Abstract: This application is generally related to methods for improving performance in a system. One of the methods may include a step of determining whether absorbed power in a system meets a predetermined threshold. The absorbed power may be based upon first and second Walsh codes transmitted to each of first and second gain and phase modulators in the system. The first Walsh code may be orthogonal to the second Walsh code. A first set of the first and second Walsh codes may be inverted with respect to a second set of the first and second Walsh codes. The method may also include a step of modulating the absorbed power in view of the determination. The method may further include a step of transmitting feedback based upon the modulated power to the first and second gain and phase modulators.

Abstract: This application is generally related to methods and systems for improving amplifier performance. For example, the system includes two or more gain and phase modulators. The system also includes two or more component amplifiers operably coupled to, and downstream of, the power splitter, where each of the two or more component amplifiers is operably coupled to a respective one of the two or more gain and phase modulators. The system further includes a power combiner operably coupled to, and downstream of, the two or more component amplifiers, configured to output a power signal. The system even further includes a Walsh generator configured to generate and transmit first and second Walsh codes to each of the two or more gain and phase modulators. The first Walsh code is orthogonal to the second Walsh code. A first set of the first and second Walsh codes is inverted with respect to a second set of the first and second Walsh codes.

Abstract: This application is generally related to methods and systems for improving amplifier performance. For example, the system includes two or more gain and phase modulators. The system also includes two or more component amplifiers operably coupled to, and downstream of, the power splitter, where each of the two or more component amplifiers is operably coupled to a respective one of the two or more gain and phase modulators. The system further includes a power combiner operably coupled to, and downstream of, the two or more component amplifiers, configured to output a power signal. The system even further includes a Walsh generator configured to generate and transmit first and second Walsh codes to each of the two or more gain and phase modulators. The first Walsh code is orthogonal to the second Walsh code. A first set of the first and second Walsh codes is inverted with respect to a second set of the first and second Walsh codes.

Abstract: A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station includes a steerable antenna. A presently preferred steerable antenna for use with the subscriber station includes a driven element mounted on a base plane that is surrounded by a plurality of parasitic elements also mounted to the base plane. The parasitic elements can be optionally grounded or floated in order to reflect the wireless link towards the driven element. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.

Abstract: A feed-forward amplifier having a signal cancellation loop including a cancellation node that includes a gain controller and a phase controller. Each controller provides a discrete tap steering signal and modulates the corresponding tap steering signal with a discrete tracer signal that takes on a preselected sequence of values. The sequence chosen so that the tracer signal is mutually orthogonal to each other tracer signal over a preselected period. A gain and phase adjuster connected to the outputs of the controllers provides a controlled gain change and phase shift in the signal cancellation loop, the magnitude of the gain change and phase shift controlled by the corresponding tap steering signals presented to the gain and phase adjuster by the controllers. A detector, the input of which is connected to the cancellation node and the output of which is connected to the controllers, outputs a measure of the envelope of the signal at the cancellation node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing an electrically adjustable RF delay in which a splitter splits an input signal into two signal paths, one signal path providing a delay fixed at an integral number of wavelengths of a desired center frequency and both signal paths providing electrically adjustable attenuation. A combiner combines the signals passing through the signal paths, such that the sum of the electrically-adjustable attenuation provided by the signal paths adds to unity, whereby the input signal is delayed by an adjustable time depending upon the attenuations provided by the signal paths.

Abstract: A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station includes a steerable antenna. A presently preferred steerable antenna for use with the subscriber station includes a driven element mounted on a base plane that is surrounded by a plurality of parasitic elements also mounted to the base plane. The parasitic elements can be optionally grounded or floated in order to reflect the wireless link towards the driven element. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.

Abstract: A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station includes a steerable antenna. A presently preferred steerable antenna for use with the subscriber station includes a driven element mounted on a base plane that is surrounded by a plurality of parasitic elements also mounted to the base plane. The parasitic elements can be optionally grounded or floated in order to reflect the wireless link towards the driven element. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a feed-forward amplifier in which, after the signal-cancellation and intermodulation-cancellation loops have initially been nulled, the feed-forward amplifier is operated so that both loops are controlled so as to minimize intermodulation at the output of the feed-forward amplifier.

Abstract: A feed-forward amplifier having a signal cancellation loop including a cancellation node that includes a gain controller and a phase controller. Each controller provides a discrete tap steering signal and modulates the corresponding tap steering signal with a discrete tracer signal that takes on a preselected sequence of values. The sequence chosen so that the tracer signal is mutually orthogonal to each other tracer signal over a preselected period. A gain and phase adjuster connected to the outputs of the controllers provides a controlled gain change and phase shift in the signal cancellation loop, the magnitude of the gain change and phase shift controlled by the corresponding tap steering signals presented to the gain and phase adjuster by the controllers. A detector, the input of which is connected to the cancellation node and the output of which is connected to the controllers, outputs a measure of the envelope of the signal at the cancellation node.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel feed forward amplifier (“FFA”) and a pilot tone generator-receiver therefor. In an embodiment of the invention, the feed forward amplifier only requires a single oscillator to operate both the pilot tone generator and pilot tone receiver used in conjunction with the amplifier circuitry of the FFA. In another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided of generating and detecting a pilot tone from a single oscillating signal.

Abstract: A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station includes a steerable antenna. A presently preferred steerable antenna for use with the subscriber station includes a driven element mounted on a base plane that is surrounded by a plurality of parasitic elements also mounted to the base plane. The parasitic elements can be optionally grounded or floated in order to reflect the wireless link towards the driven element. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel feed forward amplifier (“FFA”) and a pilot tone generator-receiver therefor. In an embodiment of the invention, the feed forward amplifier only requires a single oscillator to operate both the pilot tone generator and pilot tone receiver used in conjunction with the amplifier circuitry of the FFA. In another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided of generating and detecting a pilot tone from a single oscillating signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating an adaptive circuit includes injecting a set of orthogonal tracer signals into the circuit. The tracers signals are extracted after modification by at least a portion of the circuit and are examined by respective controllers to modify operation of the circuit. In one embodiment, the invention is incorporated into a feed forward amplifier where a set of orthogonal tracer signals are injected into the amplifier. A detector controller detects the orthogonal tracer signals, as modified by portions of the amplifier, and applies each tracer signal to a respective controller. Each controller examines its respective signal and modifies its output to control a portion of the amplifier accordingly. The controllers apply their outputs to the respective portions of the amplifier at substantially the same time, leading to quick convergence of the operating point of the amplifier to an optimal or near-optimal configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating an adaptive circuit includes injecting a set of orthogonal tracer signals into the circuit. The tracers signals are extracted after modification by at least a portion of the circuit and are examined by respective controllers to modify operation of the circuit. In one embodiment, the invention is incorporated into a feed forward amplifier where a set of orthogonal tracer signals are injected into the amplifier. A detector controller detects the orthogonal tracer signals, as modified by portions of the amplifier, and applies each tracer signal to a respective controller. Each controller examines its respective signal and modifies its output to control a portion of the amplifier accordingly. The controllers apply their outputs to the respective portions of the amplifier at substantially the same time, leading to quick convergence of the operating point of the amplifier to an optimal or near-optimal configuration.

Abstract: A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station includes a steerable antenna. A presently preferred steerable antenna for use with the subscriber station includes a driven element mounted on a base plane that is surrounded by a plurality of parasitic elements also mounted to the base plane. The parasitic elements can be optionally grounded or floated in order to reflect the wireless link towards the driven element. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel feed forward amplifier (“FFA”) and a pilot tone generator-receiver therefor. In an embodiment of the invention, the feed forward amplifier only requires a single oscillator to operate both the pilot tone generator and pilot tone receiver used in conjunction with the amplifier circuitry of the FFA. In another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided of generating and detecting a pilot tone from a single oscillating signal.

Abstract: A method for improving the linearity of a signal coupling device having a ferrite core transformer comprises the step of demagnetizing the ferrite core. The resulting signal coupler has substantially zero remanent magnetism.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention bias a field effect transistor with only a single voltage source and generally do not have the disadvantages of traditional "floated source" bias techniques. Furthermore, some embodiments of the present invention are capable of automatically compensating for the normal manufacturing variations that occur in the physical characteristics of individual FETs.

Abstract: A passive electric power splitter/combiner comprising a first inductor (117) between an input terminal and a first output terminal, a second inductor (119) between the input terminal and a second output terminal, a first capacitor (111) between the input terminal and ground, a second capacitor (113) between the first output terminal and ground, a third capacitor (115) between the second output terminal and ground, and a resistor (121) between the first output terminal and the second output terminal. Embodiments of the present invention can be fabricated that have little loss other than the intrinsic split loss, exhibit a uniform impedance at all ports, and exhibit electrical isolation between the output ports.