Patents by Inventor Michel J. G. J. P. Frechette

Michel J. G. J. P. Frechette 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: 8270917
    Abstract: An adaptive current control circuit for reduced power consumption and minimized gain shift in a variable gain amplifier. An automatic gain control circuit provides gain control voltages in response to a gain control signal. The gain control voltages are used by the variable gain amplifier to set the gain of the output signal for wireless transmit operations. The adaptive current control circuit receives the same gain control voltages for reducing current to the variable gain amplifier during low gain operation, while providing higher currents during high gain operation. The current that is provided is a hybrid mix of proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current and complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current for minimizing temperature effects on the gain. The ratio of PTAT current and CTAT current is adjustable for specific temperature ranges to further minimize temperature effects on the gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Icera Canada ULC
    Inventors: Sherif H. K. Embabi, Abdellatif Bellaouar, Michel J. G. J. P. Frechette
  • Publication number: 20100093291
    Abstract: An adaptive current control circuit for reduced power consumption and minimized gain shift in a variable gain amplifier. An automatic gain control circuit provides gain control voltages in response to a gain control signal. The gain control voltages are used by the variable gain amplifier to set the gain of the output signal for wireless transmit operations. The adaptive current control circuit receives the same gain control voltages for reducing current to the variable gain amplifier during low gain operation, while providing higher currents during high gain operation. The current that is provided is a hybrid mix of proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current and complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) current for minimizing temperature effects on the gain. The ratio of PTAT current and CTAT current is adjustable for specific temperature ranges to further minimize temperature effects on the gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Sherif H.K. Embabi, Abdellatif Bellaouar, Michel J.G.J.P. Frechette
  • Publication number: 20100029228
    Abstract: A power ramping circuit for use in the transmit path of a radio frequency (RF) circuit. The power ramping circuit includes parallel connected transistors used as logarithmic resistor attenuators for adjusting current to a mixer circuit in the transmit path. The parallel connected transistors can be sized differently, and are sequentially turned off to gradually increase the current provided to the mixer circuit. A ramp control circuit controls the parallel connected transistors in response to either an analog signal or a digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Alan Holden, Hamid Safiri, Michel J.G.J.P. Frechette, Sherif H.K. Embabi, Abdellatif Bellaouar, Stephen Arnold Devison, Tajinder Manku
  • Patent number: 7593701
    Abstract: A CMOS automatic gain control (AGC) circuit that receives an analog control voltage and generates a temperature compensated gain voltage to linearly control the gain of a variable gain circuit operating in the sub-threshold region. A PTAT circuit having a resistor network coupled to a current mirror circuit operating in the sub-threshold region establishes a current having an proportional relationship to temperature. This current is used as a supply for a voltage to voltage converter circuit which generates an intermediate voltage in response to the analog control voltage. A linearizing circuit operating in the sub-threshold region pre-conditions the intermediate voltage, which is then applied to a variable gain circuit. The variable gain circuit is operated in the sub-threshold region, and the preconditioned intermediate voltage will control the amount of gain to be substantially linear with respect to the analog control voltage, and with a range of about 85 dB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Icera Canada ULC
    Inventors: Abdellatif Bellaouar, Michel J. G. J. P. Frechette