Patents by Inventor Sofoklis Plevridis

Sofoklis Plevridis 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: 9184857
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a transceiver includes selecting one of a plurality of available calibration paths on the transceiver to be active. The transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. The selected one of the plurality of available calibration paths couples the transmitter to the receiver through a circuit that is external to the transceiver. A calibration signal may be provided to enable calibration of the transceiver via the selected one of the plurality of available calibration paths. The calibration signal may be received after it has passed through the selected one of the plurality of calibration paths. Characteristics of the transceiver may be measured using the received calibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Iason Vassiliou, Theodore Georgantas, Akira Yamanaka, Konstantinos Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis
  • Patent number: 9142877
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for controlling an output power of a transmitter. Adjustment amounts for a transmitter to transmit at a desired power level are determined. For a predetermined time period, an actual power level of the transmitter is adjusted at a first adjustment rate. Upon an expiration of the predetermined time period, the actual power level is adjusted at a second adjustment rate, wherein the second adjustment rate is slower than the first adjustment rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sofoklis Plevridis, Anastasios Karakasiliotis, Radhakrishnan Kuzhipatt, Kai Xie
  • Patent number: 8749318
    Abstract: Enhanced polar modulator for transmitter. Within a phase locked loop (PLL), two point modulation topology is employed in which phase information passes through a limiter (e.g., a ±90° or ±?/2), the phase information dynamic range is divided by a factor (e.g., by 2), and a maximum frequency deviation is also divided by a factor (e.g., by 2). Then, a double balanced up-converter mixer/modulator performs gain adjustment (e.g., magnitude and/or amplitude adjustment) and phase changes of 0° and +180° or 0 and +? (e.g., negative gains values may be employed). Phase adjustment in such an architecture is split and provided to both the PLL and to the mixer/modulator of such a polar modulator within a transmitter module such as may be implemented within a communication device (e.g., which may be a wireless communication device). This architecture that includes a PLL with a double balanced up-converter mixer/modulator suppresses even harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sofoklis Plevridis, Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis
  • Patent number: 8620228
    Abstract: Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) transmit architecture. A baseband digital processing module operates cooperatively with an analog signal processing module to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gain adjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within a communication device. The gain adjustment and/or gain control is partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing two cooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performed in a relatively more coarse fashion that in the digital domain. If desired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains is performed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in the analog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain. Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed between two successive discrete steps in the analog domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Babis (Charalampos) Kapnistis, Spyridon Kavadias
  • Publication number: 20130260816
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for controlling an output power of a transmitter. Adjustment amounts for a transmitter to transmit at a desired power level are determined. For a predetermined time period, an actual power level of the transmitter is adjusted at a first adjustment rate. Upon an expiration of the predetermined time period, the actual power level is adjusted at a second adjustment rate, wherein the second adjustment rate is slower than the first adjustment rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sofoklis Plevridis, Anastasios Karakasiliotis, Radhakrishnan Kuzhipatt, Kai Xie
  • Patent number: 8493158
    Abstract: Polar feedback architecture. A polar modulator, as may be implemented within a transmitter module, of a communication device includes feedback. This feedback involves monitoring of phase information and magnitude/amplitude information of an output signal generated by the polar modulator. The output signal can be a radio frequency (RF) signal such as may be transmitted via a communication channel within a communication system. A baseband processing module processes the monitored phase information and magnitude/amplitude information to perform adjustment of a phase modulator and/or other components within the polar modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Sofoklis Plevridis
  • Patent number: 8494085
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for bandwidth calibration for a phase locked loop are presented. Aspects of the method may include generating one or more carrier signals based on one or more corresponding calibration signals. A pre-distortion function may be computed based on the generated one or more carrier signals for the phase locked loop circuit. An output radio frequency (RF) synthesized signal generated by the phase locked loop circuit may be modified based on the computed pre-distortion function and a subsequent output RF synthesized signal generated based on the modified output RF synthesized signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Sofoklis Plevridis
  • Patent number: 8280315
    Abstract: An RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC port for coupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency band to at least one external device and a second IC port for coupling a second transmit signal in a second frequency band to the at least one external device. A transmitter module responds to outbound data to generate the first transmit signal in a first mode of operation and to generate the second transmit signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the transmitter module generates the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal in a selected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats based on a control signal, and wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formats includes a UMTS format and at least one non-UMTS format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Ilias Bouras
  • Publication number: 20120220244
    Abstract: Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) transmit architecture. A baseband digital processing module operates cooperatively with an analog signal processing module to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gain adjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within a communication device. The gain adjustment and/or gain control is partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing two cooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performed in a relatively more coarse fashion that in the digital domain. If desired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains is performed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in the analog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain. Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed between two successive discrete steps in the analog domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Babis (Charalampos) Kapnistis, Spyridon Kavadias
  • Publication number: 20120161892
    Abstract: Enhanced polar modulator for transmitter. Within a phase locked loop (PLL), two point modulation topology is employed in which phase information passes through a limiter (e.g., a ±90° or ±?/2), the phase information dynamic range is divided by a factor (e.g., by 2), and a maximum frequency deviation is also divided by a factor (e.g., by 2). Then, a double balanced up-converter mixer/modulator performs gain adjustment (e.g., magnitude and/or amplitude adjustment) and phase changes of 0° and +180° or 0 and +? (e.g., negative gains values may be employed). Phase adjustment in such an architecture is split and provided to both the PLL and to the mixer/modulator of such a polar modulator within a transmitter module such as may be implemented within a communication device (e.g., which may be a wireless communication device). This architecture that includes a PLL with a double balanced up-converter mixer/modulator suppresses even harmonics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sofoklis Plevridis, Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis
  • Patent number: 8170501
    Abstract: A baseband digital processing module operates cooperatively with an analog signal processing module to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gain adjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within a communication device. The gain adjustment and/or gain control is partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing two cooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performed in a relatively more coarse fashion that in the digital domain. If desired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains is performed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in the analog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain. Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed between two successive discrete steps in the analog domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Babis (Charalampos) Kapnistis, Spyridon Kavadias
  • Patent number: 8143965
    Abstract: Enhanced polar modulator for transmitter. Within a phase locked loop (PLL), a two point modulation topology is employed in which phase information passes through a limiter (e.g., a ±90° or ±?/2) in which the phase information dynamic range is divide by a factor (e.g., by 2) and a maximum frequency deviation is also divided by a factor (e.g., by 2). Then, a double balanced up-converter mixer/modulator is implemented to perform gain adjustment (e.g., magnitude and/or amplitude adjustment) and phase changes of 0° and +180° or 0 and +? (e.g., negative gains values may be employed). Phase adjustment in such an architecture is split and provided to both the PLL and to the mixer/modulator of such a polar modulator within a transmitter module such as may be implemented within a communication device (e.g., which may be a wireless communication device). This architecture that includes a PLL with a double balanced up-converter mixer/modulator suppresses even harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sofoklis Plevridis, Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis
  • Patent number: 8135430
    Abstract: Methods and systems for WCDMA power amplifier closed loop power control are disclosed and may include determining a magnitude of an output RF signal generated by a power amplifier (PA), and configuring a gain of a PGA coupled to an input of the PA via closed-loop feedback to maintain a desired magnitude of the output RF signal. The closed-loop feedback architecture may include a slot-based and/or a real time-based control. A signal proportional to the output signal may be generated by an envelope detector. The signal generated by the envelope detector may be utilized to generate a root-mean-squared (RMS) value. The gain of the PGA may be configured by comparing the RMS value to a desired magnitude of the output signal over a time slot and/or utilizing a real time error signal generated by subtracting the signal proportional to the magnitude of the output signal from a desired magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Sofoklis Plevridis
  • Publication number: 20120034950
    Abstract: An RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC port for coupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency band to at least one external device and a second IC port for coupling a second transmit signal in a second frequency band to the at least one external device. A transmitter module responds to outbound data to generate the first transmit signal in a first mode of operation and to generate the second transmit signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the transmitter module generates the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal in a selected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats based on a control signal, and wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formats includes a UMTS format and at least one non-UMTS format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Ilias Bouras
  • Patent number: 8112047
    Abstract: An RF transmitter includes a Cartesian to polar conversion section, a PLL, a DAC module, a mixing module, and a PA module. The Cartesian to polar conversion section converts a Cartesian based symbol stream into a polar based symbol stream. The PLL generates an oscillation when the RF transmitter is in a Cartesian mode or a phase modulated oscillation based on phase modulation information of the polar based symbol stream when the RF transmitter is in a polar mode. The mixing module mixes an analog Cartesian based signal with a local oscillation to produce a Cartesian based up converted signal when the RF transmitter is in the Cartesian mode and mixes an analog amplitude signal with a phase modulated local oscillation to produce a polar based up converted signal when the RF transmitter is in the polar mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Ilias Bouras
  • Patent number: 8064842
    Abstract: An RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC port for coupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency band to at least one external device and a second IC port for coupling a second transmit signal in a second frequency band to the at least one external device. A transmitter module responds to outbound data to generate the first transmit signal in a first mode of operation and to generate the second transmit signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the transmitter module generates the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal in a selected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats based on a control signal, and wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formats includes a GSM format and at least one non-GSM format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Ilias Bouras
  • Publication number: 20110201286
    Abstract: A baseband digital processing module operates cooperatively with an analog signal processing module to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gain adjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within a communication device. The gain adjustment and/or gain control is partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing two cooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performed in a relatively more coarse fashion that in the digital domain. If desired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains is performed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in the analog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain. Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed between two successive discrete steps in the analog domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Babis (Charalampos) Kapnistis, Spyridon Kavadias
  • Publication number: 20110183708
    Abstract: An RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC port for coupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency band to at least one external device and a second IC port for coupling a second transmit signal in a second frequency band to the at least one external device. A transmitter module responds to outbound data to generate the first transmit signal in a first mode of operation and to generate the second transmit signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the transmitter module generates the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal in a selected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats based on a control signal, and wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formats includes a GSM format and at least one non-GSM format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Ilias Bouras
  • Patent number: 7953377
    Abstract: Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) transmit architecture. A baseband digital processing module operates cooperatively with an analog signal processing module to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gain adjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within a communication device. The gain adjustment and/or gain control is partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing two cooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performed in a relatively more coarse fashion that in the digital domain. If desired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains is performed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in the analog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain. Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed between two successive discrete steps in the analog domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Babis (Charalampos) Kapnistis, Spyridon Kavadias
  • Patent number: 7949311
    Abstract: An RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a first IC port for coupling a first transmit signal in a first frequency band to at least one external device and a second IC port for coupling a second transmit signal in a second frequency band to the at least one external device. A transmitter module responds to outbound data to generate the first transmit signal in a first mode of operation and to generate the second transmit signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the transmitter module generates the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal in a selected one of a plurality of wireless telephony formats based on a control signal, and wherein the plurality of wireless telephony formats includes a code divisional multiple access format and at least one non-code division multiple access format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodoros Georgantas, Konstantinos D. Vavelidis, Sofoklis Plevridis, Ilias Bouras