Abstract: A demodulator for demodulating a modulated signal has a peak detector (206) with an input (100) coupled to receive the modulated signal and an output (207) to supply a peak detector output signal. The peak detector has a charge storer (314) coupled to the peak detector output so that the peak detector output signal is provided by a voltage across the charge storer (314) and a comparator (313) having a first comparator input coupled to the peak detector input to receive the modulated signal and a second comparator input coupled to the peak detector output to receive the peak detector output signal. The comparator (313) provides a comparison signal representing a comparison between the voltage of the modulated signal and the peak detector output signal.

Abstract: A signal splitter comprising an input and a plurality of outputs is provided, wherein alternate outputs are connected to phase shifting devices. The phase shifting devices preferably comprise phase shifting transformers and introduce a phase shift of 180°, so that noise components of alternate outputs are antiphase and cancel one another out almost entirely when the signals are summed. Also provided is a cable television network comprising a plurality of such signal splitters to ensure that noise ingress in upstream signals passing into the network is substantially reduced.

Abstract: An antenna feed system having a single corrugated horn wave guide ports in one of the corrugations, a combiner network which receives signals at approximately 20 GHz from the four wave guide ports and provides sum and difference signals, and a transducer which provides transmit signals at approximately 30 GHz and approximately 44 GHz to a rear end of the single horn.

Abstract: A system and method for demodulating amplitude modulated input signals uses two comparators and a charge pump circuit, which is positioned between the two comparators, to produce a demodulated signal of an amplitude modulated input signal. The two comparators and the charge pump circuit form a demodulating unit that may be a part of an infrared remote control receiver. The first comparator converts the input signal from a waveform to a pulse form. The charge pump circuit then converts the pulse signal into an integrated signal in a triangular pulse form. The second comparator converts the integrated signal from a triangular pulse form to a rectangular pulse form to produce the demodulated signal.

Abstract: A filtering device is disclosed that can be made compact and has wide-band band-pass characteristics. The filtering device includes a first filtering unit that is composed of a distributed constant circuit and is capable of eliminating a first frequency component or a second frequency component wherein the second frequency being higher than the first frequency, and a second filtering unit that attenuates components of frequencies lower than the first frequency or components of frequencies higher than the second frequency.

Abstract: An embodiment of an amplifier includes an amplifier output node operable to provide an output signal, and an output stage. The output stage includes a drive buffer having an input node and an output node, a drive transistor, and a compensation capacitor. The drive transistor has a control node coupled to the output node of the drive buffer, a first drive node, and a second drive node coupled to the amplifier output node. And the compensation capacitor has a first node isolated from the control node of the drive transistor by the drive buffer, and has a second node coupled to the amplifier output node. By buffering the control node of the drive transistor, one may reduce the level of nonlinear current referred back to the amplifier input as a nonlinear offset voltage, and thus may reduce the level of nonlinear distortion that his nonlinear offset voltage generates at the amplifier output.

Abstract: Microwave routing elements and methods of directing microwaves are disclosed. One routing element comprises an inlet region, a plurality of outlet regions, and junctures positioned between an associated outlet region and the inlet region. Each juncture includes electrodes configured for generating an electrical arc across the juncture to inhibit transmission of microwave energy when the arc is present and permit passage of the microwave energy when the arc is absent. Another routing element includes the inlet region, the outlet regions, and partitions positioned between an associated outlet region and the inlet region. Each partition includes apertures and each aperture includes electrodes configured for generating an electrical arc across the aperture to inhibit transmission of microwave energy when the arc is present and permit passage of microwave energy when the arc is absent. Systems including the routing element, a microwave source, and a plurality of microwave processing chambers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A new Class L amplifier which dynamically switches between multiple pairs of power rails, and has the ability to select the most advantageous combination of rails for the minimization of power dissipation in the amplifier. A bridged amplifier system using two Class L amplifiers to drive a load.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, there is a testing device for testing a phase locked loop having a power supply input. The testing device comprises a power supply unit for providing a power supply signal VDD having a variation profile to the power supply input of the phase locked loop, wherein a width and height of said variation profile are formed in such a way, that the voltage controlled oscillator is prevented from outputting an oscillating output signal. There is a means for disabling a feedback signal to a phase comparator of the phase locked loop such that said phase locked loop is operated in an open loop mode, and a meter for measuring a measurement signal of the phase locked loop, while said power supply signal is provided to the power supply input.

Abstract: A linear voltage-controlled capacitance circuit is provided that includes a plurality of differentially coupled metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) varactor pairs. Each MOS varactor pair is operable to receive a same tuning voltage and to receive a bias voltage unique to the MOS varactor pair. The capacitance circuit is operable to generate a positive tank node signal and a negative tank node signal based on the tuning voltage and the bias voltages.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a resonant circuit having a frequency-determining element which has at least one switchable frequency-changing element connected in parallel therewith. The frequency-changing element has two series-connected transistors whose control connections are connected to a node that receives a fixed potential. First connections of the two series-connected transistors are connected to one another and also to a control input for a control signal for switching the frequency-changing element of the resonant circuit. The invention keeps the control voltage for the two transistors at a higher potential than the threshold voltage for the transistors. This reduces a parasitic capacitance in the two transistors during operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor indicator for quantitatively diagnosing voltage conditions in high power transistor devices is provided. The semiconductor indicator includes a first transistor and a second transistor, where an electrically active periphery of the second transistor is less than an electrically active periphery of the first transistor. The transistors are thermally coupled to one another and may be in close proximity. The second transistor detects the voltage of a node on the first transistor and may be monitored by infrared imaging. The breakdown voltage characteristic of the second transistor may not substantially change as the temperature in the first transistor increases. An optional control circuit monitors and detects the output voltage of the first transistor.

Abstract: A differential amplifier is configured in a cascode configuration that includes input transistors that are connected to corresponding cascode transistors. The gates of the cascode transistors are tied together to form a common bias for the cascode devices. The input transistors of the differential amplifier receive a differential input signal that is amplified and outputted to an output circuit that is connected to the cascode transistors. The cascode devices require a bias voltage for proper operation. Preferably, the bias voltage puts the cascode devices into the saturation region. The gates of cascode devices are coupled together and connected to a bias terminal. In embodiments of the invention, the bias terminal is connected to another terminal of the chip to provide the bias for the cascode devices. This can include the input and output nodes if they have a well-defined and relatively fixed voltage.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus to optimally estimate and adaptively compensate the temperature-induced frequency drift of a crystal oscillator in a navigational signal receiver. A Read-Write memory encodes two tables, one for looking up frequency drift values versus temperature readings and another one for valid data confirmation on the first table. The initially empty look-up table is gradually populated with frequency drift values while the receiver computes the frequency drift along with its position. During initial start of the receiver or re-acquisition of satellite signals, the stored frequency drift value corresponding to the current temperature is used. If no valid frequency drift value is available, the frequency drift value is computed based on the existing frequency drift values in the table. This invention reduces the Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) of the receiver and enables the receiver to self-calibrate, thus no additional factory calibration would be necessary.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tunable oscillator. A voltage-to-current converter receives as input a voltage from a phase-locked loop and outputs a first current. A current-controlled oscillator receives the first current and outputs a frequency responsive to the voltage. A second current is input into the current-controlled oscillator to adjust the gain of the current-controlled oscillator. A third current is input into the voltage-to-current converter to adjust the first current and the gain of the voltage-to-current converter. The second and third current values are set using a two-stage pre-calibration method. During the pre-calibration, a control circuit adjusts and then sets the second and third currents so that the output frequency spans a lock-in frequency range required by the phase-locked-loop over a voltage range spanning voltage tolerance of a loop capacitor of the phase-locked-loop.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing an electrically adjustable RF delay in which a splitter splits an input signal into two signal paths, one signal path providing a delay fixed at an integral number of wavelengths of a desired center frequency and both signal paths providing electrically adjustable attenuation. A combiner combines the signals passing through the signal paths, such that the sum of the electrically-adjustable attenuation provided by the signal paths adds to unity, whereby the input signal is delayed by an adjustable time depending upon the attenuations provided by the signal paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly tracking fundamental frequency information in the signal of an electric grid is a cross-coupled phase-lock loop filter (CCPLL) that includes the use of a phase-lock-loop (PLL) apparatus having a plurality individual filters, wherein an input for a first filter in the plurality of individual filters comprises the signal of the electric grid and an output signal from at least a second filter in the plurality of individual filters. A method for using the CCPLL includes applying a signal to the CCPLL and monitoring the output of the CCPLL. Use of the CCPLL may be accomplished or modeled via computer instructions stored on machine readable media.

Abstract: A filter module suitable for the filtering of electromagnetic waves includes a dielectric cylindrical resonator and one or more lines that supply or draw off electromagnetic waves to or from the dielectric resonator. The lines terminate in a contacting structure. The resonator has a variable separation from the lines, whereby the separations may be conceived in both the negative as well as alternatively in the positive longitudinal direction (z-axis) of the resonator. The transmitted signal power may be significantly increased in an advantageous manner relative to conventional coupling structures by means of the above. The above is particularly suitable for application in oscillator circuits with operating frequencies above 18 GHz, such as typically find increasing application in environment systems of a motor vehicle such as Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) or Rear View Detection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reducing a flicker noise of a CMOS amplifier is provided. In the CMOS amplifier, a load circuit is connected to a signal input circuit which includes two pairs of MOSFETs which simultaneously receive differential signals. In this instance, a first MOSFET included in a switch-bias circuit is connected to one pair of MOSFETs which receive the differential signals and functions as a current source in the case of activation of a clock signal Ø1. A second MOSFET included in the switch-bias circuit is connected to another pair of MOSFETs which receive the differential signals and functions as a current source in the case of activation of a clock signal Ø2.

Abstract: A polyphase line filter includes a first filter branch between a first filter input and a first filter output, the first filter branch comprising a series connection of at least two inductances wound onto different legs of a multi-leg filter core, and a second filter branch between a second filter input and a second filter output, the second filter branch comprising a series connection of at least two inductances wound onto the different legs of the multi-leg filter core. An inventive polyphase line filter has a smaller setup volume, a smaller power dissipation and is less expensive than conventional polyphase line filters. In connection with electronical appliances having internal B2 or B6 rectifier circuits and subsequent smoothing by capacitors, the inventive polyphase line filter provides for a smoothed direct current downstream of the rectifier and for a strongly reduced ripple current in the smoothing capacitors of a consumer.