Plural Stages With Different Levels Or Bias To Each Stage (e.g., Partial Automatic Gain Control) Patents (Class 455/251.1)
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Patent number: 10673518Abstract: Technology for a repeater is disclosed. The repeater can include a first-direction signal path for a first-direction band. The repeater can include a second-direction signal path for a second-direction band. The repeater can include a controller configured to decrease a gain of the first-direction signal path by a first amount. The controller can increase a gain of the second-direction signal path by a second amount when the gain of the first-direction signal path is decreased by the first amount to enable a total loop gain of the first-direction signal path and the second-direction signal path to be less than a total loop crossover isolation level of the first-direction signal path and the second-direction signal path.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: WILSON ELECTRONICS, LLCInventor: Christopher Ken Ashworth
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Patent number: 9742359Abstract: Circuitry, which includes a package interface, a radio frequency (RF) amplification circuit, and a closed-loop gain linearization circuit. The package interface receives an RF signal and provides an amplified RF signal. The RF amplification circuit amplifies the RF signal in accordance with a gain of the RF amplification circuit so as to generate the amplified RF signal. In one embodiment, the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to endogenously establish a target gain magnitude using the RF signal and linearize the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude. By endogenously establishing the target gain magnitude using the RF signal, the closed-loop gain linearization circuit can provide linearity with greater independence from external control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Qorvo International PTE. Ltd.Inventors: Baker Scott, George Maxim
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Patent number: 9209768Abstract: An RF receiver is described comprising a common gate common source LNA with a variable resistor in the source of the common gate transistor, a variable resistor in the source of the common source transistor, and a variable resistor in the RF input. A Smart Gain Control varies the resistance in the resistors to produce linear amplification in the LNA while maintaining input matching. Further, a broad dynamic range RSSI is described that implements a feedback control loop to maintain signal power within a sensitivity range of the power detector in the RSSI.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: SITUNE CORPORATIONInventors: Saeid Mehrmanesh, Vahid Mesgarpour Toosi
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Patent number: 9194911Abstract: A digital on-die-test engine (OTE) generates stimuli signals for an analog/RF circuit, where the OTE is embedded within the circuitry. The stimuli signals are injected into the circuit, feed through the circuit, and are received back into the OTE for analysis. The OTE includes an input subsystem to receive signals from various locations throughout the circuit. The received signals are sub-sampled before being tested. The OTE includes memory-aware and memory-less algorithms for testing the signals. The OTE is capable of changing the configuration of the circuit, where needed, following the tests.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2011Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: iNTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Georgios Palaskas, Jorge Hermosillo, Marian K. Verhelst
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Patent number: 9179343Abstract: An apparatus may include a memory to store a first radio signal strength indicator (RSSI) data set comprising first data entries for RSSI detected from a multiplicity of transmission sources by a first wireless device of a first device type, and to store a second RSSI data set comprising second data entries for RSSI detected from the multiplicity of transmission sources by a second wireless device of a second device type; and a cross-device radio calibration engine to receive the first RSSI data set and second RSSI data set and generate a cross-calibrated RSSI function comprising a function that reduces differences between the first RSSI data set and the second RSSI data set. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Xue Yang, Lei Yang
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Patent number: 9148184Abstract: A power detection circuit according to the present invention includes a variable frequency oscillator 2 for oscillating a local oscillator frequency, a mixer 1 for receiving the local oscillator frequency and a detection signal and converting a frequency of the detection signal using the local oscillator frequency, a complex bandpass filter 3 for limiting a bandwidth of the detection signal whose frequency is converted to a predetermined bandwidth, and an energy detection circuit 4 for detecting power of the predetermined bandwidth based on an output from the complex bandpass filter 3. The local oscillator frequency is set so that the predetermined bandwidth of the detection signal whose frequency is converted is in a frequency range having low 1/f noise. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power detection circuit with high speed and high sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Kodama, Masaki Kitsunezuka
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Publication number: 20150111513Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic gain in a receiver includes receiving an input signal through an antenna of the receiver, by an automatic gain control unit of the receiver, setting a final RF gain, and by the automatic gain control unit, setting an IF gain in a state that the final RF gain is set.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Inho Song, Ei Ho Lee, Ki Tae Moon
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Patent number: 8989687Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to determine communications receiver parameters from multiple channels of a received communications signal and to configure and/or adjust communications receiver parameters to acquire one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal. A communications receiver observes a multi-channel communication signal as it passes through a communication channel. The communications receiver determines one or more communications receiver parameters from the multiple channels of the received communications signal. The communications receiver configures and/or adjusts communications receiver parameters to acquire the one or more channels from among the multiple channels of the received communications signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Ramon Alejandro Gomez, Bruce J. Currivan, Steven T. Jaffe, Loke Kun Tan, Young Shin, Hanli Zou, Lin He, Leonard Dauphinee, Thomas Joseph Kolze, Francesco Gatta
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Patent number: 8983418Abstract: Techniques and devices are disclosed to provide multi-stage gain control in circuits or devices having two or more stages of signal amplification. A circuit with multi-stage gain control can include amplification stages coupled to receive an input signal and to produce an amplified output signal. Each amplification stage includes an amplifier that is adjustable in gain and a signal detector that is coupled to measure an output signal of the amplifier and to produce a detector signal indicative of a signal strength of the output signal of the amplifier. A gain control circuit is coupled to receive detector signals from the signal detectors in the amplification stages, respectively, and to control gains of the amplifiers of the amplification stages based on respective received detector signals, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Amir Ibrahim, Henrik Tholstrup Jensen, Shahla Khorram, Aminghasem Safarian, Seema Anand
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Patent number: 8965317Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a signal processor with a wide gain range. The signal processor may comprise at least a discrete step gain stage and a continuous variable gain amplifier (VGA) stage. The discrete step gain stage may comprise a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) (e.g., low noise amplifiers 1 and 2 (LNA1 and LNA2)). The VGA stage may provide a continuous range to compensate the LNAs gain steps. In one embodiment, the AGC controller enables an inherent hysteresis with the AGC step change if required.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.Inventors: Reza Alavi, Saeed Aghtar, Christoph Steinbrecher, Arathi Sundaresan
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Patent number: 8948322Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Jaleh Komaili, John E. Vasa, Thomas Obkircher
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Patent number: 8811537Abstract: Provided are a receiving apparatus and method for a wireless communication system using multiple antennas. A receiving method for a wireless communication system using multiple paths, the receiving method comprising: receiving signals through a predetermined number of multiple paths; sensing a carrier according to saturation state degrees of the signals, and providing saturation state information; calculating automatic gain components of the received signals by using the received signals and the saturation state information of the received signals; and performing a noise matching process to amplify noises on the predetermined multiple paths according to the automatic gain components during a predetermined period.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Il-Gu Lee, Jung-Bo Son, Je-Hun Lee, Eun-Young Choi, Sok-Kyu Lee
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Patent number: 8693968Abstract: A very low intermediate frequency (VLIF) receiver comprising a first and second mixer circuits, characterised in that receiver comprises a means of estimating the energy in a desired signal band; a means of estimating the energy in a band of frequencies comprising the desired signal band; and a means of altering a VLIF of the receiver according to the ratio of the energy in a desired signal band and the energy in the band of frequencies comprising the desired signal band.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Norman Beamish, Michael Milyard, Conor O'Keeffe
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Patent number: 8676148Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit includes a source follower circuit to which is input one of the differential signals and a common source circuit that is connected in series with the source follower circuit and to which is input the other of the differential signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Yosuke Ogasawara
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Patent number: 8660221Abstract: The present invention discloses apparatus and method for fast and robust automatic gain control (AGC). By using the power statistics and/or the amplitude statistics of multiple pairs of signed ADC outputs, the additional gain control can be determined and included in a statistics-aided AGC to successfully complete the AGC function for a received signal having a dynamic range up to 100 dB within a few micro-seconds.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: ISSC Technologies Corp.Inventors: Jeng-Hong Chen, Huei-Ming Yang, Chih-Ching Huang
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Patent number: 8598866Abstract: A zero bias power detector comprising a zero bias diode and an output boost circuit is provided. The output boost circuit comprises a zero bias transistor. The zero bias diode is not biased but outputs a rectifying signal according to a wireless signal. The zero bias transistor, not biased but coupled to the zero bias diode, is used for enhancing the rectifying signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Chun-Yen Huang, Chin-Chung Nien, Jenn-Hwan Tarng, Chen-Ming Li, Li-Yuan Chang, Ya-Chung Yu
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Patent number: 8577319Abstract: An automatic gain control loop disposed in a receiver is adapted to compensate for varying levels of out of band interference sources by adaptively controlling the gain distribution throughout the receive signal path. One or more intermediate received signal strength indicator (RSSI) detectors are used to determine a corresponding intermediate signal level. The output of each RSSI detector is coupled to an associated comparator that compares the intermediate RSSI value against a corresponding threshold. The take over point (TOP) for gain stages is adjusted based in part on the comparator output values. The TOP for each of a plurality of gain stages may be adjusted in discrete steps or continuously.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Ling, Madhukar Reddy, John Wetherell
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Patent number: 8546939Abstract: A technology is provided so that RF modules used for cellular phones etc. can be reduced in size. Over a wiring board constituting an RF module, there are provided a first semiconductor chip in which an amplifier circuit is formed and a second semiconductor chip in which a control circuit for controlling the amplifier circuit is formed. A bonding pad over the second semiconductor chip is connected with a bonding pad over the first semiconductor chip directly by a wire without using a relay pad. In this regard, the bonding pad formed over the first semiconductor chip is not square but rectangular (oblong).Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Tomonori Tanoue, Sakae Kikuchi, Toshifumi Makino, Takeshi Sato, Tsutomu Kobori, Yasunari Umemoto, Takashi Kitahara
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Patent number: 8538353Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a request received to change a TX output power setting or a frequency channel setting. In response, the requested TX output power setting is used to generate a TX output signal in the proper frequency channel. Handset circuitry makes OOB power measurements, the results of which are used to determine a VCC2 setting. The VCC2 setting is a setting that results in an MPS requirement just being met. The VCC2 setting is stored in association with the TX output power and frequency channel setting. The determined VCC2 setting is also used to set the VCC2 supply voltage for the power amplifier. Once set, VCC2 remains fixed until the next request. Each individual handset uses this Adaptive Average Power Tracking (AAPT) method, thereby reducing its VCC2 voltage during operation and conserving power. Because each handset uses AAPT, factory calibration to account for unit-to-unit variations in transmitter circuitry performance is avoided.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Raymond C. Wallace
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Patent number: 8478221Abstract: A wireless communication receiver includes a multitude of look-up tables each storing a multitude of DC offset values associated with the gains of an amplification stage disposed in the wireless communication receiver. The entries for each look-up table are estimated during a stage of the calibration phase. During such a calibration stage, for each selected gain of an amplification stage, a search logic estimates a current DC offset number and compares it to a previous DC offset estimate that is fed back to the search logic. If the difference between the current and previous estimates is less than a predefined threshold value, the current estimate is treated as being associated with the DC offset of the selected gain of the amplification stage and is stored in the look-up table. This process is repeated for each selected gain of each amplification stage of interest until the look-up tables are populated.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Ling, Andy Lo, Tete Sedalo
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Patent number: 8442465Abstract: An RF circuit is disclosed having a low-noise amplification (LNA) circuit and a bypass path that provides a bypass around the LNA circuit. In the amplification mode, the bypass path is open and the LNA circuit amplifies the receive signal in accordance within a power gain frequency response. During the amplification mode, the LNA circuit is tuned such that a power gain resonance frequency band of the power gain frequency response is within the receive frequency band. On the other hand, in the bypass mode, the bypass path is closed and the receive signal is not amplified but rather bypasses the LNA circuit. Also, during the bypass mode, the power gain frequency response of the LNA circuit is transposed to reduce or eliminate excessive insertion losses caused by the LNA circuit within the receive frequency band.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.Inventor: William Kent Leverich
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Patent number: 8428535Abstract: A controller in a receiver monitors RSSI and AGC gain levels to determine signal conditions and adjust filter performance accordingly to optimize power consumption while providing acceptable signal quality. When RSSI level is high and AGC gain is low, a strong signal-of-interest is present. In this case, adaptive filter bias currents may be reduced raise the noise floor and degrade intermodulation to reduce power consumption because the strong signal-of-interest can tolerate the higher noise and distortion. When the RSSI level is low and AGC gain is high, a weak signal is present a low noise mode may be effected by increasing bias current to filters used to lower the noise floor, but intermodulation effects may still be tolerated so those filters may be cut back. Other cases are supported. RSSI and AGC gain level thresholds may be dynamically altered based on relative RSSI and AGC levels.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: David Cousinard, Patrick Clement, Cao-Thong Tu
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Patent number: 8428536Abstract: A receiver (100) includes a first element (110) with a signal input, a control input, a signal output, and gain steps of a first magnitude, a signal processing circuit (120-168) with a signal input coupled to the first element, and a signal output, a second element (180) that has a signal input coupled to signal processing circuit, a control input, a signal output, and gain steps of a second magnitude smaller than the first magnitude, and a controller (180) that has a control output coupled to the first element (110), a control output coupled to the second element (180), and that adjusts receiver (100) gain by changing the first element (110) gain by a first magnitude, changing the second element (180) gain by substantially an inverse first magnitude, and subsequently changing the gain of the second element (180) by steps of the second magnitude to achieve a desired gain.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Ramin Khoini-Poorfard, Alessandro Piovaccari, David S. Trager
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Patent number: 8406719Abstract: A receiver is provided and includes a first amplifier configured to amplify, based on a first gain, a radio frequency signal to generate a first amplified signal. The radio frequency signal is received by the receiver on a first channel. A second amplifier generates, based on the first amplified signal and a second gain, a second amplified signal. An output circuit generates a baseband signal based on the second amplified signal. A first detection circuit compares the baseband signal to (i) a first threshold in response to the first gain being at a first level, and (ii) a second threshold in response to the first gain being at a second level. The first detection circuit generates a first detection signal in response to the comparison. A controller, in response to the first detection signal, (i) adjusts the second gain, or (ii) changes the receiver from the first channel.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Marvell International LtdInventors: Sek Kin Neng, Yungping Hsu, Tsunglun Yu, Ming Ta Lin, Naveen-Kumar Arani
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Patent number: 8385860Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power detector includes a reference voltage generator, a square signal generator, a detection circuit, and an output circuit. The reference voltage generator is configured to receive a bias voltage and generate a reference voltage. The square signal generator is configured to receive a voltage having a high frequency input voltage superimposed on the bias voltage and output a signal including the reference voltage, a voltage of a square of the high frequency input voltage, and a high-frequency signal. The detection circuit has a first lowpass filter, a first operational amplifier configured to amplify error between an output voltage of the first lowpass filter and the reference voltage and output the error as a control voltage, and a feedback transistor configured to feed a feedback current according to the control voltage back to an output terminal of the square signal generator.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takayuki Teraguchi, Masahiro Hasegawa, Noriyoshi Odaki, Shigehiro Hosoi, Takahiro Nakagawa
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Patent number: 8306162Abstract: A method for use in a digital communications receiver for controlling an input signal level (200) into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) initially receives a sample sequence (201) where a threshold crossing rate is measured as a percentage samples of an input signal that exceed the threshold (203). The error between the measured threshold crossing rate and a desired reference threshold crossing rate is calculated (205) and an error signal is then utilized in a feedback loop to control the receiver gain such that the error is reduced (207).Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Corke, Daniel G. Prysby
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Publication number: 20120244826Abstract: A wireless communication receiver includes a multitude of look-up tables each storing a multitude of DC offset values associated with the gains of an amplification stage disposed in the wireless communication receiver. The entries for each look-up table are estimated during a stage of the calibration phase. During such a calibration stage, for each selected gain of an amplification stage, a search logic estimates a current DC offset number and compares it to a previous DC offset estimate that is fed back to the search logic. If the difference between the current and previous estimates is less than a predefined threshold value, the current estimate is treated as being associated with the DC offset of the selected gain of the amplification stage and is stored in the look-up table. This process is repeated for each selected gain of each amplification stage of interest until the look-up tables are populated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: MaxLinear, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Ling, Andy Lo, Tete Sedalo
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Patent number: 8275332Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of switchable full step mixer unit cells, wherein each switchable full step unit cell is configured to, when the full step transceiver mixer unit cell is turned on, increase the gain experienced by an electronic signal by a full step increment, and wherein the step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature; and at least one switchable partial step mixer unit cell configured to, when the partial step transceiver mixer unit is turned on, increase the gain experienced by the electronic signal by a predetermined step increment less than that of a full step, and wherein the partial step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Ahmad Mirzaei, Alireza Zolfaghari, Hooman Darabi
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Patent number: 8259878Abstract: Provided are apparatus and method for receiving signals in a wireless communication system.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Chanho Yoon, Hun-Sik Kang, Eun-Young Choi, Sok-Kyu Lee
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Patent number: 8238861Abstract: Techniques for performing automatic gain control (AGC) at a terminal in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, the terminal may use different receiver gain settings to receive different types of signals in different time intervals. The terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for each signal type and may use the receiver gain setting to receive signals of that signal type. In another aspect, the terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for a future time interval based on received power levels for peer terminals expected to transmit in that time interval. The terminal may measure received power levels of signals received from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may determine a set of terminals expected to transmit in the future time interval and may determine the receiver gain setting for the future time interval based on the measured received power levels for the set of terminals.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Junyi Li, Ying Wang, Thomas Richardson, Aleksandar Jovicic
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Patent number: 8229381Abstract: A wireless communication receiver includes a multitude of look-up tables each storing a multitude of DC offset values associated with the gains of an amplification stage disposed in the wireless communication receiver. The entries for each look-up table are estimated during a stage of the calibration phase. During such a calibration stage, for each selected gain of an amplification stage, a search logic estimates a current DC offset number and compares it to a previous DC offset estimate that is fed back to the search logic. If the difference between the current and previous estimates is less than a predefined threshold value, the current estimate is treated as being associated with the DC offset of the selected gain of the amplification stage and is stored in the look-up table. This process is repeated for each selected gain of each amplification stage of interest until the look-up tables are populated.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Ling, Andy Lo, Tete Sedalo
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Patent number: 8180308Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) apparatus. The RF apparatus includes an amplifier, and a signal detection circuit. The amplifier receives RF signals and amplifies those signals. The amplifier has an adjustable gain value. The signal detection circuit detects whether a received signal is an out-of-band radar signal depending on the gain value of the amplifier and a characteristic of the received signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: Sek Kin Neng, Yungping Hsu, Tsunglun Yu, Ming Ta Lin, Naveen-Kumar Arani
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Patent number: 8155241Abstract: A method includes receiving data elements representative of constellation points of a modulated signal. Each data element includes a gain. The method also includes identifying a common gain value among the received data elements, and adjusting the data elements to include the common gain value.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: MediaTek Inc.Inventor: Timothy Perrin Fisher-Jeffes
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Patent number: 8085839Abstract: An adaptive equalizer may include one or more equalizing gain stages coupled to an input signal. An automatic gain control circuit may be used to control the gain of the one or more equalizing gain stages, the automatic gain control circuit having an AGC reference input. A dual-output DC restoration circuit may be coupled to the output of the one or more equalizing gain stages for generating a first output signal using a first hysteresis slicer that DC restores the input signal and for generating a second output signal using a second hysteresis slicer that is coupled to the AGC reference input of the automatic gain control circuit, wherein the second hysteresis slicer introducing less hysteresis than the first hysteresis slicer.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Gennum CorporationInventors: Mohammad H. Shakiba, Eliyahu D. Zamir
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Patent number: 8081937Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of switchable full step mixer unit cells, wherein each switchable full step unit cell is configured to, when the full step transceiver mixer unit cell is turned on, increase the gain experienced by an electronic signal by a full step increment, and wherein the step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature; and at least one switchable partial step mixer unit cell configured to, when the partial step transceiver mixer unit is turned on, increase the gain experienced by the electronic signal by a predetermined step increment less than that of a full step, and wherein the partial step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Ahmad Mirzaei, Alireza Zolfaghari, Hooman Darabi
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Patent number: 8063997Abstract: An integrated tuner is programmable to optimize its components for either analog signal reception or digital signal reception. Power to the components is increased for analog operation and decreased for digital operation. The tuner also includes a selectable and integrated low noise amplifier that may be selected for single-signal reception and bypassed for multi-signal reception.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Mats Lindstrom, Glenn W. Eswein, Abdolreza Shafie, Mike A. Ploof, Ryuji Maeda, Manjit S. Gill, Eileen Carlson, Anthony R. Simon, Henry S. Lau
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Patent number: 8055232Abstract: A receiving apparatus may achieve optimal RF and IF gain control while suppressing saturated amplification due to interference. The receiving apparatus includes an RF variable gain Amp that amplifies a received RF signal, a mixer that converts an output signal of the RF variable gain Amp into an IF signal, an IF variable gain Amp that amplifies the IF signal, a demodulator that demodulates an output signal of the IF variable gain Amp, and an AGC circuit. The AGC circuit sets a period of gain control for the RF variable gain Amp to be shorter than a period of gain control for the IF variable gain Amp when gains of the RF variable gain Amp and the IF variable gain Amp are controlled based on the output signal of the IF variable gain Amp.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroji Akahori
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Patent number: 8014743Abstract: This disclosure discloses methods and apparatus for calibrating received signal strength indicators.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2011Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Beken CorporationInventors: Ronghui Kong, Dawei Guo
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Patent number: 7962112Abstract: A heterodyne receiver comprising a gain controllable RF mixer (14) which has a first input connected to a first local oscillator (16) and a second input connected to an RF input. The receiver comprises a peak detector (38) which detects a peak value of an input signal at the second input of the HF mixer and generates a digital control signal if it is determined that the peak value of the input signal is above a predetermined level. A digital automatic gain control circuit (34) decreases upon reception of the digital control signal the gain of the RF mixer.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbHInventors: Harald Sandner, Ajaib Hussain
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Patent number: 7894786Abstract: Provided is a receiver capable of automatically controlling a gain of the receiver and receiving three or more band signals. A gain controlled receiver includes a low noise amplifier, a first variable gain control amplifier, a frequency mixer, a filter, a second variable gain control amplifier, and a gain control block. The gain controlled receiver automatically controls gains of the low noise amplifier, the first variable gain control amplifier, the frequency mixer, the filter, the second variable gain control amplifier by detecting strength of the signals processed in the receiver. Therefore, without an additional manual tuning operation, the gain of the receiver can be automatically maintained in an optimal state. A multi-band processing receiver includes a first receiving unit, a second receiving unit, and a switch. The multi-band processing receiver can process three or more RF signals in multi-band by using a single receiver.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: FCI Inc.Inventor: Myung Woon Hwang
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Patent number: 7873340Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for tracking and compensating for analog gain mismatches or changes in a receiver. In an embodiment, a method is provided to track analog gain step magnitudes during operation of a device. The method includes employing an error signal between an automatic gain control (AGC) output and a reference level as input to a gain step magnitude tracking component. This also includes determining at least one compensation value from the AGC output to update a nominal gain step magnitude that tracks an actual gain step magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Linbo Li, Fuyun Ling, Raghuraman Krishnamoorthi
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Patent number: 7853227Abstract: A system for providing automatic gain control (AGC) comprises a signal path with an RF input, a plurality of power detectors in communication with the signal path, each of the power detectors operable to measure a total broadband power level of a signal in the signal path, each of the power detectors positioned to monitor a point in the signal path corresponding to a change in signal bandwidth, a control system operable to receive from each of the power detectors information associated with the power level and to adjust attenuation in the signal path in response to the information to achieve desired gain control.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.Inventors: Jan-Michael Stevenson, Jose L. Esquivel, Carey Ritchey, Kim E. Beumer
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Patent number: 7835706Abstract: An RF transmitter (104) includes a shared local oscillator circuit (126), transmit path circuitry (120, 122, 124), a divider (134), and a lowpass filter (322). The shared local oscillator circuit (126) generates a shared LO signal (116). The transmit path circuitry (120, 122, 124) mixes a baseband signal (107) and an IF mixing signal (116) to provide an IF signal (112), and converts the IF signal (112) to an RF transmit signal (105) at a desired frequency using an RF mixing signal received at a mixing input thereof. The divider (134) divides the shared LO signal (116) to provide an unfiltered RF mixing signal. The lowpass filter (322) has an input for receiving the unfiltered RF mixing signal, and an output coupled to the mixing input of the transmit path circuitry (120, 122, 124) for providing the RF mixing signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: David R. Welland, Ramkishore Ganti, CaiYi Wang
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Patent number: 7809341Abstract: A received low-frequency standard radio wave, which is an amplitude modulation signal, is converted to an intermediate frequency signal Sa, and is output to a detection circuit and an AGC circuit. The detection circuit and AGC circuit generates an RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 from the input intermediate frequency signal Sa, and controls an RF control circuit and IF control circuit by outputting the generated RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 to the RF control circuit and IF control circuit. By this a radio wave reception device can speed up AGC operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kaoru Someya
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Patent number: 7783272Abstract: A broadband signal amplifier includes one of more broadband amplifier circuits, each dynamically controlled in response to a total power level of signals applied thereto to reduce linearity in response to a reduction of input signal strength. A filter may couple the output of the broadband amplifier circuits to each other to form a tandem arrangement. Power detectors are connected to detect and provide outputs indicative of the total power levels of the signals applied to respective broadband amplifiers. A control unit is connected to and receives the output from the power detectors and, in response, provides a control signals to the broadband amplifier circuit so as to operate each over portions of their operating characteristic curves that provide only that degree of linearity necessary to limit distortion to a predetermined or dynamically adjustable maximum acceptable level.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.Inventor: Timothy M. Magnusen
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Publication number: 20100130153Abstract: A receiver (100) includes a first element (110) with a signal input, a control input, a signal output, and gain steps of a first magnitude, a signal processing circuit (120-168) with a signal input coupled to the first element, and a signal output, a second element (180) that has a signal input coupled to signal processing circuit, a control input, a signal output, and gain steps of a second magnitude smaller than the first magnitude, and a controller (180) that has a control output coupled to the first element (110), a control output coupled to the second element (180), and that adjusts receiver (100) gain by changing the first element (110) gain by a first magnitude, changing the second element (180) gain by substantially an inverse first magnitude, and subsequently changing the gain of the second element (180) by steps of the second magnitude to achieve a desired gain.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: SILICON LABORATORIES, INC.Inventors: Ramin Khoini-Poorfard, Alessandro Piovaccari, David S. Trager
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Patent number: 7684772Abstract: A tuner down-converts a Radio Frequency (RF) wireless signal and outputs the converted signal. The tuner compensates for a TOP depending on a temperature and: detects a received signal strength depending on a RF output of the tuner and transmitting the detected strength to a gain control unit; measures an operating temperature of the tuner and transmits the measured temperature value; receives the measured temperature value to compare the received temperature value with a reference TOP value, compensating compensates for the TOP value depending on variation in temperature and outputting outputs the compensated value; and receives the compensated value to control the RF output based on the TOP value and the received signal strength.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Integrant Technologies Inc.Inventors: Junghwan Lee, Bonkee Kim
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Patent number: 7668523Abstract: An apparatus, a carrier medium storing instructions to implement a method, and a method for controlling the gain of a radio receiver for receiving packets of information in a wireless network. The receiver is connected to an antenna subsystem and has receive signal path including a plurality of sections including a first section coupled to the antenna subsystem and a next section. Each section has an adjustable gain and is able to provide a measure of the signal strength at its output. The method includes waiting for a start of packet indication, providing a measure of the signal strength at the output of the first section and the next section, and adjusting the gains of the first and the next sections using the provided measured signal strengths. In one embodiment, the receive signal path includes a filter, the provided measure for the first section is before the filter, and the provided measure for the second section is after the filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Andrew R. Adams, Philip J. Ryan, Brian Hart
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Patent number: 7650128Abstract: A received low-frequency standard radio wave, which is an amplitude modulation signal, is converted to an intermediate frequency signal Sa, and is output to a detection circuit and an AGC circuit. The detection circuit and AGC circuit generates an RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 from the input intermediate frequency signal Sa, and controls an RF control circuit and IF control circuit by outputting the generated RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 to the RF control circuit and IF control circuit. By this a radio wave reception device can speed up AGC operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kaoru Someya
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Patent number: 7640001Abstract: A system for filtering a signal includes a plurality of filter modules coupled in series. Each filter module includes a filter and a variable gain element. Each filter is capable of. receiving an input signal, attenuating a portion of the input signal that is outside a passband associated with the filter, and outputting at least a portion of the input signal that is within the passband associated with the filter. Each variable gain element is capable of receiving a control signal and inducing a gain in an output of the filter based on the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.Inventors: Michael D. Womac, Armin G. Deiss, Thomas Leigh Davis, Kim E. Beumer