Abstract: A baseband circuit for a communications transmitter includes a baseband modulator, a pulse-shaping filter, and an AMPR reduction circuit. The baseband modulator is configured to generate a sequence of symbols formatted in accordance with a non-constant envelope modulation scheme. The pulse-shaping filter is configured to band-limit the sequence of samples to provide a sequence of samples. The AMPR reduction circuit is configured to analyze and modify one or more samples in the sequence of samples, if a sample in the sequence of samples that has been previously analyzed by the AMPR reduction circuit is determined to have a magnitude less than a predetermined low-magnitude threshold.

Abstract: A system, a method, and computer-readable media are provided for altering behavior of software based on detection of an Internet connection. The system, method, and media detect when a computer has connected to the Internet or is capable of connecting to the Internet. This detection may include analyzing a connection history of the computer to the Internet, reporting in real-time when the computer establishes a connection to the Internet, or attempting to actively establish a connection with an Internet resource using the computer. A first set of software functionality may be disabled when a previously established connection with the Internet is identified, a real-time report of a connection with the Internet is generated, or a connection with the Internet resource is established. In addition, a second set of software functionality may be enabled when the first set of software functionality is disabled.

Abstract: A phase lock loop utilizes a multiphase oscillator having a plurality of digital inputs. A plurality of DQ flip-flops, offset in time from each other generate a plurality of control signals to remove control phase information from the oscillator in digital form. A DQ flip-flop connected between any two digital inputs on the oscillator determines direction of the traveling wave. The direction and phase information address a look-up table to determine the current fractional phase of the oscillator. A divide by N circuit is used to reduce the oscillator frequency. A total phase indicator signal for the oscillator is determined using the current fractional phase. The total phase is compared to a reference phase to produce a control signal for making adjustments to the oscillator. In a feed-forward path, frequency dividers divide a high frequency signal from the oscillator to a lower desired frequency, thereby increasing phase resolution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for decomposing a high frequency incoming signal into several low frequency signals without the loss of any information. The low frequency signals can define a plurality of digital data streams. The decomposing steps are implemented without processing the signal through a mixer or a local oscillator and without degrading the SNR. In a preferred embodiment, a decomposing circuit includes a single-to-differential converter for decomposing the incoming high frequency signal into a first and a second signal having opposite polarity. Each of the first and the second incoming signals is then processed through multistage cascading logic units which reduce the frequency of the respective signals to provide a plurality of low-frequency data streams. The resulting slow-speed data streams are combined to form a low-speed data stream containing all the information provided by the original high-frequency signal.

Abstract: High-efficiency envelope tracking (ET) methods and apparatus for dynamically controlling power supplied to radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs). An exemplary ET circuit includes a switch-mode converter coupled in parallel with a split-path linear regulator. The switch-mode converter is configured to generally track an input envelope signal Venv and supply the current needs of a load (e.g., an RFPA). The split-path linear regulator compensates for inaccurate envelope tracking by sourcing or sinking current to the load via a main current path. A current sense path connected in parallel with the main current path includes a current sense resistor used by a hysteresis comparator to control the switching of the switch-mode converter. The split-path linear regulator is configured so that current flowing in the current sense path is a lower, scaled version of the current flowing in the main current path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing high-frequency events in polar domain signals. An exemplary method includes first generating an unmodified rectangular-coordinate signal having in-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) components that are modulated according to a predetermined modulation scheme. Next a first sample of the unmodified rectangular-coordinate signal is modified based on how close the first sample is to the origin in the complex signal plane and how fast a signal trajectory between the first sample and a subsequent sample changes. Finally, the modified rectangular-coordinate signal is converted to a polar domain signal having amplitude and phase components. By modifying the first sample in this manner, either or both the amplitude and phase components have reduced high-frequency content compared to a polar domain signal that would be generated without the first sample having been first modified.

Abstract: A bike battery and control system mounting structure is disclosed. A main frame tube is located between head tube and stem, having a folder attached to it which enables it to be folded, where a battery and a control system can be placed into the tube from the tube openings at folding location, and the battery and the control system are mounted therein out of sight.

Abstract: A modulation system includes an amplitude modulation path and a phase modulation path coupled to the amplitude modulation path. One of the amplitude modulation path and the phase modulation path receive a reduced current such that the reduced current reduces power consumption by the system. Preferably, the amplitude modulation path receives the reduced current. The amplitude modulation path has a first set of components and a second set of components. The first set of components consumes less power by using slower operation. The second set of components consumes less power by effectively not operating, or being turned off.

Abstract: A transmitter generates first and second constant-envelope radio frequency (RF) component signals having first and second phase angles. The first and second phases are controlled by a phase controller. First and second nonlinear power amplifiers (PAs) are modulated by an amplitude-modulated power supply signal as the first and second constant-envelope RF component signals are amplified. The phase controller controls the first and second phases of the first and second constant-envelope RF component signals, in response to a power control signal, and, in so doing, controls an effective load impedance seen at the outputs of the first and second nonlinear PAs. By controlling the effective load impedance in response to a power control signal, rather than in response to rapid amplitude variations in an input signal envelope, the output power of the transmitter is efficiently controlled over a wide dynamic range even at low output powers.

Abstract: A device for transmitting information in a communications signal is envisioned. The information is modulated, at least in part, with a first angle-related characteristic. The device has a digital conversion circuit operable to convert information to be broadcast into a digital form. A constellation mapper is coupled to the digital conversion circuit, and is operable to convert the digital information into information associated with a constellation. A trajectory generation circuit generates samples denoting a trajectory within the constellation for the information. A transition analysis circuit determines a change in value of an angle-related characteristic in a transition between two samples, and a threshold detection circuit detects whether the change in value fails to meet a particular threshold. An angle-related characteristic distribution circuit can then distribute a portion of the change in value associated with the transition to at least one other transition.

Abstract: This invention, generally speaking, modifies pulse amplitude modulated signals to reduce the ratio of average power to minimum power. The signal is modified in such a manner that the signal quality remains acceptable. The signal quality is described in terms of the Power Spectral Density (PSD) and the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting communications signals that are both power efficient and effective at avoiding or reducing transmitter-generated receive band noise. An exemplary transceiver apparatus includes a multi-mode transmitter that is configurable to operate in a plurality of operating modes (e.g., a polar mode, a quadrature mode and a hybrid mode), a receiver, and an operating mode controller. The operating mode controller is configured to control which operating mode the transmitter is to operate, depending on one or more of a transmit (Tx) power, receive (Rx) power, the Tx power relative to the Rx power, a level of frequency separation between a Tx frequency band and a Rx frequency band (Tx/Rx band separation), and modulation type employed by the transmitter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reducing noise in frequency to digital converters (FDCs). An FDC apparatus includes a first FDC, a second FDC and a combiner. The first and second FDCs are configured to independently sample an input signal according to a sample clock to generate first and second digital signals, each representing the instantaneous frequency of the input signal. The combiner is configured to form a resultant digital signal from the first and second digital signals. The first and second FDCs are designed and combined in the noise-canceling FDC apparatus so that the first and second signals they generate have correlated noise profiles in a frequency range of interest. When combined by the combiner to form the resultant digital signal, the resultant digital signal has a signal power to noise power ratio greater than the signal power to noise power ratios characterizing the first and second digital signals of the individual first and second FDCs.

Abstract: A multi-mode communications transmitter includes a signal decomposer that converts rectangular-coordinate in-channel and quadrature channel signals into polar-coordinate amplitude and angle component signals and form therefrom first and second modulation signals. The signal decomposition process performed by the signal decomposer combines envelope-reduction and restoration (ERR) with filtering to reduce the bandwidths of the first and second modulation signals compared to the bandwidths of the unmodified amplitude and angle component signals. The reduction in signal bandwidths eases the design requirements of the electrical components needed to process and generate the signals applied to the power supply and radio frequency (RF) input ports of the multi-mode communications transmitter's power amplifier (PA).

Abstract: High-efficiency envelope tracking (ET) methods and apparatus for dynamically controlling power supplied to radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs). An exemplary ET circuit includes a switch-mode converter coupled in parallel with a split-path linear regulator. The switch-mode converter is configured to generally track an input envelope signal Venv and supply the current needs of a load (e.g., an RFPA). The split-path linear regulator compensates for inaccurate envelope tracking by sourcing or sinking current to the load via a main current path. A current sense path connected in parallel with the main current path includes a current sense resistor used by a hysteresis comparator to control the switching of the switch-mode converter. The split-path linear regulator is configured so that current flowing in the current sense path is a lower, scaled version of the current flowing in the main current path.

Abstract: The present invention is a lamp system for use in a light string system comprising a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly comprises a light source, a base in communication with the light source, and a bypass activating system. The socket assembly comprises a socket adapted to receive the light assembly and a bypass mechanism having a first position and a second position. The bypass activating system is adapted to move the bypass mechanism between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A decorative light system includes a frame assembly, a background assembly, and a light assembly. The frame assembly includes a frame, which is the skeletal framework of the light system. The background assembly includes a reflective surface and a support member; the reflective surface provides a reflective decorative background and the support member supports reflective surface, if need be, and the light assembly. The light assembly includes a plurality of bulb assemblies and attendant wiring, each bulb assembly having a light source and a socket. Each bulb assembly is inserted through a slit/aperture in the background assembly, and is positioned approximately parallel to the reflective surface of the background assembly providing a flat profile.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conditioning communications signals based on detection of high-frequency in the polar domain. High-frequency events detected in a phase-difference component of a complex baseband signal in the polar domain are detected and used as a basis for performing hole-blowing on the complex baseband signal in the quadrature domain and/or nonlinear filtering either or both the magnitude and phase-difference components in the polar domain. Alternatively, high-frequency events detected in the phase-difference signal that correlate in time with low-magnitude events detected in a magnitude component of the complex baseband signal are used as a basis for performing hole-blowing on the complex baseband signal in the quadrature domain and/or nonlinear filtering either or both the magnitude and phase-difference components in the polar domain.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conditioning low-magnitude events in electrical signals. According to an exemplary method, a low-magnitude event occurring in a signal trajectory of a received electrical signal is analyzed. The low-magnitude event is defined by a data point on a signal trajectory having a magnitude that is less than a predetermined signal magnitude minimum. A correction impulse having a correction magnitude and a correction phase is generated based on the magnitude and phase of data points on the signal trajectory that occur prior to and after the occurrence of the low magnitude event. The correction impulse is combined with the original electrical signal in the temporal vicinity of the low-magnitude event, thereby generating a corrected electrical signal having a more controlled bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention is a lamp system for use in a light string system comprising a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly comprises a light source, a base in communication with the light source, and a bypass activating system. The socket assembly comprises a socket adapted to receive the light assembly and a bypass mechanism having a first position and a second position. The bypass activating system is adapted to move the bypass mechanism between the first and second positions.