Patents Assigned to Broadcom Corporation
  • Patent number: 6088354
    Abstract: Each packet normally consists of a preamble, start-of-frame delimiter and data. The preamble has nibbles each having a particular format. A header substituted for preamble nibbles by an individual one of the originating devices in a plurality, and an individual one of the ports in such originating device, indicates such originating device and such port. Such port in such originating device sends such modified packet to others of the originating devices and to an observing station. The header format is such that the last nibble in the header and the remaining preamble portion will not be confused with any two (2) nibbles in the header. A particular one of the originating devices indicated in the data converts the header back to the preamble format and transmits the converted packet to a receiving station. The observing station records the individual originating device, and the individual port in such device, indicated in the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Lenell, David L. Fisher, Andrew J. Castellano
  • Patent number: 6014098
    Abstract: The output of each cell in an A-D converter on an IC chip is dependent upon the relative values of an input voltage and an individual one of progressive fractions of a reference voltage respectively introduced to the branches in a differential amplifier. To minimize output errors from cell mismatches, first and second sets of averaging impedances, preferably resistors, are respectively connected between the output terminals in the first branches, and the output terminals in the second branches, in successive pairs of cells. The impedances have relatively low values, particularly compared to the impedances of current sources connected to the branch output terminals. First and second resistive strips on the chip may be tapped at progressive positions to respectively define the impedances in the first and second sets. One end of each strip may be connected to the opposite end of the other strip to define a closed impedance loop for minimizing averaging errors at the strip ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Klaas Bult, Aaron W. Buchwald
  • Patent number: 5835048
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) formed on an integrated circuit chip from a plurality of cells includes a differential amplifier having first and second branches. The branches in each cell respectively have first and second transistors respectively responsive to an input voltage and an individual one of progressive fractions of a reference voltage. The relative outputs from the branches for each cell are dependent upon the relative values of the two voltages introduced to the cell. To minimize cell mismatches and the effects of these mismatches on cell outputs, first and second sets of averaging impedances, preferably resistors, are respectively connected between the output terminals of the first branch transistors, and between the output terminals of the second branch transistors, in successive pairs of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Klaas Bult
  • Patent number: 5754591
    Abstract: Analog signals encoded with quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) pass through a coaxial cable at a particular baud rate. These signals have a carrier frequency individual to the TV station being received. They are mixed with signals from a variable frequency oscillator to produce signals at a particular intermediate frequency (IF). An analog-digital converter (ADC) converts the IF signals to corresponding digital signals which are demodulated to produce two digital signals having a quadrature phase relationship. After being filtered and derotated, the digital signals pass to a symmetrical equalizer including a feed forward equalizer (FFE) and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) connected to the FFE in a feedback relationship. The DFE may include a slicer providing amplitude approximations of increasing sensitivity at progressive times. Additional slicers in the equalizer combine the FFE and DFE outputs to provide the output data without any of the coaxial cable noise or distortions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Samueli, Charles P. Reames
  • Patent number: 5640670
    Abstract: A direct broadcast satellite sends subscribers signals received from an earth-station transmitter and typically having a 10 MHz bandwidth, 6 MHz for an analog video station and 4 MHz for up to 24 digital audio stations. When a subscriber selects one of the audio stations, an FM demodulator recovers the 10 MHz signal; a variable gain amplifier amplifies the received signal; and an A/D converter digitizes the amplified signal at (e.g.) 24.576 MHz. A digital synthesizer produces trigonometric functions (sine, cosine) at (e.g.) 24.576 MHz, and mixers downconvert the signals to baseband. The sampling frequency is then reduced to 256 KHz, twice the digital audio signal baud rate. In response to the 256 KHz signals, a first servo varies a VCO frequency to obtain a regulation by the A/D converter of the digitizing frequency at 24.576 MHz and another servo regulates the frequency of the trigonometric functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Samueli, Kenneth R. Kindsfater
  • Patent number: 5604741
    Abstract: Four (4) unshielded twisted pairs of wires connect a hub and a computer in an Ethernet system: one (1) pair for transmission only, another for reception only and the other two (2) for transmission and reception. The signals in the wires are in packets each having timing signals defining a preamble and thereafter having digital signals representing information as by individual ones of three (3) amplitude levels. The signals received at the computer are provided with an automatic gain control (AGC) and then with digital conversions at a particular rate. A control loop operative upon the digital conversions regulates the AGC gain at a particular value. An equalizer operative only during the occurrence of the digital signals in each packet selects an individual one of the three (3) amplitude levels closest to the amplitude of each digital conversion at the time assumed to constitute the conversion peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Samueli, Mark Berman, Fang Lu