Patents by Inventor Davide Tonietto

Davide Tonietto 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: 20100246658
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing operation of a transceiver device are disclosed. The method may include parallel processing an input signal through a first path having a first frequency response and a second path having a second frequency response. The second frequency response may be higher than the first frequency response. Signals from the first and second paths may be combined, creating an output signal having a desired gain and frequency. The parallel processing may adjust a gain of at least one of the first path and the second path. The parallel processing may equalize at least one of the first frequency response and the second frequency response. The input signal may be from a 10 GBit Ethernet channel and/or a Fibre channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Ichiro Fujimori, Davide Tonietto
  • Patent number: 7733998
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention may provide a method and system for adjusting a gain and/or a frequency response of an input signal for a multimode PHY device. A signal divider (704) may apportion the input signal into a gain adjustment signal and/or an equalization adjustment signal upon receipt of the input signal. A signal adjuster (702) coupled to the signal divider (704) may adjust a gain of the apportioned gain adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130). An equalizer (706) coupled to the signal divider (704) may be configured to equalize the equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130). A summer (708) coupled to the equalizer (706) and signal adjuster (702) may be adapted to sum the adjusted adjustment signal and the equalized equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130) to create an output equalized signal (712) having a desired gain and/or frequency response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventors: Ichiro Fujimori, Davide Tonietto
  • Publication number: 20100097087
    Abstract: A built-in self test for receiver operation is provided through a testing method that evaluates characteristics of a received signal eye diagram. The receiver receives a serial data signal and applies compensation to that received serial data signal to generate a compensated serial data signal. The properties of an eye diagram associated with the compensated serial data signal are measured. In this context, certain desired eye diagram properties are characterized by parameters indicative of pass/fail criteria for receiver testing. The measured eye diagram properties are then compared against the parameters. A receiver testing conclusion signal is then output based on results of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hogeboom, Davide Tonietto
  • Publication number: 20100046601
    Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus may include a continuous time filter, a decision feedback equalizer, a clock and data recovery circuit, and an adaptation circuit. The adaptation circuit may be configured to adapt equalization according to at least one dithering algorithm by adjusting a delay adjust signal based on a mean square error of equalized data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Afshin Momtaz, Mario Caresosa, David Chung, Davide Tonietto, Guangming Yin, Bruce Currivan, Thomas Kolze, Ichiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 7664170
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The signal conditioning circuit services each of an RX path and a TX path and includes a limiting amplifier and a clock and data recovery circuit. The signal conditioning circuit includes an AGC loop, an equalizer, and an equalizer feedback loop. The AGC loop includes a gain path and a feedback path that couples to the output of the equalizer. The equalizer feedback loop couples to the output of the equalizer and produces spectral shaping control settings that the equalizer uses to produce an equalized high-speed serial bit stream at an equalizer output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi
  • Publication number: 20090304054
    Abstract: A first device transmits data over a first branch of a communications link toward a second device. That second device loops the received data pattern back over a second branch of the communications link. A bit error rate of the looped back data pattern is determined and a pre-emphasis applied to the transmitted data pattern is adjusted in response thereto. The first device further perturbs the data pattern communications signal so as to increase the bit error rate. The pre-emphasis is adjusted so as to reduce the determined bit error rate in the looped back data pattern in the presence of the perturbation. The steps for perturbing the signal and adjusting the pre-emphasis are iteratively performed, with the perturbation of the signal increasing with each iteration and adjustment of the pre-emphasis being refined with each iteration. The signal is perturbing by injecting modulation jitter into the signal (increasing each iteration) and adjusting amplitude of the signal (decreasing each iteration).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, John Hogeboom
  • Patent number: 7623600
    Abstract: Equalization is provided in a high speed communication receiver that includes in various aspects an automatic gain control input stage, a decision feedback equalizer, a clock and data recovery circuit and equalization control circuits. The automatic gain control stage may include a continuous time filter with an adjustable bandwidth. A threshold adjust signal may be applied to the output of the automatic gain control stage. The equalization control circuits may be implemented in the digital domain and operate at a lower clock speed than the data path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Afshin Momtaz, Mario Caresosa, David Chung, Davide Tonietto, Guangming Yin, Bruce Currivan, Thomas Kolze, Ichiro Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20090190649
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface module includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The line side interface includes a media coupler that receives the line side media, such as copper media or optical media. The board side interface couples the high-speed serial bit stream interface module to the PCB. A signal conditioning circuit communicatively couples to the line side interface and to the board side interface. The signal conditioning circuit receives an RX signal from the line side interface, conditions the RX signal, and provides the RX signal to the board side interface. The signal conditioning circuit receives a TX signal from the board side interface, conditions the TX signal, and provides the TX signal to the board side interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi
  • Patent number: 7515629
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface module includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The line side interface includes a media coupler that receives the line side media, either copper media or optical media. The board side interface couples the high-speed serial bit stream interface module to the PCB. A signal conditioning circuit communicatively couples to the line side interface and to the board side interface. The signal conditioning circuit receives an RX signal from the line side interface, conditions the RX signal, and provides the RX signal to the board side interface. The signal conditioning circuit receives a TX signal from the board side interface, conditions the TX signal, and provides the TX signal to the board side interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi
  • Publication number: 20080107424
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The signal conditioning circuit services each of an RX path and a TX path and includes a limiting amplifier and a clock and data recovery circuit. The signal conditioning circuit may also include an equalizer and/or an output pre-emphasis circuit. The limiting amplifier applies respective gains to the RX path and to the TX path that are based upon respective dynamic ranges of the incoming signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi
  • Patent number: 7321612
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The signal conditioning circuit services each of an RX path and a TX path and includes a limiting amplifier and a clock and data recovery circuit. The signal conditioning circuit may also include an equalizer and/or an output pre-emphasis circuit. The clock and data recovery circuit has an adjustable Phase Locked Loop (PLL) bandwidth that is set to correspond to a jitter bandwidth of a serviced high-speed bit stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi
  • Patent number: 7317769
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The signal conditioning circuit services each of an RX path and a TX path and includes a limiting amplifier and a clock and data recovery circuit. The signal conditioning circuit may also include an equalizer and/or an output pre-emphasis circuit. The limiting amplifier applies respective gains to the RX path and to the TX path that are based upon respective dynamic ranges of the incoming signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi
  • Publication number: 20070182489
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention may provide a method and system for adjusting a gain and/or a frequency response of an input signal for a multimode PHY device. A signal divider (704) may apportion the input signal into a gain adjustment signal and/or an equalization adjustment signal upon receipt of the input signal. A signal adjuster (702) coupled to the signal divider (704) may adjust a gain of the apportioned gain adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130). An equalizer (706) coupled to the signal divider (704) may be configured to equalize the equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130). A summer (708) coupled to the equalizer (706) and signal adjuster (702) may be adapted to sum the adjusted adjustment signal and the equalized equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130) to create an output equalized signal (712) having a desired gain and/or frequency response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Ichiro Fujimori, Davide Tonietto
  • Patent number: 7206337
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The signal conditioning circuit services each of an RX path and a TX path and includes a clock and data recovery circuit and an output pre-emphasis circuit. The output pre-emphasis circuit controllably modifies the spectrum of the high-speed bit stream to pre-compensate for the spectral characteristics of a signal path upon which the high-speed bit stream will be output. In the RX path, pre-compensation is performed based upon the properties of the PCB and a servicing connector. In the TX path, pre-compensation is performed based upon the properties of a line side connector and a line side media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi
  • Patent number: 7206366
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention may provide a method and system for adjusting a gain and/or a frequency response of an input signal for a multimode PHY device. A signal divider may apportion the input signal into a gain adjustment signal and/or an equalization adjustment signal upon receipt of the input signal. A signal adjuster coupled to the signal divider may adjust a gain of the apportioned gain adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device. An equalizer coupled to the signal divider may be configured to equalize the equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device. A summer coupled to the equalizer and signal adjuster may be adapted to sum the adjusted adjustment signal and the equalized equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device to create an output equalized signal having a desired gain and/or frequency response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Fujimori, Davide Tonietto
  • Publication number: 20050271169
    Abstract: Equalization is provided in a high speed communication receiver that includes in various aspects an automatic gain control input stage, a decision feedback equalizer, a clock and data recovery circuit and equalization control circuits. The automatic gain control stage may include a continuous time filter with an adjustable bandwidth. A threshold adjust signal may be applied to the output of the automatic gain control stage. The equalization control circuits may be implemented in the digital domain and operate at a lower clock speed than the data path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Afshin Momtaz, Mario Caresosa, David Chung, Davide Tonietto, Guangming Yin, Bruce Currivan, Thomas Kolze, Ichiro Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20050135471
    Abstract: In an integrated decision feedback equalizer and clock and data recovery circuit one or more flip-flops and/or latches may be shared. One or more flip-flops and/or latches may be used in retiming operations in a decision feedback equalizer and in phase detection operations in a clock recovery circuit. Outputs of the flip-flops and/or latches may be used to generate feedback signals for the decision feedback equalizer. The output of a flip-flop and/or latches may be used to generate signals that drive a charge pump in the clock recovery circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Afshin Momtaz
  • Patent number: 6807225
    Abstract: A circuit and method is disclosed for self trimming in frequency acquisition and clock recovery. The circuit can be simplified as having a VCO in communication with three loops including a trimming loop, a frequency loop and a phase loop. The trimming loop includes a ramp generator for supplying a steady increase of bias current to the VCO causing the frequency of the VCO to increase. At each step, the averaged output of the frequency detector is measured by a comparator. A decision circuit included in the trimming loop registers the output of the comparator in digital format. The trimming loop continues until the decision circuit detects a long string of positives followed by a long string of negatives and at this point, the trimming loop is shut off and the frequency loop is in operation. The frequency loop drives the VCO frequency to within a small difference of the incoming data frequency. The phase loop cleans up the data and locks the phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Andre M. Bischof
  • Publication number: 20040028158
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention may provide a method and system for adjusting a gain and/or a frequency response of an input signal for a multimode PHY device. A signal divider (704) may apportion the input signal into a gain adjustment signal and/or an equalization adjustment signal upon receipt of the input signal. A signal adjuster (702) coupled to the signal divider (704) may adjust a gain of the apportioned gain adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130). An equalizer (706) coupled to the signal divider (704) may be configured to equalize the equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130). A summer (708) coupled to the equalizer (706) and signal adjuster (702) may be adapted to sum the adjusted adjustment signal and the equalized equalization adjustment signal within the multimode PHY device (130) to create an output equalized signal (712) having a desired gain and/or frequency response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Ichiro Fujimori, Davide Tonietto
  • Publication number: 20040022303
    Abstract: A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The signal conditioning circuit services each of an RX path and a TX path and includes a limiting amplifier and a clock and data recovery circuit. The signal conditioning circuit may also include an equalizer and/or an output pre-emphasis circuit. The clock and data recovery circuit has an adjustable Phase Locked Loop (PLL) bandwidth that is set to correspond to a jitter bandwidth of a serviced high-speed bit stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Davide Tonietto, Ali Ghiasi