Patents by Inventor Paul A. Underbrink

Paul A. Underbrink 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: 7672361
    Abstract: Implementation of an improved matched filter system for despreading a PN code from a spread spectrum signal utilizes a matched filter system that may be broadly conceptualized as a system that optimizes the number of multipliers and adders utilized by the system in despreading a PN code from a spread spectrum signal. This lowers the power consumption of the improved matched filter system and increases the speed at which the system despreads the PN code from the spread spectrum signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: SiRF Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Steven A. Gronemyer
  • Patent number: 7639180
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamic memory allocation and sharing in electronic systems. Embodiments include multi-channel signal processing, including continuously receiving multiple channels, wherein each channel comprises a discrete signal, and processing the multiple channels in a signal processing component on a time-multiplexed basis. Processing the multiple channels includes configuring the signal processing component for one of a plurality of operational modes, including allocating a memory into areas for storage of types of data, wherein certain areas are accessed by certain signal processing subsystems in certain manners. Configuring includes configuring the signal processing component to operate in different modes concurrently for different channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: SiRF Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Falk, Paul A. Underbrink
  • Publication number: 20090219198
    Abstract: Satellite positioning system (SATPS) receiver that has a plurality of modes and channels, where a timeline module configures the channels based on the mode of operation of the SATPS receiver and reconfigures the channels if the mode of operation of the SATPS changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Gengsheng Zhang, Qingwen Zhang, Paul Underbrink
  • Patent number: 7577524
    Abstract: A data detection circuit within a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver operates to detect and decode data sent in a spread spectrum signal. The data detection circuit receives input from a radio receiver, the information containing data from a plurality of satellites. The data is supplied to a circular memory device, which determines which data corresponds to which satellite. The memory device sends the received signal to a matched filter, which decodes the signal received from each satellite. This signal is analyzed to determine whether a phase inversion due to data modulation on the received signal is present. The phase inversion can occur at boundaries, known as data epochs, in the received signal, and corresponds to data in the received signal. This data contains information relating to the position of each satellite and is collected by the data detection circuit for use by the GPS receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Steven A. Gronemeyer
  • Patent number: 7546423
    Abstract: A signal processing system control method and apparatus are described. Various embodiments include a signal processing system with multiple subsystems. A method for controlling the signal processing system includes storing channel records in a designated area of shared memory. Channel records include channel data that include one of multiple discrete signals to be processed by multiple subsystems in a time-multiplexed manner. The channel record includes information used by the multiple subsystems to process a channel, including information used to configure the multiple subsystems, information used to allocate the shared memory, and information used to communicate between multiple subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Henry Falk
  • Publication number: 20090040103
    Abstract: Control and feature systems for processing signals from a satellite positioning system include an expert system receiver manager; a joint detection, carrier centering and bit sync acquisition subsystem; peak detection; a multi-dimensional measurement interpolation subsystem; a subsystem for mode switching between a navigational signal; and power control module for a receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Mangesh Chansarkar, Sundar Raman, Charles P. Norman, Paul A. Underbrink, Henry D. Falk, James Brown, Robert Harvey, Peter Michali, Williams Higgins, Gengsheng Zhang, Qingwen Zhang
  • Patent number: 7412266
    Abstract: A low frequency timing circuit is used to reestablish a timing signal in a high-frequency timing circuit after the high frequency timing circuit has lost and regained power. The timing of the low frequency circuit is measured against the timing of the high frequency circuit before the high frequency circuit has lost power. The low frequency circuit then is used to measure time after the high frequency circuit has lost power. Once the high frequency circuit has regained power, its timing signal is reestablished at an appropriate time based on a time measurement obtained from the low frequency circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Michael D. Tomlinson, Ricke W. Clark
  • Publication number: 20080169980
    Abstract: A data detection circuit within a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver operates to detect and decode data sent in a spread spectrum signal. The data detection circuit receives input from a radio receiver, the information containing data from a plurality of satellites. The data is supplied to a circular memory device, which determines which data corresponds to which satellite. The memory device sends the received signal to a matched filter, which decodes the signal received from each satellite. This signal is analyzed to determine whether a phase inversion due to data modulation on the received signal is present. The phase inversion can occur at boundaries, known as data epochs, in the received signal, and corresponds to data in the received signal. This data contains information relating to the position of each satellite and is collected by the data detection circuit for use by the GPS receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Steven A. Gronemeyer
  • Publication number: 20070217562
    Abstract: A low frequency timing circuit is used to reestablish a timing signal in a high-frequency timing circuit after the high frequency timing circuit has lost and regained power. The timing of the low frequency circuit is measured against the timing of the high frequency circuit before the high frequency circuit has lost power. The low frequency circuit then is used to measure time after the high frequency circuit has lost power. Once the high frequency circuit has regained power, its timing signal is reestablished at an appropriate time based on a time measurement obtained from the low frequency circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Underbrink, Michael Tomlinson, Ricke Clark
  • Patent number: 7269511
    Abstract: A data detection circuit within a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver operates to detect and decode data sent in a spread spectrum signal. The data detection circuit receives input from a radio receiver, the information containing data from a plurality of satellites. The data is supplied to a circular memory device, which determines which data corresponds to which satellite. The memory device sends the received signal to a matched filter, which decodes the signal received from each satellite. This signal is analyzed to determine whether a phase inversion due to data modulation on the received signal is present. The phase inversion can occur at boundaries, known as data epochs, in the received signal, and corresponds to data in the received signal. This data contains information relating to the position of each satellite and is collected by the data detection circuit for use by the GPS receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: SIRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Steven A. Gronemeyer
  • Patent number: 7236810
    Abstract: A low frequency timing circuit is used to reestablish a timing signal in a high-frequency timing circuit after the high frequency timing circuit has lost and regained power. The timing of the low frequency circuit is measured against the timing of the high frequency circuit before the high frequency circuit has lost power. The low frequency circuit then is used to measure time after the high frequency circuit has lost power. Once the high frequency circuit has regained power, its timing signal is reestablished at an appropriate time based on a time measurement obtained from the low frequency circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Michael D. Tomlinson, Ricke W. Clark
  • Patent number: 7082292
    Abstract: A mobile communications device using a common oscillator for communication and global positioning system (GPS) functions. In one embodiment, a communications unit receives a precision carrier frequency signal from a source and generates a reference signal that is used to calibrate a common oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Underbrink
  • Patent number: 7072698
    Abstract: A system for wireless communications is provided. The system includes a hand-held wireless communications device, such as a cell phone. An antenna is connected to the cell phone. The antenna radiates radio waves over an area of less than 360 degrees of arc, such as in a cardioid or hemisphere. The antenna is oriented such that hemisphere is in the direction away from a head of a user of the cell phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Kelly H. Hale, Guang-Ming Yin, Patrick D. Ryan, Joseph H. Colles, Daryush Shamlou, Christian Levesque
  • Publication number: 20060047459
    Abstract: An Edge-Aligned Ratio Counter (EARC) that includes at least one processor coupled to at least one counter circuit is provided for determining a ratio between two clock signals by receiving a first and a second value in response to a first clock signal and generating a control signal under control of the loaded value by counting the pulses of the first clock signal and a second clock signal and captures the count of each clock signal in response to the control signal and determining a ratio between a frequency of the first clock signal and a frequency of the second clock signal using the differences of the captured counts taken at two different occurrences of the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Underbrink, Steven Gronemeyer
  • Patent number: 6980772
    Abstract: A system for wireless communications is provided. The system includes a hand-held wireless communications device, such as a cell phone. An antenna is connected to the cell phone. The antenna radiates radio waves over an area of less than 360 degrees of arc, such as in a cardioid or hemisphere. The antenna is oriented such that hemisphere is in the direction away from a head of a user of the cell phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Kelly H. Hale, Guang-Ming Yin, Patrick D. Ryan, Joseph H. Colles, Daryush Shamlou, Christian Levesque
  • Publication number: 20050264446
    Abstract: A data detection circuit within a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver operates to detect and decode data sent in a spread spectrum signal. The data detection circuit receives input from a radio receiver, the information containing data from a plurality of satellites. The data is supplied to a circular memory device, which determines which data corresponds to which satellite. The memory device sends the received signal to a matched filter, which decodes the signal received from each satellite. This signal is analyzed to determine whether a phase inversion due to data modulation on the received signal is present. The phase inversion can occur at boundaries, known as data epochs, in the received signal, and corresponds to data in the received signal. This data contains information relating to the position of each satellite and is collected by the data detection circuit for use by the GPS receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Underbrink, Steven Gronemeyer
  • Patent number: 6961660
    Abstract: A data detection circuit within a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver operates to detect and decode data sent in a spread spectrum signal. The data detection circuit receives input from a radio receiver, the information containing data from a plurality of satellites. The data is supplied to a circular memory device, which determines which data corresponds to which satellite. The memory device sends the received signal to a matched filter, which decodes the signal received from each satellite. This signal is analyzed to determine whether a phase inversion due to data modulation on the received signal is present. The phase inversion can occur at boundaries, known as data epochs, in the received signal, and corresponds to data in the received signal. This data contains information relating to the position of each satellite and is collected by the data detection circuit for use by the GPS receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Steven A. Gronemeyer
  • Publication number: 20050233718
    Abstract: A cell phone is provided that may be used with multiple radio formats, such as GSM and CDMA. The cell phone includes a receiver that receives radio signals and converts them into electrical signals. An analog to digital converter is connected to the receiver and converts an analog input to a digital output having an adjustable number of bits at an adjustable sampling frequency. A cell phone application specific integrated circuit is connected to the analog to digital converter, which is used to process the digital output to extract encoded telecommunications data in one of the supported radio formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Underbrink, Kelly Hale, Guang-Ming Yin, Patrick Ryan, Joseph Colles, Daryush Shamlou
  • Patent number: 6952440
    Abstract: A spread spectrum detector employs a Doppler phase correction system that improves correlation of pseudo-noise (PN) codes to a received spread spectrum signal by combining phase shifts, in the time domain, to correlation values that compensate for the Doppler shift error that is inherent in the signal and that is imposed upon the signal by movement between the signal source and receiver. In architecture, the Doppler phase correction system includes a receiver to receive a spread spectrum modulated signal having the Doppler shift error, a multiplier to produce a plurality of complex first correlation values based upon the signal and a code. A phase shifter generates a plurality of complex second correlation values respectively from the first correlation values. The second correlation values being phase shifted by respective different amounts from corresponding first correlation values, so that the second correlation values exhibit less of the Doppler shift error than the first correlation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Underbrink
  • Patent number: 6933876
    Abstract: A cell phone is provided that may be used with multiple radio formats, such as GSM and CDMA. The cell phone includes a receiver that receives radio signals and converts them into electrical signals. An analog to digital converter is connected to the receiver and converts an analog input to a digital output having an adjustable number of bits at an adjustable sampling frequency. A cell phone application specific integrated circuit is connected to the analog to digital converter, which is used to process the digital output to extract encoded telecommunications data in one of the supported radio formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Underbrink, Kelly H. Hale, Guang-Ming Yin, Patrick D. Ryan, Joseph H. Colles, Daryush Shamlou