Variably Tunable Or Adjustable Patents (Class 455/340)
  • Patent number: 7599675
    Abstract: A frequency conversion receiver comprises a passive mixer, a Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) and a balun. The low-noise amplifier generates an amplified single-ended signal responsive to a single-ended receiver input signal. The passive mixer generates a mixer output signal responsive to a differential mixer input signal and a four-phase local oscillator signal. The balun transforms the amplified singled-ended signal into the differential mixer input signal, the balun having a first winding coupled to an output of the low-noise amplifier and a second winding coupled to an input of the passive mixer, the second winding having more turns than the first winding. The turn ratio of the second winding to the first winding provides gain compensation to the low-noise amplifier, and in conjunction with the low-noise amplifier and the passive mixer, provides a desired gain to the receiver and linearity over a dynamic range of the receiver input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Fenghao Mu, Andreas T. Mårtensson, Magnus Nilsson
  • Patent number: 7593707
    Abstract: Aspects of compensating for DC offset in an RF receiver may comprise sampling data from at least one of a plurality of output paths, selecting a sampled data and generating at least one feedback signal based on the selected sampled data. The generated feedback signal may be fed back to at least one of a plurality of input paths, and at least one of the feedback signals may be of an opposite polarity to the selected sampled data. The selected sampled data may be converted to a digital sample, a plurality of the digital samples accumulated, and an average of the plurality of the digital samples calculated. A digital feedback value may be generated based on the average. A phase of the digital feedback value may be adjusted via a derotator, which may utilize the coordinate rotation digital computer (CORDIC) algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventors: Brima Ibrahim, Hea Joung Kim, Hooman Darabi
  • Patent number: 7587192
    Abstract: A calibration device (CC) is coupled to a balanced circuit device (MC) comprising first and second outputs respectively provided with first (Z1) and second (Z2) load impedance means. This calibration device (CC) comprises adjusting means (ADM) arranged to adjust said first (Z1) and second (Z2) load impedance means into a load imbalance for linearization purposes, and a coupling means (CM) inserted between the load impedance adjusting means (ADM) and the first and second outputs and arranged to selectively couple the load impedance adjusting means (ADM) to only a chosen one of the first and second outputs, so that the load impedance adjusting means (ADM) is connected in parallel either to the first load impedance means (Z1) or to the second load impedance means (Z2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Philippe Barre
  • Patent number: 7579912
    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: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Adel Fanous, Leonard Dauphinee, Lawrence M Burns, Donald McMullin
  • Patent number: 7580483
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming of a local oscillation within a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) includes processing that begins when an RFIC receives a radio frequency (RF) signal having a known frequency. The processing then continues when the RFIC mixes the RF signal with a receiver local oscillation to produce a low intermediate frequency (IF) signal, which may have a carrier frequency of zero (i.e., a baseband signal) or up to a few mega Hertz). The processing then continues when the RFIC demodulates the low IF signal to produce demodulated data. The processing then continues as the RFIC determines a DC offset from the demodulated data, where the DC offset is reflective of the difference between the known frequency and the frequency of the receiver local oscillation. The processing then continues as the RFIC adjusts the receiver local oscillation to reduce the DC offset when the DC offset compares unfavorably with an allowable offset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Brima B. Ibrahim, Henrik T. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7555275
    Abstract: In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, systems, methods and devices are configured to facilitate RF envelope amplitude control. For example, a RF envelope amplitude control system comprises: a RF amplifier, wherein the RF amplifier is associated with a feedback device that is configured to create a first feedback signal representing the power in an RF output signal; a transmit waveform generator configured to generate a reference waveform signal; an adaptive table waveform generator configured to compare the reference waveform signal and the first feedback signal and to create a second feedback signal based on that comparison; and a loop filter configured to combine the reference waveform signal, the first feedback signal, and the second feedback signal to form an amplifier control signal, wherein the amplifier control signal is provided to the RF amplifier to adjust the RF output signal to conform to a specified RF envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventor: David R Lang
  • Patent number: 7545889
    Abstract: Configuring a multiple stage band pass filter of a radio frequency receiver commences by setting a corner of a low pass mixer output filter that receives a down sampled analog information signal. Operation continues with setting a buffer output filter corner of a low pass buffer output filter coupled to an output of low pass mixer output filter via a buffer. Then, operation includes setting the poles and zero of a plurality of band pass filters coupled to the output of the low pass buffer output filter is performed. This operation includes first setting a zero of a respected band pass filter and then setting the plurality of poles of the band pass filter. Finally, operation concludes with setting a combined gain of the combination of the low pass mixer output filter, the low pass buffer output filter, and the plurality of band pass filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Qiang Tom Li, Hooman Darabi
  • Patent number: 7515895
    Abstract: An integrated receiver with channel selection and image rejection substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. A receiver front end provides programable attenuation and a programable gain low noise amplifier. Frequency conversion circuitry advantageously uses LC filters integrated onto the substrate in conjunction with image reject mixers to provide sufficient image frequency rejection. Filter tuning and inductor Q compensation over temperature are performed on chip. The filters utilize multi track spiral inductors. The filters are tuned using local oscillators to tune a substitute filter, and frequency scaling during filter component values to those of the filter being tuned. In conjunction with filtering, frequency planning provides additional image rejection. The advantageous choice of local oscillator signal generation methods on chip is by PLL out of band local oscillation and by direct synthesis for in band local oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Pieter Vorenkamp, Klaas Bult, Frank Carr
  • Patent number: 7512391
    Abstract: A self-aligning resonator filter, a self-aligning coupled resonator filter circuit, and a television tuner circuit incorporating the filter and the circuit are disclosed herein. The self-aligning resonator filter leverages the local oscillator of the tuner circuit and can be realized with a significant reduction in the amount of off-chip components. The self-aligning resonator filter is configured to align its tunable resonator to resonate at a desired frequency in response to a phase difference measured across a resistance element during a tuning mode, and the resistance element is switched out of the self-aligning resonator filter during a run mode. The self-aligning coupled resonator filter circuit is configured to isolate its individual resonator stages during tuning such that each resonator stage can be aligned without being influenced by the other resonator stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Lester, Allan P. Chin, Luciano Zoso
  • Patent number: 7499695
    Abstract: A configurable all-digital coherent demodulator system for spread spectrum digital communications is disclosed herein. The demodulator system includes an extended and long code demodulator (ELCD) coupled to a traffic channel demodulator (TCD) and a parameter estimator (PE). The demodulator also includes a pilot assisted correction device (PACD) that is coupled to the PE and the TCD. The ELCD provides a code-demodulated signal to the TCD and the PE. In turn, the TCD provides a demodulated output data signal to the PE. The PACD corrects the phase error of the demodulated output data based on an error estimate that is fed forward from the PE. Accumulation operations in the ELCD, TCD, and PE are all programmable. Similarly, a phase delay in the PACD is also programmable to provide synchronization with the error estimate from the PE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Ravi Subramanian
  • Patent number: 7499694
    Abstract: In a method of tuning a receiver for a digital signal (MPEG2-TS), an input signal (RF-in) is filtered (In-filt, Band-filt) to obtain a processed signal, a digital figure of merit (BER) is determined (Mix/Osc/IF amp IF-downconv-2, C) from the processed signal, and the filtering step (In-filt, Band-filt) is fine-adjusted (?P, PLL, DAC1-DAC3) in dependence on the digital figure of merit (BER).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Alan Chin Leong Yeo, Han Leng Paxton Tan, Johannes Hubertus Antonius Brekelmans
  • Patent number: 7460587
    Abstract: A clock offset compensation arrangement may include a fractional interpolator for applying a trigonometric interpolation to a sampled input signal according to a clock offset signal. It uses transform-based processing in the frequency domain. Compared to a polynomial type interpolation it may be easier to implement, and may achieve a closer approximation to an ideal interpolation. It may reduce the effects of non-linear type errors introduced by truncation of higher powers. The arrangement may be applied to receivers or transmitters of multi-carrier modems, as well as other applications which use rate adaptation or synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Belgium NV
    Inventor: Fabio Pisoni
  • Patent number: 7444132
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for adaptively controlling filter characteristics of a filter forming part of a receive station, such as a mobile station operable in a cellular communication system. An adaptive parameter unit is provided with signal representations of signals that are to be applied to the filter element. The adaptive parameter unit, responsive to measurement or other analysis of the signal indicia, selects the filter characteristics to be exhibited by the filter. And, the filter characteristics are caused to be selected responsive thereto. Dynamic selection and reselection of the filter characteristics is effectuated in which the response time of the filter is minimized during good signal conditions and increased, to permit increased filter operations, during weak signal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Li Pan, Rakesh Agrawal
  • Patent number: 7437139
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of calibrating filtering of receive and transmit signals is disclosed. The method of calibrating filtering of a received signal includes injecting an LO signal. The injected LO signal is filtered by a tunable filter. The filtered signal is frequency down-converted with an equivalent LO signal. The frequency down-converted signal is sampled while tuning the filtering. A desired filter tuning is determined based upon the samples and a frequency of the LO signal. The method of calibrating filtering of a transmit signal includes injecting an LO signal to a transmitter. The LO signal is filtered by a tunable filter. The filtered signal is frequency down-converted with an equivalent LO signal. The frequency down-converted signal is sampled while tuning the filter. A desired filter tuning is determined based upon the samples and a frequency of the LO signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Tzero Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Lo, Isaac Sever, Thai Nguyen, Ssu-Pin Ma
  • Patent number: 7433663
    Abstract: A multiple receiving antennae system having a plurality of radio frequency (RF) modules being responsive to incoming signals for processing the same to generate baseband signals. The multiple receiving antennae system further processes baseband signals to generate digital baseband signals, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The multiple receiving antennae system further still includes a plurality of automatic gain control (AGC) modules being responsive to digital baseband signals for processing the same to generate a plurality of gain values. The plurality of gain values are used in the plurality of RF modules for independent gain adjustment of the incoming signals. The plurality of gain values are used to generate adjusted signals with enhanced signal to noise ratio (SNR) to improve the performance of the multiple receiving antennae system, whereby the plurality of gain values are used to enhance reception of incoming signals by improving SNR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Ralink Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Po-Yuen Cheng
  • Patent number: 7433668
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a Q-factor for a filter. The method comprises stabilizing an active feedback to provide a variable feedback in a filter, varying the active feedback based on an input signal to the filter, and producing a desired Q-factor for the filter at a first frequency band, in response to the variable feedback. The method further comprises reconfiguring a center frequency and a bandwidth of the filter based on a channel bandwidth of the input signal to the filter to adjust the Q-factor for the filter in response to a second frequency band different than the first frequency band. By reconfiguring a center frequency and a bandwidth of a filter, the Q-factor for the filter, such as a flexible or reconfigurable filter, may be controlled across a multiplicity of frequency band signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Georg Fischer, Gerhard Kaminski, Wolfgang Franz Eckl
  • Publication number: 20080242235
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a component having a closed signal path, that closed signal path connected to a first port, a second port and at least a third port. The component has a directed signal flow of a signal applied to one of that ports. Such a coupling device can be connected to a transmitter and to a receiver path, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Bernd Adler, Zdravko Boos
  • Patent number: 7430406
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques that can be executed by a wireless device to perform various signal processing tasks associated with wireless communication. The techniques involve gain state switching based on an output of an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, rather than gain state switching techniques in which an estimation of signal strength at the antenna is mapped to gain states. Use of the A/D converter output for gain state selection can provide more accurate and dynamic switchpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel F. Filipovic
  • Patent number: 7421252
    Abstract: A phase rotator for a Cartesian feedback power amplifier in a transmitter final stage contains an integrated voltage controlled tunable resonant circuit accomplishing band-pass filtering at a center frequency selected by local oscillator (LO) coarse trim control signals. The voltage controlled tunable resonant circuit attenuates input signal harmonic levels at large fractional bandwidths for the downconverter in the feedback LO path without setting a large number of poles in the band-pass filter. The binary-weighted course trim value for controlling the gain of the LO sets a bank of voltage-variable capacitors (VVC) in the voltage controlled tunable resonant circuit to control the center frequency in each of two 2-pole band-pass filters, creating a composite 4-pole band-pass filter at the input of a poly-phase quadrature generation circuit in the feedback LO path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Kirschenmann, Derek K. Wong
  • Patent number: 7415259
    Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) for a Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) receiver, a method of automatically controlling gain and a SDARS receiver incorporating the AGC or the method. In one embodiment, the AGC includes: (1) an AGC function selector configured to compare first and second time division multiplexed (TDM) power signals and a nonzero threshold and select an AGC function based thereon and (2) an AGC function applier associated with the AGC function selector and configured to apply the AGC function to the first and second TDM power signals to develop therefrom an AGC control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Fishman, Robert C. Malkemes, Denis P. Orlando, Jie Song, Eric Zhong, Ying Zhu
  • Patent number: 7409197
    Abstract: A transceiver includes a detuning circuit to generate an impedance mismatch in a receive signal path in response to a control signal provided by loop-control circuitry. The loop-control circuitry generates the control signal based on a comparison of detected peak signal levels in the receive signal path. In this way, high-power input signal levels in the receive signal path may be reflected back to an input of the receiver due to the impedance mismatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Joshua Posamentier
  • Patent number: 7398065
    Abstract: A variable bandwidth, sampled analog filter can be programmed to have a variety of responses. A variable bandwidth, sampled analog filter is preferably a sampled analog resonator based filter that receives a bandwidth control input and a sample clock input. The sampled analog resonator units can include clock delay circuits and reversible (loss/gain) attenuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Duane Abbey
  • Patent number: 7376407
    Abstract: A system for tuning an impedance at a node comprises a first component associated with a first impedance when the first component is operating and a second impedance when the first component is not operating. The system further comprises a second component coupled to the first component at a node. The second component is associated with a third impedance when the second component is operating and a fourth impedance when the second component is not operating. An impedance tuning circuit is coupled to the second component at the node and operable to tune an impedance at the node based at least in part upon a plurality of the first impedance, the second impedance, the third impedance, and the fourth impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventor: Michael D. Womac
  • Patent number: 7376400
    Abstract: A communications system comprising a processor, a variable oscillator, a radio frequency (RF) quadrature demodulator, a variable capacitor, a continuous-time, sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a frequency divider, all integrated on a single semiconductor chip. The ADC samples the RF quadrature demodulator output. The processor sets the communications system frequency by controlling the oscillator, the frequency divider and the variable capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Abdellatif Bellaouar, Paul-Aymeric Fontaine
  • Patent number: 7359691
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high frequency apparatus which eliminates an influence of interfering signals. An interference-cut filter (24) for eliminating interfering signals is disposed between an input terminal (22) and a mixer (27). The interference-cut filter (24) is so controlled that it effectively demonstrates the function while the interfering signals are transmitted. Control of the interference-cut filter (24) is made by a switch (23), which is controlled by a selector switch controller (39), and the switch controller (39) is controlled responsive to an error correction counter (38) and a radio wave transmitted from a cellular telephone (40). This structure eliminates interference attributable to communication signals transmitted by the cellular telephone (40) and undesirable signals entering from the outside. The invention can thus realize high quality reception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Adachi, Takashi Umeda
  • Patent number: 7333790
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) phase shifter having an RC-CR circuit that includes a first capacitor having a first capacitor node and a second capacitor node and a first resistor coupled between the first capacitor node and a ground. The RC-CR circuit also includes a second resistor having a first resistor node and a second resistor node and a second capacitor coupled between the first resistor node and the ground. The RF phase shifter generates arbitrary phase shift by using a scheme of adding two perpendicular vectors with variable gains (or amplitudes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afsahi, Arya Behzad
  • Patent number: 7333467
    Abstract: A time signal carrying encoded time information transmitted at a transmission frequency from any one of plural time signal transmitters is received, amplified, and evaluated to acquire the time information. The transmission frequency of the received time signal is determined (provided is the time information signal's just emitted frequency f), and an amplification factor of the amplification of the signal is adjusted depending on the transmission frequency. A receiver circuit for a radio-controlled clock in this regard includes at least one amplifier having a variable amplification factor that is adjustable dependent on the frequency of the received time signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignees: ATMEL Germany GmbH, C-MAX Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kuehnle, Roland Polonio, Hans-Joachim Sailer
  • Patent number: 7333791
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which utilize an image reject mixer in an out-of-band mixer application such as in a forward data channel frequency converter. For example, according to a preferred embodiment, an image reject mixer is utilized to provide a relatively high degree of image rejection with respect to an out-of-band signal, thereby relaxing the requirement for filtering in the signal path leading to the mixer circuitry. Preferred embodiments of the invention are substantially or fully implemented utilizing integrated circuit technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Richter, Jerry T. Bolton
  • Patent number: 7310507
    Abstract: A filter circuit, having a plurality of selectable impedance elements, that has a cutoff frequency dependent on a selected impedance element, comprises a pulse generation circuit that supplies a variable frequency pulse with a successively increasing or decreasing frequency to an input of the filter circuit; and an impedance element selection unit that checks the attenuation of the output pulse of the filter circuit corresponding with the input of the variable frequency pulse and selects the plurality of impedance elements on the basis of the position of a pulse that is attenuated to or below a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Mizumasa, Koji Nozoe
  • Patent number: 7289784
    Abstract: An active tunable filter circuit for use as an integratable active filter in a mobile radio apparatus, comprises an active amplifier circuit (A) including a reactive feedback network including a first tunable element (L1) set to pass with amplification a wanted input signal, and a passive resonant circuit (P) coupled to the active amplifier circuit and including an inductive element (LFB, L3 or L4) and an inactive semiconductor element (FET2, FET3 or FET4) having an interelectrode capacitance which in operation resonates with the inductive element at a harmonic of the wanted signal. In one configuration (FIG. 1) the circuit comprises a band pass filter with amplification and in another configuration (FIG. 6-not shown) the circuit comprises a harmonic notch filter with amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Sueng-il Nam
  • Patent number: 7286811
    Abstract: A direct conversion satellite tuner is fully integrated on a common substrate. The integrated tuner receives an RF signal having a plurality of channels and down-converts a selected channel directly to baseband for further processing. The integrated tuner includes on-chip local oscillator generation, tunable baseband filters, and DC Offset cancellation. The integrated tuner can be implemented in a completely differential I/Q configuration for improved electrical performance. The entire direct conversion satellite tuner can be fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate using standard CMOS processing, with minimal off-chip components. The tuner configuration described herein is not limited to processing TV signals, and can be utilized to down-convert other RF signals to an IF frequency or baseband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alexandre Kral
  • Patent number: 7283840
    Abstract: A dual-mode analog baseband circuit is implementable on a single IC with reduced chip area. The baseband portion of the IC includes a single dual-mode complex filter that is reconfigurable to be a filter for Bluetooth signals or for wireless local area network (wireless LAN) format signals, such as 802.11b, and includes a single dual-mode amplifier that is reconfigurable to amplify Bluetooth signals or wireless LAN format signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Chrontel, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Cho
  • Publication number: 20070178873
    Abstract: The present invention is applied to a tuner module comprising a circuit as a constituent component for tuning at the time of radio signal reception and a metal case made of aluminum and receiving the circuit. The circuit includes at least one IC component. In the metal case, a heat conductive sheet is attached between the at least one IC component and the metal case so as to be in contact with them. Furthermore, a heat radiating sheet is attached to an outer surface of the metal case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inaba, Takumi Suzuki, Kyuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7251466
    Abstract: A tuner circuit includes a band selection filter coupled to receive an input RF signal and provide a band selected output signal where the band selection filter includes a bank of band pass filters. Each band pass filter includes an inductor and a variable capacitor forming an LC resonator where the inductor is an integrated planar spiral inductor. The tuner circuit further includes a frequency conversion circuit coupled to receive an input signal corresponding to the band selected output signal and provide a frequency converted output signal having a predetermined frequency. The integrated planar spiral inductor can be formed using a single metal spiral or multiple metal spirals. In a multi-spiral structure, a first metal spiral having an inward spiral pattern and a second metal spiral having an outward spiral pattern to form an inductor with large inductance, low series resistance and high Q values, even at low frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Xceive Corporation
    Inventors: Alain-Serge Porret, Pierre Favrat, Dominique Python, Didier Margairaz
  • Patent number: 7221958
    Abstract: A delay-and-add filtering technique positions one or more filter nulls substantially at points of narrowband interference in a relatively wideband received signal. For example, the technique is useful in removing adjacent channel interference in a received W-CDMA signal caused GSM radio transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy L. Fulghum, William O. Camp, Jr., Rajaram Ramesh, Yi-Pin Eric Wang
  • Patent number: 7215939
    Abstract: Improved signal reception is provided in a digital television signal received by identifying and mitigating multipath signal effects prior to demodulation and equalization. According to an exemplary embodiment, a digital television signal is received having multipath signal effects which cause a plurality of ripples in the received signal. The amplitude of at least one of the ripples and the frequency separation between at least two of the ripples are detected. At least one of an antenna and a tuner is controlled in dependence upon the detection. Signal demodulation and equalization operations may be performed after at least one of the antenna and the tuner is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Max Ward Muterspaugh
  • Patent number: 7194247
    Abstract: A dual-channel passband filtering system having a first, second and third balanced ports for connecting, respectively, to a first transceiver, an antenna and a second transceiver. A first lattice-type passband filter is connected between the first and the second port, and a second lattice-type passband filter is connected between the second and the third port. A phase shifter is used to match the first and second transceiver and the second port. A balun can be used for each port to convert the balanced port to a single-ended port. In each passband filter, two series resonators are use to provide two balanced ends, and two shunt resonators are connected to the series resonators in a crisscross fashion to form a differential or balanced topology. The first and second passband filters have different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Pasi Tikka, Juha Ellä
  • Patent number: 7184730
    Abstract: An automatic gain control system (100) and methods thereof for a receiver for providing a wide range of continuous gain control has been discussed. The AGC includes an input stage (120) for providing an indication of a strength of a received signal; an attenuator stage (107) operable to switch a fixed amount of attenuation for the received signal; a variable attenuator (109) to provide a variable amount of attenuation for said received signal, and a controller (135) responsive to said indication for providing a variable control signal (145) to the variable attenuator; wherein the controller concurrently changes the variable control signal to change in the opposite direction the variable amount of attenuation by approximately the fixed amount of attenuation whenever the attenuator stage is switched, thereby extending the range of continuous gain control beyond the range of the variable attenuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: James David Hughes, Lynn R. Freytag, John Richard Oakley
  • Patent number: 7184733
    Abstract: An oscillation frequency changing means is inserted between a tuner and an oscillator of local oscillator (56) of a high frequency receiving device, and the oscillation frequency changing means, in each frequency band received, changes the oscillation frequency characteristic of local oscillator (56) in relation to the tuning voltage supplied from PLL circuit (78), and operates in accordance with the frequency characteristic of tuning filter (52, 54, 62, 64) to obtain an oscillation signal varied just by a predetermined frequency, thereby making it possible to receive broadband channels of continuous VHF broadcast band and UHF broadcast band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sanae Asayama, Koji Nakatsuji, Atsuhito Terao, Yoshihide Tabata, Hideji Takami, Masanori Suzuki, Hirochika Kashima
  • Patent number: 7177622
    Abstract: A digital tuner of the invention has: a filter section that selects a desired reception signal from inputted reception signals; a converter section that performs frequency conversion on the desired reception signal selected by the filter section; a level monitor section that monitors, with respect to a signal based on the signal outputted from the filter section, the signal levels thereof at two or more frequencies within the reception band; and a waveform shaper section that varies the waveform inclination of signals based on the inputted reception signals within the reception band according to the results of monitoring by the level monitor section. This configuration helps reduce the waveform inclination of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Oiwa, Kensuke Baba
  • Patent number: 7171185
    Abstract: A determining section (18) and gain variation amount detecting section (9) detect a period having a possibility of a DC-component offset in an internal circuit of a direct conversion receiver increasing beyond an allowable value due to AGC operation, and during the period, a cut-off frequency of each of high-pass filters (12a to 12d) is set at a frequency higher than that in general operation, thereby rapidly converging transient responses of signals passed through the high-pass filters, while controlling precisely operation timings of reception power measuring section (16), gain calculating section (22), gain control section (23) and circuit power supply control section (24) composing an AGC loop, whereby the DC offset is prevented from increasing and stable circuit operation is assured. It is thereby possible to achieve further reductions in size and power consumption of a CDMA receiver using the direct conversion receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Matsumoto, Toshio Obara
  • Patent number: 7161416
    Abstract: A filter wherein the poles and zeroes are programmable in a high speed control loop to form a particular desired filter profile. The control loop retrains the filter's poles and zeroes during the “off” time between the reception or transmission time slots. Desired pole and zero frequencies are injected and peak values are stored in sample and hold circuits. This eliminates variations from voltage supplies, component tolerance, temperature, aging, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Gangi
  • Patent number: 7157945
    Abstract: A window comparator comprising a single comparator circuit that has a positive input, a differential negative input, and an output, wherein limits of a window are defined by a reference voltage and a window condition is defined for a differential voltage between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage so that the differential voltage is within the limits of the window; including a common mode voltage, a first set of two switched capacitors connected to the positive comparator input, a second set of two switched capacitors connected to the negative comparator input, a switching array capable of assuming a plurality of different switching conditions, and detecting the output of the comparator in relation to the switching conditions of the switching array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Frank Ohnhauser, Mikael Badenius
  • Patent number: 7158774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tuning a filter (5). The filter has at least one variable time constant, by which the location of the pass band (pc) of said at least one filter can be changed. In the method, at least one reference signal is inputted in said filter (5), and the frequency of said at least one reference signal is changed, and/or said at least one time constant of the filter (5) is changed. The method also comprises the steps of measuring the strength of the output signal of the filter (5) and determining, on the basis of the measurement on the strength of the output signal of the filter (5), the location of the pass band of said filter (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Petri Heliö, Tomi-Pekka Takalo
  • Patent number: 7149488
    Abstract: A method for direct tuning of a radio receiver begins by providing a plurality of frequency-dependent control input signals to an input of the radio receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Shahla Khorram
  • Patent number: 7139547
    Abstract: A direct conversion satellite tuner is fully integrated on a common substrate. The integrated tuner receives an RF signal having a plurality of channels and down-converts a selected channel directly to baseband for further processing. The integrated tuner includes on-chip local oscillator generation, tunable baseband filters, and DC Offset cancellation. The integrated tuner can be implemented in a completely differential I/Q configuration for improved electrical performance. The entire direct conversion satellite tuner can be fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate using standard CMOS processing, with minimal off-chip components. The tuner configuration described herein is not limited to processing TV signals, and can be utilized to down-convert other RF signals to an IF frequency or baseband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Myles Wakayama, Dana Vincent Laub, Frank Carr, Afshin Mellati, David S. P. Ho, Hsiang-Bin Lee, Chun-Ying Chen, James Y. C. Chang, Lawrence M. Burns, Young Joon Shin, Patrick Pai, Iconomos A. Koullias, Ron Lipka, Luke Thomas Steigerwald, Alexandre Kral
  • Patent number: 7120416
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for demodulating a received signal in a satisfactory manner when the frequency of the received signal deviates. The semiconductor device is used in a receiver having a reference oscillator. The semiconductor device includes a local oscillator, a PLL controller, and a comparator. The local oscillator generates a local signal having a local frequency. The PLL controller controls the local frequency in accordance with a reference signal of the reference oscillator. The comparator compares the frequency of the received signal with the frequency of the reference signal or the phase of the received signal with the phase of the reference signal to generate an error signal for correcting the local frequency in accordance with the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Tomita
  • Patent number: 7116958
    Abstract: The use of wideband or software defined radio is attractive in terms of cost reduction since it allows re-use of base stations for different transmission modes. However, wideband radio also introduces the problem of how to deal with high level interfering signals. Presently, such signals saturate parts of the receive circuit—typically the ADC. By detecting interference and determining its frequency, it is possible to tune a bandpass or bandpass with notch filter, to take the interfering signal out of the reception band of the receiver thereby taking the ADC out of saturation whilst retaining the ability to resolve low level signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: David A. Brown, William R. Kirkland, Steve A. Beaudin
  • Patent number: 7106149
    Abstract: In a receiver, provision is made of a tuneable switchable bandpass filter comprising a primary resonant circuit and a first secondary resonant circuit. A second secondary resonant circuit can be switched into a part of the first primary resonant circuit, thereby producing a second primary resonant circuit. By virtue of the embodiment of the primary resonant circuit, the bandpass filter is switchable in terms of frequency range with little outlay on circuitry and, on account of the individual embodiment of a first and second secondary resonant circuit with individual coupling elements, can be optimized with regard to a constant amplitude response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Alfred Selz
  • Patent number: 7076232
    Abstract: A radio transceiver includes amplification circuitry that is coupled to receive a down converted signal and to provide infinite rejection of any DC component added by the down conversion circuitry. Specifically, an amplification stage includes a voltage integrator that is coupled within a feedback loop of the amplification circuitry to produce a DC charge having a magnitude that equals the added DC component but a polarity that is opposite. Accordingly, the voltage produced by the voltage integrator is added to the signal received from the down conversion circuitry to cause the amplification circuitry to merely amplify the wireless communication signals characterized by a frequency of oscillation. Logic circuitry is used for selectively coupling the voltage integrator to an output port of the amplification circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Hooman Darabi