Patents by Inventor Nicholas Lawrence Difiore

Nicholas Lawrence Difiore 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: 6968204
    Abstract: A vehicle communication system uses one or more components to process both narrow band signals and spread spectrum signals. A spread spectrum-like signal is generated from the narrow band signal. The spread spectrum-like signal is processed as a spread spectrum signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. William Whikehart, John Elliott Whitecar, Nicholas Lawrence Difiore
  • Publication number: 20030125007
    Abstract: A vehicle communication system uses one or more components to process both narrow band signals and spread spectrum signals. A spread spectrum-like signal is generated from the narrow band signal. The spread spectrum-like signal is processed as a spread spectrum signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: J. William Whikehart, John Elliott Whitecar, Nicholas Lawrence Difiore
  • Patent number: 6256358
    Abstract: A digital signal processing architecture for an audio system combines multiple functions in programmable and reconfigurable blocks to achieve an efficient use of hardware and chip area. AM, FM, and audio functions can be performed using the same reconfigurable hardware while taking into account the different sample rates and processing functions required for each.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. William Whikehart, James Alfred Wargnier, Bradley Anderson Ballard, Nicholas Lawrence Difiore, John Elliott Whitecar, Christopher John Hagan
  • Patent number: 6178314
    Abstract: An adaptive bandwidth control system optimizes radio reception by controlling intermediate frequency bandwidth and baseband bandwidth to reduce both interference and noise while remaining compatible with AM broadcasts using the NRSC-1 standard. An adaptive IF filter detects the presence of interfering undesired sources. The IF bandwidth is narrowed if any interferers are detected. Simultaneously, the frequency content of the demodulated baseband signal is analyzed to control an optimal baseband bandwidth so that any frequencies containing substantially only noise are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. William Whikehart, Nicholas Lawrence Difiore, John Elliott Whitecar
  • Patent number: 6178211
    Abstract: A carrier-based signal is received from a tuner and is digitized to produce a digital intermediate frequency (IF) signal. Automatic gain control is applied to the carrier-based signal either prior to or after digitization. An adaptive intermediate frequency bandwidth control system detects IF signal level after channel filtering. The level is compared to a predetermined threshold having a value related to the known signal level of the AGC'ed signal which is being input to the channel filter in order to provide a measure of either 1) the presence of interfering adjacent channels, or 2) reception or a weak signal which can't be compensated for by AGC. The IF bandwidth is narrowed in either circumstance. Digital FIR or IIR filtering is used. The invention allows bandwidth switching to be done very quickly with minimal transient effects. A threshold value is selected depending upon the IF channel bandwidth being used at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. William Whikehart, Christopher John Hagan, John William Wagner, Nicholas Lawrence Difiore, John Elliott Whitecar, James Alfred Wargnier
  • Patent number: 6058148
    Abstract: An adaptive intermediate frequency bandwidth control system detects IF signal levels both before and after channel filtering. The two levels are compared to provide a measure of the presence of interfering adjacent channels. This measure is compared to a programmable threshold and the IF bandwidth is narrowed if any interferers are detected. Digital FIR or IIR filtering is used. The invention allows bandwidth switching to be done very quickly with minimal transient effects. A difference threshold is selected depending upon the IF channel bandwidth being used at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: J. William Whikehart, Christopher John Hagan, John William Wagner, Nicholas Lawrence Difiore, John Elliott Whitecar, James Alfred Wargnier