Patents by Inventor Robert Broughton

Robert Broughton 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: 9331738
    Abstract: Embodiments of RF switching amplifiers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Vikas Sharma, Jaroslaw Adamski, Neil Calanca, Robert Broughton
  • Patent number: 9293262
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes tuning capacitors with tapered and reconfigurable quality factors. Digitally tuned capacitors (DTCs) that provide a variable quality factor (Q) while maintaining a constant or near constant capacitance as well as DTCs that provide one or more Q values in a tapered distribution while maintaining a constant or near constant capacitance are described. The present disclosure also describes DTCs that provide one or more capacitances in a tapered distribution and one or more Q values in a tapered distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Bawell, Robert Broughton, Peter Bacon, Robert W. Greene, Tero Tapio Ranta
  • Publication number: 20150303985
    Abstract: Embodiments of RF switching amplifiers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Vikas Sharma, Jaroslaw Adamski, Neil Calanca, Robert Broughton
  • Patent number: 9000841
    Abstract: Embodiments of RF switching amplifiers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Vikas Sharma, Jaroslaw Adamski, Neil Calanca, Robert Broughton
  • Patent number: 8644776
    Abstract: A power detection system is disclosed that determines a power level of a transmission signal. The power detection system includes an adjustable comparator circuit, an algorithmic state machine, and an output node. The adjustable comparator circuit receives the transmission signal and provides an adjusted transmission signal, and further compares the adjusted transmission signal to a reference signal. The algorithmic state machine iteratively adjusts the adjustable comparator circuit until the adjusted transmission signal is substantially close to the reference signal. The output node is coupled to the algorithmic state machine and provides an output signal that is responsive to the power level of the transmission signal and to the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Nobbe, Robert Broughton, Tero Ranta, James Swonger, R. Mark Englekirk
  • Publication number: 20130208396
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes tuning capacitors with tapered and reconfigurable quality factors. Digitally tuned capacitors (DTCs) that provide a variable quality factor (Q) while maintaining a constant or near constant capacitance as well as DTCs that provide one or more Q values in a tapered distribution while maintaining a constant or near constant capacitance are described. The present disclosure also describes DTCs that provide one or more capacitances in a tapered distribution and one or more Q values in a tapered distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Shawn Bawell, Robert Broughton, Peter Bacon, Robert W. Greene, Tero Tapio Ranta
  • Patent number: 8487706
    Abstract: A power amplifier with stacked, serially connected, field effect transistors is described. DC control voltage inputs are fed to the gates of each transistor. Capacitors are coupled to the transistors. The inputs and the capacitors are controlled to minimize generation of non-linearities of each field effect transistor and/or to maximize cancellation of distortions between the field effect transistors of the power amplifier in order to improve linearity of the power amplifier output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yang Edward Li, Robert Broughton, Peter Bacon, James Bonkowski
  • Patent number: 8368462
    Abstract: Embodiments of RF switching amplifiers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Vikas Sharma, Jaroslaw Adamski, Neil Calanca, Robert Broughton
  • Publication number: 20120086512
    Abstract: Embodiments of RF switching amplifiers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Vikas Sharma, Jaroslaw Adamski, Neil Calanca, Robert Broughton
  • Patent number: 8022734
    Abstract: A power detection system is disclosed that includes a detector circuit and a comparator circuit. The detector circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor that is not identical to the first transistor, and a third transistor that is substantially identical to the first transistor. Each of the transistors is commonly coupled to a current source and is coupled to a differential input voltage. The comparator circuit is for providing an output that is representative of whether the input voltage is above or below a threshold voltage responsive to a difference between the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Broughton
  • Publication number: 20110181360
    Abstract: A power amplifier with stacked, serially connected, field effect transistors is described. DC control voltage inputs are fed to the gates of each transistor. Capacitors are coupled to the transistors. The inputs and the capacitors are controlled to minimize generation of non-linearities of each field effect transistor and/or to maximize cancellation of distortions between the field effect transistors of the power amplifier in order to improve linearity of the power amplifier output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Yang Edward Li, Robert Broughton, Peter Bacon, James Bonkowski
  • Patent number: 7961052
    Abstract: A novel RF power amplifier integrated circuit (PA IC), unit cell, and method for amplifying RF signals are disclosed. One embodiment of a PA IC includes at least two linear arrays comprising transistor device units, and at least one linear array comprising capacitors. The transistor device units include source nodes that are jointly coupled to a source bus, and selected gate nodes that are jointly coupled to a gate bus. First electrodes of the capacitors are also jointly coupled to the source bus, and second electrodes of the capacitors are jointly coupled to the gate bus. Each linear array comprising capacitors is disposed between at least two linear arrays comprising transistor device units. In one embodiment, the PA IC includes unit cells. In some embodiments, each unit cell comprises two transistor device units and one or more capacitors. The capacitors are disposed between the transistor device units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Bacon, Robert Broughton, Yang Li, James Bonkowski, Neil Calanca
  • Publication number: 20110095824
    Abstract: A novel RF power amplifier integrated circuit (PA IC), unit cell, and method for amplifying RF signals are disclosed. One embodiment of a PA IC includes at least two linear arrays comprising transistor device units, and at least one linear array comprising capacitors. The transistor device units include source nodes that are jointly coupled to a source bus, and selected gate nodes that are jointly coupled to a gate bus. First electrodes of the capacitors are also jointly coupled to the source bus, and second electrodes of the capacitors are jointly coupled to the gate bus. Each linear array comprising capacitors is disposed between at least two linear arrays comprising transistor device units. In one embodiment, the PA IC includes unit cells. In some embodiments, each unit cell comprises two transistor device units and one or more capacitors. The capacitors are disposed between the transistor device units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Bacon, Robert Broughton, Yang Li, James Bonkowski, Neil Calanca
  • Patent number: 7795968
    Abstract: An RF PA operable in two or more selectable power ranges is disclosed. Switches configure the circuit for each range such that an amplifier device corresponding to the range provides final amplification, and all lower power amplifier devices also amplify the signal. An exemplary design includes a low power amplifier configurable for operation solo, or in parallel with a medium power amplifier, to deliver an appropriately matched signal either directly to the RF PA output, or first to the input of a high power amplifier for the highest power range. The signal in all ranges of the exemplary design is conditioned in part by the matching circuitry disposed between the high power amplifier and the RF PA output, which traverses no switches in high power range operation. The entire RF PA, including switches, control and matching circuitry, is fabricated on a single monolithic integrated circuit, an achievement may be facilitated by UTSI CMOS processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yang Li, Robert Broughton, James Bonkowski, Peter Bacon
  • Patent number: 7558542
    Abstract: A transmitter circuit is disclosed for use in a multi-frequency wireless communication system. The transmitter circuit includes an input modulation unit, a phase modulation system, and an amplitude modulation system. The input modulation unit receives at least one signal that is representative of information to be modulated. The phase modulation system is coupled to the input modulation unit and provides a phase modulation on an output signal. The phase modulation system includes a phase detection system and an adjustable power amplifier. The amplitude modulation system is coupled to the input modulation unit and provides amplitude modulation on the output signal. The amplitude modulation system includes an amplitude detection system for providing an output signal to the adjustable power amplifier, and a variable gain amplifier coupled to the adjustable power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Nandipaku, Roxann Blanchard, Robert Broughton, Robert G. Gels, Cecile Masse
  • Publication number: 20070287393
    Abstract: A transmitter circuit is disclosed for use in a multi-frequency wireless communication system. The transmitter circuit includes an input modulation unit, a phase modulation system, and an amplitude modulation system. The input modulation unit receives at least one signal that is representative of information to be modulated. The phase modulation system is coupled to the input modulation unit and provides a phase modulation on an output signal. The phase modulation system includes a phase detection system and an adjustable power amplifier. The amplitude modulation system is coupled to the input modulation unit and provides amplitude modulation on the output signal. The amplitude modulation system includes an amplitude detection system for providing an output signal to the adjustable power amplifier, and a variable gain amplifier coupled to the adjustable power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Sanjay Nandipaku, Roxann Blanchard, Robert Broughton, Robert G. Gels, Cecile Masse
  • Patent number: D856486
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BDR Thermea Group B.V.
    Inventors: Simon Daniel Bryant, Matthew Robert Broughton, Paulo Jorge Gomes Gois
  • Patent number: D866734
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BDR THERMEA GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Simon Daniel Bryant, Matthew Robert Broughton, Paulo Jorge Gomes Gois