Patents Examined by Andrea Lindgren Baltzell
  • Patent number: 12224722
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a power amplifier circuit assembly an uneven power splitter which feeds two power amplifiers of different amplifier classes are described. By supplying different amounts of power to different amplifier circuits having different performance curves, an overall combined amplifier performance having a relatively uniform, e.g., flat, performance curve over a wide range of frequencies is achieved. In at least some embodiments one of the amplifiers is a class B power amplifier and the other amplifier is a class C power amplifier. In some but not necessarily all embodiments a phase shift is introduced on a signal path to one of the power amplifiers to compensate for a difference in phase shifts introduced by the power amplifiers which are used in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Mixcomm, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang Ning, Harish Krishnaswamy
  • Patent number: 12224713
    Abstract: A device includes an integrated circuit (IC) die. The IC die includes a silicon germanium (SiGe) substrate, a first RF signal input terminal, a first RF signal output terminal, a first amplification path between the first RF signal input terminal and the first RF signal output terminal, a second RF signal input terminal, a second RF signal output terminal, and a second amplification path between the second RF signal input terminal and the second RF signal output terminal. The device includes a first power transistor die including a first input terminal electrically connected to the first RF signal output terminal and a second power transistor die including a second input terminal electrically connected to the second RF signal output terminal. The first amplification path can include two heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) connected in a cascode configuration and the second amplification path can include two HBTs connected in a cascode configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Pieter van der Heijden, Joseph Staudinger, Elie A. Maalouf
  • Patent number: 12224736
    Abstract: Improved surface acoustic wave structures (or elements) that can be used to realize any of a wide variety of dispersive or non-dispersive transversal SAW filters that are distinct from prior known means for producing such filters are disclosed. The devices and structures may include stepped acoustic wave delay modification elements that can be used to implement transversal filter impulse response functions in a manner analogous to the use of interdigital transducers. The structures disclosed are of particular usefulness to implement SAW devices at high frequencies where normal photolithographic resolution would prove limiting. Aspects and embodiments of the present invention would be useful to produce SAW devices for use in a wide variety of applications, including as components in cell phones, in radar and other communications and electronic systems, and as wired or wireless sensors or sensor-tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: SenSanna Incorporated
    Inventors: Leland P. Solie, Jacqueline H. Hines, Andrew T. Hines
  • Patent number: 12224712
    Abstract: A method of maximizing power efficiency for a power amplifier system comprises obtaining a power supply voltage; determining a first voltage level sufficient for a power amplifier of the power amplifier system to output an output power; determining a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level; determining whether the power amplifier is activated, to generate a determination result; determining to convert the power supply voltage into a supply voltage with the first voltage level or the second voltage level according to the determination result; and supplying the power amplifier with the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Rafael Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Wang, Kang-Ming Tien, Tzu-Yun Wang
  • Patent number: 12224735
    Abstract: Diplexers, filter devices, and methods are disclosed. A diplexer includes a first chip comprising series resonators of a high band filter, a second chip comprising shunt resonators of the high band filter and series resonators of a low band filters, and a third chip comprising shunt resonators of the low band filter. The series resonators and the shunt resonators of the high band filter are decoupled transversely-excited film bulk acoustic resonators (DXBARs). The series resonators and the shunt resonators of the low band filter are transversely-excited film bulk acoustic resonators (XBARs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sean McHugh
  • Patent number: 12218633
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit according to the present disclosure includes an amplifier circuit serving as a differential amplifier circuit configured to be activated by a supply voltage that is variable in accordance with amplitude of a signal, a bias circuit configured to output a bias to be supplied to the amplifier circuit, and first and second dispersion circuits respectively provided for a pair of differential signals outputted from the amplifier circuit and configured to control dependence of gain of the differential amplifier circuit on the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Goto, Yoshiki Kogushi, Yuri Honda, Kenichi Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 12218635
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit includes: a first branch, including a first amplifier and a first matching network cascaded; a second branch, including a second amplifier and a second matching network cascaded, where a first coupled line enables the first branch and the second branch to form a first combiner; a third branch, including a third amplifier and a third matching network cascaded; and a fourth branch, including a fourth amplifier and a fourth matching network cascaded, where a second coupled line enables the third branch and the fourth branch to form a second combiner. A first output end of the first coupled line is a signal output end of the circuit, and a second output end of the first coupled line is connected to a first output end of the second coupled line, to enable the first combiner and the second combiner to form a series combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhixiong Zeng, Jie Sun, Hailei Suo
  • Patent number: 12218634
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to techniques and apparatus for implementing an envelope-tracking power supply for a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier. One aspect includes an amplification system. The amplification system may include a first amplifier configured to generate an amplifier output voltage, a second amplifier having an output coupled to a supply node for the first amplifier, a voltage regulator having an output coupled to a supply node for the second amplifier, and control circuitry configured to control the voltage regulator to generate a supply voltage at the supply node for the second amplifier based on an indication associated with the amplifier output voltage. In some aspects, the control circuitry may be configured to control the voltage regulator through at least providing an updated control setting for the voltage regulator with a periodicity associated with a power control period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Nicholas Shute
  • Patent number: 12218637
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit configuration capable of processing non-contiguous intra-band carrier aggregate (CA) signals using amplifiers is disclosed herein. In some cases, each of a plurality of amplifiers is an amplifier configured as a cascode (i.e., a two-stage amplifier having two transistors, the first configured as a “common source” input transistor, e.g., input field effect transistor (FET), and the second configured in a “common gate” configuration as a cascode output transistor, (e.g. cascode output FET). In other embodiments, the amplifier may have additional transistors (i.e., more than two stages and/or stacked transistors). The amplifier circuit configuration can be operated in either single mode or split mode. A switchable coupling is placed between the drain of the input FETs of each amplifier within the amplifier circuit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Kashish Pal, Emre Ayranci, Miles Sanner
  • Patent number: 12212290
    Abstract: A device includes an amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal is configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal. The device includes an output network coupled to the output terminal of the power amplifier and a first passively tunable integrated circuit (PTIC) coupled to the output network. The first PTIC includes a direct-current (DC) bias voltage input terminal configured to receive a fixed bias voltage, a control signal input terminal configured to receive a time-varying control signal, wherein the fixed bias voltage in combination with the time-varying control signal sets an operating reference point of the first PTIC, and an input terminal electrically connected to the output terminal of the amplifier, wherein a change in an output voltage signal generated by the power amplifier causes the first PTIC to modify a first effective impedance of a load presented to the power amplifier via the output network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Staudinger, Edward Provo Wallis Horne, Matthew Russell Greene, Johannes Lambertus Holt
  • Patent number: 12210365
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an amplifier. The amplifier has two inputs, and an output. The amplifier has a pole in its transfer function. The frequency of the pole depends on the output current of the amplifier. The amplifier further includes a pole frequency tracking (PFT) circuit. The PFT circuit includes a source follower circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Akif Altan, Steffen Skaug
  • Patent number: 12212291
    Abstract: A receiver front end having low noise amplifiers (LNAs) is disclosed herein. A cascode having a “common source” configured input FET and a “common gate” configured output FET can be turned on or off using the gate of the output FET. A first switch is provided that allows a connection to be either established or broken between the source terminal of the input FET of each LNA. A drain switch is provided between the drain terminals of input FETs to place the input FETs in parallel. This increases the gm of the input stage of the amplifier, thus improving the noise figure of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Miles Sanner, Emre Ayranci
  • Patent number: 12212305
    Abstract: An acoustic wave resonator has a first conductive layer, piezoelectrical material formed over the first conductive layer, and second conductive layer formed over the piezoelectric material. An alignment of the first conductive layer, piezoelectric material and second conductive area defines an active region of the resonator and the active region includes a core area and a plurality of fractals extending from or recessed into the core area. The fractals maximize a perimeter-to-area ratio of the active region of the resonator. The fractals increase electromechanical coupling and a quality factor of the resonator. The fractals can have a star shape, rounded shape, asymmetric shape, or other shape that optimizes the perimeter-to-area ratio of the active region to maximize performance of the resonator. A frame can be disposed over or within the piezoelectric material. The frame is raised above the second conductive layer or recessed below the second conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Winslow, Rathnait Long, Mihir S. Patel, Douglas J. Carlson
  • Patent number: 12206373
    Abstract: A distributed amplifier includes: a transmission line having an input end that an input signal is input to; a transmission line having an output end that an output signal is output from; an input termination resistor connected to an end terminal of the transmission line; a plurality of unit cells arranged along the transmission lines, and having input terminals connected to the transmission line and output terminals connected to the transmission line; and a variable current source having one end connected to the end terminal of the transmission line and another end connected to a power supply voltage, and capable of adjusting a current amount between the transmission line and the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruo Jo, Munehiko Nagatani, Hideyuki Nosaka
  • Patent number: 12206374
    Abstract: A power amplifying circuit includes a single-ended amplifier, a differential amplifier, a first balun transformer, a second balun transformer, and a first switching circuit. The single-ended amplifier operates in a first mode and a second mode different from the first mode. The differential amplifier operates in the second mode. The first balun transformer converts an unbalanced output signal from the single-ended amplifier into a differential signal and outputs the differential signal to the differential amplifier. The second balun transformer converts a balanced output signal from the differential amplifier into an unbalanced output signal. The first switching circuit outputs the unbalanced output signal from the single-ended amplifier in the first mode and outputs the unbalanced output signal from the second balun transformer in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisanori Namie, Satoshi Goto, Tomoaki Sato
  • Patent number: 12206388
    Abstract: Bulk acoustic wave resonators are presented. Such resonators typically operate based on a dynamic nonuniform effective piezoelectricity in composite multilayer ferroelectrics with large electrostriction coefficients, like barium strontium titanate (BST). Harmonic resonance modes of a multilayer bulk acoustic wave resonator can be selectively excited with an electromechanical coupling coefficient equal to the fundament mode, which is contrary to the trend K2?1/n2 exhibited by conventional piezoelectric bulk acoustic resonators. Such a resonator allows for the design of a new class of band-switching filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Amir Mortazawi, Milad Zolfagharloo Koohi
  • Patent number: 12199570
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) for reducing in-rush battery current is provided. The ETIC includes an ET voltage circuit configured to generate a time-variant ET voltage, which includes an offset voltage, in multiple time intervals based on a supply voltage. In some cases, the offset voltage and the supply voltage may both need to be increased or decreased as the time-variant ET voltage increases or decreases. As the offset voltage and the supply voltage increase or decrease, an excessive in-rush battery current may be generated in the ETIC to result in a reduced battery life. Hence, the ETIC is configured to avoid increasing or decreasing the offset voltage and the supply voltage in a same one of the time intervals. As a result, it is possible to reduce the in-rush battery current in the ETIC while still allowing the time-variant ET voltage to change in a timely manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 12199573
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier that amplifies an input signal and outputs a first amplified signal, a second amplifier that is disposed subsequent to the first amplifier and that amplifies the first amplified signal and outputs a second amplified signal, and a clamp circuit that is disposed between ground and a signal line extending between the first amplifier and the second amplifier and that suppresses an amplitude of the first amplified signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 12199327
    Abstract: A power divider includes: a dielectric substrate; a transmission line circuit on a first surface of the dielectric substrate, the transmission line circuit including an input trace, a first output trace and a second output trace. The transmission line circuit is configured to split a signal received at the input trace into a first sub-component that is output on the first output trace and a second sub-component that is output on the second output trace; and a reference potential layer, set on a second surface opposite the first surface of the dielectric substrate, where the reference potential layer is provided with a decoupling window that exposes a part of the dielectric substrate to reduce coupling in the transmission line circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC
    Inventors: Jianpeng Lu, Changfu Chen, Fei Li
  • Patent number: 12199589
    Abstract: A filter device having a pass band and a stop band on a lower frequency side than the pass band includes a filter having a pass band including the pass band, a series arm resonator connected in series to the filter, a first inductor directly connected in series to the series arm resonator, and a parallel arm resonator connected between a node on a path connecting the filter and the series arm resonator and the ground. The parallel arm resonator constitutes a resonance circuit having a resonant frequency at which an attenuation pole corresponding to a high frequency end of the first stop band, and the series arm resonator and the inductor constitute a resonance circuit having an anti-resonant frequency on a lower frequency side than the pass band and having a sub-resonant frequency higher than a resonant frequency of the resonance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Nishio, Syunsuke Kido, Masanori Kato, Hiroshi Matsubara