Patents Assigned to Broadcom Corporation
  • Patent number: 8417931
    Abstract: A boot code may be segmented to allow separate and independent storage of the code segments in a manner that may enable secure system boot by autonomous fetching and assembling of the boot code by a security sub-system. The code fetching may need to be done without the main CPU running on the chip for security reasons. Because the boot code may be stored in memory devices that require special software application to account for non-contiguous storage of data and/or code, for example a NAND flash memory which would require such an application as Bad Block Management, code segments stored in areas guaranteed to be usable may enable loading remaining segment separately and independently. Each of the code segments may be validated, wherein validation of the code segments may comprise use of hardware-based signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Stephane Rodgers, Andrew Dellow, Xuemin Chen, Iue-Shuenn Chen, Qiang Ye
  • Patent number: 8416895
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to compensate for an in-phase/quadrature phase (I/Q) imbalance in a communications receiver. The communications receiver may utilize information gained from observing one or more observational interferers to adjust one or more sequence parameters, such as gain and/or phase to provide some examples. The one or more observational interferers including one or more images outside of a desired frequency band of interest. The communications receiver provides one or more sequence parameter values to allow for real-time adjustment of the sequence parameters to compensate for the I/Q imbalances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Henrik Jensen, Hooman Darabi
  • Patent number: 8417066
    Abstract: Methods and systems for achieving high sub-pixel precision while processing a video signal are provided. Aspects of the method may include selecting IIR filter coefficients for implementing an IIR filter for filtering a video signal during scaling. Polyphase filter coefficients may be selected for implementing a polyphase filter for filtering the video signal during the scaling. The video signal may be filtered using a combination of the IIR filter having the selected IIR filter coefficients and the polyphase filter having the selected polyphase filter coefficients. The polyphase filter coefficients may implement a finite impulse response (FIR) filter for filtering the video signal. The video signal may be phase-shifted. The scaling of the video signal may comprise upscaling or downscaling the video signal. The video signal may be converted from a first format to a second format by combined IIR-filtering and polyphase filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Sheng Zhong
  • Patent number: 8417124
    Abstract: Multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication systems and a method using multimode media are provided. A MIMO communication system includes an array of emitters that receives a data signal and outputs a plurality of signals (e.g., modulated light, or other signal types) representative of the data signal, a multimode medium (e.g., a multimode fiber, a fiber bundle, a bundle of cables) that receives the plurality of signals from the array of emitters and carries the plurality of signals in a plurality of modes, and an array of detectors that receives the plurality of signals carried by the multimode medium and outputs the data signal. The system can include a demultiplexer that demultiplexes a single high-speed data stream into the array of emitters as the data signal. The system can also include a multiplexer that multiplexes the data signal from the array of detectors back into the single high-speed data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: James Arthur Ford
  • Patent number: 8417200
    Abstract: Embodiments provide transmitter topologies that improve the power efficiency and bandwidth of RF transmitters for high transmission power applications. In an embodiment, the common-emitter/source PA of conventional topologies is replaced with a current-input common-base/gate PA, which is stacked on top on an open-collector/drain current-output transmitter. The common-base/gate PA protects the output of the transmitter from large output voltage swings. The low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA makes the PA less susceptible to frequency roll-off, even in the presence of large parasitic capacitance produced by the transmitter. At the same time, the low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA reduces the voltage swing at the transmitter output and prevents the transmitter output from being compressed or modulated. In an embodiment, the DC output current of the transmitter is reused to bias the PA, which results in power savings compared to conventional transmitter topologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ray (Ramon) Gomez, Leonard Dauphinee, Massimo Brandolini, Jianhong Xiao, Dongsoo Koh, Young Shin, Chonghua Zhong, Rezaur Rahman Khan
  • Patent number: 8416868
    Abstract: A mobile device in an OFDM system receives an OFDM signal comprising RS tones and data OFDM symbols. The received RS tones are extracted for channel estimation using a masking operation. Masking parameters are determined by matching channel time variance using corresponding time domain samples of the extracted RS tones. As approximated channel impulse responses of transmission channels, the time samples are masked to perform the channel estimation. The channel time variance comprising inter-carrier interference and delay spread are measured, respectively. A mean of differences in power between neighbor adjacent subcarriers of the extracted RS tones is used for the inter-carrier interference measurement. The delay spread measurement such as root-mean-squared (RMS) delay spread is calculated using the approximated channel impulse responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Kent, Uri Landau
  • Patent number: 8417800
    Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for network configuration and/or provisioning based on open virtualization format (OVF) metadata may include accessing a set of port profiles for one or more virtual machines from a port profile database based on OVF metadata. One or more virtual machines may be configured, deployed, and/or managed based on the accessed set of port profiles. One or both of a uniform resource identifier (URI) to the profile data base and/or a port profile identification may be included in the OVF metadata to allow a virtual machine (VM) administrator device to access the set of port profiles for the one or more virtual machines from the port profile database. Alternatively, the set of port profiles may be included in the OVF metadata to allow the VM administrator device to access the set of port profiles for the one or more virtual machines from the port profile database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Hemal Shah, Uri Elzur, Patricia Ann Thaler
  • Patent number: 8416774
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for energy-efficiency-based packet classification are provided. In this regard, a network link for communicating a packet may be selected based, at least in part, on an amount of energy required to communicate the packet over the network link, and based, at least in part, on an energy efficiency class to which the packet is assigned. The energy efficiency class may be determined based on one or more fields of the packet, wherein the fields may comprise one or more of an Ethertype field, a type of service header of an IP datagram, and a field pre-pended or appended to a payload of the packet. In this regard, during or subsequent to generation of the packet, the packet may be marked such that a network path traversed by the generated packet may be determined based on the energy required to communicate the packet over the network path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Wael William Diab
  • Patent number: 8415777
    Abstract: A circuit includes a plurality of integrated circuits or dies having corresponding circuits, the plurality of integrated circuits or dies include a first plurality of integrated circuits or dies having corresponding millimeter wave interfaces and a second plurality of integrated circuits or dies having corresponding inductive interfaces. The first plurality of integrated circuits or dies communicate first signals therebetween via the corresponding millimeter wave interfaces and the second plurality of integrated circuits or dies communicate second signals therebetween via the corresponding inductive interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8417930
    Abstract: A modular integrated circuit includes a hub module that is coupled to a plurality of spoke modules via a plurality of hub interfaces. A memory module stores hub software and hub data and configuration data. The hub software operates in accordance with a memory map that includes a plurality of first reserved blocks corresponding to memory reserved for the plurality of spoke modules, and at least one second reserved block corresponding to memory reserved for at least one optional spoke module. The plurality of first reserved blocks are activated based on the configuration data and the at least one second reserved block is deactivated based on the configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Madar, III, Mark N. Fullerton, Bhupesh Kharwa
  • Publication number: 20130083796
    Abstract: A system and method for improving multicast performance in banked shared memory architectures. Temporal localities created by multicast packets in a shared memory bank are addressed through caching. In one embodiment, multicast packets are stored in a cache memory that is associated with a bank of shared memory. In another embodiment, read requests for multicast packets are stored in a read request cache, wherein additional read requests are accumulated prior to an actual read event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Brad Matthews
  • Publication number: 20130083831
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed that includes an automatic gain controller capable of accurately adjusting gain of a received signal. The received signal includes a plurality of symbols, including pilot symbols that each includes at least one pilot tone, and data symbols that do not include any pilot tones. A power of a pilot symbol is determined, and a power of a data symbol is determined. The determined data symbol power is then scaled by a scaling factor (that depends on various system parameters) and is subtracted from the determined pilot symbol power to provide an estimate of a power of the pilot tones within the signal. From the estimated pilot tone power, the automatic gain controller can accurately determine a preferred gain for amplifying future frames of the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sam ALEX, Rajesh MANAKKAL, Shashidhar VUMMINTALA
  • Publication number: 20130082325
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a one-time programmable (OTP) device having a lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) structure comprises a pass gate including a pass gate electrode and a pass gate dielectric, and a programming gate including a programming gate electrode and a programming gate dielectric. The programming gate is spaced from the pass gate by a drain extension region of the LDMOS structure. The LDMOS structure provides protection for the pass gate when a programming voltage for rupturing the programming gate dielectric is applied to the programming gate electrode. A method for producing such an OTP device comprises forming a drain extension region, fabricating a pass gate over a first portion of the drain extension region, and fabricating a programming gate over a second portion of the drain extension region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ito, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20130083810
    Abstract: Input/output of network switches and the like are improved by a system including a gearbox, an inverse-gearbox, and a Gigabit Ethernet link coupling them. The gearbox and inverse-gearbox interconnect data streams received through wider lower rate Gigabit Ethernet interfaces through narrower faster rate interfaces. The gearbox is configured to bit-multiplex physical-layer data streams received through input interfaces to generate bit-multiplexed data streams. The inverse-gearbox is configured to demultiplex the multiplexed data streams and to output the recovered data streams through output interfaces. One of the output interfaces is selected for each recovered data stream according to a respective embedded physical-layer data stream identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ali GHIASI, Velu Pillai
  • Publication number: 20130084802
    Abstract: A near field communication (NFC) device operating in a tag emulator mode, including a controller to output a control signal to control operation of a transistor, a waveform shaper to shape the control signal and to generate a shaped signal by increasing a rise time and a fall time of the control signal, and the transistor to receive the shaped signal and to output a switching waveform to drive an antenna of the NFC device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: David S. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20130083875
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed that is capable of reduced power consumption. The device includes several analog components, including some that may be capable of operating at multiple different operation powers and others whose function may be performed by an equivalent digital component. Based on a quality of a received signal, the wireless communication device can adjust a power consumption configuration of its analog components in order to optimize power use. For example, when signal quality is higher than necessary, the device can sacrifice performance to reduce operating power and/or switch to digital equivalent components. Similarly, when signal quality is lower than necessary, the device can enhance performance by increasing operating power and/or switching from digital equivalent components to corresponding analog components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Sachin GODBOLE
  • Publication number: 20130084799
    Abstract: A power amplifier, supplied by a supply voltage, to drive an antenna to output a magnetic field, comprising a differential stage configured to output an output signal to drive the antenna, and a feedback stage configured to receive a common mode output voltage from the differential stage and to output a feedback voltage to regulate the output common mode signal to be proportional to the supply
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bojko MARHOLEV, Aminghasem SAFARIAN
  • Publication number: 20130084918
    Abstract: An adaptor card is disclosed that allows a wireless communication device to access and communicate with a SIM card trough an SDIO terminal accessibly located at an exterior of the device. The adaptor card includes a SIM receiving terminal configured to receive a SIM card. The SIM receiving terminal includes a SIM interface that contacts the plurality of pins located on the SIM card in order to communicate with an IC chip located on the SIM card. The adaptor card further includes a signal conversion module that converts signals between a SIM protocol for signals transmitted to, or received from, the SIM card, and an SD protocol for signals transmitted to, or received from, the electronics device. The signal conversion module is also configured to map the signals received at the terminals of the adaptor card to the corresponding terminals of the SIM card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Subramanya SHESHADRI
  • Publication number: 20130082363
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide enhanced integrated circuit (IC) devices. In an embodiment, an IC device includes a substrate, an IC die coupled to a surface of the substrate, a first wirelessly enabled functional block located, on the IC die, the first wirelessly enabled functional block being configured to wirelessly communicate with a second wirelessly enabled functional block located on the substrate, and a ground ring configured to provide electromagnetic shielding for the first and second wirelessly enabled functional blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sam Ziqun ZHAO, Michael BOERS, Ahmadreza ROFOUGARAN, Arya BEHZAD, Jesus CASTANEDA
  • Publication number: 20130082403
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for wirelessly communicating among integrated circuits and/or functional modules within the integrated circuits. A semiconductor device fabrication operation uses a predetermined sequence of photographic and/or chemical processing steps to form one or more functional modules onto a semiconductor substrate. The functional modules are coupled to an integrated waveguide that is formed onto the semiconductor substrate and/or attached thereto to form an integrated circuit. The functional modules communicate with each other as well as to other integrated circuits using a multiple access transmission scheme via the integrated waveguide. One or more integrated circuits may be coupled to an integrated circuit carrier to form Multichip Module. The Multichip Module may be coupled to a semiconductor package to form a packaged integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jesus Alfonso Castaneda, Arya Reza Behzad, Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Sam Ziqun Zhao, Michael Boers