Patents Examined by Robert Pascal
  • Patent number: 8749322
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrates a multilayer circuit board structure, for suppressing the undesired electromagnetic wave propagation within a specific frequency band. The multilayer circuit board structure includes a plurality of crystals and a plurality of conducting channels, wherein a crystal includes a first through fourth conducting planes, at least a first conducting connector, and at least a second conducting connector, wherein the first through the fourth conducting planes are substantially parallel to each other. The first conducting plane is electrically connected to the third conducting plane through the first conducting connector. The fourth conducting plane is electrically connected to the second conducting plane through the second conducting connector. The first and the third conducting planes are configured to be electrically separated from the second and the fourth conducting planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Tzong-Lin Wu, Chuen-De Wang
  • Patent number: 8749307
    Abstract: An apparatus and method amplify a signal for use in a wireless network. The apparatus includes a power amplifier, an envelope modulator, a tunable matching network (TMN), and a controller. The power amplifier outputs the signal at an output power. The envelope modulator controls a bias setting for the power amplifier. The TMN includes a plurality of immittance elements. The controller is operably connected the envelope modulator and the TMN. The controller identifies a desired value for the output power of the power amplifier, controls the output power of the power amplifier by modifying the bias setting of the power amplifier, and sets a number of the plurality of immittance elements based on the bias setting of the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xu Zhu, Michael Brobston, Lup M. Loh
  • Patent number: 8742845
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an amplifier circuit are provided. In one embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes an input differential circuitry configured to convert a pair of input differential voltage signals to a pair of differential current signals. The amplifier circuit includes a cascode circuitry operable to mirror the pair of differential current signals received from the first output terminal and the second output terminal to an output terminal of the first cascode transistor and an output terminal of the second cascode transistor. The amplifier circuit includes a current control circuit operable to divert an amount of bias current to reduce a current through the cascode circuitry, to thereby reduce a load of the amplifier circuit, the reduction in the load of the amplifier circuit allowing a reduction in current through the input differential circuitry for maintaining a predetermined bandwidth of the amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Shagun Dusad, Lokesh Kumar Gupta, Visvesvaraya Pentakota
  • Patent number: 8736372
    Abstract: An output buffer of a source driver is disclosed. The output buffer includes a buffer input, a buffer output, a differential input stage, a bias current source, an output stage, a compensation capacitor, and a comparator. The output stage and the comparator are both operated between an analog supply voltage (AVDD) and a half analog supply voltage (HAVDD), or both operated between the half analog supply voltage (HAVDD) and a ground voltage. The comparator compares an input signal with an output signal and outputs a control signal to the bias current source according to the compared result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Raydium Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ming Chen, Yann-Hsiung Liang, Hui-Wen Miao, Ko-Yang Tso
  • Patent number: 8736373
    Abstract: An output buffer of a source driver is disclosed. The output buffer includes a buffer input, a buffer output, a differential input stage, a bias current source, an output stage, a compensation capacitor, and a comparator. The output stage and the comparator are both operated between an analog supply voltage (AVDD) and a ground voltage (AGND). The comparator compares an input voltage and an output voltage and outputs a control signal to the bias current source according to the compared result to control a bias current outputted by the bias current source to enhance the slew rate of the output buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Raydium Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ming Chen, Yann-Hsiung Liang, Hui-Wen Miao, Ko-Yang Tso
  • Patent number: 8736374
    Abstract: An amplifier includes a first switch and a second switch each having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminals of the first and second switches respectively communicate with a first tank circuit and a second tank circuit. The second terminal of the second switch communicates with the second terminal of the first switch. A first capacitance having a first terminal connected directly to (i) the second terminal of the first switch and (ii) the second terminal of the second switch. A second terminal of the first capacitance is connected directly to a first input voltage of the amplifier. A first load is connected across (i) the first terminal of the first switch and (ii) the first terminal of the second switch. The amplifier generates a first output across the first load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Sehat Sutardja, Farbod Aram
  • Patent number: 8736398
    Abstract: Disclosed is a diplexed transmit (TX) filter and RF switch for suppressing third order intermodulation (IM3) products. Included are first and second duplexers each having a receive (RX) port, a TX port, and an RX/TX port. Also included are first and second power splitter/combiners each having first, second, and third terminals. Further included are first, second, and third phase shift networks. The first power splitter/combiner's first terminal is coupled to the first duplexer's TX port and a first switch segment is coupled between the first duplexer's RX/TX port and the first terminal of the second coupler. The first phase shift network is coupled to the second duplexer's TX port and a second switch segment in series with the second phase shift network is coupled between the second duplexer's RX/TX port and second coupler's second terminal. The third phase shift network is coupled to the second duplexer's RX terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua J. Caron, Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 8736362
    Abstract: A beat frequency cancellation circuit, for an amplifier, includes a coupling device connected between two signal processing paths of the amplifier for compensating for beat frequency effects of output signals between the signal processing paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Jen Huang, Jiann-Chyi Rau, Hsin-Hung Wang
  • Patent number: 8736399
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first filter, a second filter, a third filter, and a fourth filter. The first filter may comprise a low pass filter having a first bandwidth and configured to present a first output signal in response to an input signal received at an input port of the apparatus. The second filter may comprise a high pass filter having a second bandwidth and configured to present a second output signal in response to the input signal received at the input port of the apparatus. The third filter may comprise a low pass filter having a third bandwidth and configured to present a third output signal in response to the second output signal. The fourth filter may comprise a high pass filter having a fourth bandwidth and configured to present a fourth output signal in response to the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Piotr M. Solski, Stephen P. Jones, David A. Hayes
  • Patent number: 8736369
    Abstract: An electronic circuit has a differential amplifier with a differential transistor pair having two transistors. The electronic circuit also has two digital-to-analog converters, a respective one of the two digital-to-analog converters coupled to each respective one of the two transistors. Control bits adjust the DACs to provide an offset voltage adjustment of the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Craig S. Petrie
  • Patent number: 8729979
    Abstract: Dielectric waveguide comprising a circular input/output electrode on its bottom surface and surrounded by an exposed dielectric portion thereof around which a conductor film is disposed. A short stub crosses through the exposed dielectric portion to couple the electrode and film together. The printed circuit board has a front surface formed with a generally-circular island-shaped electrode surrounded by a front surface-side ground pattern in a spaced-apart relation thereto, and a back surface formed with a strip line surrounded by a back surface-side ground pattern in spaced-apart relation thereto. An approximate center of the island-shaped electrode and one end of the strip line are coupled together, and the front surface-side ground pattern and the back surface-side pattern are coupled together. The input/output electrode of the dielectric waveguide and the island-shaped electrode of the printed circuit board are coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Toko, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kojima, Takayuki Yabe, Kazuhiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8723598
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electronic circuit for reducing leakage of radio frequency signals from a power amplifier of a wireless communication device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Lizhong Zhu, George Soliman Mankaruse, Michael Stephen Corrigan, Jun Xu, Kent Arnold Nickerson
  • Patent number: 8723605
    Abstract: A dynamic power supply for N amplifiers includes first and second power boost circuits which temporarily boost the positive or negative power supply rail, respectively. A control circuit monitors amplifier output signal levels and provides power boost control signals to the power boost circuits, which temporarily raise the positive supply voltage above the nominal voltage level in tandem with the highest output signal from the N amplifiers and lower the negative supply voltage below the nominal voltage level in tandem with the lowest output signal level from the N amplifiers. The power boost circuits each may be coupled to a reservoir capacitor from which current is drawn to provide the power boost. When inactive, the reservoir capacitors charge up from the respective power supply rails. The dynamic power supply is well suited for audio amplification systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: THX Ltd
    Inventors: Owen Jones, Lawrence R. Fincham
  • Patent number: 8723599
    Abstract: An adjustable gain amplifier system having cleanly adjustable and stable linearized gain is provided for amplifying an input signal. The system generally comprises a main amplifier and a linearized transconductance amplifier coupled thereto, which generates an amplified current signal in response to the input signal according to a variably defined transconductance factor. The linearized transconductance amplifier includes a linearized transconductance portion and a translinear current amplifier portion coupled thereto. The linearized transconductance portion generates an intermediate current signal based upon a voltage of the input signal, and forms an unswitched resistor-based conduction path for that intermediate current signal. The translinear current amplifier portion forms a translinear loop section for amplifying the intermediate current signal to generate the amplified current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Luigi Leuciuc
  • Patent number: 8723620
    Abstract: An antenna sharer with both low loss and sharp attenuation characteristic in a wide band is achieved. Antennal sharer 1 of the present invention includes first filter 3 for passing a signal in the first frequency band, and second filter 4 for passing a signal in the second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. First filter 3 includes a ladder filter that includes first series resonator 6 and second series resonator 7 with an antiresonant frequency point higher than antiresonant frequency of first series resonator. Electromechanical coupling coefficient of first series resonator 6 is smaller than electromechanical coupling coefficient of second series resonator 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Nishimura, Toru Jibu, Tetsuya Tsurunari
  • Patent number: 8723597
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a switched capacitor circuit comprises: an inverting amplifier for removing the offset by using a chopper stabilization circuit; a sampling unit which is connected between an input terminal and the inverting amplifier; and a feedback unit which is connected to the inverting amplifier in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Gunhee Han, Youngcheol Chae, Inhee Lee, Dongmyung Lee, Seunghyun Lim, Ji Min Cheon
  • Patent number: 8723618
    Abstract: The power combiner/distributor for performing one of power combination and power division, includes: a first branch circuit (117) having a plurality of first branch side terminals (113, 114) connected in parallel and one first combination side terminal (115), which are connected through a first power combination point (116); and a second branch circuit (137) having a plurality of second branch side terminals (133, 134) connected in parallel and one second combination side terminal (135) connected through a second power combination point (136), the one first combination side terminal and the one of plurality of second branch side terminals being connected to each other, in which a length from the first power combination point to the second power combination point is an integral multiple of ½ wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akimichi Hirota, Yukihiro Tahara, Naofumi Yoneda, Yuji Sakai
  • Patent number: 8710925
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Quantance, Inc.
    Inventors: Serge Francois Drogi, Martin A. Tomasz
  • Patent number: 8710922
    Abstract: An audio system includes a speaker and a class D amplifier with a class-D PWM (pulse width modulation) modulator configured for generating first and second PWM signals forming a differential signal with three differential output levels with three differential output levels. The class-D amplifier also has a differential output driver configured for driving a first and a second output signals onto a first and a second output terminals in response to the first and the second PWM signals, wherein the first and the second output signals form a differential output signal having three differential output levels. An inverse common-mode signal generator is coupled to first and second output signals for providing an inverse common-mode signal. The audio system also includes one or more output terminals for providing the inverse common mode signal, and further includes a wire or a trace on a PCB (printed circuit board).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nuvoton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Peter J. Holzmann
  • Patent number: 8704610
    Abstract: A multi-layer cradle comprises a first layer comprising first and second contact pads configured to be electrically coupled to a signal input and a signal output of the electronic component, respectively. The first layer also comprises a first ground plane configured to be electrically coupled to a ground of the electronic component and a first fence positioned about the first ground plane. The first ground plane is positioned at least between the first and second contact pads. A second layer comprising a second ground plane is also included. The cradle further comprises a first dielectric material positioned between the first and second layers, a ground plane via extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first and second ground planes, and a plurality of fence vias extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first fence and to second ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser John Laing Robb, Vijayanand Alagappan, Miguel Angel Navarro, II, Peter Asuzu