Plural Amplifier Stages Patents (Class 455/253.2)
  • Patent number: 11736334
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed that derive an IQ magnitude parameter, and then determine the optimum IQ magnitude for wanted signals with negative signal to noise values. For each device installation, a calibration routine may be carried out that sets the baseband gain to produce this optimum IQ magnitude for each frequency channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SR Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Olivia Fernandez, Ryan Busser
  • Patent number: 10862568
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a communication circuit, a plurality of antennas that are fed with power from the communication circuit, and a processor that controls the communication circuit. The processor is configured to receive a first signal for indicating initiation of configuration for carrier aggregation. The processor is also configured to change the configuration of at least one of the antennas or the communication circuit to perform the carrier aggregation if a second signal for indicating operation initiation of the carrier aggregation is received from a base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Soo Kim, Min Chull Paik, Hyoungjoo Lee, Hyun Hoon Ha, Won Hyung Heo
  • Patent number: 10735038
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a method of operating a receiver system, the receiver system comprising one or more channels, the method comprising: monitoring a residual DC (direct current) offset in a present channel by sampling an output of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the present channel; adjusting a DCO (direct current offset) correction signal that corresponds to the residual DC offset in response to an absolute value of the residual DC offset exceeding a programmable DCO threshold; and subtracting the DCO correction signal from an analog signal provided to the ADC to reduce the residual DC offset below the programmable DCO threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Radha Srinivasan, Ulrich Andreas Muehlmann, Frederic Benoist, Stefan Mendel, Steve Charpentier
  • Patent number: 9647646
    Abstract: A method for setting an initial gain and an initial offset for an automatic gain and offset controller (AGOC) is described. The method includes determining a gain level at which a signal does not under-saturate or over-saturate an input to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) by performing a binary search over a fixed set of gain levels while an offset is fixed. The method also includes determining an offset correction to bring an unmodulated carrier level at an output of the ADC to a target level. The method may also include updating the gain and the offset in response to changes in a signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajapaksa Senaratne, Koorosh Akhavan, Le Nguyen Luong, Eunmo Kang
  • Patent number: 9191905
    Abstract: The invention teaches a solution for a Time Division Duplex (TDD) and Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) networks. In the solution, a threshold value is set for a radio frequency gain. The value of the radio frequency gain is limited to the threshold value during an initial synchronization phase where user equipment is first trying to receive synchronization signals in a transmission from a base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Arne Birger Husth
  • Patent number: 9037105
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for filtering and amplifying a signal where amplification can be distributed between stages of a filter and gain can be assigned throughout the filter to optimize system performance. Such a system can be implemented in the baseband section of RF receivers. VGAs can be implemented between filter stages, such as biquads, or VGAs can be incorporated in filter stages. Substantially linear VGAs comprising a parallel resistor array can be incorporated in the circuitry of the filter stages to reduce distortion. Gain can be assigned dynamically in the amplification stages to improve noise and/or linearity performance. For example, gain assignments can be implemented so that high power undesired signal components are filtered out before amplification to prevent component saturation, and low power signals are amplified before they are filtered to improve noise performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SITUNE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Saeid Mehrmanesh, Vahid Mesgarpour Toosi
  • Patent number: 8983416
    Abstract: A system and method employ an arbiter-based automatic gain control (AGC) for managing a series of power adjustment circuits, such as amplifiers and/or attenuators. A central arbiter is employed for managing each stage of a series of power adjustment circuits, rather than each stage solely managing itself via a localized control loop. In one embodiment, a system comprises a series of gain stages each having at least one power adjustment circuit, such as at least one attenuator or amplifier. A power detector may be implemented to detect the power level of the output signal of each gain stage, and communicate information about the detected power levels for each stage to a central arbiter. Based at least in part on the received information, the arbiter controls each of the gain stages in a coordinated fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald G. Spencer
  • Patent number: 8942313
    Abstract: An open loop envelope tracking system calibration technique and circuitry are proposed. A radio frequency power amplifier receives a modulated signal. An envelope tracker power converter generates a modulated power amplifier supply voltage for the radio frequency power amplifier based on a control signal derived from the modulated signal. A first output power and a second output power of the radio frequency power amplifier are measured when the control signal is respectively delayed by a first delay period and a second delay period. A sensitivity of the output power of the radio frequency power amplifier is near a maximum near the first delay period and the second delay period. The first delay period and/or the second delay period are adjusted until the first output power substantially equals the second output power. The first delay period and the second delay period are used to obtain a calibrated fine tuning delay offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Karl Francis Horlander
  • Patent number: 8886149
    Abstract: Embodiments include a novel receiver architecture to optimize receiver performance in the presence of interference. In various embodiments, power estimation circuits are used to determine the exact nature of the interference and to optimize the performance correspondingly. Variable selectivity of at least one power estimation circuit is achieved using a filter with variable bandwidth, with power measurements taken using different bandwidth settings. Also, the actual method of optimizing the receiver performance is novel compared to the prior art in that the gain settings and the baseband filter order (stages to be used) will be optimized based on the nature of the interference as determined by the power detector measurements. For a device such as a cellular phone that operates in a dynamic and changing environment where interference is variable, embodiments advantageously provide the capability to modify the receiver's operational state depending on the interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications USA
    Inventors: David Haub, Zhigang Xu, Jarrett Malone
  • Patent number: 8811537
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Il-Gu Lee, Jung-Bo Son, Je-Hun Lee, Eun-Young Choi, Sok-Kyu Lee
  • Publication number: 20140213209
    Abstract: Amplifiers with multiple outputs and separate gain control per output are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device or an integrated circuit) may include first and second amplifier circuits. The first amplifier circuit may receive and amplify an input radio frequency (RF) signal based on a first variable gain and provide a first amplified RF signal. The second amplifier circuit may receive and amplify the input RF signal based on a second variable gain and provide a second amplified RF signal. The input RF signal may include a plurality of transmitted signals being received by the wireless device. The first variable gain may be adjustable independently of the second variable gain. Each variable gain may be set based on the received power level of at least one transmitted signal being received by the wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christian Holenstein, Aleksandar Miodrag Tasic, Li-Chung Chang, Allen He
  • Patent number: 8744393
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for filtering and amplifying a signal where amplification can be distributed between stages of a filter and gain can be assigned throughout the filter to optimize system performance. Such a system can be implemented in the baseband section of RF receivers. VGAs can be implemented between filter stages, such as biquads, or VGAs can be incorporated in filter stages. Substantially linear VGAs comprising a parallel resistor array can be incorporated in the circuitry of the filter stages to reduce distortion. Gain can be assigned dynamically in the amplification stages to improve noise and/or linearity performance. For example, gain assignments can be implemented so that high power undesired signal components are filtered out before amplification to prevent component saturation, and low power signals are amplified before they are filtered to improve noise performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Situne Corporation
    Inventors: Saeid Mehrmanesh, Vahid Mesgarpour Toosi
  • Publication number: 20140073278
    Abstract: A circuit for RSSI estimation includes a cascaded chain of variable gain amplifier stages, a threshold detector configured to output an indication signal according to a comparison of output of the cascaded chain of variable gain amplifier stages with a predetermined threshold, and an automatic gain controller configured to adjust gain of at least one variable gain amplifier of the cascaded chain of variable gain amplifier stages according to the indication signal. Each stage may include a switch module configured to electrically connect or disconnect an input of the variable gain amplifier of the at least one variable gain amplifier stage to/from an output of a previous variable gain amplifier stage according to a switch control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: UNIBAND ELECTRONIC CORP.
    Inventors: Yiping Fan, Chun-Yuan Lin, Li-Feng Chen, Sheng-Chia Huang
  • Patent number: 8660221
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ISSC Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Jeng-Hong Chen, Huei-Ming Yang, Chih-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 8626002
    Abstract: A method and system for optoelectronic receivers for uncoded data are disclosed and may include amplifying received electrical signals in a signal amplifier comprising differential gain stages with signal detectors coupled to the outputs. First and second output voltages may be tracked and held utilizing the signal detectors. A difference between the tracked and held value may be amplified in a feedback path of the gain stage, which enables the dynamic configuration of a decision level. The received electrical signals may be generated from an optical signal by a PIN detector, an avalanche photodiode, or a phototransistor. The electrical signal may be received from a read channel. The feedback path may comprise digital circuitry, including an A/D converter, a state machine, and a D/A converter. The detectors may comprise envelope detectors utilized to detect maximum or minimum voltages. The signal amplifier may be integrated in a photonically-enabled CMOS chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Kucharski
  • Patent number: 8598866
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chun-Yen Huang, Chin-Chung Nien, Jenn-Hwan Tarng, Chen-Ming Li, Li-Yuan Chang, Ya-Chung Yu
  • Patent number: 8565703
    Abstract: An incoming RF signal can be amplified in a RF front end of a RF receiver by conveying the signal through one of a multiple amplification paths. On each path, the gain can be controlled by RF automatic gain control (AGC) circuits. Each amplification path can be designed to handle incoming signals in a designated power range and to optimize receiver performance characteristics such as the noise figure (NF) and odd harmonic linearity in that power range. Signal power can be measured at different locations of the receiver and bypass switches can be used to convey the RF signals down one of the multiple paths based on the power measurements, according to executable logical code. An incoming signal power hysteresis can be applied to stabilize the system. Further, signal power averaging and switch delaying mechanisms can be employed to stabilize the system for rapidly fluctuating signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: SiTune Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Bagher Vahidfar, Vahid Mesgarpour Toosi, Saeid Mehrmanesh
  • 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: 8494469
    Abstract: Embodiments include a novel receiver architecture to optimize receiver performance in the presence of interference. In various embodiments, power estimation circuits are used to determine the exact nature of the interference and to optimize the performance correspondingly. Variable selectivity of at least one power estimation circuit is achieved using a filter with variable bandwidth, with power measurements taken using different bandwidth settings. Also, the actual method of optimizing the receiver performance is novel compared to the prior art in that the gain settings and the baseband filter order (stages to be used) will be optimized based on the nature of the interference as determined by the power detector measurements. For a device such as a cellular phone that operates in a dynamic and changing environment where interference is variable, embodiments advantageously provide the capability to modify the receiver's operational state depending on the interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications USA Inc.
    Inventors: David Haub, Zhigang Xu, Jarrett Malone
  • Patent number: 8489030
    Abstract: A radio apparatus capable of correcting a direct current offset with high accuracy in a short time is provided. A radio apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first amplifier amplifying a signal inputted to an input terminal with amplification gain determined by a variable resistor to generate a first amplified signal, and a second amplifier amplifying the first amplified signal to generate a second amplified signal. Further, the radio apparatus includes a first correcting unit correcting a direct current offset of the first amplifier, and a second correcting unit correcting a direct current offset of the second amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Fumi Moritsuka, Shoji Otaka, Masahiro Hosoya, Hiroaki Ishihara, Tsuyoshi Kogawa
  • Patent number: 8452235
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to communicating information relating to wireless charging. A power transmitting system includes a host device with a transmit antenna. A communication interface conveys receiver information, which includes unique identifier information, from a receiver device to the host device. A controller on the host device monitors and processes the receiver information to generate notification information, which is presented to a user on a user-perceivable notifier. The transmit antenna generates an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency to create a coupling-mode region within a near-field of the transmit antenna. The system can detect a presence of a receiver device with a receive antenna that is in the coupling-mode region and process a request for power from the receiver device. The system can also notify a user when a host device is leaving a designated region and whether the host device includes expected receiver devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated
    Inventors: Miles Alexander Lyell Kirby, Anne Katrin Konertz, Virginia Walker Keating, Craig Lauer, Michael John Mangan
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8433274
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for filtering and amplifying a signal where amplification can be distributed between stages of a filter and gain can be assigned throughout the filter to optimize system performance. Such a system can be implemented in the baseband section of RF receivers. VGAs can be implemented between filter stages, such as biquads, or VGAs can be incorporated in filter stages. Substantially linear VGAs comprising a parallel resistor array can be incorporated in the circuitry of the filter stages to reduce distortion. Gain can be assigned dynamically in the amplification stages to improve noise and/or linearity performance. For example, gain assignments can be implemented so that high power undesired signal components are filtered out before amplification to prevent component saturation, and low power signals are amplified before they are filtered to improve noise performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: SiTune Corporation
    Inventors: Saeid Mehrmanesh, Vahid Mesgarpour Toosi
  • Patent number: 8428536
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Khoini-Poorfard, Alessandro Piovaccari, David S. Trager
  • Patent number: 8422981
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes multiple circuits isolated with respect to one another. Each circuit of the multiple circuits includes an inductor pair formed in a loop pattern on a same layer as at least one other inductor pair from another circuit of the multiple circuits, such that the inductor pair surrounds and is isolated from the at least one other inductor pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Won Mun, Seong-Han Ryu, Il-Ku Nam
  • Patent number: 8401058
    Abstract: A channelized amplification system and method for mitigating non-linear amplification effects and controlling spectral re-growth is disclosed. A channelized amplifier system includes a frequency divider, a plurality of distributors coupled to the frequency divider, and a plurality of amplification modules coupled to the plurality of distributors. Each of the plurality of amplification modules includes a plurality of channelized non-linear amplifiers, a frequency combiner having a plurality of band-pass filters and coupled to the plurality of channelized non-linear amplifiers, and a band-pass filter coupled to the frequency combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence K. Lam, Albert T. Ngo
  • Publication number: 20130052975
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a mixer circuit to receive and generate a mixed signal from a radio frequency (RF) signal and a master clock signal, a switch stage coupled to an output of the mixer circuit to rotatingly switch the mixed signal to multiple gain stages coupled to the switch stage, and a combiner to combine an output of the gain stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Aslamali A. Rafi, Alessandro Piovaccari
  • Publication number: 20130052974
    Abstract: Provided is a receiving apparatus for processing an analog baseband signal in an information terminal that communicates using a dielectric. The receiving apparatus includes an electrode for receiving an electric-field signal; a first gain adjuster for gain adjustment by amplifying the received signal; a channel selection filter for selecting a signal corresponding to a receive channel bandwidth from the gain-adjusted signal; a second gain adjuster for gain adjustment by amplifying the selected signal; a comparator for converting a signal output from the second gain adjuster into a digital signal; an oversampler for oversampling the digital signal at a frequency fClock higher than a receive channel frequency fSignal; a demodulator for demodulating the oversampled signal; and a clock generator for providing necessary a clock signal to the oversampler and the demodulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-Jun Song, Sang-Yun Hwang, Chul-Jin Kim, Jong-Rim Lee, Hyun-Kuk Choi, Seok-Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 8374563
    Abstract: A gain control circuit of the wireless receiver comprises a plurality of stages-amplifier, an analog gain control circuit, and a digital gain control circuit, wherein the analog gain control circuit generates an analog controlling voltage for regulating the gain of the post-amplifier by an analog gain controlling process, and the digital gain control circuit is used for determining a plurality of gain curves for the pre-amplifier, and the gain curves are all operating between the first default voltage and second default voltage. While the analog controlling voltage is over the first default voltage or second default voltage, the gain curve will be switched, thereby, the analog gain controlling process can be with the digital gain controlling process therein for improving the linearity of the gain regulation and reducing the transient response during the gain switching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Airoha Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chan-Sheng Yang, Wen-Shih Lu, Yu-Hua Liu
  • Patent number: 8364109
    Abstract: A receiver including an amplifier module, a control unit, a mixer and an IF amplifier is provided. The amplifier module, including multiple amplifier units with different gains, amplifies an input signal. The control unit enables at least one of the amplifier units according to a gain control signal, wherein the enabled at least one amplifier unit generates an output RF signal in response to the input signal. The mixer coupled with each amplifier unit in series down-converts the output RF signal into an IF signal according to a local oscillation frequency. The IF amplifier having a variable gain is coupled to the mixer for amplifying the IF signal to an output signal according to the gain control signal. The control unit obtains the gain control signal according to the output signal and a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Ching-Feng Lee
  • Patent number: 8358940
    Abstract: A method and system for optoelectronic receivers for uncoded data are disclosed and may include amplifying received electrical signals in a signal amplifier comprising differential gain stages with signal detectors coupled to the outputs. First and second output voltages may be tracked and held utilizing the signal detectors. A difference between the tracked and held value may be amplified in a feedback path of the gain stage, which enables the dynamic configuration of a decision level. The received electrical signals may be generated from an optical signal by a PIN detector, an avalanche photodiode, or a phototransistor. The electrical signal may be received from a read channel. The feedback path may comprise digital circuitry, including an A/D converter, a state machine, and a D/A converter. The detectors may comprise envelope detectors utilized to detect maximum or minimum voltages. The signal amplifier may be integrated in a photonically-enabled CMOS chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Luxtera Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Kucharski
  • Patent number: 8320864
    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 having a number of gain input ports respectively coupled to the first output ports and a gain output port coupled to at least one of the first input ports. The first gain control device is 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Adel Fanous, Leonard Dauphinee, Lawrence M. Burns, Donald McMullin
  • Patent number: 8285230
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit includes: an amplifying cell portion configured by cascade-connecting a plurality stage of amplifying cells each including a pair of N-type transistors differentially connected to each other, load resistors and a current source for generating an operating current, and each having a function of amplifying differential signals; a feedback portion configured to feed differential output signals from the amplifying cell in a rear stage side of the amplifying cell portion back to differential input terminals of the amplifying cell on a front stage side; and an input portion configured to supply differential input signals to input terminals in a first stage of the amplifying cell portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Komori
  • Patent number: 8265580
    Abstract: An incoming RF signal can be amplified in a RF front end of a RF receiver by conveying the signal through one of a multiple amplification paths. On each path, the gain can be controlled by RF automatic gain control (AGC) circuits. Each amplification path can be designed to handle incoming signals in a designated power range and to optimize receiver performance characteristics such as the noise figure (NF) and odd harmonic linearity in that power range. Signal power can be measured at different locations of the receiver and bypass switches can be used to convey the RF signals down one of the multiple paths based on the power measurements, according to executable logical code. An incoming signal power hysteresis can be applied to stabilize the system. Further, signal power averaging and switch delaying mechanisms can be employed to stabilize the system for rapidly fluctuating signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SiTune Coporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Bagher Vahidfar, Vahid Mesgarpour Toosi, Saeid Mehrmanesh
  • Publication number: 20120208482
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a receiving apparatus includes a variable gain amplifier, comparator, and signal processor. The comparator compares a signal level of the second signal with a first threshold to generate a third signal, a signal level of the third signal being set to a high signal if the signal level of the second signal is greater than the first threshold. The signal processor determines presence of a signal if a rate of high signals in third signals for a period is greater than a second threshold. The second threshold is set to a first value when the control of the gain is performed and set to a second value when the demodulation processing is performed. The first value is greater than the second value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi KOGAWA, Koji OGURA, Shoji OTAKA, Hiroaki ISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 8244195
    Abstract: A wideband tuneable low noise amplifier that is capable of receiving signals over a wide range of frequencies, providing tuneable filtering to remove out of band interferer signals, and providing variable gain for a wide range of frequencies. To accommodate variable gain, the low noise amplifier has an amplifier stage comprising two gain stages, and the relationship between the gain stages is controlled responsive to changes in the voltage gain of an input stage. Linearity monitoring combined with Q-enhance may be employed to increase performance at low signal levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Elonics Limited
    Inventor: David Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120171979
    Abstract: An RF receiver includes a variable gain amplifier which amplifies a received RF signal based on a gain control signal, a peak detector which determines a peak value of the amplified signal, a mixer which downconverts the amplified signal to a downconverted signal, and a control unit which determines whether or not an interfering signal other than an adjacent channel interfering signal is received. If the control unit determines that the interfering signal other than the adjacent channel interfering signal is received, the control unit generates the gain control signal so that the range of the peak value is a first range; otherwise, the control unit generates the gain control signal so that the range of the peak value is a second range. The upper and lower bounds of the second range are lower than the upper and lower bounds of the first range, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Miyano, Ippei Kanno
  • Publication number: 20120157029
    Abstract: There are provided an antenna switch circuit including: a first filter 110 passing a first broadcasting signal having a predetermined band among broadcasting signals passing through a first input terminal IN1; a second filter 120 passing a second broadcasting signal having a predetermined band among broadcasting signals passing through a second input terminal IN2; a first amplifier 310 amplifying or bypassing the first broadcasting signal of the first filter 110; a second amplifier 320 amplifying or bypassing the second broadcasting signal of the second filter 120; and a signal level attenuator 500 attenuating levels of the first broadcasting signal of the first amplifier 310 and the second broadcasting signal of the second amplifier 320 to have predetermined levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Shuji MATSUURA
  • Patent number: 8135366
    Abstract: A wireless communication circuit has a second control circuit which reduces the gain of the differential converter when the signal level of the RF signal is at least a specified level and the RF signal includes a disturbing wave of a predetermined level or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tatsuro Oomoto
  • Patent number: 8126422
    Abstract: A receiver (300) comprises an antenna input (301), a filter (302), a voltage-to-current converter (303), a down frequency conversion mixer (304), and a current-to-voltage converter (305). The antenna input operably couples to an antenna. The filter has a filter input that operably couples to the antenna input and can further have a filter output. The voltage-to-current converter has an input that is operably coupled to the filter output and can further have a voltage-to-current converter output. The down frequency conversion mixer has a mixer input that is operably coupled to the voltage-to-current converter output and can further have a mixer output. And the current-to-voltage converter has an input that is operably coupled to the mixer output and can further have a current-to-voltage converter output. By one approach, this current-to-voltage converter comprises an amplifier having a current gain of substantially unity or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Connell, Joseph P. Golat, Joseph M. Ingino
  • Patent number: 8107907
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: judging means for judging whether a receiving device for receiving a signal amplified by an amplifying circuit which amplifies a supplied signal has a good reception state or not; and control means for changing a power supply voltage of said amplifying circuit to change a gain of the amplifying circuit if said judging means judges that said receiving device does not have a good reception state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8041322
    Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver includes an RF amplification circuit which amplifies a received RF signal and generates an amplified RF signal, a mixing circuit which converts the amplified RF signal into an intermediate-frequency signal, an IF amplification circuit which generates an amplified IF signal, a first level detection circuit which detects a level of the amplified RF signal, a second level detection circuit which detects a level of the IF signal, a third level detection circuit which detects a level of the amplified IF signal, a RF reference level generation circuit which generates an RF reference level based on one of respective detection signal levels of the first and second level detection circuits, and an RF gain control circuits which controls an amplification gain of the RF amplification circuit so that a detection signal level of the third level detection circuit becomes equal to the RF reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroji Akahori
  • Patent number: 8023911
    Abstract: An amplifying device has an amplifier which amplifies an input signal supplied from an input terminal and outputs the amplified input signal, a feedback loop which has at least one of a resistive element and a capacitance connected between an output terminal of the amplifier and the input terminal, a variable current unit which adjusts a current value in accordance with a controlling signal and supplies an operating current to the amplifier, a signal analyzing unit which generates a time difference signal having a value corresponding to a slew rate of the input signal and outputs the time difference signal, and a controlling unit which generates the controlling signal in accordance with the time difference signal and outputs the controlling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Daisuke Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8018321
    Abstract: A baggage management gate including an exciting coil, a detecting coil and signal processing unit. The exciting coil forms an alternating magnetic field in a passage to an area from which manages objects to be carried in or carried out. The detecting coil detects a variation in the alternating magnetic field when magnetization of a magnetic material showing a large Barkhausen effect is reversed in the alternating magnetic field. The signal processing unit determines as to whether the magnetization reversal occurs in the alternating magnetic field due to the large Barkhausen effect or not, based on a signal detected by the detecting coil. The signal processing unit includes amplifier that amplifies the signal detected by the detecting coil with plural different amplification factors and output the amplified signals with each of the plural different amplification factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yamaguchi, Yasunori Koda, Kunihiro Takahashi, Mario Fuse, Hiroyoshi Inoue, Tsukasa Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7933361
    Abstract: A hybrid structure circuit for the cancellation of both Type-I and Type-II DC offsets. It comprises a static compensator in conjunction with a servo-loop feedback amplifier to suppress the undesired DC components present along the path of the base band after the direct conversion mixer. Two mixers are used to down convert a received RF signal directly to a base band signal with two components: in-phase and quadrature-phase. Both in-phase and quadrature-phase branches employ the same circuitry for DC offset cancellation. Miller effect is also utilized in the structure in order to implement the circuit on-chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Integrated System Solution Corp.
    Inventors: Kuang-Hu Huang, Wei-Chung Peng, Chia-So Chuan
  • Publication number: 20110059712
    Abstract: There is provided a portable radio that makes it possible to assure high receiving performance by improving deterioration of antenna gain attributable to electromagnetic field coupling between the plurality of antennas. A portable radio has a first antenna 11; a second antenna 13; a first low noise amplifier 12 connected to the first antenna 11; a second low noise amplifier 14 connected to the second antenna 13; and a DTV tuner module 15 that can perform diversity combination and that is connected to the first low noise amplifier 12 and the second low noise amplifier 14, wherein an input impedance of the first low noise amplifier 12 and an input impedance of the second low noise amplifier 14 entirely differ from each other at an operating frequency band of the DTV tuner module 15 capable of performing diversity combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kakitsu, Hideki Hayama, Yukari Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Uejima
  • Patent number: 7877077
    Abstract: A multi-band low noise amplifier (LNA) includes multiple low noise amplifying circuits configured to selectively operate in corresponding frequency bands. The low noise amplifying circuits include corresponding amplifying units and degenerating units. The degenerating units include first inductors, which are arranged in loop patterns isolated from each other on a same layer, such that one first inductor surrounds at least one other first inductor. A current flows through a selected first inductor included in a selected low noise amplifying circuit of the low noise amplifying circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Won Mun, Seong-Han Ryu, Il-Ku Nam
  • Patent number: 7860468
    Abstract: A programmable variable gain amplifier includes at least three amplifiers. A first amplifier is configured to amplify an input signal. A second amplifier, which includes a programmable output load stage, is configured to receive an output signal from the first amplifier and to output a first differential output signal. The output load stage includes multiple first switches and multiple first diode-connected transistors that are open-circuited or short-circuited by the first switches. A third amplifier, which includes a programmable current mirror input stage, is configured to receive the first differential output signal from the second amplifier through the current mirror input stage and to output a second differential output signal. The current mirror input stage includes multiple second switches and multiple second transistors that are open-circuited or short-circuited by the plurality of second switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il-Ku Nam, Byeong-Ha Park, Jong-Dae Bae, Jung-Wook Heo, Ho-Jung Ju, Hyun-Won Mun, Jeong-Hyun Choi
  • Patent number: 7860454
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Shervin Moloudi, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7844234
    Abstract: Device, system, and method of providing biasing power. For example, an apparatus includes a voltage-controlled current source to provide biasing current to a Radio Frequency power amplifier based on a voltage of an incoming signal indicating a command to activate the Radio Frequency power amplifier, the incoming signal received from a Radio Frequency baseband module; and a current-reducing circuit to reduce the biasing current if the voltage of the incoming signal is greater than or equal to a voltage overdrive threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ravinder Walia, Alberto Costantini