Patents Assigned to Broadcom Corporation
  • Patent number: 8238264
    Abstract: A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Kubler, Michael D. Morris
  • Patent number: 8237492
    Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for a process sensor to compensate SoC parameters in the presence of IC process manufacturing variations are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include determining an amount of process variation associated with at least one transistor within a single integrated circuit. The determined amount of process variation may be compensated by utilizing a process dependent current, a bandgap current, and a current associated with a present temperature of the transistor. The process dependent current, the bandgap current and the current associated with the present temperature of the transistor may be combined to generate an output current. A voltage generated across a variable resistor may be determined based on the generated output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Chi-Wang Au, Arya Behzad, Paul Chang
  • Patent number: 8238292
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that transceives packetized data between a host module and a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol, wherein the first wireless protocol carries wireless telephony data for communication with a wireless telephony network. A second wireless interface circuit transceives packetized data between the host module and a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol. The second wireless interface circuit includes at least one module that is shared with first wireless interface circuit. The first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit operate in accordance with a wireless interface schedule that includes a first time interval where the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device contemporaneously use the at least one module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Gonikberg, Prasanna Desai, Brima B. Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 8239914
    Abstract: A highly integrated set-top box is implemented on a single semiconductor substrate. For instance, an analog RF tuner is implemented on the same substrate with a digital receiver, and audio-video back-end circuits. The single chip set-top box can be used for satellite, cable, internet, or terrestrial TV applications, or other applications. As a result, the substrate area, assembly time, and associated costs per chip are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Kuhlmann, Ramon A. Gomez, Loke Tan
  • Publication number: 20120194493
    Abstract: Embodiments of a backlight module for illuminating a liquid crystal display (LCD) and sensing ambient light are provided herein. The backlight module includes a light-emitting diode (LED) array and a backlight controller. The backlight controller is configured to forward bias the LED array to backlight the LCD and reverse bias the LED array to sense the ambient light level. The backlight controller is configured to adjust the brightness of the LED array based on the current ambient lighting conditions sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Walter SOTO
  • Patent number: 8234553
    Abstract: Performing multiple Reed-Solomon (RS) software error correction coding (ECC) Galois field computations simultaneously in a RISC processor. Galois field computations are performed in parallel with one another. Processor, memory, and plurality of adders and/or multipliers are implemented appropriately to allow parallel Galois field computations to be performed. Multiplexing can be performed to govern the writing of resultants (generated using the adders and/or multipliers) back to the memory via feedback paths. This approach allows for parallel (as opposed to serial) implementation of the software ECC corrections with minimal area and power impact. In other words, very little space is required to implement this approach is hardware with nominal increase in power consumption, and this slight increase in power consumption provides a significant increase in ECC correction capability using this approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Mead, Kevin W. McGinnis
  • Patent number: 8233866
    Abstract: A wireless device includes an antenna, Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry, and baseband processing circuitry. The baseband processing circuitry couples to the RF circuitry and is operable to determine operational calibrations settings that may include pre-distortion characteristics and RF signal path settings, both of which are determined via calibration operations. The calibration operations are initiated when an operational value of the wireless device compares unfavorably to at least one operational threshold. Monitoring circuitry coupled to the RF circuitry and to the baseband processing circuitry monitors operational characteristics of the RF circuitry. Calibration operations may be initiated based upon RF circuitry temperature, supply voltage, PA current, PA gain input level/average, among other triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Fraser, Mark Gonikberg, Arya Reza Behzad
  • Patent number: 8233846
    Abstract: A configurable radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a configuration controller that generates at least one mode control signal that indicates an isolation mode, a frequency mode and an antenna mode. An antenna section includes a plurality of antennas and that selects an antenna configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. An isolation section includes a plurality of isolation circuits and that selects an isolation circuit based on the at least one mode control signal. An RF section selects an RF configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. A baseband section selects a baseband configuration based on the at least one mode control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8232919
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) antenna structure includes a micro-electromechanical (MEM) area, a feed point, and a transmission line. The micro-electromechanical (MEM) area includes a three-dimensional shape, wherein the three dimensional-shape provides an antenna structure. The feed point is coupled to provide an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal to the antenna structure for transmission and to receive an inbound RF signal from the antenna structure. The transmission line electrically coupled to the feed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8233889
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a persistent request generated by a wireless device, executed remotely and output to configurable local resources are disclosed and may include generating via a handheld wireless communication device (HWCD) a persistent request for a user that may be communicated to remote devices for execution and storage of results. The stored results may be received from local resources local which may be configured by the remote devices based on user preferences to deliver the stored results to the user. The stored results may be received by the user via the HWCD or another wireless communication device, and the identity of the user may be authenticated prior to receiving the stored results. The remote devices may discover the local resources based on the detection of the user logging into the network. User preferences may be stored in networked devices or may be stored in the HWCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Buer, Arya Behzad, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Alexander MacInnis, Thomas Quigley, John Walley
  • Patent number: 8234504
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for memory to bus interface data encryption and decryption. A method for memory to bus interface data encryption and decryption may include encrypting data by a encryption/decryption engine or processor and transferring the encrypted data across a first bus interface to a data processing and/or storage device coupled to the first bus interface. The encryption engine may receive encrypted data from a device coupled to the first bus interface and decrypt the received encrypted data. In this regard, unencrypted data never traverses across the first bus interface, and is thereby not accessible to devices coupled to the first bus interface. An encryption function and a decryption function associated with the encryption/decryption engine may be integrated within a bus adapter, for example, an IDE bus adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Cheung, Jason Monroe, Kevin Patariu, Iue-Shuenn Chen, Cynthia Dang, Mark Taylor Core
  • Patent number: 8233935
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for sharing RF filters in systems supporting WCDMA and GSM are provided. A receiver in a wireless device enables receiving WCDMA signals and GSM signals. The WCDMA signals may be received via at least one duplexer within the wireless device. A processing path for the received WCDMA signals or a processing path for the received GSM signals may be selected within the receiver. The processing paths may share bandpass filtering and signal amplification. A gain in the shared signal amplification may be adjusted after filtering the received signals. For received WCDMA signals, the gain adjustment may be based on a gain provided to the received WCDMA signals before applying the shared bandpass filtering. At least one signal may be generated for selecting the processing path and/or for adjusting the shared signal amplification gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8233095
    Abstract: A technique that allows a DTV receiver to perform a channel scan in a manner that is faster and more efficient than conventional channel scanning techniques. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the technique allows a DTV receiver to perform a scan of only those channels that are known to be available within a local terrestrial broadcast region. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the technique allows a DTV receiver that operates in conjunction with an antenna, such as a smart antenna designed to comply with EIA/CEA 909, to use the same antenna configuration parameters for different terrestrial broadcast signals in an instance where such signals are known to originate from the same antenna location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8233859
    Abstract: A technique to provide accurate and efficient transmit power control by providing offset values to modify a base input gain value for a gain control circuit used to set a transmit power gain in a mobile phone. The modified gain value compensates for a ripple offset and power level offset caused by a difference in operating temperature and operating frequency from values obtained during calibration at a calibration frequency and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Huili Yu, Horace Ng
  • Patent number: 8233941
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining whether communicating with the second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas in a first configuration, which comprises a beam-forming configuration, is preferable to utilizing a plurality of antennas in a second configuration, which comprises a MIMO or MISO configuration. If it is determined that the first configuration is preferable to the second configuration, the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the first configuration. If it is determined that the second configuration is preferable to the first configuration, then the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, Nambirajan Seshadri, James D Bennett
  • Patent number: 8233578
    Abstract: A phase lock loop frequency synthesizer includes a phase rotator in the feedback path of the PLL. The PLL includes a phase detector, a low pass filter, a charge pump, a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”), and a feedback path connecting output of the VCO to the phase detector. The feedback path includes a phase rotator connected to the output of the VCO and to an input of a frequency divider. Coarse frequency control is implemented by adjusting the input reference frequency to the phase detector or by adjusting the divider ratio of the frequency divider. Fine frequency control is achieved by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the phase rotator. The phase rotator constantly rotates phase of the VCO output, thereby causing a frequency shift at the output of the phase rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Ying Chen, Michael Q. Le, Myles Wakayama
  • Patent number: 8234605
    Abstract: A minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library is provided. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library provides minimal leakage power cells with improved speed characteristics. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library includes cells from an existing Standard Cell Library and a set of minimal leakage power cells for a selected set of logic functions. The minimal leakage power Standard Cell Library is formed by identifying a set of logic functions. For each logic function in the identified set, a base case for an unfolded implementation of the logic function is determined. Widths for transistors in a transistor topology used in the unfolded implementation of the logic function are determined based on the non-linear leakage power characteristics for the transistor topology to achieve minimal leakage power. The determined widths are then assigned to the transistors and the minimal leakage cell is added to the library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Ivan Penzes
  • Patent number: 8233848
    Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for processing signals in a communication system may include maximizing system capacity for a time division duplex (TDD) multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink system, based on a single signal for a single user within a reduced search range or the single signal for the single user and at least one other signal for one other user within a remaining portion of the reduced search range. The reduced search range may be generated by sorting a plurality of signals based on a channel gain corresponding to each of the plurality of signals. The single signal for the single user may be selected from the reduced search range corresponding to a channel gain that is greater than a channel gain corresponding to a remaining portion of the reduced search range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Chengjin Zhang, Jun Zheng, Pieter van Rooyen
  • Patent number: 8233870
    Abstract: A transceiver includes a receiver section and a transmitter section. The receiver section converts an inbound Multiple Frequency Bands Multiple Standards (MFBMS) signal into a down converted signal, wherein the inbound MFBMS signal includes a desired signal component and an undesired signal component. In addition, the receiver section determines spectral positioning of the undesired signal component with respect to the desired signal component and adjusts at least one of the MFBMS signal and the down converted signal based on the spectral positioning to substantially reduce adverse affects of the undesired signal component on the desired signal component to produce an adjusted signal. The transmitter section converts an outbound symbol stream into an outbound MFBMS signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: John Walley, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Brima B. Ibrahim, Arya Reza Behzad, Vinko Erceg, David Rosmann
  • Patent number: 8233557
    Abstract: Aspects of a system for subspace beamforming for near capacity MIMO performance may include a MIMO transmitter that computes one or more rotation angle values (?f) based on a channel estimate matrix (H). In instances when each rotation angle is computed based on a Euclidean distance criterion, each value ?f may also be computed based on a computed Euclidean distance. Alternatively, in instances when each rotation angle is computed based on a bit error rate (BER) criterion, each value ?f may also be computed based on a signal noise power level (N0). A plurality of spatial stream signals (xi) may be generated utilizing one or more constellation types. The constellation map for each constellation type may be rotated based on a corresponding value ?f. A plurality of transmit chain signals (txi) may be generated based on the signals xi and transmitted via a communication medium characterized by matrix H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sirikiat Ariyavisitakul, Eric Ojard