Patents by Inventor William J. Roeckner

William J. Roeckner 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: 8638836
    Abstract: A transceiver mitigates signal leakage into a receive path from a transmit path. A subtraction circuit determines a difference between a receive signal and a compensation signal to produce a compensated receive signal prior to demodulation by a demodulator. An equalizer both amplitude adjusts and phase adjusts orthogonal baseband transmit signals based on the difference from the subtraction circuit to produce the compensation signal. A digital tuning circuit determines at least one amplitude adjust coefficient to be used by the equalizer. The equalizer can have a polarity switch or a variable attenuator or a variable delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Rakers L Patrick, William J Roeckner
  • Patent number: 8278902
    Abstract: A switching power converter converts an input DC voltage to an output DC voltage using a switch to selectively connect an input DC voltage energy source. A switching controller controls the switch. A pulse width modulation centering signal is generated by a spread spectrum clock signal generator. An error amplifier of the switching controller generates an analog error signal based on a switching voltage measured after the switching of the switching power converter, the output voltage of the switching power converter, the pulse width modulation centering signal and a reference. A pulse width modulated signal generator generates the pulse width modulation signal to control the switch of the switching power converter based on the pulse width modulation centering signal and the analog error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Siamak Abedinpour, William J Roeckner
  • Patent number: 8228117
    Abstract: A switching audio amplifier circuit drives a switching audio amplifier stage using a digital PWM signal from an audio source. A PWM duty ratio modifier modifies an edge timing of the digital PWM signal to produce a modified digital PWM signal. A mode switch switches between the digital PWM signal and the modified digital PWM signal in a way that masks audible noise such as clicks and pops at power-up and power-down of the switching audio amplifier. An integrating error amplifier compares a difference between the digital PWM signal and an amplified PWM signal and integrates the difference to control the edge timing modified by the PWM duty ratio modifier. A mode controller can apply an offset signal to the integrating error amplifier and can control the switching of the mode switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, William J Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20110051833
    Abstract: A transceiver mitigates signal leakage into a receive path from a transmit path. A subtraction circuit determines a difference between a receive signal and a compensation signal to produce a compensated receive signal prior to demodulation by a demodulator. An equalizer both amplitude adjusts and phase adjusts orthogonal baseband transmit signals based on the difference from the subtraction circuit to produce the compensation signal. A digital tuning circuit determines at least one amplitude adjust coefficient to be used by the equalizer. The equalizer can have a polarity switch or a variable attenuator or a variable delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Patrick L. Rakers, William J. Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20110012575
    Abstract: A switching power converter converts an input DC voltage to an output DC voltage using a switch to selectively connect an input DC voltage energy source. A switching controller controls the switch. A pulse width modulation centering signal is generated by a spread spectrum clock signal generator. An error amplifier of the switching controller generates an analog error signal based on a switching voltage measured after the switching of the switching power converter, the output voltage of the switching power converter, the pulse width modulation centering signal and a reference. A pulse width modulated signal generator generates the pulse width modulation signal to control the switch of the switching power converter based on the pulse width modulation centering signal and the analog error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Siamak Abedinpour, William J. Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20110012674
    Abstract: A switching audio amplifier circuit drives a switching audio amplifier stage using a digital PWM signal from an audio source. A PWM duty ratio modifier modifies an edge timing of the digital PWM signal to produce a modified digital PWM signal. A mode switch switches between the digital PWM signal and the modified digital PWM signal in a way that masks audible noise such as clicks and pops at power-up and power-down of the switching audio amplifier. An integrating error amplifier compares a difference between the digital PWM signal and an amplified PWM signal and integrates the difference to control the edge timing modified by the PWM duty ratio modifier. A mode controller can apply an offset signal to the integrating error amplifier and can control the switching of the mode switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, William J. Roeckner
  • Patent number: 7825726
    Abstract: A switching amplifier drives a load or audio transducer. A digital integral noise shaping circuit converts a digital input such as audio content to an output digital pulse width modulated signal using an integrator. The integrator integrates the digital input, a variable frequency reference pulse width modulated signal and an inverse of the output digital pulse width modulated signal. A half bridge amplifier receives the output digital pulse width modulated signal and drives the load or audio transducer. A variable frequency generator generates the variable frequency reference pulse width modulated signal with an approximately equal duty ratio or alternatively varies the variable frequency pulse width modulated signal above and below about a fifty percent duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Matthew R Miller, William J Roeckner
  • Patent number: 7777563
    Abstract: A circuit includes a variable frequency generator circuit and a quantization circuit. The variable frequency generator circuit provides a discontinuous switching frequency signal. The variable frequency generator circuit varies the discontinuous switching frequency signal between a first and second frequency while avoiding at least one frequency band between the first and second frequency. The quantization circuit provides a plurality discrete switching signals each separated by a second frequency band that vary in accordance with the discontinuous switching frequency signal, wherein the avoided frequency band of the discontinuous switching frequency signal is greater than the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, William J. Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20100156527
    Abstract: A circuit includes a variable frequency generator circuit and a quantization circuit. The variable frequency generator circuit provides a discontinuous switching frequency signal. The variable frequency generator circuit varies the discontinuous switching frequency signal between a first and second frequency while avoiding at least one frequency band between the first and second frequency. The quantization circuit provides a plurality discrete switching signals each separated by a second frequency band that vary in accordance with the discontinuous switching frequency signal, wherein the avoided frequency band of the discontinuous switching frequency signal is greater than the second frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, William J. Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20100109767
    Abstract: A switching amplifier drives a load or audio transducer. A digital integral noise shaping circuit converts a digital input such as audio content to an output digital pulse width modulated signal using an integrator. The integrator integrates the digital input, a variable frequency reference pulse width modulated signal and an inverse of the output digital pulse width modulated signal. A half bridge amplifier receives the output digital pulse width modulated signal and drives the load or audio transducer. A variable frequency generator generates the variable frequency reference pulse width modulated signal with an approximately equal duty ratio or alternatively varies the variable frequency pulse width modulated signal above and below about a fifty percent duty ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Matthew R. Miller, William J. Roeckner
  • Patent number: 7629840
    Abstract: A switching amplifier includes a power stage, a low pass filter, a combining circuit, and a feedback correction circuit. The power stage has an input terminal and an output terminal. The low pass filter has an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the power stage, and an output terminal for providing a filtered pulse width modulated signal. The combining circuit has a first input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the power stage, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the low pass filter, and an output terminal. The feedback correction circuit has a first input terminal for receiving a reference pulse width modulated signal, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the combining circuit, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the power stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Theresa Paulo, William J. Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20090261902
    Abstract: A circuit (104, 106) includes a comparison circuit (202, 504, 506, 602) and a correction circuit (204, 508, 510, 604). The comparison circuit provides a comparison signal (212, 524, 526, 612) in response to an error value (210, 520, 522, 610) and a reference value (214). The error value is based on a pulse modulated input signal (114) and a pulse modulated output signal (118). The correction circuit asynchronously provides a corrected pulse modulated signal (116) by selectively delaying and advancing an edge of the pulse modulated input signal based on the comparison signal. The pulse modulated output signal is based on the corrected pulse modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Matthew R. Miller, Theresa Paulo, William J. Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20090102549
    Abstract: A switching amplifier includes a power stage, a low pass filter, a combining circuit, and a feedback correction circuit. The power stage has an input terminal and an output terminal. The low pass filter has an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the power stage, and an output terminal for providing a filtered pulse width modulated signal. The combining circuit has a first input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the power stage, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the low pass filter, and an output terminal. The feedback correction circuit has a first input terminal for receiving a reference pulse width modulated signal, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the combining circuit, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the power stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Theresa Paulo, William J. Roeckner
  • Patent number: 7382039
    Abstract: An edge seal structure and fabrication method are described. The edge seal structure includes a high impedance substrate containing a base material and a grounded floating edge seal that is on the substrate but is isolated from the base material. The edge seal contacts a first doped well in the substrate that has the same conductivity type as and is more heavily doped than the base material. The first doped well is in a second doped well that has a different conductivity type than the first doped well. The first and second doped wells and the base material form back-to-back series connected diodes. The wells are effectively connected to power and ground such that the diodes are reverse-biased. The edge seal is formed by a stack of conductive layers, at least some of which are surrounded by a stack of insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignees: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal W. Hollenbeck, Kenneth R. Haddad, William J. Roeckner
  • Patent number: 7312654
    Abstract: A closed loop audio amplifier system and method of powering up/down the system without producing audible artifacts are provided. During power up, a prebias voltage is provided to each output connected to a speaker to increase the voltage to a nominal output level. High impedance switches are then driven at a 50% duty cycle. Feedback from the output is supplied to a servo, which is enabled to fine tune the output voltage. Low impedance switches are then driven at a 50% duty cycle at a quarter cycle timing. The order of the feedback loop depends on which of the high or low impedance switches are driven. The prebias voltage is then removed before audio signals to be amplified are supplied to the system. Timing of driving of the switches is programmable. To power down, essentially the reverse sequence is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Roeckner, Pallab Midya, Patrick L. Rakers, Lawrence E. Connell, Daniel A. Mavencamp, Bradley C. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7227487
    Abstract: An audio amplifier includes a digital signal processor (DSP) that contains a noise shaping quantizer having an integrating error amplifier. The integrating error amplifier contains integrators connected in a feedback loop, a summer supplied with an output of each of the integrators, and a saturation function module producing a saturation function. A multiplier is disposed between each pair of adjacent integrators. The multiplier receives a signal from one of the adjacent integrators and the saturation function and supplies a signal to the other of the adjacent integrators. The saturation function decreases the effect of all of the integrators except an integrator to which an input signal to the integrating amplifier is supplied using an input signal to and/or an output signal from the noise shaping quantizer. This permits the duty ratio of the output signal from the noise shaping quantizer to extend from 0% to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, William J. Roeckner, John Grosspietsch, Anthony R. Schooler
  • Patent number: 7142597
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for full bridge integral noise shaping for quantization of pulse width modulated signals. A method for full bridge integral noise shaping comprises: receiving a first and a second reference PWM signal; summing the first and second reference PWM signals with a quantization error correction; quantizing the sum into a first and a second output PWM signal; differentially integrating the first and second reference PWM signals and the first and second output PWM signals according to a full bridge integral noise shaping algorithm to obtain the quantization error correction. An apparatus for performing a full bridge integral noise shaping quantization of a pulse modulated signal, includes: a single-ended to differential conversion circuit; and a full bridge INS quantizer circuit, coupled to the single-ended to differential conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, William J. Roeckner
  • Patent number: 6922100
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and/or apparatus for adjusting the sample time and order associated with a digital correction system for maximizing output power and minimizing power stage delay sensitivity of a switching power stage. In certain embodiments, the sample point of an ADC may be changed as a function of the duty ratio of the PWM signal thus allowing higher performance and use of less expensive power stage components. In addition, adjustment of the order of an integrating error amplifier in the system permits operation of the power stage with an output being permitted to saturate up to the power supply rails, thus increasing a power output of the power stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Steven W. Bergstedt, William J. Roeckner
  • Publication number: 20040062303
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for full bridge integral noise shaping for quantization of pulse width modulated signals. A method for full bridge integral noise shaping comprises: receiving a first and a second reference PWM signal; summing the first and second reference PWM signals with a quantization error correction; quantizing the sum into a first and a second output PWM signal; differentially integrating the first and second reference PWM signals and the first and second output PWM signals according to a full bridge integral noise shaping algorithm to obtain the quantization error correction. An apparatus for performing a full bridge integral noise shaping quantization of a pulse modulated signal, includes: a single-ended to differential conversion circuit; and a full bridge INS quantizer circuit, coupled to the single-ended to differential conversion circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, William J. Roeckner
  • Patent number: 6665338
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention deal generally with circuitry and methods for converting a sampled digital signal (32) to a naturally sampled digital signal (34). One embodiment relating to a method includes receiving the sampled digital signal, calculating a duty ratio estimate (33) using feedback (52), and using interpolation (62) to determine the naturally sampled digital signal. Circuitry for converting a sampled digital signal (32) to a naturally sampled digital signal (34) includes a natural sampler, where the natural sampler includes an input to receive the sampled digital signal (32) and an input to receive a feedback signal (52). The natural sampler has an output to provide the naturally sampled digital signal (34). In one embodiment, the natural sampler calculates a duty ratio (33) using the feedback signal (52) and uses interpolation to determine the naturally sampled digital signal (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Pallab Midya, Patrick L. Rakers, William J. Roeckner