Patents by Inventor Donald Kerth

Donald Kerth 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).

  • Patent number: 7333831
    Abstract: Interchangeable high band low-noise-amplifiers (LNAs) and low band low-noise-amplifiers (LNAs) and related methods are disclosed that greatly enhance the efficiency of designing handsets for different combinations of frequency bands. The input signals to particular pins on a receiver or transceiver integrated circuit (IC) are swappable such that multiple frequency bands can be input to the same input pins thereby allowing for simplified system design. Efficient programmable techniques are also disclosed for controlling a swap mode within communication ICs. These interchangeable or band swappable input paths, for example, can be utilized to allow interchangeability between high band (PCS, DCS) and low band (GSM, E-GSM) inputs for cellular communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Vishnu S. Srinivasan, Gary B. Levy, Brett O. Mitchelson, Donald A. Kerth, Eric R. Garlepp, G. Tyson Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20080002786
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed which employs a minimal number of power calibrations to set the output power of the device to a specified output power level. In one embodiment, the disclosed communication device includes a self calibrating feature that sets the output power level during initialization of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Kerth, Srinath Sridharan
  • Patent number: 7292091
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing interference in circuits. A management strategy is provided to reduce reference spurs and interference in circuits. The management strategy uses a combination of one or more techniques which reduce the digital current, minimize mutual inductance, utilize field cancellation, prevent leakage current, and/or manage impedance. These techniques may be used alone, or preferably, used on combination with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Welland, Donald A. Kerth, Caiyi Wang
  • Patent number: 7285940
    Abstract: A voltage regulator configured to receive a supply voltage from a voltage supply and provide a regulated voltage to digital circuitry is provided. The voltage regulator comprises first circuitry configured to inhibit high frequency energy generated by the digital circuitry from transmitting into the voltage supply, second circuitry configured to inhibit low frequency energy generated by the digital circuitry from transmitting into the voltage supply, and third circuitry configured to maintain the regulated voltage at a substantially constant value in response to a current drawn by the digital circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Donald A. Kerth, Russell Croman, Brian D. Green, Lysander Lim, James Maligeorgos, Xiachuan Guo, Augusto M. Marques
  • Patent number: 7280001
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a capacitor array that may provide a selected capacitance to a digitally controlled crystal oscillator (DCXO). The array may include multiple sections each having at least one array portion, where each section is to receive different significant portions of a digital control value. The different sections may have different coding schemes. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Maligeorgos, Donald A. Kerth, Augusto M. Marques
  • Patent number: 7272374
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dynamically selecting high-side injection or low-side injection of local oscillator mixing signals based upon an assessment of signal power within the input signal spectrum that could cause unwanted images in the processed signal. This image rejection assessment provides an advantageous basis upon which to make dynamic high-side versus low-side injection determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: G. Tyson Tuttle, Dan B. Kasha, Donald A. Kerth
  • Publication number: 20070178870
    Abstract: A chopped intermediate frequency (IF) wireless receiver is disclosed. The wireless receiver includes a local oscillator (LO), a first and a second mixers, an LO frequency control module, an IF filter, a digital down converter and a down conversion controller. The LO provides a local oscillating signal to the first and second mixers. The first and second mixers converts a received radio frequency signal to an in-phase IF signal and a quadrature IF signal, respectively. The LO frequency control module alternately down converts a channel frequency by changing an oscillation frequency of the LO. Coupled to the digital down converter, the down conversion controller adjusts a complex sine wave within the digital down converter while the in-phase IF signal and the quadrature IF signal are being down-converted by the digital down converter to a baseband signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Donald Kerth
  • Patent number: 7242912
    Abstract: Components of a radio-frequency (RF) apparatus including transceiver circuitry and frequency modification circuitry of a crystal oscillator circuit that generates a reference signal with adjustable frequency may be partitioned in a variety of ways, for example, as one or more separate integrated circuits. The frequency modification circuitry may be implemented as part of a crystal oscillator circuit that includes digitally controlled crystal oscillator (“DCXO”) circuitry and a crystal. The frequency modification circuitry may include at least one variable capacitance device and may be employed to generate a reference signal with adjustable frequency. The adjustable reference signal may be provided to other components of the RF apparatus and/or the RF apparatus may be configured to provide the adjustable reference signal to baseband processor circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: James Maligeorgos, Augusto M. Marques, Lysander Lim, G. Tyson Tuttle, Aslamali A. Rafi, Tod Paulus, Gregory T. Uehara, Jeffrey W. Scott, Richard T. Behrens, Donald A. Kerth, G. Diwakar Vishakhadatta, Vishnu S. Srinivasan, Caiyi Wang
  • Patent number: 7228109
    Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver circuitry includes a down-converter circuitry, an analog-to-digital converter circuitry, and a DC offset reduction circuitry. The down-converter circuitry accepts a received radio-frequency signal and processes the radio-frequency signal to provide an in-phase down-converted signal and a quadrature down-converted signal to the analog-to-digital converter circuitry. The analog-to-digital converter circuitry converts the in-phase and quadrature down-converted signals to an in-phase digital output signal and a quadrature digital output signal, respectively. The DC offset reduction circuitry couples to the analog-to-digital converter circuitry, and tends to reduce a DC offset transmitted to the in-phase and quadrature digital output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Tod Paulus, Donald A. Kerth, Richard T. Behrens, Jeffrey W. Scott, G. Diwakar Vishakhadatta, G. Tyson Tuttle, Vishnu S. Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7221921
    Abstract: Components of a radio-frequency (RF) apparatus including transceiver circuitry and frequency modification circuitry of a crystal oscillator circuit that generates a reference signal with adjustable frequency may be partitioned in a variety of ways, for example, as one or more separate integrated circuits. The frequency modification circuitry may be implemented as part of a crystal oscillator circuit that includes digitally controlled crystal oscillator (“DCXO”) circuitry and a crystal. The frequency modification circuitry may include at least one variable capacitance device and may be employed to generate a reference signal with adjustable frequency. The adjustable reference signal may be provided to other components of the RF apparatus and/or the RF apparatus may be configured to provide the adjustable reference signal to baseband processor circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories
    Inventors: James Maligeorgos, Augusto M. Marques, Lysander Lim, G. Tyson Tuttle, Aslamali A. Rafi, Tod Paulus, Gregory T. Uehara, Jeffrey W. Scott, Richard T. Behrens, Donald A. Kerth, G. Diwakar Vishakhadatta, Vishnu S. Srinivasan, Caiyi Wang
  • Publication number: 20070099586
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed wherein isolation buffers couple to respective active circuits or stages of the device to convey test information regarding such active circuits to a test data line from which status information may be collected. The communication device operates in two modes, namely a normal operational mode wherein the isolation buffers effectively short spurious emissions from the active circuits to a ground, and a test mode wherein the isolation-buffers may convey test information from a selected active circuit to the test data line. The isolation buffers prevent spurious emissions from escaping the active circuits to which they are coupled and prevent spurious emissions from traveling from active circuit to active circuit over the test data line throughout the wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Kerth, James Maligeorgos, Xiaochuan Guo, Augusto Marques
  • Patent number: 7206560
    Abstract: A chopped intermediate frequency (IF) wireless receiver is disclosed. The wireless receiver includes a local oscillator (LO), a first and a second mixers, an LO frequency control module, an IF filter, a digital down converter and a down conversion controller. The LO provides a local oscillating signal to the first and second mixers. The first and second mixers converts a received radio frequency signal to an in-phase IF signal and a quadrature IF signal, respectively. The LO frequency control module alternately down converts a channel frequency by changing an oscillation frequency of the LO. Coupled to the digital down converter, the down conversion controller adjusts a complex sine wave within the digital down converter while the in-phase IF signal and the quadrature IF signal are being down-converted by the digital down converter to a baseband signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories
    Inventor: Donald A. Kerth
  • Patent number: 7199650
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing interference in circuits. A management strategy is provided to reduce reference spurs and interference in circuits. The management strategy uses a combination of one or more techniques which reduce the digital current, minimize mutual inductance, utilize field cancellation, prevent leakage current, and/or manage impedance. These techniques may be used alone, or preferably, used on combination with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Welland, Donald A. Kerth, Caiyi Wang
  • Publication number: 20070060093
    Abstract: Image rejection factors are calibrated for a receiver circuit (106) during an initialization period. The image rejection factors are stored in a quasi non-volatile memory (124) associated with the receiver circuit (106). The quasi non-volatile memory (124) is powered from a first source (VDD A) during a first receiver mode and from a second source (VIO) during a second receiver mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: SILICON LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Donald Kerth, Brian Green, Augusto Marques
  • Publication number: 20070060069
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed wherein isolation buffers couple to respective active circuits or stages of the device to convey test information regarding such active circuits to a test data line from which status information may be collected. The communication device operates in two modes, namely a normal operational mode wherein the isolation buffers effectively short spurious emissions from the active circuits to a ground, and a test mode wherein the isolation buffers may convey test information from a selected active circuit to the test data line. The isolation buffers prevent spurious emissions from escaping the active circuits to which they are coupled and prevent spurious emissions from traveling from active circuit to active circuit over the test data line throughout the wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Kerth, James Maligeorgos, Xiaochuan Guo, Augusto Marques
  • Publication number: 20070060071
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed wherein the voltage swing of a local oscillator (LO) signal is controlled to prevent overstressing semiconductor devices in a mixer to which the LO signal is supplied. A quadrature divider supplies the LO signal to the mixer. Digital calibration methodology controls the current that the quadrature divider draws from a power supply to set the voltage swing of the LO signal that the quadrature divider generates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Aslam Rafi, Donald Kerth
  • Publication number: 20070057739
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a capacitor array that may provide a selected capacitance to a digitally controlled crystal oscillator (DCXO). The array may include multiple sections each having at least one array portion, where each section is to receive different significant portions of a digital control value. The different sections may have different coding schemes. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: James Maligeorgos, Donald Kerth, Augusto Marques
  • Publication number: 20070060070
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is disclosed wherein the voltage swing of a local oscillator (LO) signal is controlled to prevent overstressing semiconductor devices in a mixer to which the LO signal is supplied. A quadrature divider supplies the LO signal to the mixer. Digital calibration methodology controls the current that the quadrature divider draws from a power supply to set the voltage swing of the LO signal that the quadrature divider generates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Aslam Rafi, Donald Kerth
  • Publication number: 20070054629
    Abstract: Components of a radio-frequency (RF) apparatus including transceiver circuitry and frequency modification circuitry of a crystal oscillator circuit that generates a reference signal with adjustable frequency may be partitioned in a variety of ways, for example, as one or more separate integrated circuits. The frequency modification circuitry may be implemented as part of a crystal oscillator circuit that includes digitally controlled crystal oscillator (“DCXO”) circuitry and a crystal. The frequency modification circuitry may include at least one variable capacitance device and may be employed to generate a reference signal with adjustable frequency. The adjustable reference signal may be provided to other components of the RF apparatus and/or the RF apparatus may be configured to provide the adjustable reference signal to baseband processor circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: James Maligeorgos, Augusto Marques, Lysander Lim, G. Tuttle, Aslamali Rafi, Tod Paulus, Gregory Uehara, Jeffrey Scott, Richard Behrens, Donald Kerth, G. Vishakhadatta, Vishnu Srinivasan, Caiyi Wang
  • Publication number: 20070052396
    Abstract: A voltage regulator configured to receive a supply voltage from a voltage supply and provide a regulated voltage to digital circuitry is provided. The voltage regulator comprises first circuitry configured to inhibit high frequency energy generated by the digital circuitry from transmitting into the voltage supply, second circuitry configured to inhibit low frequency energy generated by the digital circuitry from transmitting into the voltage supply, and third circuitry configured to maintain the regulated voltage at a substantially constant value in response to a current drawn by the digital circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Donald Kerth, Russell Croman, Brian Green, Lysander Lim, James Maligeorgos, Xiachuan Guo, Augusto Marques