Patents by Inventor Michael W. Rawlins

Michael W. Rawlins 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: 7496342
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, for down-converting and up-converting an electromagnetic signal. In embodiments the invention operates by receiving an EM signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles of the carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In embodiments, up-conversion is accomplished by controlling a switch with an oscillating signal, the frequency of the oscillating signal being selected as a sub-harmonic of the desired output frequency. When the invention is being used in the frequency modulation or phase modulation implementations, the oscillating signal is modulated by an information signal before it causes the switch to gate the bias signal. The output of the switch is filtered, and the desired harmonic is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Parkervision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr., Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7466760
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20080298509
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. SORRELLS, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20080285681
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: David F. SORRELLS, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20080272441
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated signal or an amplitude modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Michael W. Rawlins, Gregory S. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20080272841
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7433910
    Abstract: A fast correlator transform (FCT) algorithm and methods and systems for implementing same, correlate an encoded data word (X0-XM?1) with encoding coefficients (C0-CM?1), wherein each of (X0-XM?1) is represented by one or more bits and each said coefficient is represented by one or more bits, wherein each coefficient has k possible states, and wherein M is greater than 1. In accordance with the invention, X0 is multiplied by each state (C0(0)through C0(k?1)) of the coefficient C0, thereby generating results X0C0(0) through X0C0(k?1). This is repeating for data bits (X1-XM?1) and corresponding coefficients (C1-CM?1), respectively. The results are grouped into N groups. Members of each of the N groups are added to one another, thereby generating a first layer of correlation results. The first layer of results is grouped and the members of each group are summed with one another to generate a second layer of results. This process is repeated as necessary until a final layer of results is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins, David F. Sorrells
  • Patent number: 7423477
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7421036
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7414469
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7389100
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr., Michael W. Rawlins, Gregory S. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7386292
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, for down-converting and up-converting an electromagnetic signal. In embodiments the invention operates by receiving an EM signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles of the carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In embodiments, up-conversion is accomplished by controlling a switch with an oscillating signal, the frequency of the oscillating signal being selected as a sub-harmonic of the desired output frequency. When the invention is being used in the frequency modulation or phase modulation implementations, the oscillating signal is modulated by an information signal before it causes the switch to gate the bias signal. The output of the switch is filtered, and the desired harmonic is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr., Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7378902
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc
    Inventors: David F Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7355470
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7327803
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7321735
    Abstract: A method and system for converting an optical signal to electrical information signals, including demodulated baseband information signals and modulated baseband signals at multiple harmonics. In an embodiment, the optical information signal is amplitude modulated with information. The method converts an optical signal to electrical charge, accumulates the electrical charge, and periodically transfers the accumulated electrical charge to a storage device, whereby the periodically transferred electrical charge forms the electrical signals. An exemplary system includes an optical transducer and a universal frequency translator coupled to an output of the optical transducer. The optical transducer receives an optical signal and converts the optical signal to electrical charge. The universal frequency translator periodically transfers energy from the electrical charge and forms the electrical signals from the transferred energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Smith, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr., Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins, Robert T. Short, David F. Sorrells, Danny E. Stoneking
  • Patent number: 7321640
    Abstract: A quadrature signal generator receives a differential input signal and generates quadrature output signals that are 90 degrees out-of-phase with each other. The quadrature generator includes a coarse stage and a plurality of refinement stages. The coarse stage generates quadrature signals that may have some phase error, and the refinement stages process the quadrature signals to reduce any phase error. The refinement stages receive quadrature signals from the output of the coarse stage, and processes the quadrature signals to reduce the phase errors. The coarse stage and the refinement stages are configured using delay circuits that can be implemented with inverter circuits, such as, for example, CMOS inverter circuits. In the refinement stages, corresponding outputs of the delay stages are averaged together to reduce the quadrature phase error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L Milne, Michael W Rawlins, Gregory S Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7321751
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving dynamic range includes a frequency down-conversion module that receives an input signal and a bias circuit. The bias circuit includes a first resistor and a second resistor. The first resister has a first terminal coupled to a bias point and a second terminal coupled to a first voltage reference. The second resistor has a first terminal coupled to the bias point and a second terminal coupled to a second voltage reference. The bias point is coupled to the input signal. The frequency down-conversion module outputs a down-converted output signal. The bias circuit thereby adjusts a voltage of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F Sorrells, Michael J Bultman, Robert W Cook, Richard C Looke, Charley D Moses, Jr., Gregory S Rawlins, Michael W Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7308242
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for down-converting and up-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal are described herein. Briefly stated, in embodiments the invention operates by receiving an EM signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles (½, 1½, 2½, etc.) of the carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr., Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20070249299
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins