Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a repeater are described. In various embodiments the repeater determines uplink/downlink timing information either from information broadcast from a base station or from monitoring received signals and/or gaps between received signals. In various embodiments while the repeater may decode control information to determine uplink/downlink time periods, user data is not decoded and re-encoded. In various embodiments interference between uplink and downlink circuitry is reduced or minimized by controlling gains, combining weights and/or power to amplifiers in the repeater based on the mode of operation. A stored information can include sets of different weights and/or parameters for the mode of operation and/or beam forming antenna pattern in use at a given time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam for communicating with one or more devices are described. The beam mode selection may be and sometimes is between a broad beam mode of operation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to a particular device. Communication with one or more device may happen at a given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for an individual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beam choice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g., because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multiple devices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferred beam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individual device was used. The beam mode and/or beam selected for traffic data communication sometimes is different from the beam mode and/or beam used for communicating control channel information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a repeater are described. In various embodiments the repeater determines uplink/downlink timing information either from information broadcast from a base station or from monitoring received signals and/or gaps between received signals. In various embodiments while the repeater may decode control information to determine uplink/downlink time periods, user data is not decoded and re-encoded. In various embodiments interference between uplink and downlink circuitry is reduced or minimized by controlling gains, combining weights and/or power to amplifiers in the repeater based on the mode of operation. A stored information can include sets of different weights and/or parameters for the mode of operation and/or beam forming antenna pattern in use at a given time.

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: Devices in an array of devices, coupled to a common SPI bus, are automatically assigned identifiers by an enumeration process. In some embodiments, the devices are coupled together in an enumeration daisy chain. The enumeration function is initiated, e.g., by a controller, with a single SPI transaction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a repeater are described. In various embodiments the repeater determines uplink/downlink timing information either from information broadcast from a base station or from monitoring received signals and/or gaps between received signals. In various embodiments while the repeater may decode control information to determine uplink/downlink time periods, user data is not decoded and re-encoded. In various embodiments interference between uplink and downlink circuitry is reduced or minimized by controlling gains, combining weights and/or power to amplifiers in the repeater based on the mode of operation. A stored information can include sets of different weights and/or parameters for the mode of operation and/or beam forming antenna pattern in use at a given time.

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: A communications device including an array antenna assembly including a plurality of transmit chains, each with a transmit power amplifier, synchronously captures transmit power measurements for each power amplifier. A baseband transmitter in the communications device determines when a predetermined symbol in a protocol, e.g. a PSS SSB symbol, is to be transmitted and sends, e.g. via a SPI, a capture command to command each of the ADCs corresponding to the power amplifiers to synchronously capture a power measurement. Power measurements are captured at the boundary of the predetermined symbol, and the power measurements represent average transmit power levels corresponding to the symbol. The power measurements are communicated to the baseband transmitter which processes the data using calibration tables and taper information. Processed power measurements are compared to desired transmitter target levels and errors are determined. Based on the errors the gains of one or more TX chains are adjusted.

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: 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: Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam for communicating with one or more devices are described. The beam mode selection maybe and sometimes is between a broad beam mode of operation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to a particular device. Communication with one or more device may happen at a given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for an individual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beam choice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g., because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multiple devices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferred beam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individual device was used. The beam mode and/or beam selected for traffic data communication sometimes is different from the beam mode and/or beam used for communicating control channel information.

Abstract: Devices in an array of devices, coupled to a common SPI bus, are automatically assigned identifiers by an enumeration process. In some embodiments, the devices are coupled together in an enumeration daisy chain. The enumeration function is initiated, e.g., by a controller, with a single SPI transaction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam for communicating with one or more devices are described. The beam mode selection maybe and sometimes is between a broad beam mode of operation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to a particular device. Communication with one or more device may happen at a given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for an individual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beam choice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g., because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multiple devices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferred beam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individual device was used. The beam mode and/or beam selected for traffic data communication sometimes is different from the beam mode and/or beam used for communicating control channel information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a repeater are described. In various embodiments the repeater determines uplink/downlink timing information either from information broadcast from a base station or from monitoring received signals and/or gaps between received signals. In various embodiments while the repeater may decode control information to determine uplink/downlink time periods, user data is not decoded and re-encoded. In various embodiments interference between uplink and downlink circuitry is reduced or minimized by controlling gains, combining weights and/or power to amplifiers in the repeater based on the mode of operation. A stored information can include sets of different weights and/or parameters for the mode of operation and/or beam forming antenna pattern in use at a given time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam for communicating with one or more devices are described. The beam mode selection maybe and sometimes is between a broad beam mode of operation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to a particular device. Communication with one or more device may happen at a given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for an individual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beam choice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g., because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multiple devices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferred beam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individual device was used. The beam mode and/or beam selected for traffic data communication sometimes is different from the beam mode and/or beam used for communicating control channel information.

Abstract: A network such as an in-vehicle powerline communication (PLC) network may allow PLC nodes to communicate over existing powerlines. Provided in the present disclosure are exemplary techniques for synchronizing network nodes (e.g., PLC nodes) with a network clock for the network so that data generated at each node may share a common time reference. For example, a synchronization (sync) signal may be generated by a master node and broadcast to other PLC nodes over a PLC channel, which may also carry data frames to and from other PLC nodes. The network clock may be autonomously generated by the master node or may be tied to an external clock.

Abstract: A network such as an in-vehicle powerline communication (PLC) network may allow PLC nodes to communicate over existing powerlines. Provided in the present disclosure are exemplary techniques for synchronizing network nodes (e.g., PLC nodes) with a network clock for the network so that data generated at each node may share a common time reference. For example, a synchronization (sync) signal may be generated by a master node and broadcast to other PLC nodes over a PLC channel, which may also carry data frames to and from other PLC nodes. The network clock may be autonomously generated by the master node or may be tied to an external clock.

Abstract: A mobile communications device initiates a handoff from its current base station (BS) sector network attachment point to a new BS sector. The mobile sends a handoff request over its current wireless link to the current BS sector, which forwards the request to the new BS sector. The new BS sector processes the request assigning dedicated resources. Information identifying the allocated resources is conveyed from the new BS sector via the current BS sector to the mobile. The mobile determines the time of the allocated dedicated segments based upon a received beacon signal from the new BS sector with known timing relationships to dedicated segments. The mobile breaks the original wireless link just prior to the time of the first assigned dedicated segment. The mobile communicates information on the assigned dedicated segments to perform registration operations establishing a new wireless link.

Abstract: A mobile computing device is operated to control a vehicle. A digital key for accessing a vehicle is stored for accessing the vehicle. Profile information is associated with the digital key for configuring operation and/or use of a vehicle. The profile information may include one or more outside parameters for implementing one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. When one or more proximity conditions are detected as being satisfied as between the mobile computing device and the vehicle, a communication is sent to the vehicle in order to cause the vehicle to implement one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. The communication can be based on the digital key and may specify the one or more outside parameters.