Patents Assigned to Broadcom
  • Patent number: 8169998
    Abstract: Aspects of a system for an ad hoc wireless network with master control of network parameters may include one or more circuits that enable generation of a beacon frame at a supervisory WLAN station wherein the generated beacon frame contains a supervisory role indication. The supervisory role indication enables the supervisory WLAN station to establish timing synchronization and network parameters that are utilized by a plurality of WLAN stations utilized for communicating within a wireless network. Aspects of the system may also include a WLAN station that enables communication via a wireless local area network by utilizing a timestamp value and network parameter values retrieved from a received beacon frame based on the presence of a supervisory role indication within the received beacon frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Fischer, Christopher Hansen
  • Patent number: 8170495
    Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes at least one phased array antenna, that transmits an outbound RF signal containing outbound data to a remote transceiver and that receives an inbound RF signal containing inbound data from the at least one remote RF transceiver, wherein the at least one phased array antenna is configurable based on a control signal. An antenna configuration controller generates the control signal to configure the phased array antenna to hop among a plurality of selected radiation patterns that are collaboratively selected by the wireless transceiver and the remote transceiver via a pairing procedure. At least one RF transceiver section generates the outbound RF signal based on the outbound data and that generates the inbound data based on the inbound RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jason A. Trachewsky, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Christopher J. Hansen, Saishankar Nandagopalan, Vinko Erceg, Matthew J. Fischer, Murat Mese
  • Patent number: 8170154
    Abstract: A system for mitigating impairment in a communication system includes a delay block, a signal level block, a moving average window block, an impulse noise detection block, and a combiner. The delay block receives and delays each chip of a plurality of chips in a spreading interval. The signal level block determines a signal level of each chip of the plurality of chips in the spreading interval. The moving average window block determines a composite signal level for a chip window corresponding to the chip. The impulse noise detection block receives the signal level, receives the composite signal level, and produces an erasure indication for each chip of the plurality of chips of the corresponding chip window. The combiner erases chips of the plurality of chips of the spreading interval based upon the erasure indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Nabil R. Yousef, Thomas J. Kolze, Jonathan S. Min
  • Patent number: 8170150
    Abstract: Digitally controlled phase interpolator circuit. A phase selection control word undergoes decoding to generate a switch control word. The phase selection control word includes 2 quadrant indicating bits and phase interpolating bits for a 4 clock scheme (e.g., 4 clocks having phases 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°). Such a phase selection control word could includes 3 sector indicating bits and phase interpolating bits for an 8 clock scheme (e.g., 8 clocks having phases 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315°). The gates of a number of differential pairs of transistors receive the various clock signals. A number of switching circuits direct current from corresponding current sources/supplies to coupled sources of the differential pairs of transistors, and an output clock is taken from coupled drains of the differential pairs of transistors. One or more current sources/supplies can be implemented to provide continuous current (e.g., in an always on manner) to the differential pairs of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ullas Singh
  • Patent number: 8170477
    Abstract: A wireless communication device includes a first receiver section and a second receiver section. The first receiver section receives a first probe signal from a first transceiver at time t1. The second receiver section receives a second probe signal from a second transceiver at time t2, wherein the first and second probe signals have substantially similar carrier frequencies. The first receiver section then receives a first signal from the first transceiver and the second receiver section receives a second signal from the second transceiver in accordance with an adjusted delay. The first and second signals have similar content and have substantially similar carrier frequencies. The adjust delay corresponds to a delta time that is substantially equal to a difference between the time t1 and the time t2 when the difference between the time t1 and the time t2 compares unfavorably to a delay threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jason A. Trachewsky
  • Patent number: 8170125
    Abstract: A method for modulating a sequence of data symbols such that the transmit signal exhibits spectral redundancy. Null symbols are inserted in the sequence of data symbols such that a specified pattern of K data symbols and N?K null symbols is formed in every period of N symbols in the modulated sequence, N and K being positive integers and K being smaller than N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Gottfried Ungerboeck
  • Patent number: 8171334
    Abstract: A gearbox is placed between two clock domains to allow data to be transferred from one domain to the other. Although the two domains may operate at the same clock frequency, typically one domain has a faster clock speed than the other. The gearbox is disposed between the two clock domains to control timing of data transfer from one to the other, by selecting a pattern which identifies when data is made transparent for the transfer. The gearbox allows a number of clock ratios to be selected, so that a particular clock ratio between the two domains may be readily selected in the gearbox for the data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: James D. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8169067
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improved thermal, electrical and/or mechanical performance in integrated circuit (IC) packages are described. An IC circuit package comprises a substrate having a central opening. An IC die, resides within the opening in the substrate. Wirebonds couples a plurality of bond pads on a top surface of the IC die to a plurality of bond fingers on a top surface the substrate. An encapsulating material encapsulates at least the IC die and the wirebonds such that at least a bottom surface of the IC die is left exposed. The encapsulating material suspends the die such that at least a portion of the die is held within the opening in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Law, Sam Ziqun Zhao, Rezaur Rahman Khan
  • Patent number: 8169263
    Abstract: A fully-differential circuit includes a differential gm-boosting circuit and/or a differential output circuit. The use of differential gm-boosting and output circuits improves input common-mode and power-supply noise rejection relative to the prior art. The fully differential gm-boosted circuit may be used in a wide variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Adrià Bofill-Petit, Xavier Redondo-Navarro
  • Patent number: 8170023
    Abstract: A method of sending data through a network from a first computing device to a second computing device is described, where the computing devices adhere to a packet-based network protocol. A connection between the first computing device and the second computing device is established for a session according to the network protocol. A packet header template is defined having a plurality of static fields filled with static values valid for all packets sent during the session and variable fields that can acquire packet-dependent values for different packets sent during a session. A packet header is created based on the header template by defining, in a central processing unit, at least one value of a variable field and by reusing the static values for the static fields. The packet header is pre-pended to payload data to form a packet, and the packet is sent to the second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Yasantha Rajakarunanayake, Lars Severin
  • Patent number: 8170485
    Abstract: A system and method for using a single antenna for active and passive radio functions. A wireless communication device includes a passive component that can be read using an antenna when the wireless communication device is in a low power sleep mode. When it is determined that a higher capacity is needed, the wireless communication device activates an active component. Activation of the active component includes a switching of a connection of the antenna from the passive component to the active component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Robert William Hulvey
  • Patent number: 8170142
    Abstract: A programmable hybrid transmit baseband module includes a wireless protocol conversion module, a set of modules, and a mode select module. The wireless protocol conversion module is operable to convert outbound data into a complex signal having an in-phase (I) signal component and a quadrature (Q) signal component. The set of modules is operable to generate an offset adjusted normalized I signal component, an offset adjusted normalized Q signal component, and corrected amplitude modulation data, wherein each of the normalized I and Q signal components includes phase modulation data. The mode selection module is operable to output the I and Q signal components when the programmable hybrid transmit baseband module is in a first mode; and output the offset adjusted normalized I and Q signal components and the corrected amplitude modulation data when the programmable hybrid transmit baseband module is in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8170496
    Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes at least one phased array antenna, that transmits an outbound RF signal containing outbound data to at least one remote transceiver and that receives an inbound RF signal containing inbound data from the at least one remote RF transceiver, wherein the at least one phased array antenna is configurable based on a control signal. An antenna configuration controller generates the control signal to configure the phased array antenna to hop among a plurality of radiation patterns based on a hopping sequence. At least one RF transceiver section generates the outbound RF signal based on the outbound data and that generates the inbound data based on the inbound RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Saishankar Nandagopalan, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Jason A. Trachewsky, Vinko Erceg, Christopher J. Hansen, Matthew J. Fischer, Murat Mese
  • Patent number: 8170498
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a package substrate, a die, and a plurality of antenna structures. The die includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver and a control module, wherein the RF transceiver processes inbound and outbound RF signals. The control module enables the RF transceiver to receive the inbound RF signal from one or more of the plurality of antenna structures in a frequency band of approximately 55 GHz to 64 GHz and enables the RF transceiver to provide the outbound RF signal to one or more of the plurality of antennas structures for transmission in a frequency band of approximately 55 GHz to 64 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8169926
    Abstract: Enhanced channel changing within multi-channel communication systems. A CMTS directs channel changing of a CM, sometimes between upstream data bursts. Logical channels, part of a single frequency channel, may be used, and the channel changing may be performed between those logical channels. Multiple upstream burst profiles and/or modulation densities may be used providing high degrees of robustness, fidelity, and throughput and allowing great channel flexibility. A CM may be switched between channels without losing transmitter capability. Even if some throughput rate may be sacrificed during the channel changing, the CM will still be able to continue data throughput. Then, the new channel may then undergo the initialization and ranging processes thereby enabling greater throughput on that new channel. After undergoing the initialization and ranging processes, the new channel will then be a fully equivalent member of the CM communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Patent number: 8170607
    Abstract: A method for communication is disclosed and includes performing by one or more processors in a first access point, receiving a first messaging protocol message from a first switch. The first messaging protocol message is also communicated from the first switch to at least a second switch. A second messaging protocol message may be communicated to the second switch and/or a second access point based on the receiving of the first messaging protocol message. Operation of the first switch, the second switch, the first access point, the second access point, and/or at least one of a plurality of access devices may be controlled utilizing the first messaging protocol message and/or at least the second messaging protocol message. The first messaging protocol message may be generated by the first switch. The first messaging protocol message and the second messaging protocol message may be an access point status message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Martin
  • Patent number: 8169365
    Abstract: A communication system includes a reference station and a mobile station. The reference station is operable to: receive GPS signals; generate GPS assisting data from the received GPS signals; receive SBAS signals; obtain SBAS data from the received SBAS signals; combine the GPS assisting data and the SBAS data to produce combined GPS data; and transmit the combined GPS data via a terrestrial wireless communication. The mobile station is operable to: receive the GPS signals; receive the combined GPS data via the terrestrial wireless communication; and generate positioning data from the mobile received GPS signals and the combined GPS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Kambiz Shoarinejad
  • Patent number: 8169495
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing an image depicting an area or region of interest. The method and apparatus use a large sensor, and a sampling function, which can be non-uniform, so that sensor cells depicting the region or object of interest are sampled more densely than other sensor cells, thus providing more details for the object or region of interest than to other areas, while still showing other areas for orientation and navigation purposes. The method and apparatus can be used for tracking the object or area of interest if either the area or object of interest, or the capturing device moves, by constantly adapting the densely sampled area on the sensor. The method and apparatus can be used for controlling the capturing device from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ilia Vitsnudel, Ron Fridental
  • Patent number: 8170484
    Abstract: Synchronized UWB piconets for SOP (Simultaneously Operating Piconet) performance. A common backbone (either wired or wireless) is employed that provides a common CLK (clock signal) to all of the various PNCs (piconet coordinators) of various piconets that may operate within a sufficiently close region such that interference could undesirably occur. By providing a very reliable CLK signal from a common backbone to all of the PNCs of the various piconets operating within a substantially close proximity to one another, very precise synchronization may be ensured for all of the communications performed therein. The various piconets may then even operate using TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)—whose performance would be substantially compromised without effective synchronization. In addition, combined TFC (time frequency code) and TDMA may also be employed to support the communications therein thereby providing even another degree of orthogonality that provided by TDMA alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, Eric J. Ojard, Edward H. Frank
  • Patent number: 8170546
    Abstract: A wireless network in a communication infrastructure has a packet switched backbone network and includes a plurality of access points and services at least one client device. The access points communicatively couple to the packet switched backbone network and each include access point processing circuitry and access point wireless transceiver circuitry. Each client device has client processing circuitry and client wireless transceiver circuitry. The client devices receive transmissions from other client devices serviced by the plurality of access points and characterize the received transmissions to determine signal qualities of the plurality of transmissions received from the other client devices. The client devices then report the signal qualities of the plurality of transmissions to at least one of the plurality of access points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: James D. Bennett