Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a circuit capable of operating as a passive power divider or combiner are described. In at least some embodiments multiple modes of operation are supported with one of the modes being a mode in which power is not communicated along one of the paths in the circuit, e.g., because the path leads to an inactive component or element. The methods and apparatus are well suited for use in communications devices and/or transceiver circuits. The passive nature of the power combiner/divider allows the device in some embodiments to act as a power divider when signals pass through the circuit in a first direction, e.g., during a transmit mode of operation, and to act as a power combiner when signals pass through the circuit in the other direction, e.g., during a receive mode of operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing an arrangement of antennas in an apparatus are described. The combining of antennas and related components using Ball Grid Array (BGA) technology and various spacing/heat routing techniques allows for a group of antennas and related ICs to be implemented as a printed circuit board mountable package. Multiple antenna packages can be mounted on a printed circuit board to allow for different numbers of antennas to be included in a device depending on communications needs. The antenna package is well suited for mm-wave applications.

Abstract: A non-multiply-accumulate (non-MAC) charge-based analog correlator system including a sampler circuit block, an operand generation circuit block, and a margin propagation (MP) correlation computation circuit block is disclosed. The sampler circuit block is configured to sample a plurality of input analog signals. The operand generation circuit block is configured to generate operands based on the sampled plurality of input analog signals, and the margin propagation (MP) correlation computation circuit block is configured to generate correlated output signals based on the operands and using calculations in a charge domain.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a phase shifter in a space, e.g., chip surface area, efficient manner is described. In various embodiments a combination of switches, capacitors and a transformer are used in combination as a controllable phase shifter. In some embodiments the phase shifter supports a phase shift of 0 degrees or 180 degrees depending on the position of one or more switches. The mutual inductance of the transformer in at least some embodiments emulates one or more capacitors in a phase shift network making for an implementation that can be implemented on a semiconductor in an area efficient manner as compared to implementations using more capacitors and independent inductors.

Abstract: A non-multiply-accumulate (non-MAC) charge-based analog correlator system including a sampler circuit block, an operand generation circuit block, and a margin propagation (MP) correlation computation circuit block is disclosed. The sampler circuit block is configured to sample a plurality of input analog signals. The operand generation circuit block is configured to generate operands based on the sampled plurality of input analog signals, and the margin propagation (MP) correlation computation circuit block is configured to generate correlated output signals based on the operands and using calculations in a charge domain.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing passive wideband phase shifters are described. The phase shifters exhibit good linearity over a wide range of frequencies. Furthermore at least some features are directed to allowing the phase shifters to be implemented in some embodiments in a relatively compact manner making such embodiments well suited for supporting arrays and/or other implementations where a large number of phase shifters are to be implemented in a relatively small chip area.

Abstract: A method for distributing video content across a network, the method comprising: providing video data to a primary data source, associating control data with the video data, broadcasting the video data with associated control data from the primary data source to one or more user devices across the network, providing a media player on the respective user devices which is operable in response to reading the control data to create auxiliary data locally on the respective user devices while the media player is playing the video data, creating the auxiliary data locally on the respective user devices while the media player is playing the video data locally on the respective user devices. The control data defines one or more elements of the auxiliary data to be created by the media player including the elements of the auxiliary data which are to be retrieved from the primary data source and one or more secondary data sources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating signal processing chains using cross coupling between polarizations are described. Various exemplary methods and apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, are well suited for use in communications devices using beamforming and including arrays of TX/RX front ends, e.g., a first plurality of horizontal polarization front ends and a second plurality of vertical polarization front ends.

Abstract: The present application thus provides a beverage dispensing system for combining a micro-ingredient and a diluent. The beverage dispensing system may include a nozzle and a remote micro-ingredient storage system positioned at a distance from the nozzle. The remote micro-ingredient storage system may include a recirculation loop in communication with the nozzle to agitate the micro-ingredient therein.

Abstract: A controllable reflection type phase shifter that includes an adjustable hybrid coupler and controllable adjustable reflection load circuit is described and used in some embodiments to implemented a communication system. In some embodiments the communication system supports beam forming through the use of a plurality of TX/RX signal processing chains (SPCs), each SPC including at least one reflection type phase shifter, e.g., a controllable reflection type phase shifter. The controllable reflection type phase shifters in different SPCs of the array are configured, e.g., differently, based on the particular beam pattern being used to transmit or receive signals at a given time. Control information, e.g., control values, are stored in memory with the control values corresponding to an antenna pattern to be used at a given time being retrieved from memory and to control the circuits, e.g., controllable reflection type phase shifters, in the system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing an arrangement of antennas in an apparatus are described. The combining of antennas and related components using Ball Grid Array (BGA) technology and various spacing/heat routing techniques allows for a group of antennas and related ICs to be implemented as a printed circuit board mountable package. Multiple antenna packages can be mounted on a printed circuit board to allow for different numbers of antennas to be included in a device depending on communications needs. The antenna package is well suited for mm-wave applications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing passive wideband phase shifters are described. The phase shifters exhibit good linearity over a wide range of frequencies. Furthermore at least some features are directed to allowing the phase shifters to be implemented in some embodiments in a relatively compact manner making such embodiments well suited for supporting arrays and/or other implementations where a large number of phase shifters are to be implemented in a relatively small chip area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a phase shifter in a space, e.g., chip surface area, efficient manner is described. In various embodiments a combination of switches, capacitors and a transformer are used in combination as a controllable phase shifter. In some embodiments the phase shifter supports a phase shift of 0 degrees or 180 degrees depending on the position of one or more switches. The mutual inductance of the transformer in at least some embodiments emulates one or more capacitors in a phase shift network making for an implementation that can be implemented on a semiconductor in an area efficient manner as compared to implementations using more capacitors and independent inductors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a circuit capable of operating as a passive power divider or combiner are described. In at least some embodiments multiple modes of operation are supported with one of the modes being a mode in which power is not communicated along one of the paths in the circuit, e.g., because the path leads to an inactive component or element. The methods and apparatus are well suited for use in communications devices and/or transceiver circuits. The passive nature of the power combiner/divider allows the device in some embodiments to act as a power divider when signals pass through the circuit in a first direction, e.g., during a transmit mode of operation, and to act as a power combiner when signals pass through the circuit in the other direction, e.g., during a receive mode of operation.

Abstract: A communications apparatus which supports beamforming is described. The communications apparatus includes an array of N beam forming circuits, each of the N beamforming circuits including an RF signal input coupled to a phase shifter, an attenuator and a power amplifier. The communications apparatus further includes an array of antenna elements, each one of the N beamforming circuits including an output coupled to a different one of the antenna elements in the array of antenna elements; and a set of beam tables including control values used to selectively control elements of the beamforming circuits. The beam tables include sets of control values which are accessed and used to control components of the beamforming circuits depending on the beam angle to be used during a given time period. A feedback circuit generate EVM control information based on output signals from the beam forming circuits.

Abstract: A communications apparatus which supports beamforming is described. The communications apparatus includes an array of N beam forming circuits, each of the N beamforming circuits including an RF signal input coupled to a phase shifter, an attenuator and a power amplifier. The communications apparatus further includes an array of antenna elements, each one of the N beamforming circuits including an output coupled to a different one of the antenna elements in the array of antenna elements; and a set of beam tables including control values used to selectively control elements of the beamforming circuits. The beam tables include sets of control values which are accessed and used to control components of the beamforming circuits depending on the beam angle to be used during a given time period. A feedback circuit generate EVM control information based on output signals from the beam forming circuits.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating signal processing chains using cross coupling between polarizations are described. Various exemplary methods and apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, are well suited for use in communications devices using beamforming and including arrays of TX/RX front ends, e.g., a first plurality of horizontal polarization front ends and a second plurality of vertical polarization front ends.

Abstract: A controllable reflection type phase shifter that includes an adjustable hybrid coupler and controllable adjustable reflection load circuit is described and used in some embodiments to implemented a communication system. In some embodiments the communication system supports beam forming through the use of a plurality of TX/RX signal processing chains (SPCs), each SPC including at least one reflection type phase shifter, e.g., a controllable reflection type phase shifter. The controllable reflection type phase shifters in different SPCs of the array are configured, e.g., differently, based on the particular beam pattern being used to transmit or receive signals at a given time. Control information, e.g., control values, are stored in memory with the control values corresponding to an antenna pattern to be used at a given time being retrieved from memory and to control the circuits, e.g., controllable reflection type phase shifters, in the system.

Abstract: Controllable radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs), e.g., in a Hybrid-MIMO array, which are being driven at lower power levels, are operated at conditions such that their inherent EVM and ACLR are intentionally further increased. This increase of inherent EVM and ACLR is done in a precise manner, and the increased inherent EVM and ACLR are cancelled or reduced by the EVM and ACLR of the input Array DPD signal. The net result is improved EVM and ACLR performance over a broader range of angles. Exemplary methods and apparatus for increasing distortion include individual or combinations of: i) changing the DC bias a RFPA based on average operating power level; ii) changing supply voltage, e.g. Vcc, of a RFPA based on average operating power level, iii) adding a controllable non-linear element, such as a diode or varactor, at the input of the RFPA, based on the average operating power.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for ensuring that policies are consistently applied to traffic across an overlay network. An application identifier associated with a forward traffic flow and a corresponding reverse traffic flow can be determined by a device that routes packets of both the forward traffic flow and the corresponding reverse traffic flow. Next, an overlay header can be added to each packet in the forward traffic flow and to each packet in the corresponding reverse traffic flow, wherein the overlay header comprises the application identifier, a policy identifier, and a policy action. Each device in the overlay network can then apply the policy action specified in the overlay header of each packet that it routes.