 components above a certain frequency. The two common node signals are subtracted to create a difference signal. The difference signal is scaled by a scaling factor obtained during calibration. The scaled difference signal is coupled to the mixer output to offset IM2 distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: John P. Myers
  • Patent number: 8463206
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a circuit comprises an input node configured to receive a current-mode input signal and an input stage that includes an input device communicatively coupled to the input node. The input device is configured to receive the input signal at the input node. The circuit additionally comprises bias circuitry communicatively coupled to the input stage and configured to provide a bias current for the input device. The bias circuitry is also configured to remove at least a portion of the bias current from the input signal through a feedback loop associated with the input node such that the input signal is received by the input device with at least a portion of the bias current removed. The circuit further comprises an output stage communicatively coupled to the input stage and configured to output a current-mode output signal based on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Chuanzhao Yu, Omid Oliaei, David Newman, Michael L. Gomez
  • Patent number: 8457580
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a compact low-power receiver comprises a front-end producing a front-end gain and a back-end producing a back-end gain. The front-end includes a transconductance amplifier providing digital gain control and outputting an amplified receive signal, a mixer for generating a down-converted signal from the amplified receive signal, and a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) including a current mode buffer. The TIA provides gain control for amplifying the down-converted signal to produce a front-end output signal. In one embodiment, the back end includes a second-order low-pass filter to produce a filtered signal from the front-end output signal and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), wherein the filtered signal is fed directly to the ADC without direct-current (DC) offset cancellation being performed. In various embodiments, the front-end gain is substantially greater than the back-end gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mohyee Mikhemar, Hooman Darabi, Masoud Kahrizi
  • Patent number: 8456579
    Abstract: This disclosure presents an apparatus and method for automatic gain control correction for a television signal in which the Radio Frequency (RF) and Intermediate Frequency (IF) power signal levels are collected for a band of channels, identifying a channel having a strong RF power signal level and an IF gain signal level that is lower than a nominal IF gain signal level, comparing the identified channel RF gain signal level with the RF gain signal level of adjacent channels to identify the relative power signal levels of the channel and associated adjacent channels, and applying correction to the channel wherein there is an imbalance in the RF and IF power signal levels of the identified channel. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Sano, William Bennett, Liviu Burciu
  • Patent number: 8442464
    Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) system with controllable linearity and noise figure versus power consumption is provided. The system comprises two control inputs for tuning. One input controls an effective transistor width, and the other input controls bias current. Changes to the effective transistor width alter a gain that is applied to a signal, and changes to the bias current alter a power consumption of the system. For more stringent signal specifications, an impedance matched inductive degeneration variation of the LNA is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
    Inventors: Bharadwaj Amrutur, Kannan Aryaperumal Sankaragomathi
  • Publication number: 20130115904
    Abstract: Interference detection involves detecting the interference component in the received signal if there is such a component, controlling a band reject filter according to the detected interference component to filter the received signal to suppress the interference component, and synchronizing the receiver to the received signal, wherein the step of detecting the interference component is started before synchronization is achieved. By starting the interference detection without waiting for synchronization to be achieved, rather than following the synchronization, then the interference detection is no longer dependent on the synchronization being achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ST-ERICSSON SA
    Inventors: Ajay Kapoor, Maurice Stassen
  • Patent number: 8437803
    Abstract: A base station and a mobile station, the base station includes common antennas configured to transmit signals to all mobile stations (UEs) served by the base station; a special antenna to transmit a signal to a UE which is served by the base station and supports the special antenna; a sub-frame selecting unit to select a sub-frame for transmitting a common pilot of the special antenna in the current frame; a resource block (RB) selecting unit to select a RB for transmitting the common pilot, in the sub-frame for transmitting the common pilot selected by the sub-frame selecting unit; a notifying unit to notify the sub-frame and RB for transmitting the common pilot antenna selected by the UE supporting the special antenna in a cell; and a transmitting unit to transmit a signal having the common pilot in the RB selected by the RB selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yuantao Zhang, Jun Tian, Jianming Wu, Jian Wang, Jie Zhang
  • Patent number: 8437719
    Abstract: An active splitter circuit arrangement includes a first amplification module having a number of first input ports and first output ports. The first amplification module is configured to provide first stage amplification to a received input signal and produce from the amplified input signal a number of output signals, each substantially matching the input signal. Also included is a first gain control device configured to control a gain of the first amplification module. Next, a number of second amplification modules corresponding to the number of output signals has a number of second input ports respectively coupled to the first output ports. Each second amplification module is configured to receive a control signal from the second gain control device, provide second stage amplification to a corresponding one of the number of output signals based upon the control signal and produce an amplified output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Adel Fanous, Leonard Dauphinee, Lawrence M. Burns, Donald McMullin