Patents Examined by Patricia Nguyen
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Patent number: 8111098Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods for amplifying an FM signal in a segmented linear power amplifier are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus including a signal input, a signal output, and an output driver connected between the signal input and the signal output. The output driver includes a number of driver segments connected in parallel, each having an input connected to the signal input and each having an output. The output driver also includes a number of series capacitors, each associated with one of the driver segments. The series capacitors are each connected between the output of its associated driver segment and the signal output. The output driver also includes a number of shunt capacitors, each associated with one of the driver segments having an associated series capacitor. The shunt capacitors are each connected between the output of their associated driver segment and a ground.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Brian P. Ginsburg, Mehmet Ozgun
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Patent number: 8102213Abstract: A multi-mode low noise amplifier (LNA) with transformer source degeneration is described. In an exemplary design, the multi-mode LNA includes first, second, and third transistors and first and second inductors. The first transistor has its source coupled to the first inductor, amplifies an input signal, and provides a first amplified signal in a first mode. The second transistor has its source coupled to the second inductor, amplifies the input signal, and provides a second amplified signal in a second mode. The third transistor has its source coupled to the second inductor. The first and third transistors receive the input signal and conduct current through the first and second inductors, respectively, in a third mode. The first transistor observes source degeneration from a transformer formed by the first and second inductors, amplifies the input signal, and provides a third amplified signal in the third mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: QUALCOMM, IncorporatedInventors: Aleksandar Tasic, Junxiong Deng, Zhang Jin
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Patent number: 8098101Abstract: According to some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise an amplifier, wherein the amplifier comprises: an output stage formed of a positive output terminal providing a positive output voltage and a negative output terminal providing a negative output voltage; a load tank coupled in parallel with the output stage and configured to filter signals received at the amplifier; and a negative resistance block coupled in parallel with the output stage and the load tank.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: QUALCOMM, IncorporatedInventors: Anup Savla, Roger Brockenbrough
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Patent number: 8098099Abstract: A broadband high output current output stage includes at least one first differential pair for enhancing the bandwidth. A second differential pair is further disposed in the circuit. The second differential pair is coupled to one of the first differential pair, such that a large output voltage swing is distributed to all transistors to avoid breakdowns thereof. A feedback unit is connected between each bias unit and the first differential pair. The first compensation unit compensates the electric characteristic of the high-frequency zero of the feedback unit and the bias unit, thereby broadening the linear bandwidth of the frequency response. The second compensation units are disposed between the first differential pairs. Each second compensation unit compensates the high-frequency zero of the node where each two first differential pairs are cascaded, thereby further broadening the linear bandwidth of the frequency response.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: National Tsing Hua UniversityInventors: Min-Sheng Kao, Jen-Ming Wu, Yu-Hao Hsu
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Patent number: 8098092Abstract: A Doherty amplifier is provided with a clipping circuit for making signal power flow to ground if the signal power becomes equal to or higher than a predetermine value in order to prevent a carrier amplifier, which is a small amplifier, from being destroyed if the signal power is increased to a sevenfold to tenfold multiple of a ratio of the size of the carrier amplifier to that of a peak amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Takumi Miyashita, Takeshi Takano
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Patent number: 8085090Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for polar modulating QAM signals with discontinuous phase may include amplifying a signal via a plurality of amplifiers such that a combined gain of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a coarse amplitude gain and an amplitude offset gain. A gain of one or more of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the coarse amplitude gain, and a gain of one or more remaining ones of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the amplitude offset gain. The setting of the coarse amplitude gain and/or said amplitude offset gain may be adjusted dynamically and/or adaptively. The signal may be generated by phase-modulation of a radio-frequency carrier. The combined gain of the plurality of amplifiers may be controlled based on a desired amplitude modulation. The plurality of amplifiers may be integrated within an integrated circuit (IC) or chip.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Ahmadreza Rofougaran
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Patent number: 8081032Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) includes an LNA input that receives a signal from an antenna. The LNA also includes an internal amplifier with an input that is coupled to the LNA input, as well as an internal filter with an input coupled to the output of the internal amplifier and an output coupled to the input of the internal amplifier. The coupling of the output of the internal filter to the input of the internal amplifier provides feedback to the input of the internal amplifier. The internal filter is configured to pass signals within a frequency range through to the output of the internal filter.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Project FT, Inc.Inventor: Farbod Aram
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Patent number: 8077873Abstract: An active noise control system generates an anti-noise signal to drive a first speaker group including at least one speaker to produce sound waves to destructively interfere with an undesired sound in at least one quiet zone. The active noise control system receives error signals representative of a combination of undesired sound and destructively interfering sound waves produced by the first speaker group. The active noise control system may select a second speaker group to replace the first speaker group based on the error signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventors: Vasant Shridhar, Duane Wertz
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Patent number: 8072269Abstract: Briefly, one or more embodiments of an amplifier, including example applications, are described.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: National University of SingaporeInventors: Honglei Wu, Yong-Ping Xu
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Patent number: 8072262Abstract: A chopper-stabilized circuit (1) includes pre-chopping circuitry (26) for chopping an input signal (Vin) at a first frequency to generate a first signal. Input chopping circuitry (9) chops the first signal at a second frequency substantially greater than the first frequency to produce a second signal. The first frequency is a sub-harmonic of the second frequency. Post-chopping circuitry (30) chops the second chopped signal at the first frequency to produce a third signal that is applied to an input of a signal conditioning circuit (2). The output chopping circuitry (10) chops an output of the signal conditioning circuit at the second frequency to generate a fourth signal. The fourth signal is filtered.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Rodney T. Burt, Joy Y. Zhang
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Patent number: 8072266Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a Class G amplifier that includes an output stage, where an output stage supply voltage is selected based upon an input signal voltage of the output stage. The amplifier may also include an input stage coupled to the output stage, where the input stage generates the input signal voltage for the output stage. The output stage may include first and second MOS devices operating as a Class AB amplifier, and the output stage supply voltage selected based upon gate voltages of the MOS devices. The supply voltages may be generated by a buck converter, and a charge pump that is coupled to the buck converter.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Benjamin Hoomes, Ansuya Bhatt
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Patent number: 8072270Abstract: Bias circuitry that may be used within a communications or other device includes a first current mirror having first and second transistors with sources coupled to ground and operable to receive a reference current at a drain of first transistor. A second current mirror has first and second transistors with drains coupled to a battery voltage supply. A third current mirror has first and second transistors with drains coupled to sources of the first and second transistors of the second current mirror, respectively. A biasing transistor couples between the second transistor of the first current mirror and the first transistor of the third current mirror and operable to receive a tuning input voltage at its gate. A resistive element coupled between the second transistor of the third current mirror and ground produces a bias voltage produced at a connection of the resistive element and the second transistor of the third current mirror.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Ali Afsahi, Arya Reza Behzad, Vijay Ramachandra Reddy
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Patent number: 8067983Abstract: An error amplifier expected to exhibit rail-to-rail operation, high bandwidth, and high slew rate, is described, the error amplifier comprising a first stage to receive an input differential voltage and to provide transconductance gain, an intermediate stage to provide current gain, and an output stage to drive a load.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.Inventor: Farhood Moraveji
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Patent number: 8063698Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a power amplification circuit and a switch circuit wherein the switch circuit is coupled to an output of the power amplification circuit, a bypass input, and a control input, such that the switch selectively couples the power amplification circuit output or the bypass input to an output of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Bose CorporationInventor: Damian Howard
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Patent number: 8058931Abstract: An apparatus for an improved operational amplifier. The disclosed improved operational amplifier comprises an operational amplifier, a first feedback circuit, and one or more secondary feedback circuits. The operational amplifier include a plurality of serially coupled gain stages and is configured so that an output of each gain stage drives an input of a next gain stage and an output of a last gain stage drives a load external to the improved operational amplifier. The first feedback circuit is coupled between an output of a designated gain stage and an output of a previous gain stage to provide a first feedback to the previous gain stage. Each secondary feedback circuit provides an additional feedback to the output of the previous gain stage.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2010Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Linear Technology CorporationInventor: Ping Zhou
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Patent number: 8054131Abstract: A transconductor circuit, particularly according to the multi-tanh principle, having a first input node and a second input node, a first differential amplifier coupled to the first and second input nodes, and having a first offset voltage, and a second differential amplifier coupled to the first and second input nodes, and having a second offset voltage different from the first offset voltage. A first resistance circuit is coupled between the first differential amplifier and at least one current source, and a second resistance circuit is coupled between the second differential amplifier and the at least one current source. Varying of the current sources enables control of the transconductance without degrading linearity.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics Design and Application GmbHInventor: Sebastian Zeller
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Patent number: 8054133Abstract: A device and a method for eliminating feedback common mode signals are provided, which belong to the electronic technology field. The device includes an operational amplifier circuit with two output ends. The two output ends are a first output end and a second output end. The device also includes a feedback unit. The feedback unit is configured to receive level signals of the first output end and the second output end of the operational amplifier circuit, and superpose feedback common mode signals to input ends of the operational amplifier circuit according to states of the level signals. The method includes: the feedback unit receives level signals of a first output end and a second output end of an operational amplifier circuit, and superposes feedback common mode signals to the input ends of the operational amplifier circuit according to the states of the level signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yongping Liu
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Patent number: 8054134Abstract: A coupling isolation method for preventing a load signal from coupling into an operational amplifier is disclosed. The coupling isolation method includes generating a system signal before the operational amplifier outputs a computation result, switching off a Miller compensation signal path of the operational amplifier at a first time point according to the system signal, and electrically connecting an output end of the operational amplifier and a load at a second time point according to the system signal to output the computation result.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.Inventors: Ju-Lin Huang, Chia-Wei Su, Po-Yu Tseng
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Patent number: 8054136Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a transimpedance amplifier, a bypass circuit that allows a part of an input signal to be applied to the transimpedance amplifier to flow through the bypass circuit so as to bypass the transimpedance amplifier on the basis of a control signal, and a control signal circuit that includes a hold circuit having a time constant that is variable on the basis of a time constant control signal and generates the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Hiroshi Hara
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Patent number: 8049566Abstract: A receiver includes a feedback low noise amplifier (LNA). The feedback LNA has an LNA gain and includes an LNA input configured to receive a signal from an antenna and an LNA output configured to output an amplified voltage signal. The receiver also includes a resistive element, having a resistance, coupled to the LNA output and configured to convert the amplified voltage signal into a current. The receiver also includes a current commuting mixer coupled to the resistive element and configured to receive the current from the resistive element, where the current output by the resistive element is determined at least in part by the amplified voltage signal and the resistance of the resistive element.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Project FT, Inc.Inventor: Farbod Aram