Patents Assigned to ParkerVision, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9325556
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting a modulate earner signal to a demodulated baseband signal by sampling the energy of the carrier signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving a modulated carrier signal and using pulses with apertures to control a switch so as to (a) transfer energy from the modulated carrier signal and accumulate the transferred energy in a capacitor when the switch is closed during the apertures of the pukes and (b) discharge some of the previously accumulated energy from the capacitor into load circuitry at least when the switch is open. The demodulated baseband signal is generated from (i) accumulating energy transferred to the capacitor each time the switch is closed during the apertures of the pulses, and (ii) discharging some of the previously accumulated energy into the load circuitry each time the switch is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9319262
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting a modulated carrier signal to a demodulated baseband signal by sampling a portion of the energy of the carrier signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving a modulated carrier signal and using a control signal to control a switch or switches so as to transfer a portion of the energy from the modulated carrier signal in the form of charge to a storage capacitor during a plurality of aperture periods and to discharge the charge in the storage capacitor into a load during the time between the plurality of aperture periods. The demodulated baseband signal is generated—during both the charging and the discharging of the storage capacitor based on the energy accumulated at the storage capacitor as a net result of previous charging and discharging of the storage capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9306792
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting a modulated carrier signal to a demodulated baseband signal by sampling a portion of the energy of the carrier signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving a modulated carrier signal and using a control signal to control a switch or switches so as to transfer a portion of the energy from the modulated carrier signal in the form of charge to a storage capacitor during a plurality of aperture periods and to discharge the charge in the storage capacitor into a load during the time between the plurality of aperture periods. The demodulated baseband signal is generated during both the charging and the discharging of the storage capacitor based on the energy accumulated at the storage capacitor as a net result of previous charging and discharging of the storage capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9288100
    Abstract: Methods for down converting a modulated carrier signal to a demodulated baseband signal are described herein. The method requires that a first portion of energy is transferred from the modulated carrier signal, and stored at a first storage device when a first switch is on. At least some of the energy stored in the first storage device is discharged when the first switch is off. The method further comprises transferring a second portion of energy from the modulated carrier signal, storing at a second storage device the second portion of transferred energy when a second switch is on, and discharging at least some of the energy stored in the second storage device when the second switch is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 9246736
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down converting a modulated carrier signal to a demodulated baseband signal are described herein. A first switch is controlled with a first control signal Which comprises a first sampling aperture with a specified frequency, wherein the first switch is on during the first sampling aperture and wherein the first switch is off outside the first sampling aperture. A second switch is controlled with a second control signal which comprises a second sampling aperture and wherein the second switch is off outside the second sampling aperture. The first and second control signals each control a charging and discharging cycle of a respective energy storage element so that for each switch a portion of energy is transferred to the respective energy storage element when the respective switch is on during the charging cycle, and a portion of previously transferred energy is discharged during the discharging cycle for each respective switch when the switch is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 9246737
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for down converting a modulated carrier signal to a demodulated baseband signal are described herein. A first switch is controlled with a first control signal which comprises a first sampling aperture with a specified frequency, wherein the first switch is on during the first sampling aperture and wherein the first switch is off outside the first sampling aperture. A second switch is controlled with a second control signal which comprises a second sampling aperture with a specified frequency, wherein the second switch is on during the second sampling aperture and wherein the second switch is off outside the second sampling aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20160020937
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal is described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: PARKERVISION, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses
  • Publication number: 20160020938
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal is described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: PARKERVISION, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses
  • Publication number: 20160013755
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal is described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: PARKERVISION, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, JR.
  • Patent number: 9232038
    Abstract: A wireless communications interface couples wireless service to conventional wireline phone appliances. In one embodiment, the wireless communications interface is connected to the phone appliances through existing phone jacks. This allows a user to place and receive calls over a wireless network using the existing wireline infrastructure in a building. By using the invention, users can consolidate their portable and fixed phone service with one of the multiple wireless service provides and bypass the wireline service provider entirely, if so desired. In a second embodiment, the wireless communications interface is directly connected to the phone appliances, bypassing the installed wireline infrastructure. In a third embodiment, both wireline and wireless service are operative, and the wireless communications interface may include logic arbitration to route multiple calls to multiple phone appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Bultman
  • Publication number: 20150341196
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal are described herein. Briefly stated, in embodiments the invention operates by receiving an EM signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles (½, 1½, 2½, etc.) of the carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: PARKERVISION, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 9197164
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20150326259
    Abstract: A method for generating a radio frequency (RF) signal is disclosed herein. The method includes generating, with a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, analog control signals. A modulated control signal is generated, using a modulator, based on the analog control signals. A biased modulated control signal is generated, using an amplifier, based on the modulated control signal and a first bias control signal. Further, the RF signal is generated, using a multiple-input-single-output (MISO) device, based on the biased modulated control signal and a second bias control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. RAWLINS, David F. SORRELLS
  • Publication number: 20150318611
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to antenna arrays for communication systems. An apparatus comprises an array of antenna elements and a controller configured to independently control modulated or unmodulated phase and modulated or unmodulated gain for two or more signals received or transmitted by the array of antenna elements using energy sampling techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. RAWLINS, David F. SORRELLS
  • Publication number: 20150312085
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal are described herein. Briefly stated, in embodiments the invention operates by receiving an EM signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles (½, 1½, 2½, etc.) of the carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: PARKERVISION, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20150312084
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal are described herein. Briefly stated, in embodiments the invention operates by receiving an EM signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles (½, 1½, 2½, etc.) of the carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: PARKERVISION, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 9166528
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20150295536
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal is described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: PARKERVISION, INC.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150288431
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for transmission are described herein. For example, apparatus can include a synthesis engine, a power supply and a multiple input single output (MISO) operator. The synthesis engine is configured to generate amplitude control signals, phase control signals and power supply control signals based on command and control information. The power supply is configured to receive the power supply control signals and to generate a power supply signal. Further, the MISO operator is configured to generate an output signal with an amplitude or a phase controlled by at least one of the amplitude control signals, the phase control signals and the power supply signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 9143088
    Abstract: A circuit is provided comprising detector circuitry, calculating circuitry, and determining circuitry. The detector circuitry is figured to generate an I data signal magnitude value of a sampled I data signal and a Q data signal magnitude value of a sampled Q data signal. The calculating circuitry is configured to calculate a phase shift angle ?I between first and second equal and constant or substantially equal and constant envelope constituents of the sampled I data signal and to calculate a phase shift angle ?Q between first and second substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled Q data signal. The determining circuitry is configured to determine in-phase and quadrature amplitude information of the substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled I signal and to determine in-phase and quadrature amplitude information of the first and second substantially equal and substantially constant envelope constituents of the sampled Q signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins