Patents by Inventor Timothy C. Kuo
Timothy C. Kuo 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).
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Patent number: 8428194Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver (“Rx”) is disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or impedance.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: NVIDIA CorporationInventors: Timothy C. Kuo, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu
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Publication number: 20120149322Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver (“Rx”) is disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or impedance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy C. Kuo, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu
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Patent number: 8121221Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver (“Rx”) is disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or impedance.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Nvidia CorporationInventors: Timothy C. Kuo, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu
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Patent number: 7606546Abstract: A system, method and system are disclosed for using a variable frequency clock generator to synchronize an average data rate over intervals of time in a variable clock domain to make it equal to a fixed data rate in a fixed clock domain while reducing electromagnetic interference, among other things. In various embodiments, setting the data rates equal to each other minimizes storage used to transition data signals between clock domains. In one embodiment, a variable frequency clock generator includes a phase modulator configured to form a variable frequency clock. Also, the variable clock generator is configured to maintain an average frequency over specific periods of time for the range of discrete frequencies. The phase-offset controller sets an average clock having substantially no offset between a fixed data rate in the fixed clock domain and an average data rate in the variable clock domain.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Nvidia CorporationInventors: Tao Liu, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu, Mehrdad Heshami, Timothy C. Kuo
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Patent number: 7558348Abstract: A radio frequency antenna system and high-speed digital data link are disclosed to, among other things, reduce electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) at relatively high data rates while reducing the manufacturing complexities associated with conventional data links. In one embodiment, a radio frequency (“RF”) antenna system includes an antenna and an RF radio coupled to the antenna for receiving wireless RF signals. In particular, the RF radio is configured to digitize RF signals at a fixed data rate to form digitized data signals and to apply the digitized data signals at a variable data rate to a high-speed digital link. The variable data rate distributes the signal energy of the digitized data signals over one or more bands of frequencies, thereby beneficially altering an EMI spectral profile describing emissions that develop as the digitized data signals are transported through a channel.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Nvidia CorporationInventors: Tao Liu, Mansour Keramat, Mehrdad Heshami, Feng Bao, Timothy C. Kuo, Douglas J. Hogberg, Bo Liang, Edward Wai Yeung Liu
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Patent number: 7548740Abstract: A system, method and system are disclosed for using a variable frequency clock generator to synchronize an average data rate over intervals of time in a variable clock domain to make it equal to a fixed data rate in a fixed clock domain while reducing electromagnetic interference, among other things. In various embodiments, setting the data rates equal to each other minimizes storage used to transition data signals between clock domains. In one embodiment, a variable frequency clock generator includes a phase modulator configured to form a variable frequency clock. Also, the variable clock generator is configured to maintain an average frequency over specific periods of time for the range of discrete frequencies. The phase-offset controller sets an average clock having substantially no offset between a fixed data rate in the fixed clock domain and an average data rate in the variable clock domain.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Nvidia CorporationInventors: Tao Liu, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu, Mehrdad Heshami, Timothy C. Kuo
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Patent number: 7542749Abstract: A system, method and system are disclosed for using a variable frequency clock generator to synchronize an average data rate over intervals of time in a variable clock domain to make it equal to a fixed data rate in a fixed clock domain while reducing electromagnetic interference, among other things. In various embodiments, setting the data rates equal to each other minimizes storage used to transition data signals between clock domains. In one embodiment, a variable frequency clock generator includes a phase modulator configured to form a variable frequency clock. Also, the variable clock generator is configured to maintain an average frequency over specific periods of time for the range of discrete frequencies. The phase-offset controller sets an average clock having substantially no offset between a fixed data rate in the fixed clock domain and an average data rate in the variable clock domain.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: NVIDIA CorporationInventors: Tao Liu, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu, Mehrdad Heshami, Timothy C. Kuo
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Patent number: 7499690Abstract: A system, method and system are disclosed for using a variable frequency clock generator to synchronize an average data rate over intervals of time in a variable clock domain to make it equal to a fixed data rate in a fixed clock domain while reducing electromagnetic interference, among other things. In various embodiments, setting the data rates equal to each other minimizes storage used to transition data signals between clock domains. In one embodiment, a variable frequency clock generator includes a phase modulator configured to form a variable frequency clock. Also, the variable clock generator is configured to maintain an average frequency over specific periods of time for the range of discrete frequencies. The phase-offset controller sets an average clock having substantially no offset between a fixed data rate in the fixed clock domain and an average data rate in the variable clock domain.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: NVIDIA CorporationInventors: Tao Liu, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu, Mehrdad Heshami, Timothy C. Kuo
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Publication number: 20080273637Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver (“Rx”) is disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or impedance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy C. Kuo, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu
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Patent number: 7447490Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver (“Rx”) is disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or impedance.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Nvidia CorporationInventors: Timothy C. Kuo, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu
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Patent number: 7389095Abstract: A system, method and system are disclosed for using a variable frequency clock generator to synchronize an average data rate over intervals of time in a variable clock domain to make it equal to a fixed data rate in a fixed clock domain while reducing electromagnetic interference, among other things. In various embodiments, setting the data rates equal to each other minimizes storage used to transition data signals between clock domains. In one embodiment, a variable frequency clock generator includes a phase modulator configured to form a variable frequency clock. Also, the variable clock generator is configured to maintain an average frequency over specific periods of time for the range of discrete frequencies. The phase-offset controller sets an average clock having substantially no offset between a fixed data rate in the fixed clock domain and an average data rate in the variable clock domain.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Nvidia CorporationInventors: Tao Liu, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu, Mehrdad Heshami, Timothy C. Kuo
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Patent number: 6407658Abstract: Improved common mode feedback is provided in differential amplifying-type gyrator filters. One specific implementation is directed to a signal-filtering circuit arrangement, comprising a transconductance cell, and a common mode feedback circuit including MOS-based transistors arranged to minimize loading on the transconductance cell. The transconductance cell has first and second current paths, each passing current between power terminals. The common mode feedback circuit includes a high-impedance circuit configured and arranged to compare a sampled common mode voltage to a reference voltage and to provide common mode feedback to the transconductance cell with minimized loading, and further includes a signal-sampling circuit for sampling the common mode voltage of the transconductance cell using a high impedance isolation arrangement of MOS-type transistors.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1999Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Timothy C. Kuo
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Patent number: 6359513Abstract: A CMOS Class F amplifier uses a differential input to eliminate even-order harmonics, thereby avoiding the need for circuits that are tuned to the second harmonic. This also minimizes the sensitivity of the design to changes in the second harmonic frequency and/or the particular component values selected for the tuned circuit. Third-order harmonics are reduced by controlling the phase relationship between the differential inputs. Additional efficiency is achieved by dynamically controlling the impedance of the amplifier as a function of output power level.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventors: Timothy C. Kuo, Bruce B. Lusignan
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Publication number: 20020011895Abstract: Improved common mode feedback is provided in differential amplifying-type gyrator filters. One specific implementation is directed to a signal-filtering circuit arrangement, comprising a transconductance cell, and a common mode feedback circuit including MOS-based transistors arranged to minimize loading on the transconductance cell. The transconductance cell has first and second current paths, each passing current between power terminals. The common mode feedback circuit includes a high-impedance circuit configured and arranged to compare a sampled common mode voltage to a reference voltage and to provide common mode feedback to the transconductance cell with minimized loading, and further includes a signal-sampling circuit for sampling the common mode voltage of the transconductance cell using a high impedance isolation arrangement of MOS-type transistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 1999Publication date: January 31, 2002Inventor: TIMOTHY C. KUO
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Patent number: 6317016Abstract: An arrangement of differential amplifying-type gyrators is used to implement a signal-filtering circuit with significantly reduced power consumption. One specific example implementation is directed to a signal-filtering circuit arrangement that uses a gyrator-type signal-filtering circuit to simulate a multiple-section LC ladder implementation. A plurality of transconductance cells are arranged to simulate the first inductance ladder section and at least one subsequent inductance ladder section. The first inductance ladder section is adapted to provide a gain of two or three. By setting the gain of the first section in this manner, the noise contribution of the subsequent sections is significantly lessened relative to the conventional implementation in which the gain of the first section is unity.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1999Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Koninklijke Philips ElectronicsInventor: Timothy C. Kuo