Patents Assigned to Broadcom
  • Patent number: 8019309
    Abstract: In RF transceivers, a method and system for a second order input intercept point (IIP2) calibration scheme are provided. Transceiver calibration schemes to compensate for DC offsets produced by interfering signals may be performed during production testing or field operation. During production testing, an external source may inject a blocker signal that produces DC offsets in the receiver portion of the transceiver. A transceiver switch may be set to receive mode in this scheme. During field operation, a power amplifier in the transmitter portion of the transceiver may inject the blocker signal. In this scheme, the switch may be set to transmit mode and the DC offsets are produced by the portion of the injected blocker signal that leaks through the switch. In both schemes, a DC offset sensor detects DC offsets in the I/Q signal paths and may determine compensation currents which may be applied by injection circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Hooman Darabi, Brima Ibrahim, Hea Joung Kim
  • Patent number: 8019379
    Abstract: A transmitter and receiver for combining RFID amplitude-modulated data with wireless phase-modulated data is realized by a processing module coupled to generate outbound non-amplitude modulated symbols from first outbound data, to generate outbound amplitude modulated symbols from second outbound data, to generate first inbound data from inbound non-amplitude modulated symbols, and to generate second inbound data from inbound amplitude modulated symbols, a combiner coupled to modulate the amplitude modulated symbols onto a signal carrying the non-amplitude modulated symbols to produce a combined outbound RF signal and a splitter coupled to convert a combined inbound RF signal into inbound non-amplitude modulated symbols and into inbound amplitude modulated symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Kambiz Shoarinejad
  • Patent number: 8018363
    Abstract: In a high-fidelity digital modulator, a mapper is provided to minimize quantization noise, jitter, and cross-talk between multiple digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital converters. The mapper receives a quantized level from a quantizer and maps the quantized level to an output sequence. The mapper includes a table defining multiple sequences corresponding to each quantized level. Each sequence includes two or more symbols, having one of multiple values. The mapper also includes a generator that selects one of the multiple sequences as the output sequence. The last symbol of a first output sequence is equal to the first symbol of the next output sequence and so on. The generator selects the output sequence by alternating between a first and a second sequence for each quantized level received. The generator selects the output sequence by alternating between sequences having a positive and a negative common mode energy for each odd valued quantized level received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Todd L. Brooks, Kevin L. Miller, Josephus A. Van Engelen
  • Patent number: 8018853
    Abstract: Methods for using communication network statistics in the operation of a real-time communication system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may provide improved playback of real-time media streams by incorporating into the algorithms used for playback of the media stream network statistics typically calculated by some transport protocols. An additional aspect of the present invention may include machine-readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the foregoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wilfrid LeBlanc, Darwin Rambo
  • Patent number: 8018375
    Abstract: A projected artificial magnetic mirror (PAMM) radar device includes a transceiver module, a shaping module, and an antenna structure. The antenna structure includes a plurality of metal patches, a metal backing, a dielectric material, and one or more antennas. The metal patches are electrically coupled to the metal backing to form an inductive-capacitive network that, for the one or more antennas and within a given frequency band, substantially reduces surface waves to obtain a detectable angle of incidence of approximately ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolaos G. Alexopoulos, Chryssoula A. Kyriazidou
  • Patent number: 8019312
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for DC offset cancellation are provided herein. For instance, the apparatus can include a first commutating mixer switch and a second commutating mixer switch. The first commutating mixer switch can have a first input port configured to receive a first differential signal and a first differential output port. The second commutating mixer switch can have a second input port configured to receive a second differential offset signal and a second differential output port. The first and second differential output ports can be coupled to one another to provide a combined differential output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Tzi-Hsiung Shu
  • Patent number: 8018361
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Embodiments of the present invention provide novel ADC architectures directed at reducing the overall ADC area and power consumption. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in pipelined ADCs, cyclic ADCs, and successive approximation (SAR) ADCs, for example. Further, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using both single-ended and differential configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sumant Ranganathan, Tom Kwan, Xinyu Yu
  • Patent number: 8018963
    Abstract: A media access controller (MAC) configurable for first and second modes of operation is provided. The MAC includes an uplink processor coupled to a plurality of uplink channels, a downlink processor coupled to a downlink, and a MAP parser coupled to the downlink processor. The downlink processor is configured to provide information to the downlink channel, including bandwidth allocation map (“MAP”) messages. Each MAP message is associated with one of the plurality of uplink channels or an uplink channel associated with one or more other MACs. The MAP parser is configured to control the MAC to receive information from a first set of one or more of the plurality of uplink channels in first mode and from a second set of one or more of the plurality of uplink channels in second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa V. Denney, Gerald Grand, Yushan Lu
  • Patent number: 8018256
    Abstract: Provided are a method and system for providing a power-on reset pulse. The system includes a level detector configured to receive an input signal and produce, at least indirectly, a reset signal when the input signal reaches a predetermined level. The system also includes a counter having counting characteristics and configured to receive the reset signal and a clock signal. The counter produces a delayed signal in accordance with the counting characteristics, the clock signal, and the received reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alireza Zolfaghari
  • Patent number: 8018393
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for using a transformer for FM transmit and FM receive functionality may include communicating data-bearing signals via primary windings of a transformer, wherein secondary windings of the transformer may be utilized for receiving and/or transmitting the communicated data-bearing signals, wherein the secondary windings may be utilized as a load for the transmitting. The secondary windings and/or a power amplifier may be biased for the transmitting by applying an electrical signal at a terminal of the secondary windings, wherein the electrical signal that may be applied at the center terminal may be a biasing voltage. The receiving and the transmitting may be operated in time division duplex mode, or simultaneously. DC signal components for the receiving may be blocked by using a plurality of capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20110214912
    Abstract: A via structure is disclosed to pass electronic signals from a first conductive pathway formed on a first outermost substrate of a multi-layer PCB to a second conductive pathway formed on a second outermost substrate of the multi-layer PCB. The via structure allows the electronic signals to pass from the first outermost substrate through one or more inner substrates to the second outermost substrate. The one or more inner substrates include one or more closed geometric structures to enclose the via structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Shengli LIN
  • Publication number: 20110216750
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other wireless device and includes a WLAN interface, a transcoder, and a switch box. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with at least one wireless device to receive inbound packetized audio data from the at least one wireless device and to transmit outbound packetized audio data to the at least one wireless device. The transcoder receives the inbound packetized audio data and converts the inbound packetized audio data to inbound Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) WLAN audio data. The WLAN interface also receives outbound PCM WLAN audio data and converts the outbound PCM WLAN audio data to the outbound packetized audio data. The switch box operably couples between the transcoder and a PCM bus, to which an audio COder/DECoder (CODEC) couples. A speaker and a microphone coupled to the audio CODEC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou
  • Publication number: 20110219242
    Abstract: A secure processor in a PC-slave device may manage secure loading of execution code and/or data, which may be stored, in encrypted form, in a PC hard-drive. The secure processor may cause decryption of the execution code and/or data by the PC-slave device, and storage of the decrypted execution code and/or data in a restricted portion of a memory that is dedicated for use by the PC-slave device, with the restricted portion of the dedicated memory being only accessible by the PC-slave device. The secure processor may validate decrypted execution code and/or data. The secure processor may block operations of a main processor in the PC-slave device during secure loading of execution code and/or data, and may discontinue that blocking after validating the decrypted execution code and/or data. The secure processor may store encryption keys that are utilized during decryption of the encrypted execution code and/or data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephane Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20110217975
    Abstract: A system and method providing concurrent multimode communication through multimode signal multiplexing. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise, during a first time period, transmitting a first portion of a first communication in a first communication mode in a serial wireless transmission stream. During a second time period after the first time period, a first portion of a second communication may be transmitted in a second communication mode in the serial wireless transmission stream. Also, during a third time period after the second time period, a second portion of the first communication may be transmitted in the first communication mode in the serial wireless transmission stream. In an exemplary scenario, prior to communicating various communications, transmission time may be allocated between the first and second communication modes. In another exemplary scenario, transmission may be switched between a plurality of communication modes in response to detected communication conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Arya Behzad
  • Patent number: 8013422
    Abstract: A fuse corner pad is part of an integrated circuit that includes a built-in fuse contact and a plurality of auxiliary pads. The fuse contact is a conductive metallic or metalloid structure that is connected to a fuse element. The fuse contact and fuse element are used inside of the fuse corner pad for programmability (e.g., for security) and/or adjustment (e.g., trimming) of analog and/or digital signals. The fuse contact and fuse element are not required to be bonded to an external electrical connection (such as, a pin or ball). The auxiliary pads provide a variety of functional or non-functional applications, such as testing, probing, programming, and/or circuit adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Art Pharn, James Seymour, Jennifer Chiao
  • Patent number: 8014834
    Abstract: A method and system to determine when a wireless terminal has been paged by a servicing base station. An encoded paging burst is received on a paging channel and then decoded to produce a decoded paging burst. The decoded paging burst is processed to determine if it is a null page. When the encoded paging burst is a null page, it is processed to produce a null page pattern. The wireless terminal may then enter a sleep mode or reduced functionality mode for a predetermined period of time. The wireless terminal awakes from the sleep mode to receive additional encoded paging bursts. Processing the additional encoded paging bursts produces a processed encoded paging burst, which is compared to the null page pattern. When compared favorably, the encoded paging burst is considered a null page, allowing the wireless terminal to re-enter the sleep mode without fully decoding the paging burst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ronish Patel, Nelson R. Sollenberger
  • Patent number: 8014437
    Abstract: A system for implementing an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing scheme and providing an improved range extension. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting data to a receiver. The transmitter includes a symbol mapper for generating a symbol for each of a plurality of subcarriers and a spreading module for spreading out the symbol on each of the plurality of subcarriers by using a direct sequence spread spectrum. The symbol on each of the plurality of subcarriers is spread by multiplying the symbol by predefined length sequences. The receiver includes a de-spreader module for de-spreading the symbols on each of the plurality of subcarriers. The de-spreader module includes a simply correlator receiver for obtaining maximum detection. The correlator produces an output sequence of a same length as an input sequence and the de-spreader module uses a point of maximum correlation on the output sequence to obtain a recovered symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Alexander Trachewsky
  • Patent number: 8015290
    Abstract: The invention is a method system and apparatus for a group driver. In the event that a system-wide application is needed, a plurality of devices that belong to the system are identified and divided into groups. The groups include a processor and at least one device such as a switch. Once the groups are determined, the system-wide application is transmitted to the devices via the group processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Talayco
  • Patent number: 8014719
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Shervin Moloudi, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8014820
    Abstract: Analog signal paths are utilized between a baseband processor and a radio front end to support high throughput communications for a multiple in multiple out radio transceiver that support communications over two or more antennas. Specifically, analog differential I and Q path communication signals are exchanged between a radio front end core and a baseband processor to maximize throughput capacity for high data rate signals. Along the same lines, the impedances of traces and the interface are matched to reduce I/Q imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jason A. Trachewsky, Arya Reza Behzad