Patents by Inventor Julian Hildersley
Julian Hildersley 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).
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Publication number: 20190319720Abstract: Apparatus and methods of calibrating a power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment are provided. In certain configurations, a method of calibrating a power amplifier system includes generating a supply voltage of a power amplifier using an envelope tracker based on shaping a scaled envelope signal using shaping data generated at a target gain compression, controlling a variable gain of a variable gain amplifier based on a gain control level signal, changing the variable gain by adjusting the gain control level signal using a calibration module, monitoring an output of the power amplifier to determine an amount of variable gain at which a detected gain compression of the power amplifier corresponds to the target gain compression of the shaping data, and calibrating the power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment based on the determined amount of variable gain.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 10382147Abstract: Methods of calibrating a power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment are provided. In certain configurations, a method of calibrating a power amplifier system includes amplifying a radio frequency signal from a transceiver using a power amplifier and generating a supply voltage of the power amplifier using an envelope tracker, including generating a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level signal and an envelope signal, and shaping the scaled envelope signal using a shaping table generated at a target gain compression. The method further includes changing a scaling of the scaled envelope signal using a calibration module, monitoring an output of the power amplifier to determine an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal at which a detected gain compression of the power amplifier corresponds to the target gain compression of the shaping table, and calibrating the power amplifier system based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignees: Skyworks Solutions, Inc., SnapTrack, Inc.Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20170093505Abstract: Methods of calibrating a power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment are provided. In certain configurations, a method of calibrating a power amplifier system includes amplifying a radio frequency signal from a transceiver using a power amplifier and generating a supply voltage of the power amplifier using an envelope tracker, including generating a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level signal and an envelope signal, and shaping the scaled envelope signal using a shaping table generated at a target gain compression. The method further includes changing a scaling of the scaled envelope signal using a calibration module, monitoring an output of the power amplifier to determine an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal at which a detected gain compression of the power amplifier corresponds to the target gain compression of the shaping table, and calibrating the power amplifier system based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 9571152Abstract: Apparatus and methods for calibration of envelope trackers are provided. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a VGA that amplifies an RF input signal to generate an amplified RF input signal, a power amplifier that amplifies the amplified RF input signal to generate an RF output signal, and an envelope tracker that generates a supply voltage for the power amplifier. The envelope tracker includes a scaling module that generates a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level (PCL) signal and an envelope signal that changes in relation to an envelope of the RF input signal. The envelope tracker further includes a calibration module that controls an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal based on calibration data to compensate for an envelope amplitude misalignment of the envelope tracker. The envelope tracker controls the voltage level of the supply voltage based on the scaled envelope signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignees: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC., SNAPTRACK, INC.Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20160099742Abstract: Apparatus and methods for calibration of envelope trackers are provided. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a VGA that amplifies an RF input signal to generate an amplified RF input signal, a power amplifier that amplifies the amplified RF input signal to generate an RF output signal, and an envelope tracker that generates a supply voltage for the power amplifier. The envelope tracker includes a scaling module that generates a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level (PCL) signal and an envelope signal that changes in relation to an envelope of the RF input signal. The envelope tracker further includes a calibration module that controls an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal based on calibration data to compensate for an envelope amplitude misalignment of the envelope tracker. The envelope tracker controls the voltage level of the supply voltage based on the scaled envelope signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 9294043Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking calibration are provided. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier, an envelope tracker that generates the power amplifier's supply voltage, a power detector, and a calibration module. The envelope tracker includes an envelope shaping table generated at a desired gain compression and a scaling module that scales an amplitude of an envelope signal. The power detector measures the power amplifier's output power, and the calibration module provides calibration data to the scaling module to change the scaling of the envelope signal's amplitude. The calibration module sets the calibration data to a first value corresponding to a supply voltage level associated with substantially no gain compression, and reduces the supply voltage level by changing the calibration data until the power detector indicates that the gain compression of the power amplifier is about equal to the desired gain compression.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignees: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC., SNAPTRACK, INC.Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20150155834Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking calibration are provided. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier, an envelope tracker that generates the power amplifier's supply voltage, a power detector, and a calibration module. The envelope tracker includes an envelope shaping table generated at a desired gain compression and a scaling module that scales an amplitude of an envelope signal. The power detector measures the power amplifier's output power, and the calibration module provides calibration data to the scaling module to change the scaling of the envelope signal's amplitude. The calibration module sets the calibration data to a first value corresponding to a supply voltage level associated with substantially no gain compression, and reduces the supply voltage level by changing the calibration data until the power detector indicates that the gain compression of the power amplifier is about equal to the desired gain compression.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2014Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20150130535Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for controlling at least one amplification stage, comprising: selecting a linearity objective for the amplification stage; in dependence on an input signal to said amplification stage, determining a combination of supply input and bias input for the amplification stage in order to meet said linearity objective; and in dependence on there being more than one combination of supply input and bias input for meeting the linearity objective, selecting the combination that optimises a further system performance objective for the amplification stage. The further system performance objective may be one or more of: an efficiency objective; an envelope signal bandwidth objective; or a robustness to production tolerance objective.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Gerard Wimpenny, Julian Hildersley, Robert Henshaw, Yi Qin
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Patent number: 8989682Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking calibration are provided. In one embodiment, a method of calibrating an envelope tracker having an envelope shaping table generated at a desired gain compression of a power amplifier is provided. The method includes generating a supply voltage for the power amplifier using the envelope tracker, operating the supply voltage of the power amplifier at a first voltage level associated with substantially no gain compression of the power amplifier, and measuring an output power of the power amplifier at the first voltage level. The method further includes decreasing a voltage level of the supply voltage one or more times and measuring the output power at each voltage level, determining a second voltage level of the power amplifier associated with a gain compression equal to about that of the desired gain compression, and calibrating the envelope tracker based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignees: Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Nujira Ltd.Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 8981846Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for controlling at least one amplification stage, comprising: selecting a linearity objective for the amplification stage; in dependence on an input signal to said amplification stage, determining a combination of supply input and bias input for the amplification stage in order to meet said linearity objective; and in dependence on there being more than one combination of supply input and bias input for meeting the linearity objective, selecting the combination that optimizes a further system performance objective for the amplification stage. The further system performance objective may be one or more of: an efficiency objective; an envelope signal bandwidth objective; or a robustness to production tolerance objective.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Nujira LimitedInventors: Gerard Wimpenny, Julian Hildersley, Robert Henshaw, Yi Qin
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Publication number: 20120200354Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking calibration are provided. In one embodiment, a method of calibrating an envelope tracker having an envelope shaping table generated at a desired gain compression of a power amplifier is provided. The method includes generating a supply voltage for the power amplifier using the envelope tracker, operating the supply voltage of the power amplifier at a first voltage level associated with substantially no gain compression of the power amplifier, and measuring an output power of the power amplifier at the first voltage level. The method further includes decreasing a voltage level of the supply voltage one or more times and measuring the output power at each voltage level, determining a second voltage level of the power amplifier associated with a gain compression equal to about that of the desired gain compression, and calibrating the envelope tracker based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicants: NUJIRA LTD, SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20120105152Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for controlling at least one amplification stage, comprising: selecting a linearity objective for the amplification stage; in dependence on an input signal to said amplification stage, determining a combination of supply input and bias input for the amplification stage in order to meet said linearity objective; and in dependence on there being more than one combination of supply input and bias input for meeting the linearity objective, selecting the combination that optimises a further system performance objective for the amplification stage. The further system performance objective may be one or more of: an efficiency objective; an envelope signal bandwidth objective; or a robustness to production tolerance objective.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2012Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: NUJIRA LIMITEDInventors: Gerard Wimpenny, Julian Hildersley, Robert Henshaw, Yi Qin
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Patent number: 8093946Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for controlling at least one amplification stage, comprising: selecting a linearity objective for the amplification stage; in dependence on an input signal to said amplification stage, determining a combination of supply input and bias input for the amplification stage in order to meet said linearity objective; and in dependence on there being more than one combination of supply input and bias input for meeting the linearity objective, selecting the combination that optimizes a further system performance objective for the amplification stage. The further system performance objective may be one or more of: an efficiency objective; an envelope signal bandwidth objective; or a robustness to production tolerance objective.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Nujira LimitedInventors: Gerard Wimpenny, Julian Hildersley, Robert Henshaw, Yi Qin
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Publication number: 20100073088Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for controlling at least one amplification stage, comprising: selecting a linearity objective for the amplification stage; in dependence on an input signal to said amplification stage, determining a combination of supply input and bias input for the amplification stage in order to meet said linearity objective; and in dependence on there being more than one combination of supply input and bias input for meeting the linearity objective, selecting the combination that optimises a further system performance objective for the amplification stage. The further system performance objective may be one or more of: an efficiency objective; an envelope signal bandwidth objective; or a robustness to production tolerance objective.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: Nujira LimitedInventors: Gerard Wimpenny, Julian Hildersley, Robert Henshaw, Yi Qin
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Patent number: 7333779Abstract: In a PLL circuit, the number of LPFs is reduced to one to reduce mounting area and pin number, and to simplify design. In one embodiment, the PLL circuit includes a variable-gain phase comparator, a mixer, an LPF, VCOs, couplers, and a control circuit to controlling the on/off operation of the VCOs. The variable-gain phase comparator is capable of varying a phase difference gain. The on/off of the operation of the VCOs is controlled by the control circuit so that one of the VCOs is turned off. The phase difference conversion gain is varied in accordance with the sensitivity of the VCOs so the number of LPFs required for the PLL circuit can be reduced to only one.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., TTPCom LimitedInventors: Taizo Yamawaki, Takefumi Endo, Kazuo Watanabe, Kazuaki Hori, Julian Hildersley
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Patent number: 7266171Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a phase-locked loop circuit which receives a first signal having a frequency and converts it into an output signal having a transmission frequency and includes a current output type phase comparator which converts a phase difference between the first signal and a second signal into a current signal, a low pass filter which filters the current signal of the current output type phase comparator to produce an output signal a voltage controlled oscillator which produces an output signal having a transmission frequency corresponding to the output signal of the low pass filter the output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator constituting the output signal of the phase-locked loop circuit, a frequency converter which frequency-converts the output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator to produce the second signal, and a current source which supplies a current to an input of the low pass filter.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2003Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., The Technology Partnership PLC.Inventors: Taizo Yamawaki, Masaru Kokubo, Tomio Furuya, Kazuo Watanabe, Julian Hildersley
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Patent number: 7224948Abstract: There are provided a transmitter and a wireless communication terminal apparatus using the same for solving a problem of undesired spurs due to harmonics of an output signal of a frequency synthesizer, and further solving a problem of the undesired spurs occurring when the harmonics of an output signal of a crystal oscillator are mixed into a VCO to facilitate to design a circuit or a mounting substrate. The transmitter has a relationship between an output frequency of a PLL frequency conversion circuit (5) and output frequencies of frequency synthesizers (1, 2) stored therein, and the output frequencies of the frequency synthesizers (1, 2) input into the PLL frequency conversion circuit (5) are controlled on the basis of the relationship so that the undesired spurs are suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., TTP Communications LimitedInventors: Taizo Yamawaki, Satoshi Tanaka, Masaru Kokubo, Kazuo Watanabe, Masumi Kasahara, Kazuaki Hori, Julian Hildersley
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Patent number: 6996377Abstract: In a PLL circuit, the number of LPFs is reduced to one to reduce mounting area and pin number, and to simplify design. In one embodiment, the PLL circuit includes a variable-gain phase comparator, a mixer, an LPF, VCOs, couplers, and a control circuit to controlling the on/off operation of the VCOs. The variable-gain phase comparator is capable of varying a phase difference gain. The on/off of the operation of the VCOs is controlled by the control circuit so that one of the VCOs is turned off. The phase difference conversion gain is varied in accordance with the sensitivity of the VCOs so the number of LPFs required for the PLL circuit can be reduced to only one.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1999Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., TTPCom.LimitedInventors: Taizo Yamawaki, Takefumi Endo, Kazuo Watanabe, Kazuaki Hori, Julian Hildersley
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Patent number: 6970683Abstract: In a PLL circuit, the number of LPFs is reduced to one to reduce mounting area and pin number, and to simplify design. In one embodiment, the PLL circuit includes a variable-gain phase comparator, a mixer, an LPF, VCOs, couplers, and a control circuit to controlling the on/off operation of the VCOs. The variable-gain phase comparator is capable of varying a phase difference gain. The on/off of the operation of the VCOs is controlled by the control circuit so that one of the VCOs is turned off. The phase difference conversion gain is varied in accordance with the sensitivity of the VCOs so the number of LPFs required for the PLL circuit can be reduced to only one.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., TTPCom.LimitedInventors: Taizo Yamawaki, Takefumi Endo, Kazuo Watanabe, Kazuaki Hori, Julian Hildersley
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Publication number: 20050215222Abstract: In a PLL circuit, the number of LPFs is reduced to one to reduce mounting area and pin number, and to simplify design. In one embodiment, the PLL circuit includes a variable-gain phase comparator, a mixer, an LPF, VCOs, couplers, and a control circuit to controlling the on/off operation of the VCOs. The variable-gain phase comparator is capable of varying a phase difference gain. The on/off of the operation of the VCOs is controlled by the control circuit so that one of the VCOs is turned off. The phase difference conversion gain is varied in accordance with the sensitivity of the VCOs so the number of LPFs required for the PLL circuit can be reduced to only one.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2005Publication date: September 29, 2005Inventors: Taizo Yamawaki, Takefumi Endo, Kazuo Watanabe, Kazuaki Hori, Julian Hildersley