Patents Assigned to SiRF Technology, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7929928
    Abstract: A frequency phase correction system and method are described that provides a receiver with a greater ability to lock onto relatively weak radio frequency signals by determining and estimating an amount of frequency error in a local frequency reference of the receiver, and using the error estimate to maintain frequency coherence with a received signal, thereby allowing tracking over a longer period of time, enabling longer integration times to capture weaker signals without losing frequency coherence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Babitch, Steven A. Gronemeyer, Lionel Garin, Ashutosh Pande, Leon Kuo-Liang Peng, Gengsheng Zhang, Nicolas Patrick Vantalon
  • Patent number: 7928811
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for using a switched mode TCXO or VC-TCXO in a satellite navigation receiver where the switched mode TCXO or VC-TCXO may operate either in an active compensation mode to compensate for temperature induced frequency error or in a second fixed compensation mode where the TCXO or VC-TCXO is not compensated for temperature. The switched mode TCXO or VC-TCXO is operated in the active compensation mode when satellite acquisition performance may be improved from a reduction in the range of oscillator frequency error. The switched mode TCXO or VC-TCXO may be switched to operate in the fixed compensation mode when satellite tracking performance is sensitive to discontinuities in the phase, frequency, and/or frequency rate of the oscillator clock when temperature compensation is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Brodie
  • Patent number: 7925210
    Abstract: Synchronizing a Radio Network with End User Radio Terminals A Mobile Station that is able to receive GPS signals and compare the frequency of the GPS received time signal with a time signal from a network in order to determine the difference between the signals and communicate that difference back to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Brown, Gengsheng Zhang, Lionel Garin
  • Patent number: 7920620
    Abstract: The present invention determines those mathematical processes that are repeated in the standard search schema, and uses this information to simplify the process by eliminating repetition of processes that have already been performed. The present information can be implemented in standard circuitry and with fewer instructions than the standard approach. As such, the present invention allows for receiver implementations that are of lower cost and lower power consumption, while achieving the same functionality as the standard receiver topology. The present invention achieves these goals by forming a lookup table of partial accumulations, and presents a method to efficiently address these partial accumulations for use during the accumulation and correlation processes performed by the receiver. These partial accumulations are in turn added together, or accumulated, to form the total accumulation over the desired time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Joseph McConnell
  • Patent number: 7904110
    Abstract: A combined Global Position System (“GPS”) and radio system for receiving GPS signals and radio signals is disclosed. The combined GPS and radio system includes a controller that controls a switchable frequency source and a mixer in signal communication with the switchable frequency source. The mixer is capable of receiving both GPS signals and radio signals and producing corresponding intermediate frequency (“IF”) signals in response to receiving a frequency reference signal from the switchable frequency source that has a first switch state of operation that corresponds to the mixer receiving GPS signals and a second switch state of operation the corresponds to the mixer receiving radio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technology Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Young, Steven A. Gronemeyer
  • Patent number: 7889780
    Abstract: A method for estimating a Doppler spread and a signal-to-noise ratio of a received signal includes: (a) calculating one or more functions of a carrier component of the received signal at a first time point relative to a pilot signal embedded in the received signal; (b) Calculating the one or more functions of the carrier component of the received signal at a second time point relative to the pilot signal; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) over multiple time periods, each time period being substantially longer than the second time, and accumulating the one or more functions for the first time points and the second time points; and (d) Deriving the Doppler spread and the signal-to-noise ration based on the accumulated one or more functions calculated at the first and second time points. In one embodiment, the first time point is substantially closer to the pilot signal than the second time point. The first time point is one symbol interval from the pilot signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sirf Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Leimer
  • Publication number: 20110034132
    Abstract: Systems and methods for minimizing electromagnetic interference are provided. A representative electronic device includes a frequency generator that generates clock signals and a computing device that selects at least one generator frequency that minimizes or eliminates electromagnetic interference based on one or more radio bands of interest. The computing device is designed to send instructions associated with synthesizing the at least one generator frequency. The electronic device further includes a frequency synthesizer that receives the generated clock signals and instructions from the frequency generator and the computing device, respectively. The frequency synthesizer synthesizes the at least one generator frequency based on the received clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: SIRF Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Babitch
  • Publication number: 20110029240
    Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a host based positioning system. The host based positioning system includes a tracker hardware interface that connects to a dedicated hardware space vehicle tracker. The tracker hardware interface receives positioning information from the space vehicle tracker. The host based positioning system also includes a memory that includes a GPS library having a user interface, a tracker interface, and an operating system interface. A processor runs functions provided by the interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SiRF Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Yamamoto, Sebastian Nonis, Ashutosh Pande, Nikola Bulatovic, Stefan Witanis
  • Patent number: 7881407
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating multipath signals in a receiver are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes a receiver comprising an antenna being configured to receive signals from a plurality of satellites, and a computing device being configured to: generate pseudorange measurements based on the received satellites signals, process the generated pseudorange measurements to reduce its pseudorange residuals based on statistical modeling in order to mitigate multipath errors, and compute navigation solutions based on the processed pseudorange measurements. A representative method, among others, for mitigating multipath signals in a receiver, comprises: receiving the pseudorange measurements; processing the received pseudorange measurements to reduce its pseudorange residuals based on statistical modeling in order to mitigate multipath errors; and computing navigation solutions based on the processed pseudorange measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: SIRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mangesh Chansarkar, Gang Xie, Sanjai Kohli
  • Patent number: 7877104
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for monitoring a wireless network clock compared to an absolute time scale using the user mobile stations themselves. The major advantage is the capability to transfer GPS time to a Mobile Station in a wireless network, and thus to decrease the time necessary for the mobile receiver to perform position calculations, with minimal additional hardware required by the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory B. Turetzky, Lionel J. Garin
  • Patent number: 7869948
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and system for enabling a navigation receiver to generate receiver specific satellite orbital models based on relatively small sets of parameters obtained from a server. In an embodiment, a set of parameters for a satellite includes a force parameter (e.g., solar radiation pressure), initial condition parameters (e.g., satellite position and velocity at a time instance) and time correction coefficients, which the receiver uses in a numerical integration to predict the position of the satellite. The set of parameters needed for the integration is small compared to current methods which require transmission of a complete set of ephemeris and other parameters for each satellite. Since the set of parameters is relatively small, it requires less communication resources to transmit compared to current methods. Further, the integration based on the small set of parameters enables the receiver to predict satellite orbits with low computational load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shaowei Han
  • Publication number: 20100328146
    Abstract: There are situations where GPS signals are received from less than four satellites. In order to improve the GPS location availability, disclosed here are systems and methods for synthesizing GPS measurements, which, together with fewer than four available real GPS signals, can be used to calculate a position fix. In particular, GPS range measurements for lost satellites, which are satellites that were previously tracked but are now not tracked, are synthesized to improve GPS signal availability. The synthesized measurements are used along with real measurements to enable accurate position fix even when GPS satellite availability is poor. Different synthesized measurement generation schemes, depending on whether an INS/DR aiding system is available, are further described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SIRF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gang Xie, Makarand Shankar Phatak, Mangesh Chansarkar, Anil Kumar Kandangath
  • Patent number: 7852905
    Abstract: Implementation of an improved matched filter system for despreading a PN code from a spread spectrum signal utilizes a matched filter system that may be broadly conceptualized as a system that optimizes the number of multipliers and adders utilized by the system in despreading a PN code from a spread spectrum signal. This lowers the power consumption of the improved matched filter system and increases the speed at which the system despreads the PN code from the spread spectrum signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Steven A. Gronemyer
  • Publication number: 20100295623
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating real time clock are provided. A representative receiver includes a GPS device comprising a real time clock (RTC) circuitry that generates RTC clock signals and a temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) that generates TCXO clock signals. A ratio counter circuitry receives both the RTC clock signals and the TCXO clock signals and determines a frequency ratio by comparing the RTC clock signals and the TCXO clock signals. A computing device receives the frequency ratio and estimates a current RTC frequency based on the received frequency ratio. The computing device is configured to calibrate an estimated RTC time being maintained at the RTC circuitry based on an estimated RTC frequency from a prior estimation, the current RTC frequency and an elapsed time of the RTC circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: SIRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven A. Gronemeyer
  • Patent number: 7839324
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided that is operable to: predict satellite states using historical satellite state data for at least one satellite of a satellite-based positioning system; derive sets of parameters representative of the predicted satellite states; differentially compress the sets parameters into sets of compressed parameters; transmit the sets of compressed parameters to a client device over a first communication channel; uncompress the sets of compressed parameters into sets of recovered parameters; selectively reconstruct at least one reconstructed satellite state in the client device using the sets of recovered parameters; and determine the position of the client device using the at least one reconstructed satellite state along with timing information of satellite data received over a second communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Makarand S. Phatak, Gengsheng Zhang, Marlene Wan
  • Patent number: 7839330
    Abstract: Devices and methods are described for determining position information without broadcast ephemeris data for extended time periods. A client device is disclosed that stores satellite states determined from broadcast ephemeris and numerically integrates equations of motion with regard to the stored satellite states to determine current satellites states. The client device uses the current satellite states in conjunction with received satellite signals to determine where the satellite signals were received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel J. Garin, Lars Boeryd, Makarand S. Phatak
  • Patent number: 7839331
    Abstract: Devices and methods are described for determining position information without broadcast ephemeris data for a spanned time period using predictions of future satellite states. These predictions include predictions of satellite clock bias. During the spanned time period, broadcast ephemeris is received such that a broadcast-ephemeris-derived satellite clock bias may be determined. The predictions of satellite clock bias subsequent to the receipt of the broadcast ephemeris may then be corrected based upon the broadcast-ephemeris-derived satellite clock bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Geugsheng Zhang, Makarand S. Phatak, Lionel J. Garin, Marlene Wan
  • Publication number: 20100279744
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing power consumption of a transceiver, e.g., Bluetooth, are provided. A representative transceiver includes an antenna that receives analog radio frequency (RF) signals, and a RF analog circuitry that receives and processes the analog RF signals from the antenna. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) receives and converts the processed analog RF signals to digital RF signals. A digital circuitry includes a RF power detector that receives the digital RF signals and determines a RF power of the analog RF signals from the antenna based on the digital RF signals. A computing device instructs the RF analog circuitry to operate in low current drain RF receiver mode during page scanning and/or inquiry scanning. The computing device is designed to receive the RF power of the received analog RF signals and manages the power consumption of the transceiver based on the RF power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: SIRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joakim Landmark
  • Publication number: 20100273441
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning an antenna for a frequency modulation (FM) transceiver are provided. A representative system includes: a network of electrical adjustable passive components that receives and sends radio frequency (RF) signals to a receiver circuitry via the network of electrical adjustable passive components. The receiver circuitry determines the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the RF signal. The system further includes a transmitter circuitry that transmits RF signals via the network of electrical adjustable passive components, and a peak detector circuitry that receives and determines a voltage output of the RF signals from the variable capacitors. An auto-tune circuitry receives the RSSI and output value from the receiver circuitry and the peak detector circuitry, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: SIRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Noshir Dubash, Thomas E. Ricks, JR., Richard J. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7821454
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting global positioning system (GPS) measurement errors are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes a navigation device that is configured to receive GPS signals from signal sources, the navigation device being configured to calculate pseudoranges (PRs) and delta ranges (DRs) based on the received GPS signals, the navigation device including a consistency check algorithm that is configured to: determine mismatches between the respective calculated PRs and DRs, and indicate that an error exists in the respective calculated PRs and DRs based on their mismatch and mismatch accumulations. This algorithm can be independent of navigation state and is capable of detecting slow-changing errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xie, Mangesh Chansarkar, Daniel Liao, Xiangdong Lin