Patents Assigned to Microtune (San Diego), Inc.
-
Patent number: 7231451Abstract: A transmit-only Bluetooth-compatible apparatus is described comprising: a protocol stack compatible with the Bluetooth protocol standard, the protocol stack including selected portions of the Bluetooth protocol used only for transmitting data; and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the protocol stack and configured to physically transmit the data. Also described is a receive-only Bluetooth-compatible apparatus comprising: a protocol stack compatible with the Bluetooth protocol standard, the protocol stack including selected portions of the Bluetooth protocol used only for receiving data; and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the protocol stack and configured to physically receive the data. Also described is a method comprising: generating a transmit-only Bluetooth protocol stack by removing elements of a standard Bluetooth protocol stack related to receiving data; and configuring the transmit-only Bluetooth protocol stack in a transmit-only wireless device for transmitting data.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Hock Law, Dennis Kwan
-
Patent number: 7183866Abstract: A method and apparatus for tuning a VCO circuit to provide desired modulations is described. In one embodiment, the method of the present invention uses a controlled voltage from a digital-to-analog converter to obtain VCO voltage/frequency characteristics. The VCO voltage/frequency characteristics are used to determine a VCO capacitance value as well as a charge pump current level for each frequency band of interest. For one embodiment, the VCO circuit includes a bank of switchable capacitors used to set the VCO capacitance value. The charge pump includes a number of switch-controlled current meters to set the charge pump current level. The VCO capacitors and charge pump current meters are controlled by an off-chip CPU.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Shih-Tsung Yang, Jonathon Y. Cheah, Ee Hong Kwek, Chun-Yip Antony Lau
-
Patent number: 7075914Abstract: A system is described comprising: a finite state machine having a plurality of states interconnected through a plurality of events, wherein certain states and events in said plurality are implemented in software and other states and events in said plurality are implemented in hardware; and a scheduler communicatively coupled to the finite state machine and being programmable with one or more parameters defining scheduled operations to be performed by the scheduler, wherein the finite state machine is configured to select one or more of said parameters to be used by said scheduler upon transition by said finite state machine from a first state to a second state.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventor: Dennis Kwan
-
Patent number: 7061912Abstract: An apparatus and methods for concealing missing packets in a CVSD bit stream are disclosed. In one embodiment, an indication from a packet loss indicator (PLI) that a packet is missing is received. Next the status of the missing packet is determined. Based on the status of the missing packet, a sample packet is generated to replace the missing packet, and a memory of the CVSD is updated. A compressed copy of the sample packet may be stored in a first memory buffer in either ?-law or a-law format.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Microtune (San Diego) , Inc.Inventors: Krishnasamy Anandakumar, Jonathon Cheah
-
Patent number: 6961934Abstract: A portable thread environment comprising: an application programming interface configured to support multiple application program tasks with each task comprised of one or more threads; host adaptation logic for communicatively interfacing the tasks and threads with a host processing environment; and a scheduler configured to determine an execution order of the one or more threads based on one or more execution variables.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: George C. Alford, Hock Law, Suresh S. Kumar
-
Patent number: 6950859Abstract: A method for emulating a physical connection using a wireless connection includes establishing a communication connection with a host controller according to a first communication protocol and establishing a wireless connection with a wireless device coupled to a peripheral. The method further includes receiving a wireless signal comprising registration information for the peripheral formatted according to a second communication protocol and communicating the registration information to the host controller using the communication connection. The communication of the registration information to the host controller allows the host controller to recognize the peripheral.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2002Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: David J. Bartek, Richard M. Barrett, Jr., Yashodhara Devadiga, Sarath Babu Govindarajulu, Kim Phuong Tran, Suresh Kumar Singamsetty
-
Patent number: 6938246Abstract: A diagnostic tool for a portable thread environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a first portable thread environment (PTE), comprising a diagnostic tool; a second PTE configured to receive and send threads; a third PTE configured to receive and send the threads; and a PTE router configured to receive the threads and route said threads, wherein the router copies the threads and routes the copies to the diagnostic tool.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: G. Christian Alford, Hock Law, Suresh Singamsetty Kumar
-
Patent number: 6904595Abstract: A portable thread environment comprising: an application programming interface configured to support multiple application program tasks, wherein each task is either a preemptive task comprised of preemptive threads or a cooperative task comprised of cooperative threads; host adaptation logic for communicatively interfacing said cooperative tasks, preemptive tasks, cooperative threads and preemptive threads with a host processing environment; a scheduler configured to determine an execution order of cooperative threads and preemptive threads based on each cooperative thread's and preemptive thread's priority levels.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: G. Christian Alford, Hock Law, Suresh Singamsetty Kumar
-
Patent number: 6898750Abstract: An in-chip monitoring method and apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a test pad, a transmission gate and a plurality of test components coupled to the transmission gate. The transmission gate is attached to a substrate and adapted to receive a code word uniquely addressed to one of the plurality of test components. In a further embodiment, the transmission gate is further adapted to relay an output of the one of the plurality of test components to the test pad, in response to receipt of the code word.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Jonathon Cheah, Chee Kwang Quek, Ee Hong Kwek
-
Patent number: 6888905Abstract: A wireless receiver e.g., a Bluetooth-compatible receiver or a receive chain in a Bluetooth-compatible transceiver, includes a discriminator unit and a timing recovery unit. The output of the discriminator unit is provided as an input to the timing recovery unit, which timing recovery unit is configured to align a free-running clock of the receiver with a received signal to extract received data therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Jonathon Cheah, Jianping Pan, Le Luong
-
Patent number: 6836192Abstract: A method and apparatus for tuning a VCO circuit to provide desired modulations is described. In one embodiment, the method of the present invention uses a controlled voltage from a digital-to-analog converter to obtain VCO voltage/frequency characteristics. The VCO voltage/frequency characteristics are used to determine a VCO capacitance value as well as a charge pump current level for each frequency band of interest. For one embodiment, the VCO circuit includes a bank of switchable capacitors used to set the VCO capacitance value. The charge pump includes a number of switch-controlled current meters to set the charge pump current level. The VCO capacitors and charge pump current meters are controlled by an off-chip CPU.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Shih-Tsung Yang, Jonathon Y. Cheah, Ee Hong Kwek, Chun-Yip Antony Lau
-
Patent number: 6792247Abstract: A method is described comprising: receiving a synchronization packet transmitted form a first device; receiving a data packet transmitted from the first device, the data packet being offset from the synchronization packet by a particular amount of time; and identifying the first device based on the amount of time from which the data packet is offset from the synchronization packet. Also disclosed is a method implemented on a first wireless device comprising: transmitting a synchronization packet to a second wireless device; and transmitting a first data packet to the second wireless device, the first data packet being offset from the synchronization packet by a first amount of time, wherein the first amount of time from which the first data packet is offset from the synchronization packet identifies first wireless device to second wireless device.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Hock Law, Dennis Kwan
-
Patent number: 6778026Abstract: A high-speed phase-frequency detection module is described to function at very high frequencies and to produce very low jitter. In one embodiment, high-speed phase-frequency detection module includes a PFD with edge-triggered asynchronous-reset true-single-phase-clocking (“TSPC”) D flip-flops that have very short CLK to Q and Reset to Q time delays. In one embodiment, the high-speed phase-frequency detection module includes a charge pump, without replica or feedback, that can respond to the very narrow pulses from the PFD and produce output voltages with small ripple, thus leading to low VCO output jitter.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Jonathon Cheah, Christopher Yong, Minjie Wu
-
Patent number: 6774736Abstract: A VCO circuit for a fractional-n PLL circuit is described for implementing a direct modulation scheme. An embodiment of the invention provides a bank of switchable capacitors used to stringently control the gain of the VCO (KVCO). The capacitors provide the stringent control necessary for direct modulation. The bank of switchable capacitors is used to coarsely tune the VCO circuit. A linear capacitor is placed in series with, the varactor to linearize the frequency/capacitance response of the varactor. The capacitor also serves to isolate a reference voltage that is used to bias the varactor diode to ensure the linear range of the varactor is within the voltage range of the VCO circuit power supply. The varactor is used for fine tuning of the VCO circuit. For one embodiment the input voltages to the VCO are across a resistance value sufficient to dampen noise picked up through an external loop filter.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Ee Hong Kwek, Jonathon Y. Cheah
-
Patent number: 6748453Abstract: Distributed applications in a portable thread environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a message from a first PTE at a second PTE, wherein the message contains a destination address; determining if the message is intended for the second PTE using the PTE destination address; routing the message to a third PTE if the message is not intended for the second PTE; and executing threads associated with the message in the second PTE if the message is intended for the second PTE.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Hock Law, Suresh Singamsetty Kumar
-
Patent number: 6744129Abstract: A ground shield for an integrated component device to prevent coupling between integrated capacitors and/or inductors and other integrated components. Components are formed upon a substrate. A conductive metal layer is formed or deposited thereon. The conductive metal layer is electrically connected to ground and an isolation layer is formed or deposited upon the conductive metal layer. An integrated capacitor, for example a MIM-type capacitor, is then formed upon the isolation layer. The grounded conductive metal layer absorbs electrical noise such that coupling between the capacitor and other components is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Lee Chew, Jonathon Y. Cheah
-
Patent number: 6697021Abstract: A double F antenna is disclosed. In one embodiment, an antenna, comprises a conductive member having a center between a first end and a second end of the member; a first port connected perpendicularly to the conductive member between the center and the first end; a second port connected perpendicularly to the conductive member between the center and the second end; and a ground port connected perpendicularly to the conductive member, wherein the ground port is connected to the center.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventor: Daliang Shi
-
Patent number: 6677814Abstract: Tuning of a filter circuit is accomplished by determining a real RC time constant value for the filter circuit, then comparing the real RC vale to a predetermined RC value. If the real RC value does not match the predetermined RC value, the real RC value is varied (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventors: Eng Chuan Low, Jonathon Cheah, Shih-Tsung Yang, Christopher Yong Soon Fatt
-
Patent number: 6674409Abstract: An antenna assembly and methods of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna assembly is formed on a substrate and includes a first metal region and a second metal region attached to a surface of the substrate. The second metal region may be separated from the first metal region by a gap. The second metal region may include a first pronged end and a second end that correspond, respectively, to a first pronged end and a second end of the first metal region. The pronged ends of each metal region are connected to the differential inputs and outputs of a transceiver coupled with the antenna assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Microtune (San Diego), Inc.Inventor: Jonathon Cheah