With Particular Receiver Circuit Patents (Class 455/334)
  • Publication number: 20090318108
    Abstract: In order to reduce the parts required for matching of an SAW filter module, the SAW filter module 10 obtains matching for coupling SAW filters 10A to 10D with RF-IC 20 using impedance matching circuits 11A to 11D. The real part of output impedance Z saw of the SAW filter is closely matched with the real part of input impedance Zic of an RF-IC. The impedance matching circuit modifies the imaginary part of the output impedance Zm of the SAW filter module according to the imaginary part of the input impedance Zic of the RF-IC 20. The impedance matching circuit composed of one piece of inductance or capacitor, or a plurality of inductors or capacitors in parallel connection, ans formed as a print pattern on a module substrate, in which the real part R saw and the real part Ric are in a relation nearly of 0.8 Ric<R saw<1.2 Ric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Susumu Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 7634248
    Abstract: Configurable circuits using phase change switches are described. The switches use phase change or phase transition material to create configurable connections between devices and/or interconnecting layers of an integrated circuit in order to change the behavior of the circuit after manufacturing. In at least some embodiments, the phase of the material can be a crystalline phase or an amorphous phase. A phase change can be caused by heating the material, such as with an ohmic heater fabricated on the IC. As one example, germanium-antimony-tellurium (GeSbTe) can be used for the phase change material. The switches can be used to create configurable circuits such as low noise amplifiers and mixers, which can in turn be used to create configurable receivers or other analog circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Lawrence Pileggi, Mehdi Asheghi
  • Patent number: 7630685
    Abstract: A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip, a power supply circuit board upon which the wireless IC chip is mounted, and in which a power supply circuit is provided, the power supply circuit includes a resonant circuit having a predetermined resonant frequency, and a radiation pattern, which is adhered to the underside of the power supply circuit board, for radiating a transmission signal supplied from the power supply circuit, and for receiving a reception signal to supply this to the power supply circuit. The resonant circuit is an LC resonant circuit including an inductance device and capacitance devices. The power supply circuit board is a multilayer rigid board or a single-layer rigid board, and between the wireless IC chip and the radiation pattern is connected by DC connection, magnetic coupling, or capacitive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Dokai, Noboru Kato, Satoshi Ishino
  • Publication number: 20090291655
    Abstract: The invention proposes an LNB using two transposition frequencies chosen on either side of the reception band so as to obtain a transposition of supradyne type and a transposition of infradyne type according to the frequency used. This choice of transposition frequencies makes it possible to have an overlap zone in the middle of the reception band which is transposed with the aid of the two oscillation frequencies but at different frequencies. This makes it possible to choose between the two transpositions in the case where the frequency transposed with the aid of an oscillator corresponds to a particularly noisy frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Marc Louchkoff
  • Publication number: 20090291654
    Abstract: A receiver includes an antenna array that generates a plurality of received signals from at least a first remote transmitter and a second remote transmitter, the antenna array having a beam pattern that is controllable based on at least one control signal. A plurality of receiver sections process the plurality of received signals to generate a plurality of down-converted signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jason A. Trachewsky
  • Patent number: 7623594
    Abstract: An SDARS receiver for use with at least two antennae, each of which receives bitstreams from a first satellite, bitstreams from a second satellite, and bitstreams from a terrestrial repeater, including demodulators configured to switch between demodulating bitstreams from the satellites and to switch between demodulating bitstreams from the terrestrial repeater, and a processor coupled to the demodulators, the processor being configured to switch the demodulators according to a variety of algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Marrah, Shuping Zhang, Douglas A. Cramer, Harry Diamond
  • Patent number: 7610032
    Abstract: A method for generating phase signals includes triggering a phase register to output a binary number stored in the phase register, wherein the phase register is triggered based at least in part on a voltage signal provided by a voltage controlled oscillator. The method also includes providing an input signal to a decoder, wherein the input signal is based at least in part on the binary number output by the phase register and the decoder is operable to generate phase signals in response to the input signals. The method further includes incrementing the binary number stored in the phase register and repeating the triggering and providing steps after the binary number is incremented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Davis
  • Patent number: 7603098
    Abstract: The invention enables a compromise between DC offset rejection and image rejection through the use of a bandpass filter having a variable center frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Meng-An Pan
  • Patent number: 7603100
    Abstract: A high-frequency wireless communication device is provided that is capable of enlarging the range of communication by enhancing reception sensitivity while avoiding mutual interference. The device comprises an antenna filter and a direct detection type reception mechanism connected to the antenna filter. A crystal filter is used as the antenna filter. A crystal chip constituting the crystal filter and an IC chip into which the reception mechanism is integrated are housed in a single modular container to configure a high-frequency wireless module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Akaike, Makoto Okamoto, Tsutomu Yamakawa, Minoru Fukuda, Kozo Ono, Nobuo Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7603133
    Abstract: A method for determining the validity of a most significant path in a wireless communication system wherein data is transmitted in frame units in a multipath environment begins by accumulating a correlated data sequence N times, each time at a frame offset apart from the previous time. A preliminary noise estimate (PNE) is calculated as an average of the accumulated data values. A preliminary noise threshold (PNT) is calculated according to the equation C1×PNE. A final noise estimate (FNE) is calculated as the average of accumulated data values below the PNT. A final noise threshold (FNT) is calculated according to the equation C2×FNE. The validity of the most significant path is determined if the most significant path value is greater than the FNT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Aykut Bultan, John W. Haim, Donald Grieco
  • Publication number: 20090253391
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that use multiple DC-DC (direct-current-to-direct-current) regulators and configurable DC-DC regulators with respect to multi-band audio receivers in order to allow for the use of different DC-DC regulator switching clock signals for different audio broadcast bands. The systems and methods disclosed thereby help to alleviate interference problems typically caused by switching devices used in the DC-DC conversion process. The embodiments described are also applicable to switching power supplies run from alternating current (AC) power sources and to Class D amplifiers working with broadcast radios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: Ligang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7599674
    Abstract: An embodiment is a receiver for a communications system that may substantially block unwanted signals in a frequency range to protect the receiver from overload. Simultaneously, the receiver of an embodiment substantially passes a desired signal so that its information may be processed by the, for example, communications system of which the receiver is part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Pine Valley Investments, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Ray Layne
  • Patent number: 7593700
    Abstract: A radio frequency stage comprises an analog multiplier cell, and an analog current routing cell coupled thereto. The analog multiplier cell includes an input for receiving an input current having a DC component and a radio frequency dynamic component, and a controllable current source for delivering a DC control current. A current multiplication circuit generates an output current having a radio frequency dynamic component equal to a product of the dynamic component of the input current times a multiplier coefficient dependent on a ratio between a value proportional to that of the DC control current and a value of the DC component of the input current. An output delivers the output current. The analog current routing cell includes an input coupled to the output of the analog multiplier cell. A controllable voltage source delivers a control voltage and a routing circuit for routing a part of the input current to the output of the analog routing cell as a function of the value of the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Philippe Cathelin, Jean-Charles Grasset
  • Publication number: 20090233571
    Abstract: Power consumption is reduced in a diversity receiver. A diversity receiver (10) comprises a condition determination circuit (26) determining whether a predefined condition is satisfied; and a control circuit (28) suspending diversity reception if the condition determination circuit determines that the predefined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventor: Yukihiko Okumura
  • Patent number: 7590401
    Abstract: A resonant tunneling diode or diode array oscillator (10) including a resonant diode (11) is coupled to a millimeter-wave source (14) and a quench generator (16) for periodically quenching the oscillations so that the average oscillation time of the oscillator is proportional to signal strength of the source (14). The signal source can be from an antenna such as a dipole or tapered slot line antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Gary Frazier
  • Publication number: 20090221259
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit including an active mixer circuit that is operated at low voltage, low noise, and low power consumption. It includes a transconductance amplifier, a transformer, and a multiplier, connects a transformer between the transconductance amplifier and the multiplier, and separates between the transconductance amplifier and the multiplier with respect to direct current inside the transformer. Further, each of the tranconductance amplifier and the multiplier is configured of transistors that are single-stacked between the supply voltage terminal and ground terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Nobuhiro SHIRAMIZU, Toru Masuda, Takahiro Nakamura, Katsuyoshi Washio, Masamichi Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20090215423
    Abstract: A multi-port correlator and a receiver having the same are provided. A multi-port correlator includes an oscillating unit which generates a plurality of oscillating signals having different phases, a combining unit which combines the plurality of oscillating signals respectively with a radio frequency (RF) signal and outputs a plurality of composite signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Seon-ho HWANG, Jae-sup Lee, Moo-que Lee
  • Publication number: 20090209213
    Abstract: A transmitting and receiving system is provided. The transmitting of receiving system includes a transmitting apparatus to transmit data and a receiving apparatus to receive the data by means of radio communication. The transmitting apparatus includes: data transmission means for transmitting the data; state information reception means for receiving state information indicative of states of the radio communication from the receiving apparatus; and control means for controlling transmission using the data transmission means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Kawada
  • Patent number: 7577409
    Abstract: A wireless transmission system with its voltage controllable depending on the load by increasing or decreasing the wireless transmission system related circuit drive voltage and selecting a drive voltage of the wireless transmission system related circuit to improve or reduce the strength of the wireless transmission signals as required according to the distance and environment of the communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 7570937
    Abstract: Comfort noise is derived from a white noise signal by filtering the white noise signal in a QMF bank to produce comfort noise signal that is selectively coupled to at least one channel in a telephone. Preferably, a plurality of QMF banks are used and the magnitude of the white noise into each filter is controlled in accordance with the magnitude of the signal in a corresponding analysis sub-band in a channel. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the signals from higher frequency analysis sub-bands are combined and control a single input to a QMF bank, thereby increasing the low frequency resolution of the comfort noise. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the QMF banks are cascaded upwardly (the output of one bank is coupled to the low pass input of the next bank), which also enhances the low frequency resolution of the comfort noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Acoustic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Winston Nowlin, Seth Suppappola
  • Publication number: 20090191837
    Abstract: A power control system includes a delta sigma modulator to generate output values for use in controlling a switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the delta sigma modulator includes two ranges of available output values and a range of one or more unavailable intermediate output values, wherein the range of one or more unavailable intermediate output values represent a gap in available output values. Each unavailable intermediate output value represents an output value that is not generated by the delta sigma modulator. In at least one embodiment, the delta sigma modulator includes a quantizer output remapping module that remaps quantizer output values within the range of one or more unavailable intermediate output values of the delta sigma modulator to new output values within one of the ranges of available output values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Kartik Nanda, John L. Melanson
  • Publication number: 20090191836
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to boost an electrical potential of a control terminal of a transistor from a signal on an input terminal of the transistor to render a channel in the transistor more conductive. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Michael V. Ho
  • Publication number: 20090191835
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of channel estimation implemented in a receiver having multiple antennas configured to receive at least one common pilot available to a plurality of users and a plurality of dedicated pilots. Each dedicated pilot is allocated to one of the plurality of users. The method includes estimating at least one first channel associated with a first user and at least one second channel associated with a second user based on observations of the plurality of dedicated pilots and of said at least one common pilot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: ANGEL LOZANO, Sivarama Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 7565127
    Abstract: A signal processing unit of the present invention includes: input terminal (21) to which an input signal is input; high-pass filter (23) for cutting off the DC component of the input signal; output terminal (22) for outputting a signal output from high-pass filter (23) as an output signal; determination element (26) for determining whether or not the voltage of the output signal falls out of a predetermined detection threshold range; and, switches (27,28) for connecting the output node of high-pass filter (23) to a power supply circuit when the voltage of the output signal is determined to fall out of the detection threshold range at determination element (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tokairin, Noriaki Matsuno
  • Publication number: 20090181636
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring an analog data signal is provided that includes an analog data compression subsystem. The analog data compression subsystem includes a frequency bandpass filter, a rectifier, and an integrator such as a leaky integrator or one that is reset after being sampled. An analog data signal is bandpass filtered by the frequency bandpass filter, rectified, and integrated in the analog domain. The output of the integrator is converted into a digital data value by an analog-to-digital converter circuit that samples the integrator at a desired sample rate or duty cycle. The output of the integrator can trigger an event based upon established criteria. Multiple analog data compression subsystems can be used in parallel to monitor multiple frequency bands-of-interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Intuitive Research and Technology
    Inventors: Charles E. Fulks, III, Ray Kendall, Alan W. Segrest, Mark D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20090181637
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus for a digital mobile communication system comprises an adaptive filter for filtering an input signal. A step-size parameter chosen for the adaption of filter coefficients of the adaptive filter is computed from a variation of the filter coefficients used by the adaptive filter. This facilitates an indirect measure for the channel variation so that a good reception quality over a wide range of user velocities may be enabled in contrast to a system design based on a compromise step-size parameter being optimum for one velocity only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: ST WIRELESS SA
    Inventor: Stefan Mueller-Weinfurtner
  • Patent number: 7561855
    Abstract: An integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is usable in a transceiver module. The integrated circuit includes an input port that is configured to receive a data stream. A clock port on the integrated circuit is configured to receive a reference clock diplexed with another signal or voltage used by the integrated circuit. An eye opening circuit is connected to the input port and clock. The eye opening circuit is configured to retime the data stream received at the input port. An output port is connected to the eye opening circuits The output port is configured to transmit a retimed signal from the eye opening circuit to a device external to the integrated circuit. A bypass circuit is connected to the input port and the output port. The bypass circuit may selectively bypass the eye opening circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Rudolf J. Hofmeister, Lewis B. Aronson
  • Publication number: 20090176472
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power supply adapter for supplying DC power to a broadcast receiver that processes a broadcast signal. The power supply adapter includes: a converter configured to generate the DC power from AC power; a broadcast signal reception section configured to receive the broadcast signal; a mixer configured to mix the broadcast signal received by the broadcast signal reception section with an output from the converter; and a supply section configured to supply an output from the mixer to the broadcast receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Honma, Rikiya Ishikawa, Kosuke Fujita
  • Publication number: 20090175370
    Abstract: A larger cell uses a pilot pattern with a higher pilot density in a frequency axis direction to improve a channel estimation accuracy when a frequency selective fading variation is large. Meanwhile, a smaller cell uses a pilot pattern with a lower pilot density in the frequency axis direction. A pilot pattern that each base station uses is transmitted to a mobile station in a cell as a report signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nahoko Kuroda, Toshifumi Sato, Soichi Tsumura
  • Publication number: 20090156157
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for a transformer in an integrated circuit package are provided. In this regard, signals may be transmitted and/or received via an antenna communicatively coupled to a transformer embedded in multi-layer integrated circuit package. The windings ratio of the transformer may be configured based on an impedance of the antenna, an impedance of a transmitter coupled to the transformer, an impedance of an LNA coupled to the transformer, and/or a power level of the received and/or transmitted signals. The windings ratio may be configured via one or more switching elements which may be MEMS switches embedded in the multi-layer IC package. The transformer may comprise a plurality of loops fabricated on a corresponding plurality of metal layers in the multi-layer IC package, and the loops may be communicatively coupled with one or more vias. The multi-layer IC package may comprise ferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20090147716
    Abstract: A wireless communication system comprises a plurality of antennas, a plurality of tuners, a plurality of receiver ends, a bus, and a processor. Each of the tuners is connected to one of the antennas and one of the receiver ends. Each of the receiver ends has a corresponding address. A common address code is assigned to the corresponding addresses of part of receiver ends during firmware loading. The processor transmits the firmware to the part of the receiver ends via the bus based on the common address code. The corresponding addresses of the part of the receiver ends are converted back into unique address codes after the firmware is loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Peng Chang, Chi-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 7545306
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for directly sampling RF signals. In some implementations, an RF reader includes a clock generator and an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). The clock generator is configured to generate a sample clock signal based, at least in part, on an input signal associated with transmitting RF signals. The ADC is configured to directly sample RF signals in a receive path of the reader using the sample clock signal to generate a digital signal. Mixing of the RF signal and the sample clock, through the sampling process in the ADC, reduces phase noise associated with the transmission signal in the receive path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sirit Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Frederick, Joseph P. Repke
  • Patent number: 7542728
    Abstract: Apparatus for communication includes at least one RF receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive and downconvert first and second RF signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks in accordance with different, first and second network protocols, so as to output first and second downconverted signals. A baseband processing circuit includes processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract first and second data from the signals. The processing components have a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Altair Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Yigal Bitran, Eitan Solomon
  • Publication number: 20090131009
    Abstract: A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) and methods are used in a wireless communication system to process sampled received signals to establish and/or maintain wireless communications. A selectively controllable coherent accumulation unit produces power delay profiles (PDPs). A selectively controllable post processing unit passes threshold qualified magnitude approximation values and PDP positions to a device such as a rake receiver to determine receive signal paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: INTERDIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward L. Hepler, Steven Ferrante, William C. Hackett, Alexander Reznik, Peter Bohnhoff, Jan Meyer
  • Publication number: 20090131010
    Abstract: In a wireless receiving circuit of high data rate, a circuit area and current consumption occupied by an analog-digital converter increase. The present invention, in a wireless receiving circuit having an analog-digital converter of digital calibration type constituted by plural analog-digital converter units, shares portions about digital calibration, and applies the result of calibration of one analog-digital converter unit to other analog-digital converter units to appropriately perform each digital calibration of the plural analog-digital converter units. For example, in a wireless receiving circuit having an analog-digital converter of digital calibration type constituted of an analog-digital converter unit of I side and an analog-digital converter unit of Q side, portions about digital calibration are shared, and a calibration result of I side is applied to Q side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Takashi OSHIMA, Taizo Yamawaki
  • Patent number: 7536153
    Abstract: With a capacitor C inserted in an interstage portion of multiple stages of amplifier circuits, a high pass filter is generated by the capacitor C and an input impedance |Z| of an amplifier circuit in the next stage. Accordingly, frequency components lower than a cutoff frequency fc are cut off, and therefore are not transferred to the subsequent stage. However, radio frequency components higher than or equal to a fundamental wave component determined by an envelope of a radio frequency signal intermittently transmitted can be transferred. Consequently, transfer of DC offset potentials can be cut off, and noise, such as flicker noise, having great power in a DC or near-DC zone can be effectively cut off. Thereby, the S/N ratio, detection sensitivity, and detection accuracy can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hisanori Uda, Hiroaki Hayashi, Yoshiyuki Kago, Yukiomi Tanaka, Kazuhiko Endo
  • Publication number: 20090124229
    Abstract: A method for selecting antenna configurations in a satellite receiving system, the method comprising: selecting antenna configurations using a first mode of operation wherein frequency shift keying (“FSK”) of a frequency is implemented, or a second mode of operation wherein a DC level is implemented, and adaptively controlling a capacitor to condition a signal while the second mode is in use and removing the effects of the capacitor while the first mode is in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Joseph J. Laks Thomson Licensing LLC
    Inventor: John James Fitzpatrick
  • Publication number: 20090117872
    Abstract: A passively powered element with multiple energy harvesting and communication channels is described. The passively powered element may include a number of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at multiple different frequencies. The passively powered element may further include a number of rectifiers, each coupled to a distinct one of the antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power and to receive data in the RF signals. An electronic device is coupled to the rectifiers to receive the DC power and the data from the rectifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Joel A. Jorgenson, Michael J. Schmitz, Brian M. Morlock, Bradley R. Thurow
  • Patent number: 7529533
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a configurable homodyne/heterodyne RF receiver including first and second mixers. The configurable homodyne/heterodyne RF receiver functions as a homodyne receiver when the first and second mixers are configured to operate in parallel, and as a heterodyne receiver when the first and second mixers are configured to operate in series. The embodiments of the present invention further provides an RFID reader employing the configurable homodyne/heterodyne RF receiver to facilitate a listen-before-talk function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: John Vincent Bellantoni
  • Patent number: 7529534
    Abstract: A signal converter for converting a start signal into an end signal includes means for copying the start signal to obtain a plurality of copied start signals, wherein a copied start signal may be fed into a processing branch as a branch signal. Further, the signal converter includes a first branch processing means in a first processing branch for processing a first branch signal according to a first processing regulation to obtain a first processed branch signal. Further, the signal converter includes a second branch processing means in a second processing branch for processing a second branch signal according to a second processing regulation to obtain a second processed branch signal, wherein the second processing regulation is different from the first processing regulation and wherein the first processing regulation and the second processing regulation are implemented to cause a low-pass polyphase filtering of the copied start signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Stefan Koehler
  • Publication number: 20090111420
    Abstract: In a SAW-less receiver involving a passive mixer, novel degenerative impedance elements having substantial impedances are disposed in incoming signal paths between the differential signal output leads of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and the differential signal input leads of the passive mixer. The passive mixer outputs signals to a transimpedance amplifier and baseband filter (TIA). Providing the novel degenerative impedance elements decreases noise in the overall receiver as output from the TIA, with only minimal degradation of other receiver performance characteristics. In some examples, the passive mixer receives local oscillator signals having duty cycles of substantially less than fifty percent. In some examples, the degenerative impedance elements can have one of several impedances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aleksandar Tasic, Junxiong Deng, Namsoo Kim
  • Patent number: 7526265
    Abstract: Embodiments of a receiver impairment estimation and correction system and method that can be implemented in a low intermediate frequency receiver system are disclosed. In one embodiment, among others, a method for operating a receiver is disclosed that comprises receiving a radio frequency signal, downconverting the radio frequency signal to a downconverted signal comprising an in-phase component and quadrature-phase component, buffering the downconverted signal in a memory, estimating receiver impairments associated with the in-phase component and the quadrature-phase component for a defined time period, and compensating for the receiver impairments for each defined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman J. Beamish, William J. Domino, Morten Damgaard
  • Patent number: 7526263
    Abstract: An arrangement for processing the antenna signal of a radio receiver and for leading it to low-noise amplifiers LNA of parallel amplifier branches. On the transmission path of the receiver from the antenna to the amplifiers LNA, functionally different elements are combined into physically united elements, such as the conductors (432, 433) of the low-passing part of the antenna filter and the division conductors of the Wilkinson divider (430), and the conductor (441) of the phase-shifter and the inductive part (L1) of the LNA matching circuit. Each physically united element is a conductor, which is insulated from the ground plane by air or a low-loss dielectric material. The arrangement reduces the number of lossy parts between the antenna and the amplifiers, and placing these parts on an ordinary circuit board is also avoided. For these reasons, inferior noise values compared to the prior art can be allowed for each LNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Filtronic Comtek Oy
    Inventors: Erkki Niiranen, Harri Närhi, Jukka Puoskari, Pertti Koskela
  • Patent number: 7519328
    Abstract: A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip, a power supply circuit board upon which the wireless IC chip is mounted, and in which a power supply circuit is provided, the power supply circuit includes a resonant circuit having a predetermined resonant frequency, and a radiation pattern, which is adhered to the underside of the power supply circuit board, for radiating a transmission signal supplied from the power supply circuit, and for receiving a reception signal to supply this to the power supply circuit. The resonant circuit is an LC resonant circuit including an inductance device and capacitance devices. The power supply circuit board is a multilayer rigid board or a single-layer rigid board, and between the wireless IC chip and the radiation pattern is connected by DC connection, magnetic coupling, or capacitive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Dokai, Noboru Kato, Satoshi Ishino
  • Patent number: 7515050
    Abstract: The passive transponder comprises an antenna (2) connected to an integrated circuit (6) the analogue part of which includes a passive voltage rectifier (8) supplying a rectified voltage (VDC1) and an active multiplier or booster (16) for said rectified voltage which is formed by a capacitor (C2) switched to a relatively low frequency, for example 1 MHz, by means of switches formed by transistors (18 to 21) controlled using an oscillator (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: EM Microelectronic-Marin SA
    Inventors: Matthijs Pardoen, Olivier Desjeux
  • Patent number: 7512392
    Abstract: An adaptive band-pass filter for a wireless receiver comprises a band-pass filter associated with the receiver, the band-pass filter configured to selectively filter the received signal, and a switch responsive to a control signal, the switch configured to control the band-pass filter based on a level of the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D. Millard, William J. Domino, James R. Snider
  • Patent number: 7509104
    Abstract: A double conversion RF tuner includes an up-conversion unit and a down-conversion unit. The up-conversion unit up converts a received radio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to a first frequency band to a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal and up-converts the received RF signal corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band to a second IF frequency. The down conversion unit down converts one of the first and second IF signals outputted from the up-conversion unit to a final IF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Hyun Song
  • Patent number: 7509113
    Abstract: A circuit and method are given, to realize a loudness control for mobile phone earpieces and speakers with the help of a proximity sensor, which is realized as an infrared photo-electric guard circuit, where only very few external parts are needed. As a novelty here, the necessary photo sensors are integrated onto a single chip. To form the photodiodes within a single IC together with the other circuit elements are much less expensive. Using the advantages of that solution the circuit of the invention is manufactured with standard CMOS technology and only very few discrete external components. This solution reduces also power consumption and manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Knoedgen
  • Publication number: 20090075601
    Abstract: A transceiver, receiver, and transmitter are provided. The transmitter includes an in-phase path and a quadrature path, a first path associated with a first local frequency and a second path associated with a second local frequency, and a band selector for swapping the in-phase and quadrature paths to switch connection between the in-phase and quadrature paths and the first and second paths. The receiver includes an in-phase path and a quadrature path, a polyphase filter having first and second inputs and first and second outputs, and a selector for swapping the in-phase and quadrature paths to switch connection between the in-phase and quadrature paths and the first and second inputs. The transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, each of the receiver and the transmitter including in-phase signal and quadrature signal paths and first and second paths for processing signals on the in-phase signal and quadrature signal paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: MOHAMMAD-REZA NEZHAD-AHMADI, GARETH PRYCE WEALE
  • Patent number: 7505752
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a receiver has two mux circuits, two receiver circuits, and a mixer. The muxes select first and second input signals for the receiver circuits. A p-type transistor in a transmission gate in each mux is connected (i) at its channel nodes between a pad and the mux output and (ii) to receive a control signal at its gate node. Control circuitry for the p-type transistor implements a threshold reduction filter that ensures that a maximum voltage level at the mux output is at least a threshold below the mux's power supply voltage. Based on first and second input signals, the first receiver circuit generates first and second intermediate signals, and the second receiver circuit generates third and fourth intermediate signals. The mixer circuit combines the intermediate signals to generate first and second output signals, wherein the first and second receiver circuits effectively operate over different ranges of common-mode voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Andrews, John Schadt