Patents Assigned to Broadcom
  • Patent number: 7945047
    Abstract: A system and method for distribution of cryptographic keys to data encryption and decryption devices used to protect digital video/multimedia data transmitted over a display link between a digital video/multimedia source and a display device are provided. The digital data, which may be in Digital Visual Interface (DVI) format, from a digital video/multimedia source, such as, for example, a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) player, a set-top box, or a computer, is encrypted prior to transmission on the display link. Use of key management and storage that are external to the data encryption or decryption devices enables downloading of new keys from external key sources. Encrypted data encryption and decryption keys may be included in a cable signal received by the set-top box. The data encryption and decryption keys from an internal or external key source may be encoded in the DVD player, set-top box, or computer prior to being sent over a control bus to a display link receiver or a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: David Rogoff, Steven Petilli
  • Patent number: 7944322
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a flip chip configurable RF front end with an off-chip balun may include bonding a balun package to a single integrated circuit (IC) comprising an integrated transmitter and a receiver. The balun package may comprise one or more layers and may be electrically coupled to the IC. The balun package may comprise various devices such as, for example, inductors, capacitors, resistors, and/or switches, which may be on an exterior surface and/or inner layers of the balun package. Accordingly, the balun package and/or the IC may be configured for receiving RF signals and/or transmitting RF signals. The balun package and/or the IC may also be configured for single-ended RF input, single-ended RF output, differential RF input, and/or differential RF output. An off-chip amplifier may be used to amplify signals on the single transmit line in the single-ended RF output mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Razieh Roufoogaran
  • Patent number: 7944403
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an on-chip antenna interface, coupled to an off-chip antenna interface having at least one off-chip impedance matching component, that forms a programmable impedance matching network with the at least one off-chip impedance matching component. The programmable impedance matching network is programmable based on a control signal. An RF receiver, coupled to the programmable impedance matching network, that generates inbound data in response to a received signal from the programmable impedance matching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7944885
    Abstract: Enabling a standard cellular handset to be used to access a core mobile network via a generic access network is disclosed. A communication between a generic access network element and the core mobile network is intercepted. A modified version of the communication is generated. The modified communication is forwarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmed Tariq, Elliott Hoole, Jayesh Sukumaran, Yan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110111723
    Abstract: A communication device includes a voice data and RF integrated circuit (IC) that includes a memory module that stores a plurality of applications corresponding to a plurality of uses of the communication device. A processing module executes a selected one of the plurality of applications and selects one of a plurality of power modes based on a current one of the plurality of uses of the communication device corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of applications. The processing module generates a power mode signal based on the selected one of the plurality of power modes. An off-chip power management circuit receives the power mode signal and that generates a plurality of power supply signals to the voice data and RF IC based on the power mode signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yossi Cohen, Nelson R. Sollenberger, Vafa James Rakshani, Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Claude G. Hayek, Ferderic Christian Marc Hayem
  • Publication number: 20110111695
    Abstract: A near field RFID system includes an RFID reader and an RFID tag. The RFID reader includes a transmit path and a receive path, wherein the transmit path includes: an encoding section coupled to convert data into encoded data; a digital to analog conversion module coupled to convert the encoded data into an analog encoded signal; a power amplifier coupled to amplify the analog encoded signal; and a plurality of coils coupled to generate a plurality of electromagnetic fields from the analog encoded signal. The RFID tag that includes: a coil coupled to generate a current and a recovered signal from at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic fields; a power recovery circuit coupled to generate a voltage from the current; and a data processing section coupled to process the recovered signal, wherein the data processing section is powered via the voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amin Shameli, Aminghasem Safarian, Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Franco De Flaviis
  • Publication number: 20110108903
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a flash memory cell in a semiconductor die includes forming a control gate stack overlying a floating gate stack in a memory region of a substrate, where the floating gate stack includes a floating gate overlying a portion of a dielectric one layer. The floating gate includes a portion of a metal one layer and the dielectric one layer includes a first high-k dielectric material. The control gate stack can include a control gate including a portion of a metal two layer, where the metal one layer can include a different metal than the metal two layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Xia, Xiangdong Chen, Frank Hui
  • Publication number: 20110109369
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a level shifter circuit operable with a low voltage input comprises first and second pull-down switches configured to receive the low voltage input as respective non-inverted and inverted control voltages, first and second pull-up switches coupled between the respective first and second pull-down switches and an output supply voltage, and a pull-up boost switching stage coupled to a node between the first pull-up switch and the first pull-down switch. The pull-up boost switching stage is configured to turn ON in response to the second pull-down switch turning ON, and to turn OFF before the first pull-up switch turns OFF. In one embodiment, the level shifter circuit may be implemented as part of an input/output (IO) pad of an integrated circuit (IC) fabricated on a semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Darrin Benzer
  • Publication number: 20110110309
    Abstract: End-point devices, access points and other types of network nodes each employ multi-path management software to manage communication via multiple possible paths to the Internet backbone from communication applications that run on an end-point device. The multi-path management software on an end-point device may operate independently and/or cooperate with the local communication applications and the multi-path management software located on the access points or other network nodes to select one or more pathways for the local communication applications. The multi-path management software depending on data types and data requirements also supports selection and maintenance of two or more paths that simultaneously serve a single communication application. The multi-path management software of an end-point device may pass all or a portion of multi-path management responsibility to a local communication application and/or to multi-path management software of another network node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATON
    Inventor: James D. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20110113276
    Abstract: A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) communication system dynamically provides power and data communications over a communications link. In an enterprise environment, a table top network switch uses a power supply to provide power for PoE and data communications to one or more powered devices (e.g., personal or laptop computers). To reduce the amount of heat generated in the table top network switch, the power supply is located external to the table network switch. The table top network switch may also include enterprise equipment, such as a video projector, a monitor for a personal computing device, another personal computing device to provide some examples. The power supply for the enterprise equipment may be included within the table top network switch to provide additional integration. The power for PoE and data communications to a limited number of powered devices (e.g., personal or laptop computers) may be included within the table top network switch to provide even further integration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wael William Diab, Kenneth E. Venner
  • Publication number: 20110110353
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transmitter includes a MAC module, a PLCP module, and a PMD module. The Medium Access Control (MAC) module is operably coupled to convert a MAC Service Data Unit (MSDU) into a MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) in accordance with a WLAN protocol. The Physical Layer Convergence Procedure (PLCP) Module is operably coupled to convert the MPDU into a PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) in accordance with the WLAN protocol. The Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) module is operably coupled to convert the PPDU into a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals in accordance with one of a plurality of operating modes of the WLAN protocol, wherein the plurality of operating modes includes multiple input and multiple output combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky, Nambirajan Seshadri, Kelly Brian Cameron, Hau Thien Tran, Ba-Zhong Shen
  • Publication number: 20110110385
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a front-end system for processing a composite wideband signal comprises a pre-receiving unit including a multiplexer for separating the composite wideband signal into a plurality of filtered signals. The front-end system further comprises a plurality of discrete frequency band outputs corresponding to the plurality of filtered signals, and a tuner/down-converter coupled to at least one of the plurality of discrete frequency band outputs. In one embodiment, the pre-receiving unit of the front-end system further comprises a second multiplexer for separating at least one of the plurality of filtered signals into a second plurality of filtered signals. In one embodiment, the pre-receiving unit may further comprise a low noise amplifier for processing at least one of the plurality of filtered signals before it is input to the second multiplexer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jose Ignacio Gorostegui, Stephen Edward Krafft
  • Publication number: 20110111707
    Abstract: First and second control signals select either a receive mode or a transmit mode for two RF transceivers, each control signal having a first value when the transmit mode is selected and a second value when the receive mode is selected. First and second transmit/receive switches, each include an on-chip microelectromechanical switch, and each respond to their corresponding control signal to implement either the transmit mode or the receiver mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20110113460
    Abstract: Systems and methods that provide satellite-based media processing are described. In one embodiment, a system that exchanges media may include, for example, a communications device that may be coupled to a network and to an antenna. The communications device may provide two-way communications with the network and may provide one-way communications with the antenna. The communications may receive media content from the antenna and/or the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, James D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7941113
    Abstract: The wide bandwidth transceiver includes a receiver section, a transmitter section, and a local oscillation module. The local oscillation module generates a first and a second local oscillation. The transmitter section converts an outbound baseband signal and/or a low intermediate frequency (IF) signal into a first outbound radio frequency (RF) signal based on the second local oscillation when the wide bandwidth transceiver is in a second wireless standard mode and converts the outbound baseband and/or the low IF signal into a second outbound RF signal based on the first and second local oscillations when the wide bandwidth transceiver is in a first wireless standard mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7941649
    Abstract: A SIMD processor responds to a single min/max instruction to find the minimum or maximum valued data unit in an array of data units. The determined minimum/maximum value and an associated index value thereto may be output. Alternatively, the value of a data unit in another array may be output at a corresponding location. A further single instruction executable by the SIMD processor, may be applied to results obtained using such a single min/max instruction, to allow such instructions to operate on two dimensional arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Selvaggi, Larry A. Pearlstein
  • Patent number: 7941662
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing authentication and decryption operations in a cryptography accelerator system. Input data passed to a cryptography accelerator from a host such a CPU includes information for a cryptography accelerator to determine where to write the processed data. In one example, processed data is formatted as packet payloads in a network buffer. Checksum information is precalculated and an offset for a header is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Tardo, Mark Buer
  • Patent number: 7941107
    Abstract: A communications transceiver includes a baseband processor, a receiver section, and a transmitter section that includes a power amplifier. The receiver and transmitter sections communicatively couple to the baseband processor. In a calibration operation, the baseband processor produces a test signal to the transmitter section. Further, the baseband processor causes each of a plurality of power amplifier bias settings to be applied to the power amplifier. For each of the plurality of power amplifier bias settings, the power amplifier produces an amplified test signal, the receiver section couples back a portion of the amplified test signal to the baseband processor, and the baseband processor produces a characterization of the amplified test signal respective. Based upon a plurality of characterizations of the amplified test signal and respective power amplifier bias settings, the baseband processor determines power amplifier bias control settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Arya Reza Behzad
  • Patent number: 7940501
    Abstract: A system and method relieves ESD requirements on devices in circuits of chips that are susceptible to being damaged from ESD through an external pad. For example, one of the devices can be NMOS transistors having drains (or sources) connected to the external pad(s) and no (or significantly small) current flows from their drains (or sources) to the corresponding pad(s). In order to protect such a device, an ESD protecting system is coupled between the NMOS device and the pad. The ESD protecting system can include an n-type transistor or a p-type transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Hongwei Wang
  • Patent number: 7941138
    Abstract: A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is operated in conjunction with a wired Local Area Network (wired LAN) to service a premises, e.g., a campus setting. The wired LAN services the wired communication needs of the premises and serves as the wired backbone of the WLAN. A plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) of the WLAN couple to the wired backbone and are serviced by the LAN. With this shared structure, wired network components, e.g., multi-layer switches, manage the operation of WLAN components, i.e., WAPs. Such management includes ensuring that the WAPs provide sufficient bandwidth to support wireless packetized voice communications. Additional management operations include WAP access, wireless terminal registration, and channel resource allocation, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Thermond, Richard G. Martin