Patents by Inventor Christopher P. Wieck

Christopher P. Wieck has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110078749
    Abstract: A WiFi chipset is integrated into a TV chassis as are wireless audio-video signal antennas that feed the chipset and that are embedded in the display bezel. The TV processor causes signals from home network components received through the antennas and chipset to be displayed on the TV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Patent number: 7248653
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver includes an amplifier and a detector that produces a bias control signal based on a signal environment. A bias level of the amplifier is set according to the bias control signal. Bias levels other receiver circuits may have similarly adjusted bias levels, including buffers, IF oscillators, mixers, and converters. The invention can be used to increase range of linearity, intermodulation immunity and reduce power consumption by reducing the bias level under typical conditions and relying on the bias control to increase bias levels under adverse signal conditions. The invention has advantages where power is at a premium, particularly when a device is in standby mode, including mobile, portable and hand held pagers and wireless telephones and Internet connections. If standby mode operation in non-maximum signal environments dominates the usage of the receiver, then the invention can substantially increase battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Patent number: 7079825
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver includes an amplifier and a detector that produces a bias control signal indicating the level of the signal environment in which the receiver is currently operating. A bias generator sets the bias level of the amplifier according to the bias control signal, where the bias level tends to increase as the signal level increases. Further, the receiver, includes a first circuit adapted to receive a radio frequency input signal, the circuit having an adjustable bias level, a bias control having more than one level of control for generating a bias control signal based upon a base-band signal for controlling the first circuit and generating an output signal; and an alternative bypass switch across the first circuit so as to send a DC signal corresponding to the total power generated by said feedback means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Patent number: 6782062
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver includes an amplifier and a detector that produces a bias control signal based on a signal environment. A bias level of the amplifier is set according to the bias control signal. Bias levels of other receiver circuits may have similarly adjusted bias levels, including buffers, IF oscillators, mixers, and converters. The invention can be used to increase range of linearity, intermodulation immunity and reduce power consumption by reducing the bias level under typical conditions and relying on the bias control to increase bias levels under adverse signal conditions. The invention has advantages where power is at a premium, particularly when a device is in standby mode, including mobile, portable and hand held pagers and wireless telephones and Internet connections. If standby mode operation in non-maximum signal environments dominates the usage of the receiver, then the invention can substantially increase battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Publication number: 20040105511
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatuses and methods for use in receiving radio frequency signals. In some embodiments, a method receives an input signal comprising data and jamming signals, amplifies the input signal according to a first adjustable bias level and producing a first internal signal. The first internal signal is mixed with an intermediate frequency signal to produce a second internal signal. The method detects a level of a signal that is proportional to a level of the input signal prior to baseband limiting filtering and as such is proportional to a level of the data and jamming signals. A bias control signal is generated that is dependent on the detected level of the detected signal, and the first bias level is adjusted according to the bias control signal. The bias control signal can increase as the level of the detected signal increases and can compensate for the jamming signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Publication number: 20040077324
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver includes an amplifier and a detector that produces a bias control signal indicating the level of the signal environment in which the receiver is currently operating. A bias generator sets the bias level of the amplifier according to the bias control signal, where the bias level tends to increase as the signal level increases. Further, the receiver, includes a first circuit adapted to receive a radio frequency input signal, the circuit having an adjustable bias level, a bias control having more than one level of control for generating a bias control signal based upon a base-band signal for controlling the first circuit and generating an output signal; and an alternative bypass switch across the first circuit so as to send a DC signal corresponding to the total power generated by said feedback means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Patent number: 6687491
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver includes an amplifier and a detector that produces a bias control signal indicating the level of the signal environment in which the receiver is currently operating. A bias generator sets the bias level of the amplifier according to the bias control signal, where the bias level tends to increase as the signal level increases. Further, the receiver, includes a first circuit adapted to receive a radio frequency input signal, the circuit having an adjustable bias level, a bias control having more than one level of control for generating a bias control signal based upon a base-band signal for controlling the first circuit and generating an output signal; and an alternative bypass switch across the first circuit so as to send a DC signal corresponding to the total power generated by said feedback means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Publication number: 20030139161
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver includes an amplifier and a detector that produces a bias control signal indicating the level of the signal environment in which the receiver is currently operating. A bias generator sets the bias level of the amplifier according to the bias control signal, where the bias level tends to increase as the signal level increases. Further, the receiver, includes a first circuit adapted to receive a radio frequency input signal, the circuit having an adjustable bias level, a bias control having more than one level of control for generating a bias control signal based upon a base-band signal for controlling the first circuit and generating an output signal; and an alternative bypass switch across the first circuit so as to send a DC signal corresponding to the total power generated by said feedback means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck
  • Patent number: 6046574
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device can operate in multiple modes, each at a respective current load. Monitoring a battery in such a mobile device includes acquiring a sensed battery voltage during a particular operating mode and converting the sensed battery voltage to a scaled voltage for a known battery discharge curve having a well-defined turn-off voltage. The known battery discharge curve is preferably one for a full current load. The scaled voltage is then compared with the well-defined turn-off voltage to determine the amount of energy remaining in the battery. Operating times for other operating modes can also be calculated and displayed for the user's information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Baranowski, Christopher P. Wieck
  • Patent number: 6011967
    Abstract: Cellular telephone which operates as an alarm in an alarm mode. After or prior to being manually or automatically set in the alarm mode, the cellular telephone receives a sensor signal which identifies the occurrence or non-occurrence of a predetermined event. Upon receiving a signal that indicates the occurrence of a predetermined, usually undesirable, event, the cellular telephone automatically establishes a channel of communication with a pre-programmed telephone number, transmits to the called number identification data that identifies the cellular telephone, and then establishes the cellular telephone in a particular alarm operating mode, for example, a two-way audio mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Wieck