Abstract: A method and circuit are provided wherein the magnitude of an RF signal provided by RF circuit is used to derive a control set point of the RF circuit via an intermediate controller circuit. This controller circuit having the specific function of providing the actual voltage applied to the control point of the RF circuit, via the use of a charge pump, regulator or combination thereof. In this manner the controller limits the maximum applicable voltage set by the limiting characteristics of the charge pump, voltage regulator, or combination thereof. Such limiting characteristics allow the control of the RF circuit to be stabilized against a variety of external factors such as ambient temperature, battery voltage, circuit aging, amongst other factors in a manner exploiting a minimum of additional electronics thereby providing for such performance enhancements with minimum additional die footprint and power consumption.

Abstract: A method of extracting predetermined narrowband microwave signals having common transmission center frequency is presented through the teachings of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention a software based signal processing approach is employed to identify the microwave signals present and control an adaptive bandwidth filter to provide an approximately optimal transmission bandwidth of the adaptive bandwidth filter for the selected microwave signal and minimized noise into the correlation process.

Abstract: GPS signals are typically weak and thus easily interfered with by other radio transmissions in the same or adjacent frequency bands. Interference can be especially problematic when the GPS receiver is co-located with a communications device that includes a radio transmitter, such as a cellular telephone. The transmitted signal from the co-located communication device can overload (or saturate) the GPS receiver front-end designed to receive weak GPS signals. In such a situation no useful information can be extracted from the received GPS signals originating from the GPS satellites. Described herein is a novel apparatus and method that can be used to minimize the effect of co-located interference on a GPS receiver.

Abstract: An integrated front-end filter for a tuner provides an array of from several to a multitude of passbands, each for passing at least one but less than all channels designated in a band of frequencies. Each passband is exclusively selectable. The integrated front end filter includes at least one active filter unit with an active reactance element in either of fixed and variable filter configurations and a decoder coupled to said at least one active filter unit and being responsive to a control signal for selecting a one of the passbands. In one example a multitude of active filter units of fixed filter configuration provide the multitude of passbands. Each data is stored at a predetermined location and reproduced in response to a corresponding control data signal from a tuner controller. Each data characterizes one of the plurality of passbands. The filter element is switchable from one passband to another in response to the control data signal.

Abstract: An integrated front-end filter for a tuner provides an array of from several to a multitude of passbands, each for passing at least one but less than all channels designated in a band of frequencies. Each passband is exclusively selectable. The integrated front end filter includes at least one active filter unit with an active reactance element in either of fixed and variable filter configurations and a decoder coupled to said at least one active filter unit and being responsive to a control signal for selecting a one of the passbands. In one example a multitude of active filter units of fixed filter configuration provide the multitude of passbands. Each data is stored at a predetermined location and reproduced in response to a corresponding control data signal from a tuner controller. Each data characterizes one of the plurality of passbands. The filter element is switchable from one passband to another in response to the control data signal.

Abstract: An integrated front-end filter for a tuner provides an array of from several to a multitude of passbands, each for passing at least one but less than all channels designated in a band of frequencies. Each passband is exclusively selectable. The integrated front end filter includes at least one active filter unit with an active reactance element in either of fixed and variable filter configurations and a decoder coupled to said at least one active filter unit and being responsive to a control signal for selecting a one of the passbands. In one example a multitude of active filter units of fixed filter configuration provide the multitude of passbands. Each data is stored at a predetermined location and reproduced in response to a corresponding control data signal from a tuner controller. Each data characterizes one of the plurality of passbands. The filter element is switchable from one passband to another in response to the control data signal.

Abstract: GPS signals are typically weak and thus easily interfered with by other radio transmissions in the same or adjacent frequency bands. Interference can be especially problematic when the GPS receiver is co-located with a communications device that includes a radio transmitter, such as a cellular telephone. The transmitted signal from the co-located communication device can overload (or saturate) the GPS receiver front-end designed to receive weak GPS signals. In such a situation no useful information can be extracted from the received GPS signals originating from the GPS satellites. Described herein is a novel apparatus and method that can be used to minimize the effect of co-located interference on a GPS receiver.

Abstract: A method and circuit are outlined allowing the performance of an RF circuit to be established through the use of digital calibration data, which is stored within a programmable memory store and used to establish the control signal inputs of the RF circuit elements.

Abstract: A cable tuner front end circuit is disclosed for receiving a radio frequency television input signal and for selectively amplifying the signal in dependence upon a predetermined level of the tuner circuit output signal. The tuner front end circuit having first and second radio frequency paths, where in dependence upon the predetermined level of the output signal, the input signal either propagating along the first path without amplification or the input signal propagating along the second path with low noise amplification. Such that, when amplification is not required the amplifier circuit is disabled thereby offering a savings in tuner circuit power consumption.

Abstract: A method and circuit are provided wherein the magnitude of an RF signal provided by RF circuit is used to derive a control set point of the RF circuit via an intermediate controller circuit. This controller circuit having the specific function of providing the actual voltage applied to the control point of the RF circuit, via the use of a charge pump, regulator or combination thereof. In this manner the controller limits the maximum applicable voltage set by the limiting characteristics of the charge pump, voltage regulator, or combination thereof. Such limiting characteristics allow the control of the RF circuit to be stabilized against a variety of external factors such as ambient temperature, battery voltage, circuit aging, amongst other factors in a manner exploiting a minimum of additional electronics thereby providing for such performance enhancements with minimum additional die footprint and power consumption.

Abstract: A method and circuit are outlined allowing the performance of an RF circuit to be established through the use of digital calibration data, which is stored within a programmable memory store and used to establish the control signal inputs of the RF circuit elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting the effect of interfering transmission on a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver is disclosed. A first mode of operation of the GPS receiver is provided wherein the AGC of the receiver is operated in a linear state. A second mode of operation of the GPS receiver is provided wherein the AGC of the receiver is operated in a non-linear state. A first signal is provided indicating a presence of a jamming signal. In response to the first signal the GPS receiver is switched from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

Abstract: Currently tuner circuits maintain normal power consumption while they are receiving RF signals and do not have provisions therein for disabling portions of their circuitry for reducing of power consumption. For example, during changing of channels, portions of the tuner are not used while the tuner is waiting for channel data. Thus, disabling portions of the circuit while the tuner is waiting for data serves to reduce power consumption of the tuner. Furthermore, tuner power consumption is reduced by determining whether a signal input to the tuner circuit requires amplification or not, or whether linearity in the amplifier can be sacrificed by a reduction in amplifier gain. Thus, a tuner circuit is provided that has control loop circuitry to execute control loops for controlling the gain and linearity of the tuner, as well as power consumption of circuitry therein.

Abstract: An integrated front end filter for a tuner provides an array of from several to a multitude of passbands, each for passing at least one but less than all channels designated in a band of frequencies. Each passband is exclusively selectable. The integrated front end filter can include at least one active filter unit with an active reactance element in either of fixed and variable filter configurations and a decoder coupled to said at least one active filter unit and being responsive to a control signal for selecting a one of the passbands. In one example, a multitude of active filter units of fixed filter configuration provide the multitude of passbands. In another example, a plurality of data corresponds to a like plurality of selectable passbands in combination with a filter element of the variable filter configuration. Each data is stored at a predetermined location and reproduced in response to a corresponding control data signal from a tuner controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting the effect of interfering transmission on a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver is disclosed. A first mode of operation of the GPS receiver is provided wherein the AGC of the receiver is operated in a linear state. A second mode of operation of the GPS receiver is provided wherein the AGC of the receiver is operated in a non-linear state. A first signal is provided indicating a presence of a jamming signal. In response to the first signal the GPS receiver is switched from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

Abstract: Televisions, especially HDTV, require tremendous bandwidth, however a time interval to switch communication channels may result in the loss of several image frames or a large portion of a single image frame. Unfortunately, small glitches in television signals are not tolerable since this affects the quality of the entertainment. Thus, wireless television tuners are unacceptable to most users because of frequency of glitches occurring as a result of channel hopping. A novel wireless television tuner system is thus disclosed that switches—hops—between frequency channels for transmitting television data to the wireless television tuner. The novel tuner uses a fractional-N (FRAC-N) synthesizer with an improved settling time in order to reduce potential glitches occurring as a result of the channel hopping.

Abstract: A cable tuner front end circuit is disclosed for receiving a radio frequency television input signal and for selectively amplifying the signal in dependence upon a predetermined level of the tuner circuit output signal. The tuner front end circuit having first and second radio frequency paths, where in dependence upon the predetermined level of the output signal, the input signal either propagating along the first path without amplification or the input signal propagating along the second path with low noise amplification. Such that, when amplification is not required the amplifier circuit is disabled thereby offering a savings in tuner circuit power consumption.