Patents Assigned to Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120076122
    Abstract: Accurate position capability can be quickly provided using a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). When associated with a WLAN, a wireless device can quickly determine its relative and/or coordinate position based on information provided by an access point in the WLAN. Before a wireless device disassociates with the access point, the WLAN can periodically provide time, location, and decoded GPS data to the wireless device. In this manner, the wireless device can significantly reduce the time to acquire the necessary GPS satellite data (i.e. on the order of seconds instead of minutes) to determine its coordinate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventor: Yi-Hsiu Wang
  • Publication number: 20120076234
    Abstract: A wireless transmitter can include a plurality of bandwidth modules, each bandwidth module processing data based on a predetermined frequency band. In one embodiment, such a wireless transmitter can include encoding components for receiving transmit data and generating encoded data. A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) stream parser can receive the encoded data and generate a plurality of MIMO streams. A first module parser coupled to a first MIMO stream can generate a first plurality of partial MIMO streams. A first bandwidth module can include a first interleaver that interleaves bits of the first partial MIMO stream and generates first interleaved data. A second bandwidth module can include a second interleaver that interleaves bits of the second partial MIMO stream and generates second interleaved data. A first inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) unit can combine and process the first and second interleaved data and generate a first transmission MIMO stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Youhan Kim, Ning Zhang, Chin-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 8144811
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a Bluetooth signal advantageously mixes down a received RF signal to an IF signal wherein one band-edge of the spectrum of the IF signal may be approximately 0 Hz. In one embodiment, the IF signal may be digitized, decimated and filtered before being processed into a baseband signal. The baseband signal may be processed by a cordic (COordinate Rotation DIgital Computer) processor to transform the baseband signal from rectangular to polar coordinates. A phase signal from the cordic processor may be used to determine transmitted Bluetooth data symbols. The apparatus may advantageously use less area than traditional Bluetooth receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Husted, Shahram Abdollahi-Alibeik, David J. Weber, Soner Ozgur
  • Patent number: 8145165
    Abstract: A receiver for a wireless communication device comprising a mechanism for performing spur mitigation. An AGC unit of the receiver is operable to determine when an amplitude of an ADC output signal associated with a received RF signal is outside a predetermined amplitude range. The AGC unit is operable to modify a gain associated with a VGA such that the ADC output signal has an amplitude within the predetermined amplitude rage. The first spur mitigation unit is operable to determine an estimate of a spur signal of the ADC output signal and remove the spur signal from the ADC output signal based on the estimate of the spur signal. The first spur mitigation unit comprises a moving average filter operable to generate the estimate of the spur signal. The AGC unit is further operable to reset the moving average filter of the first spur mitigation unit when the AGC unit modifies the gain associated with the VGA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Su, Ning Zhang
  • Patent number: 8145264
    Abstract: Wireless devices may contain multiple radio transceivers, each conforming to different communication protocols. A first transceiver conforming to a first communication protocol in a first wireless device may be able to receive, detect, and/or decode messages transmitted by a second transceiver in a second wireless device conforming to a second communication protocol. The first transceiver may communicate received, detected, and/or decoded information to a different transceiver in the same first wireless device, thus enabling the collocated transceivers to work in concert efficiently. A wideband transceiver using a set of multiple sub-channels in parallel may receive, detect, and/or decode messages transmitted by a narrowband transceiver using a set of multiple channels serially, thereby reducing scan time and power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Olaf Hirsch, Paul J. Husted
  • Patent number: 8144683
    Abstract: After detecting the predetermined phase rotation, a receiver can advantageously remove any cyclic shifting delays (CSDs) from the mixed mode packet for each chain. Once any CSDs are removed, the receiver can perform timing offset estimation and decode the mixed mode packet. In another embodiment, a timing offset from a channel for a first chain without any CSDs can be estimated. Compensation for the timing offset in the first chain can then be performed. At this point, the CSDs from other chains can then be removed. After CSD removal, compensation for any timing offsets in the other chains can be performed using the timing offset in the first chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Qinfang Sun, Kai Shi
  • Publication number: 20120069804
    Abstract: A first combination of frequency bands is selected for transmitting a first data packet, and a second, different combination of frequency bands is selected for transmitting a second data packet. A data stream is divided into a first set of data and a second set of data. The first set of data is allocated to the first combination of frequency bands, and the second set of data is allocated to the second combination of frequency bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Youhan Kim, James Cho, Kai Shi, Ning Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120069830
    Abstract: A system and method for transmitting LDPC parameters is provided. In the method, an initial number of OFDM symbols (Nsym_init) is determined for a packet that is based on the number of information bits to be delivered in the packet. An STBC value is also determined. A number of extra symbols (Nsym_ext) value is generated based on the Nsym_init value, wherein a Nsym value is based on said Nsym_init value and said Nsym_ext value. An Nldpc_ext value is determined based on the STBC value and the Nsym_ext value for purposes of determining LDPC parameters associated with the packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Shi, Ning Zhang
  • Patent number: 8140040
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) configured for use with a continuous stream receiver is disclosed. A control voltage line is configured to deliver a control voltage with a capacitive load delivered by a capacitor array to the control voltage based upon an add signal and a subtract signal. A threshold generator generates a high threshold voltage and a low threshold voltage using and including at least one process dependent resistor and at least two temperature and process dependent current sources. The PLL responds during calibration to the control voltage being above the high threshold voltage by asserting the add signal directing the capacitor array to increase the capacitive load on the control voltage line, and to the control voltage being below the low threshold voltage by asserting the subtract signal to decrease the capacitive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc
    Inventor: Christopher R. Leon
  • Patent number: 8135357
    Abstract: A switchable inductor-capacitor-inductor (L-C-L) network, which includes an integrated T/R switch, can advantageously bridge a PA and an LNA of a wireless device. The first inductor can function as an RF choke that provides power to the PA. In one embodiment, the first inductor can be advantageously implemented using the bond wires already attached to the PA, thereby requiring no additional inductors to provide the integrated T/R switch and minimizing use of valuable silicon area. The second inductor can function as a source inductor for and cancel an input parasitic capacitance of the LNA. A set of capacitors can act as blocking capacitors to provide DC isolation between the LNA and the PA, thereby protecting the LNA from high voltages. The L-C-L network can also advantageously function as an impedance matching network for at least one of the PA and the LNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Chang, David Weber
  • Patent number: 8134992
    Abstract: A coexistence mechanism for arbitrating between performing operations associated with a first network device and performing operations associated with a second network device coupled to the first network device. The start time of a scheduled operation associated with a second network device is determined based, at least in part, on an activity report message received at a first network device from the second network device. A scheduled operation associated with the first network device is performed if the scheduled operation associated with the first network device can be performed prior to the start time of the scheduled operation associated with the second network device. Otherwise, the priority of the scheduled operation associated with the first network device is compared to the priority of the scheduled operation associated with the second network device to determine whether to grant control of the transmission channel to the first or second network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyungwan Nam, James S. Cho, Joakim Linde
  • Patent number: 8125378
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing GPS positioning determinations from a single set of Doppler measurements from a plurality of satellites in conjunction with satellite ephemeris data and a rough GPS time estimate. Measured Doppler velocities are compared with Doppler velocities calculated from ephemeris data and used to estimate the receiver position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventor: Janne Jarpenvaa
  • Patent number: 8121220
    Abstract: In a multiple-input multiple-output communication system, a transmit symbol vector and a set of soft decision metrics may be estimated using a reduced complexity maximum likelihood (ML) detection method based on a receive symbol vector and a QR decomposition of a set of permuted channel matrices. The reduced complexity ML detection method may use a different permuted channel matrix to estimate each transmit symbol in a transmit symbol vector. A set of error distances may be calculated for the estimated transmit symbol vector, each error distance calculated choosing a different value from a signal constellation subset for a transmit symbol in the estimated transmit symbol vector. A soft decision metric may be calculated using the elements from the set of error distances. In some embodiments the transmit symbols of a transmit symbol vector and the soft decision metrics for each transmit symbol may be determined in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Shi, Ning Zhang, Tao-Fei Samuel Ng
  • Patent number: 8120390
    Abstract: A low drop out voltage regulator (LDO) is capable of operating in one of two different modes based on externally connected components. In one mode, the LDO directly generates a regulated output voltage. In a second mode, the LDO drives an external PNP transistor to generate a regulated output voltage. In both modes, a relatively large bypass capacitor may be connected to the output voltage node to bypass high-frequency loading on the output voltage node. However, the bypass capacitor creates a low frequency pole in the frequency response of the LDO, which can diminish phase margin and reduce overall stability. An on chip compensation network beneficially counteracts the low frequency pole with an appropriately placed zero, thereby resulting in improved phase margin and greater stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Peter Mack
  • Publication number: 20120039377
    Abstract: A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system can transmit on multiple antennas simultaneously and receive on multiple antennas simultaneously. Unfortunately, because a legacy 802.11a/g device is not able to decode multiple data streams, such a legacy device may “stomp” on a MIMO packet by transmitting before the transmission of the MIMO packet is complete. Therefore, MIMO systems and methods are provided herein to allow legacy devices to decode the length of a MIMO packet and to restrain from transmitting during that period. These MIMO systems and methods are optimized for efficient transmission of MIMO packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Qinfang Sun, Won-Joon Choi, Jeffrey M. Gilbert, Ardavan Maleki Tehrani
  • Patent number: 8116219
    Abstract: Performing wireless transmission of data over a wireless communication medium. A first data structure may be maintained which includes data rate information for transmission using a first number of streams. A second data structure may be maintained which includes data rate information for transmission using a second number of streams. Channel characteristics of the wireless communication medium may be determined. Channel characteristic information may be maintained based on the determined channel characteristics. Accordingly, a stream configuration and data rate may be determined based on the current channel characteristic information. Wireless transmission may be performed using the determined stream configuration and data rate. Determining channel characteristics, maintaining current channel characteristic information, determining a stream configuration and data rate, and performing wireless transmission may be dynamically performed a plurality of times during wireless data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Petrus
  • Patent number: 8112358
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authorizing a customer premise equipment (CPE) device to join a network through a network termination unit (NTU). The CPE device can send an encrypted connection request, and an authorization server can decrypt the connection request and provide a network membership key (NMK) associated with the CPE device to the NTU. The authorization server can encrypt the NMK associated with the CPE device using a device access key (DAK) associated with the NTU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Yonge, III, Srinivas Katar, Manjunath Krishnam
  • Patent number: 8107427
    Abstract: Performing wireless communication using first and second wireless communication protocols. The first and second wireless communication protocols may operate in a common communication medium. The wireless communication may be performed using the protocols over the common communication medium, e.g., in a time sharing fashion. Properties of voice traffic on current frames of the second wireless communication protocol may be measured. The method may further include predicting whether one or more subsequent frames of the second wireless communication protocol will have voice traffic. If the prediction indicates that the one or more subsequent frames of the second wireless communication protocol will not have voice traffic data may be transmitted using the first wireless communication protocol on the common communication medium during a subsequent second wireless communication protocol time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Husted, Soner Ozgur
  • Patent number: 8107913
    Abstract: A digital regulated Local Oscillator (LO) buffer receives an unregulated LO signal from a local oscillator to create a regulated LO signal. Embodiments include not only the digital regulated LO buffer, but also a transceiver and/or a receiver including at least one instance of the digital LO buffer. They may be implemented as an integrated circuit. The digital regulated LO Buffer may include: A LO buffer receiving the unregulated LO signal and an amplitude control signal to create the regulated LO signal. A peak detector receives the regulated LO signal to create an analog peak signal that is presented to a digital output comparator along with a reference amplitude signal to create a digital threshold detect signal. An amplitude controller receives the digital threshold detect signal to create a digital control signal that drives a digitally controlled source to create the amplitude control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventor: Lalitkumar Nathawad
  • Patent number: 8106479
    Abstract: Integrated circuits are disclosed including at least one inductor-capacitor component, where each of the inductor-capacitor components includes an inductor and a capacitor constructed between the inductor and a substrate. The inductor includes at least one metal loop over a shield pattern forming a first capacitor terminal over patterned oxide layer with a second capacitor layer between the patterned oxide layer and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventor: Lalitkumar Nathawad