Patents Assigned to M/A-Com
  • Patent number: 7343138
    Abstract: The invention relates to for processing an electromagnetic input signal, wherein the signal is passed through an input to be modified across a plurality of modifying segments using a characteristic of the signal, and wherein the plurality of segments have a plurality of states controlled by a control signal, by determining a reference impedance for the input for one or more states of the plurality of segments; and adaptively adjusting impedance of the input toward the reference impedance. This may be accomplished for example, by using a matching circuit comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of a digital signal processor, a microprocessor, a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, a phase shifter, a resistor, a variable inductor, and a variable capacitor. The matching circuit determines shifts in impedance of the input after a change in state of the segments; and adaptively adjusts the impedance based upon the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bengtson, Dale Scott Douglas
  • Patent number: 7340007
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for determining a transfer function for emphasizing an electromagnetic signal prior to being processed by determining a discrete transfer function for a processing system, such as a wideband phase modulator; determining a target transfer function such that the target transfer function multiplied by the inverse of the discrete transfer function produces a discrete pre-emphasis transfer function; and transforming any unstable poles and/or zeros in the pre-emphasis transfer function to stable poles and/or zeros. The discrete transfer function may be determined, for example, by using an S-function, input and output signals, the inverse-invariant method, and/or the Steiglitz-McBride algorithm. The transformation of the unstable poles and/or zeros may be accomplished using an all pass filter. The target transfer function may be a low pass FIR filter having a gain of about unity across substantially all of the frequency range of said FIR filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Liu
  • Publication number: 20080048929
    Abstract: An antenna formed on a dielectric substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, a first meander antenna element disposed on the first surface of the substrate and a second meander antenna element disposed on the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventor: Eswarappa Channabasappa
  • Patent number: 7336220
    Abstract: In order to generate a signal for canceling a chirped signal, a transmitter generates a cancellation signal along with the transmitted signal, using a single term variable complex gain multiplier adapted to cancel the chirped signal only at its instantaneous frequency, rather than attempting to cancel it with a complex FIR filter that works over the entire bandwidth of the chirped signal. The cancellation signal is varied in amplitude and phase as a function of the frequency of the chirped transmit signal for which it is intended to compensate. Since the signal that is to be cancelled is essentially sinusoidal but swept through a frequency range, the cancellation signal for the instantaneous transmit signal needs to be swept in both amplitude and phase in unison with the change in frequency of the transmit signal in order to accommodate gain and phase changes in the transmitted signal as a function of frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Alan Stewart
  • Patent number: 7321588
    Abstract: A serial controller for use in controlling various radio frequency (RF) modules within an RF integrated circuit is disclosed. The serial controller is coupled to an serial bus that internal to the RFIC that transmits commands and data from a microcontroller to a data receiver module within the serial controller. The serial commands and data are transmitted across the serial bus in a data packet format having an address-overhead portion and a data portion, wherein the data receiver module removes the address-overhead bits from the packet and provides the data portion of the packet as output data. A decoder/coder logic module coupled to the data receiver receives the serial data and is operative to process the serial data and in response thereto activate one or more control signals. An RF module includes at least one circuit and one or more switching elements that are coupled to the one or more control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew K. Freeston, Paul J. Schwab
  • Patent number: 7317412
    Abstract: Various techniques for biasing a radio frequency digital-to-analog converter are described. In one embodiment, a baseband processor may comprise a plurality of output drivers to generate a plurality of base currents for biasing a radio frequency digital-to-analog converter. The baseband processor may comprise a serial control interface to generate a programming signal for controlling a relationship among the plurality of base currents. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignees: M/A-COM, Inc., M/A-Com Eurotec BV
    Inventors: Chin Li, Donal Bourke, Steven Steckler, Eoin Carey
  • Publication number: 20070296529
    Abstract: The invention is a dielectric resonator circuit comprising a housing; first, second, and third resonators positioned substantially in a row within the housing with said second resonator positioned between the first and third resonators, wherein the resonators are positioned relative to each other such that a field generated in each resonator couples to an adjacent resonator; wherein the housing encloses the resonators and has a separating wall positioned between the first and third resonators in order to control electromagnetic coupling between the first and third resonators; and wherein said first separating wall comprises a first end and a second end along a length thereof and wherein the separating wall defines an iris at the first end, the wall comprising a main wall portion positioned substantially between the first and third resonators and an extension wall portion at the first end that extends at an angle from the main wall portion of said wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhengxue Zhang, Kristi Dhimiter Pance
  • Patent number: 7313363
    Abstract: A method for determining an open or available channel from a plurality of predetermined channels for communication between a portable unit and a mobile repeater unit operating within the same wireless communication system. After an available channel has been selected, communication between the portable unit and the mobile repeater unit is established on the selected channel, and the selected channel is identified as active to all other portable units and mobile repeater units operating on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Davis, Paul Joseph Gaudet, Tomasz Kazimierz Konopka, Goran Zekanovich
  • Publication number: 20070290304
    Abstract: A high power shunt switch comprises a leadframe including a paddle for supporting a shunt element, and a plurality of bond pads located around a periphery of the paddle, wherein at least a first subset of the bond pads are aligned in a substantially straight-line configuration. A shunt element is fixedly attached to the paddle and wire bonded to a top surface of one the bond pads. An encapsulant is disposed on the paddle, the shunt element, the plurality of bond pads, and the wire bond, thereby forming an encapsulated package structure. The package structure is positioned and attached to a transmission line such that the bottom surfaces of each of the at least first subset of bond pads are in simultaneous contact with the transmission line. The package structure and the transmission line are fixedly attached to a suitable substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Weigand
  • Patent number: 7310031
    Abstract: A dielectric resonator having variable cross-section, preferably varying monotonically, and, most preferably, the resonator being in the shape of a truncated cone. Such shapes displace the H11 mode from the TE mode in the longitudinal direction of the cone. Truncating the cone to eliminate the portion of the cone where the H11 mode exists, virtually eliminates the H11 mode. A circuit comprising a plurality of these resonators may be arranged in an enclosure with each resonator longitudinally inverted relative to adjacent resonator(s) to provide a compact design with enhanced coupling and adjustability. A spiral coupling loop provides high magnetic flux in a small physical volume for coupling energy into or out of the circuit. Alternately, the resonator can coupled to a microstrip by placing the resonator upside-down near the microstrip, whereby the TE mode is immediately above the microstrip, providing enhanced coupling there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristi Dhimiter Pance, Eswarappa Channabasappa
  • Patent number: 7307479
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting signal, the apparatus comprising a front end telecommunications module including a power amplifier, a matching circuit coupled to the power amplifier, and a filter coupled to the matching circuit, such that a signal received by the power amplifier is transmitted to the filter through the matching circuit. The telecommunications module provides quad-band capability in a compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Dirk Weigand, Thomas Aaron Winslow, Richard John Giacchino
  • Patent number: 7307570
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method and article to emulate a filter are described. The apparatus may include a digital-to-analog converter having an impulse response emulator, the impulse response emulator to receive multiple digital signals each having a predetermined waveform, and convert a sequence of bits from each digital signal to a predetermined analog waveform corresponding to the sequence of bits. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Walid Khairy Mohamed Ahmed, Anthony Dennis
  • Publication number: 20070279278
    Abstract: In order to generate a signal for canceling a chirped signal, a transmitter generates a cancellation signal along with the transmitted signal, using a single term variable complex gain multiplier adapted to cancel the chirped signal only at its instantaneous frequency, rather than attempting to cancel it with a complex FIR filter that works over the entire bandwidth of the chirped signal. The cancellation signal is varied in amplitude and phase as a function of the frequency of the chirped transmit signal for which it is intended to compensate. Since the signal that is to be cancelled is essentially sinusoidal but swept through a frequency range, the cancellation signal for the instantaneous transmit signal needs to be swept in both amplitude and phase in unison with the change in frequency of the transmit signal in order to accommodate gain and phase changes in the transmitted signal as a function of frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Alan Stewart
  • Publication number: 20070280372
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for transmitting a multi-frequency signal composed of discrete tones of constant envelope parts that are amplified by a bank of fully saturated transmitters operating in their most power efficient mode. After amplification and transmission, the signals are multiplexed in the air as opposed to multiplexing before amplification that allows for more efficient amplification as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Egri, Laurent Perraud
  • Patent number: 7298854
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for modifying electromagnetic waves by reducing noise in those waves. A transfer function for a plurality of segments is derived through identifying a desired output parameter. That transfer function is then applied, via a plurality of filters or other devices, to a wave, in order to achieve said transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventor: Walid K. M. Ahmed
  • Publication number: 20070264959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for frequency down-converting a radio frequency (RF) signal to baseband in two steps using the two quadrature components of a single local oscillator. In the first stage, the RF signal is mixed with both components of the local oscillator signal (LO) in a sub-harmonic mixer to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) output signal having a frequency component at twice the local oscillator frequency minus the RF frequency, i.e., (2×LO)?RF=IF. In the second stage, the IF signal is split into two and supplied to a quadrature mixer that mixes the IF signal with the I component of the same local oscillator signal and separately mixes the IF signal with the Q component of the same local oscillator signal to produce an output signal comprising an I component and a separate Q component at baseband.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederic Carrez
  • Publication number: 20070264945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for frequency up-converting a baseband signal to radio frequency (RF) in two steps using the two quadrature components of a single local oscillator signal. In a first stage, the baseband signal is split into two parts in quadrature with each other and supplied to a quadrature mixer that mixes the one component of the baseband signal with the I component of a local oscillator signal at frequency FLO and separately mixes the other baseband component with the Q component of the same local oscillator to produce an intermediate frequency signal centered at the local oscillator frequency and comprising two components, namely, an I component and a Q component. In the second stage, the intermediate frequency signal is mixed with both components of the same local oscillator signal in a sub-harmonic mixer-to produce a radio frequency output signal having a frequency component at three times the local oscillator frequency minus the baseband frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederic Carrez
  • Publication number: 20070257160
    Abstract: A clamp for securing a cable to a base plate includes a base with at least one upwardly extending arm, and a cable securing portion at the end of the arm. The arm of the clamp may be secured within a slot defined within the base plate. The cable securing portions may be crimped around a cable. The entire assembly may be soldered with a single soldering step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: M/A-COM, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Cushion
  • Patent number: 7281947
    Abstract: A self-locking electrical connector is provided that includes a coupling nut and a locking sleeve positionable in one of a locked position and an unlocked position. At least a portion of the coupling nut is engaged by the locking sleeve when the locking sleeve is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy Joseph Pescatore
  • Patent number: 7276996
    Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a resonator puck is provided with one or more vertical and/or horizontal, radial slits that improve the quality factor, Q, of circuits constructed from the resonators. In some embodiments of the invention, the surfaces of the resonators that define the slit are left relatively rough and may even contact each other such that the slit is not of uniform thickness, but essentially comprises a plurality of pockets between the two portions of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristi Dhimiter Pance, Eswarappa Channabasappa