Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for altering a cellular phone user's speech so that the speech can be less bothersome to third parties in the surrounding area and so that the user has more privacy. Sound cancellation can be used to cancel, reduce, or modify the user's voice so third parties cannot hear the voice as easily or so that the user's voice cannot be understood. Furthermore, the user device can encourage the user to speak in a lower voice. The user device can accomplish this encouragement by indicating to the user their level of speech. In this manner, the user knows when he may lower his voice and yet still provide an adequate volume of speech for the cellular phone. Additionally, the user device can encourage the user to speak in a lower voice by audibly playing back the user's voice in real time.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing signal degradation of a communications signal caused by reducing the average-to-minimum amplitude ratio (AMR) of a communications signal. According to one exemplary method, times when the amplitude of a communications signal falls below or is likely to fall below a predetermined magnitude minimum. Corrective pulses are generated, which are combined with the communications signal in the temporal vicinities when the amplitude of the communications signal falls below the predetermined magnitude minimum, to reduce the AMR of the communications signal. The corrective pulses are generated by a nonlinear filter that is configured to minimize the amount of in-channel distortion the corrective pulses introduce to the communications signal by their insertion while substantially preserving an out-of-band measure of quality of the communications signal.

Abstract: A precision timing generator and an associate method provide a precise clock signal based on a reference clock signal. Using the reference clock signal in a phase locked loop or delay locked loop, a number of clock signals of equal frequency are generated separated consecutively by a known phase. Two of these clock signals of consecutive phases are selected for interpolation for higher precision according to predetermined weights. The resulting interpolated clock signal has a phase offset that is intermediate between the selected clock signals in proportion to the predetermined weights. In one implementation, a second interpolated clock signal is created by selecting and weighting a second group of clock signals using independent selection and weights. The two interpolated clock signals are then combined by logic operations to provide a precise clock signal of predetermined duty cycle and phase.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

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: A technique of processing an input signal having an input signal phase is disclosed. The technique includes determining a number of transitions of the input signal within a period having a start and an end. The technique includes determining a relative beginning phase of the input signal at the start of the period, which includes generating a first reference signal having a first reference signal frequency and a first reference signal phase synchronized with the start of the period, and detecting a first time interval required for the input signal phase to have a first specified relationship to the first reference signal phase. The technique includes similarly determining a relative ending phase of the input signal at the end of the period. The technique includes determining an input signal temporal characteristic from the number of transitions and the relative beginning phase and the relative ending phase.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides for control of a modulator, such as a polar modulator or conventional linear modulator, to produce high quality RF signals that ramp quickly from a condition of minimal output power to a condition of information-bearing modulation at a specified output power and back down to the condition of minimal output power. Using a polar modulator, for example, it is theoretically possible to perform ramping without degrading the transient measurements beyond the degradation caused by the information-bearing modulation itself. This ideal can be closely approached in practice. Such ramping can be achieved without the need for extensive unit-by-unit calibration on the manufacturing line.

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: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: A precision timing generator and an associate method provide a precise clock signal based on a reference clock signal. Using the reference clock signal in a phase locked loop or delay locked loop, a number of clock signals of equal frequency are generated separated consecutively by a known phase. Two of these clock signals of consecutive phases are selected for interpolation for higher precision according to predetermined weights. The resulting interpolated clock signal has a phase offset that is intermediate between the selected clock signals in proportion to the predetermined weights. In one implementation, a second interpolated clock signal is created by selecting and weighting a second group of clock signals using independent selection and weights. The two interpolated clock signals are then combined by logic operations to provide a precise clock signal of predetermined duty cycle and phase.