Patents Examined by Ping Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8666328
    Abstract: An electronic device has wireless communications circuitry that includes transmitters and receivers. Antenna structures may be coupled to the transmitters and receivers to support radio-frequency signal transmission and radio-frequency signal reception operations. Switching circuitry such as first and second radio-frequency switches may be used to support multiple communications bands of interest. A low band set of transmitters may be associated with the first switch and a high band set of transmitters may be associated with the second switch. The switches can be configured in real time to switch a desired communications band into use. As transmitted signals at frequency f pass through the switches, harmonics at 2f, 3f, and other integral multiples of the transmitted signals may be produced. A diplexer may be interposed between the switching circuitry and the antenna structures that prevents the harmonics from reaching the antenna structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louie J. Sanguinetti, Ronald W. Dimpflmaier, Nicholas W. Lum
  • Patent number: 8660623
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a circuit board carried by the portable housing, a wireless communications circuit carried by the circuit board, and an audio circuit carried by the circuit board. The device may further include an antenna assembly including an antenna carrier frame coupled to the circuit board and defining a cavity therein, and at least one antenna element carried on the carrier frame and coupled to the wireless communications circuit. The device may also include an audio output transducer carried within the cavity of the antenna carrier frame and coupled to the audio circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Ying Tong Man, Yihong Qi, Joshua Kwan Ho Wong
  • Patent number: 8660598
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling the rectification of deteriorated channel conditions on a communication link are described. In particular, the methods and systems can employ mechanisms that prioritize beams in accordance with signal quality measures, direction of departures of transmission beams and/or direction of arrivals of reception beams to address variable channel conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayan Prasad, Kishore Ramachandran, Sampath Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 8655286
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer instructions to obtain at least one operational parameter associated with a communication device and to adjust a steerable antenna of the communication device when the communication device does not satisfy an impedance threshold, where the satisfying of the impedance threshold is determined based on the at least one operational parameter. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Gregory Mendolia
  • Patent number: 8649832
    Abstract: Antenna characteristics of a folding cellphone are adjusted to appropriate values. The cellphone includes a first casing 10a containing a first circuit member 15a, and a second casing 10b containing a second circuit member 15b. The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are connected by a connection structure consisting of a first connecting conductor 23a extending from each lateral end of the first circuit member 15a downward (toward the second casing), and a second connecting conductor 25a extending from each lateral end of the second circuit member 15b upward (toward the first casing). The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are each comprised of shields, substrates, and so on. Antenna 111 is disposed at an upper edge of the first casing 10a. The effective casing length is affected by the length of the first casing 10a and the second casing 10b, which are both electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takebe
  • Patent number: 8644895
    Abstract: A protective device for a portable electronic device to draw attention to the user in an emergency is disclosed. A personal protective device for a portable electronic device comprising: a case configured to fit tightly around the portable electronic device such as a smartphone; at least one sound and/or light emitting device coupled with the case; one or more means for receiving an input, the input being configured to actuate the at least one sound and/or light emitting device; whereby the at least one sound and/or light emitting device is configured to generate a high volume of sound and/or light upon actuation thereby to attracting attention during an emergency. The sound and/or light emitting device is arranged inside the case and is capable of generating a high volume of sound and/or light in an emergency situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel Frederick Heywood
  • Patent number: 8639300
    Abstract: A method for maintaining transmit audio quality under harsh environmental conditions, the method includes receiving audio signals into a microphone of a portable communication device and determining at least one parameter associated with the received audio signals. In accordance with an embodiment, the at least one parameter is compared with a received audio parameter threshold. When the at least one parameter falls outside of the received audio parameter threshold, the audio routing is switched from the microphone to the loudspeaker. Subsequent communication may revert back to the microphone or remain at the loudspeaker depending on monitored audio conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheah Heng Tan, Thean Hai Ooi, Kheng Shiang Teh, Huoy Thyng Yow
  • Patent number: 8639191
    Abstract: A communication apparatus comprises a communication path capable of conveying communication signals, a communication device adapted to receive or generate VHF or UHF communication signals, and a near field antenna associated with the communication device. The near field antenna is provided sufficiently near to the communication path to couple VHF or UHF communication signals to or from the communication device to the communication path. A HID/IPT system and a communication method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventor: John Talbot Boys
  • Patent number: 8630678
    Abstract: A method for modifying a signal transmitted from a mobile communication device comprising by perturbing a transmit diversity parameter from its nominal value by modulating the parameter with respect to the nominal value in a first direction for a first feedback interval and then in a second direction for a second feedback interval, receiving a feedback signal including feedback information relating to the perturbed signal as received at a feedback device, and based at least on the feedback information, adjusting the nominal value of the transmit diversity parameter by increasing, decreasing, or preserving the nominal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Abreu, Haim Harel, Kenneth Kludt, Yair Karmi
  • Patent number: 8630586
    Abstract: An intelligent pairing between a first device and a target second device is described. The intelligent pairing can use information provided by a plurality of second devices responding to a connection request by the first device where only one of the plurality of responding second devices is the target second device. The information can include a motion signature, a first device identifier, and a second device identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Dvortsov, Benjamin A. Rottler, Michael I. Ingrassia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8626183
    Abstract: In a GPS or GSM system using DSSS signals, accurate and robust time-of-flight signal processing is achieved by selection of leading-edge or correlation techniques based on a variety of tests and environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Josi Rosenfeld
  • Patent number: 8620218
    Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting and using power in a near field communications mode, includes a host device with operating components. A first near field communication (NFC) device is contained in the host device and is configured to be selectively coupled to one of the operating components. The first NFC device harvests energy from a second NFC device and converts the harvested energy to electrical power. The first NFC device receives information from the second NFC device and power on the operating component as a function of the information received from the second NFC device. The first NFC device transfers data to or from the operating component when the operating component is powered on. The first NFC device powers off the operating component when the transfer of data between the first NFC device and the operating component has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Mohamed Awad
  • Patent number: 8611819
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and controlling method may be provided by which a specific one of various external devices neighboring a mobile terminal may be easily searched and may be connected to the mobile terminal by short-range communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Hyun Lee, Chang Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8611825
    Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for providing a dynamic inactivity timer are disclosed. For example, the method monitors a timer for a time threshold associated with a burst of a plurality of bursts of packets, and determines if the timer for the time threshold associated with the burst has expired. The method predicts an inter-burst time for the burst, if the timer for the time threshold associated with the burst has expired and sets the dynamic inactivity timer in accordance with the inter-burst time for the burst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexandre Gerber, Zhuoqing Mao, Feng Qian, Subhabrata Sen, Oliver Spatscheck, Zhaoguang Wang
  • Patent number: 8611965
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic pen including a wireless communication section which performs short-range one-to-one communication with a communication partner device having a display section, a pen tip which is for specifying information displayed on the display section, a reception processing section which configures the wireless communication section, and acquires information specified by the pen tip by communication with the communication partner device, a recording section which records the acquired information, and a transmission processing section which configures the wireless communication section, and transmits the information recorded in the recording section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Aramu Mine, Naoki Matsubara, Toyohide Isshi
  • Patent number: 8611816
    Abstract: To provide an electronic circuit capable of easily testing semiconductor chips that are inductively coupled to each other and that communicate with each other, and an inspection method performed in the electronic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Keio University
    Inventor: Tadahiro Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8606325
    Abstract: A method for determining a preferred image format in a User Equipment (UE) supporting a mobile video call between UEs. The UEs should each have a camera and a display Upon receiving, from an opposing UE, video transmission control information including therein a preferred image format. If the preferred image format requested by the opposing UE is acceptable, then the opposing UE is sent video transmission control information is sent including therein at least one of an acceptable response message and an acceptable new preferred image format according to acceptability of the preferred image format requested by the opposing UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-Hun Jung
  • Patent number: 8606182
    Abstract: A method and system for Bluetooth® and Wireless LAN coexistence may include controlling wireless local area network (WLAN) communication and Bluetooth® communication in a coexistence system that handles at least a WLAN communication protocol and a Bluetooth® communication protocol based on time division multiplexing (TDM) and adaptive frequency hopping (AFH). Switching may occur between the WLAN communication and the Bluetooth® communication based on the TDM and the AFH. In one embodiment of the invention, the switching may occur adaptively. Notwithstanding, in instances where it may be determined that AFH is disabled, switching to TDM may occur. WLAN communication and/or Bluetooth® communication may be disabled or enabled based on a state of at the WLAN communication and/or the Bluetooth® communication. Use of the AFH may be enabled or disabled based on a link status of the WLAN communication and/or the Bluetooth® communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: George Andrew Wyper, Sven Jerlhagen
  • Patent number: 8606204
    Abstract: A transceiver is provided, comprising: a programmable waveform generator configured to generate a base signal, the programmable waveform generator including a controllable waveform generator configured to generate an initial bandwidth signal having an initial frequency bandwidth; a multiple tone generator configured to generate a plurality of tone signals, each tone signal having a different frequency; one or more bandwidth multiplying circuits; and a control circuit a controller configured to control the operation of the controllable waveform generator, the tone generator and the one or more bandwidth multiplying circuits; a transmit port configured to output the base signal; a receive port configured to accept a received signal; a 90-degree splitter configured to receive the base signal and to generate a first split signal at a 0-degree output and a second split signal at a 90-degree output, the first and second split signals being separated by 90 degrees in phase; a first-mixer configured to mix the receiv
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: John W. McCorkle
  • Patent number: 8606332
    Abstract: A gravity axis determination apparatus which can determine the gravity direction in a short time. The apparatus is low in cost and has a simple construction. Data values of acceleration data trains in a same time zone are mutually compared and one of the three axes is determined as a gravity axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Fujiwara