Having Discrete Active Device (e.g., Transistor, Triode, Etc.) Patents (Class 327/118)
  • Patent number: 10819304
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a device for removing noise of a power source and an apparatus for converting an audio signal, which remove a noise component which comes from a power source terminal of an audio signal converting apparatus stepwise and transfer power to a converting unit and an amplification unit included in the audio signal converting apparatus from a power source terminal to remove power noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DREAMUS COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeong Ho Lee, Seung Ho Yu, Ji Heon Ahn, Woo Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 10749470
    Abstract: A multimode, multicore inductor-capacitor (LC) oscillator having an increased oscillation frequency tuning range, and related method, are provided. The oscillation frequency tuning range of existing oscillators is limited. LC oscillators are known to have very low phase noise but a narrow frequency tuning range. The present oscillator has at least two LC oscillator cores and is capable of operating in multiple different modes of oscillation thereby increasing its overall oscillation frequency tuning range. A set of programmable amplifier pairs is used to force particular relative oscillation phases at the nodes of the multiple cores of the oscillator to realize one or more additional modes of oscillation for the oscillator. The additional oscillation mode increases the frequency tuning range of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Hormoz Djahanshahi, Amir Hossein Masnadi Shirazi Nejad, Mohammad Shahidzadeh Mahani
  • Patent number: 10491163
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an amplification system that includes an amplifier, a resistor-capacitor (RC) network, and a charging path circuit. Herein, the RC network is coupled between an input port and an output port of the amplifier and includes a feedback resistor and a feedback capacitor. The feedback resistor is coupled between the input port of the amplifier and a joint point in between the feedback resistor and the feedback capacitor, and the feedback capacitor is coupled between the joint point and the output port of the amplifier. The charging path circuit is coupled between the joint point and ground, and configured to accelerate a charging speed of the feedback capacitor and reduce turn-on time of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Mehra Mokalla
  • Patent number: 10389302
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator includes an oscillation generator, two inductors and two amplifiers. The oscillation generator generates two oscillation voltage signals based on a control voltage. Each inductor receives a respective oscillation voltage signal, and provides a respective input voltage signal. Each amplifier generates a respective current signal based on a respective input voltage signal. When one of the current signals has a magnitude that varies according to a magnitude of the respective input voltage signal, the other of the current signals has a constant magnitude. The current signals are combined into an output current signal at a common node of the amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHI NAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yo-Sheng Lin, Jin-You Liao
  • Patent number: 10374550
    Abstract: An electronic system comprises a first and a second oscillator that are mutually cross-coupled and have one and the same resonant frequency, each oscillator comprising an electrical resonator, an active cell having a negative small-signal resistance linked to the electrical resonator, an electric power supply terminal of the active cell, an output for an oscillation signal and a terminal for connection to a ground point, wherein: the electric power supply terminal of the second oscillator and the terminal for connection to a ground point of the first oscillator are linked to one and the same point, termed dynamic ground; and the system also comprises a differential amplifier forming, with the active cell of one of the oscillators, a feedback loop designed to keep the potential of the dynamic ground point at a constant level, dependent on the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Baudoin Martineau
  • Patent number: 10326459
    Abstract: An injection locked frequency divider includes a mixer circuit and a filter circuit. The mixer circuit includes two mixer units and two inductors. The mixer units mix a differential input voltage signal with a reference signal to output a differential current signal. The inductors cooperatively receive the differential current signal from the mixer units. The filter circuit is connected to the inductors, and filters the differential current signal to output a filtered differential voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHI NAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yo-Sheng Lin, Shao-Siang Wang
  • Patent number: 9910954
    Abstract: A method, system, and compute program product use a generalized macro or a generalized macro timing abstract for a timing analysis in a specific timing context. The method includes setting up a timer, and determining a divide ratio of each external clock divider of one or more external clock dividers associated with the generalized macro or the generalized macro timing abstract programmatically as a function of another value. The method also includes performing the timing analysis using the divide ratios of the one or more external clock dividers. Obtaining a physical implementation of an integrated circuit is based on the timing analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naiju K. Abdul, Jennifer E. Basile, Hemlata Gupta, Kerim Kalafala, Jeremy J. Leitzen, Stephen G. Shuma, Manish Verma, James D. Warnock, Michael H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9793855
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Bushman, Charles J. Duey, James W. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 9553568
    Abstract: A frequency multiplier includes an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor having a first gate to which a radiofrequency signal is input from the input terminal, a first drain from which an output signal is issued to the output terminal, and a first source, a second transistor having a second gate, a second source to which the radiofrequency signal is input from the input terminal, and a second drain from which an output signal is issued to the output terminal, and a stabilizing resistor which is a resistor connected to the second gate, wherein no resistor exists on the path for the radiofrequency signal, and wherein the stabilizing resistor suppresses a reflex gain produced by the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kurusu, Yoshihiro Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 9484933
    Abstract: A device for generating at least one frequency-stable periodical signal, including: a generator configured to generate at least one first periodical signal with frequency spectrum that includes at least two lines at different frequencies fa and fb; a first switchable injection-locked oscillator configured to receive at an input the first periodical signal and to be locked, in a first state, to the frequency fa, and in a second state, to the frequency fb, as a function of a value of at least one control signal applied at the input of the first switchable injection-locked oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Jose-Luis Gonzalez Jimenez, Alexandre Siligaris
  • Patent number: 9325541
    Abstract: A system comprising a first frequency divider to divide an input frequency of an input signal to generate a first signal having a first frequency and a first phase. Each of a plurality of second frequency dividers divides the input frequency of the input signal to generate a second signal having the first frequency and a second phase. A first switch includes a first end connected to a first node of the first frequency divider, and a second end connected to a second node of a first one of the plurality of second frequency dividers. A plurality of second switches include first ends connected to the second end of the first switch, and second ends respectively connected to the second nodes of the plurality of second frequency dividers other than the first one of the plurality of second frequency dividers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade LTD.
    Inventors: Alberto Pirola, Danilo Gerna
  • Patent number: 9276593
    Abstract: An injection locked frequency divider includes a ring oscillator, an input terminal, an output terminal and a control voltage terminal. The ring oscillator has a three-stage cascade connection of a first amplification circuit including an N-channel MOS type transistor and P-channel MOS type transistors, a second amplification circuit configured in the same manner as the first amplification circuit and a third amplification circuit configured likewise. A high frequency signal is input to a gate terminal of each P-channel MOS type transistor. A predetermined DC control voltage is supplied to a gate terminal of each P-channel MOS type transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Shima, Hiroshi Komori, Takeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9190951
    Abstract: There is provided an integrated electronic circuit. The integrated electronic circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator and a frequency doubler connected to the voltage controlled oscillator. A frequency doubling input of the frequency doubler is load isolated from an output of the voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bodhisatwa Sadhu, Mihai A. Sanduleanu, Alberto Valdes Garcia, Scott K. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9018996
    Abstract: Circuits, architectures, a system and methods for providing quadrature output signals. The circuit generally includes a quadrature signal generator and a plurality of frequency dividers. The plurality of frequency dividers are each configured to receive a plurality of quadrature signal generator outputs at a first frequency and provide a plurality of outputs at a second frequency. The method generally includes providing a plurality of quadrature signals at a first frequency and dividing the first frequency of the quadrature signals by n, wherein n is an odd integer of at least 3, thereby providing a plurality of divided-by-n quadrature outputs at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is about equal to the first frequency divided by n. The present disclosure further advantageously improves quadrature signal generation accuracy, reliability and/or performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Hossein Zarei
  • Patent number: 9013213
    Abstract: A digital fractional frequency divider for fractionally dividing a digital frequency signal can include a plurality of clock division counter modules, a plurality of sampling modules, and a summing module. The plurality of clock division counter modules can each receive an input clock signal that is phase-shifted from a remaining plurality of input clock signals. Each clock division counter module can generate a long periodic pulse from the received input clock signal. Each sampling module can couple to an output of one of the plurality of clock division counter modules and can generate a short periodic pulse from the long periodic pulse. The summing module can sum the plurality of short periodic pulses to generate a fractional frequency clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kailash Chandrashekar, Stefano Pellerano
  • Publication number: 20150077163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Frequency Divider Circuit for dividing an input RF signal to a frequency divided RF signal. The circuit comprises a RF pair, a switching-quad pair coupled in series with a transimpedance amplifier and a double pair of emitter followers. The circuit comprises coupling elements for providing first DC paths to first amplifier paths of the RF pair and for providing second DC paths to second amplifier paths of the series arrangement of the switching-quad pair and the transimpedance amplifier. The first DC paths are independent of the second DC paths. RF connections are provided to couple the first and the second amplifier paths for transferring a signal from the first amplifier paths to the second amplifier paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Akbar Ghazinour, Saverio Trotta
  • Patent number: 8981821
    Abstract: Several methods and circuits configured to mitigate signal interference of at least one aggressor circuit operable on a first clock signal within an interfering frequency range of at least one victim circuit in an IC are disclosed. In an embodiment, a signal interference mitigation circuit is configured to be associated with the aggressor circuit and includes a clock divider circuit and a control circuit. The clock divider circuit is configured to generate the first clock signal based on a second clock signal and a division factor pattern. The control circuit is coupled with the clock divider circuit and configured to determine the division factor pattern and provide the division factor pattern to the clock divider circuit. The division factor pattern comprises a plurality of division factors selected randomly based on a plurality of random numbers, and is configured to control a throughput frequency associated with the signal interference mitigation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sreenath Narayanan Potty, Jasbir Singh Nayyar, Vivek Singhal
  • Publication number: 20150061733
    Abstract: A frequency dividing system, which comprises a control circuit, a first multiple input sharing input level triggering device, a first input level triggering group and a second input level triggering group. The first multiple input sharing input level triggering device receives a first frequency dividing signal to generate a feedback signal according to a level of a first clock signal, or receives a second frequency dividing signal to generate the feedback signal according to a level of a second clock signal. The first/second input level triggering group generates the first/second frequency dividing signal to the first multiple input sharing input level triggering device according to the feedback signal if active; and outputs a fixed voltage to the first multiple input sharing input level triggering device if non-active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Sheng-Che Tseng
  • Patent number: 8963527
    Abstract: The present invention provides for EMI mitigation in switching circuitry, such as power converters, by implementing a controlled, non-random change in frequency in every cycle of switch control signals based on a static or dynamically changing modulation cycle. This permits frequency spreading across a wide range while avoiding excessive jitter between cycles and voltage dropouts common to randomized EMI control circuitry. Further, since it may be implemented digitally, some embodiments may avoid performance, size and power consumption problems experienced by mixed signal or analog switch control circuitry and EMI control circuitry. Further still, implementations of the present invention may mitigate EMI from a constant frequency source without the necessity of a variable frequency source, such as one generated by a VCO, to realize frequency variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Tao Jing
  • Publication number: 20140333350
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for distributing spurious tones through the frequency domain are disclosed. One such apparatus can include a dithering circuit configured to generate a sequence of numbers that exhibit statistical randomness and a variable frequency circuit configured to adjust a frequency of an output based on the sequence of numbers so as to spread energy of spurious tones in a frequency response of the output to lower a noise floor. In one example, spurious tones can be reduced in a negative voltage generator of a radio frequency (RF) attenuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Obkircher, William J. Domino, Bipul Agarwal
  • Patent number: 8884664
    Abstract: An embodiment of a system for generating a low phase noise sine wave includes a variable signal source for generating a signal a series of octave dividing stages connected with the variable signal source, an input divider connected with the variable signal source, and a second series of octave dividing stages connected with an output of the pre-input frequency divider. Each octave dividing stage generating a successive octave of the generated signal using a frequency divider, a sine look up table, and a low pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Anritsu Company
    Inventor: Donald Anthony Bradley
  • Publication number: 20140312936
    Abstract: One of the most important RF building blocks today is the frequency synthesizer, or more particularly the programmable frequency divider (divider). Such dividers preferably would support unlimited range with continuous division without incorrect divisions or loss of PLL lock. The inventors present multi-modulus dividers (MMDs) providing extended division range against the prior art and without incorrect divisions as the division ratio is switched back and forth across the boundary between two different ranges. Accordingly, the inventors present MMD frequency dividers without the drawbacks within the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Muhammad Swilam ABDEL-HALEEM, Rania Hassan Mekky
  • Patent number: 8860511
    Abstract: A frequency divider of an injection locked type capable of division by 2, division by 4, and further division by 8 with a simpler configuration is disclosed and the frequency divider includes a ring oscillator including M (M is an even number) delay elements, the tails of two delay elements M/2 delay elements apart from each other are connected to a differential pair and transistors, to the gates of which the input oscillation signal is applied, are connected to the differential pair, and the differential pair is caused to generate a differential signal of the input oscillation signal, which is a divide-by-2 signal of the input oscillation signal, and when dividing the frequency of the input oscillation signal by 8, the portion of the differential pair to be connected to the tail of the delay element is caused to have a two-stage configuration, which is a vertically stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Technology Academic Research Center
    Inventors: Kenichi Okada, Ahmed Magdi Hassan Musa
  • Patent number: 8847638
    Abstract: A high frequency divider involves a plurality of differential latches. Each latch includes a pair of cross-coupled P-channel transistors and a variable resistance element. The latch is controlled to have a lower output resistance at high operating frequencies by setting a multi-bit digital control value supplied to the variable resistance element. Controlling the latch to have a reduced output resistance at high frequencies allows the 3 dB bandwidth of the latch to be maintained over a wide operating frequency range. The variable resistance element is disposed between the two differential output nodes of the latch such that appreciable DC bias current does not flow across the variable resistance element. As a consequence, good output signal voltage swing is maintained at high frequencies, and divider current consumption does not increase appreciably at high frequencies as compared to output signal swing degradation and current consumption increases in a conventional differential latch divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ngar Loong Alan Chan, Shen Wang
  • Patent number: 8829954
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit is described. The frequency divider circuit includes a first cross-coupling. The first cross-coupling includes a first cross-coupled transistor with a first gate. The first gate is separately biased. The first cross-coupling also includes a second cross-coupled transistor with a second gate. The second gate is separately biased. The first gate is coupled to the second cross-coupled transistor and the second gate is coupled to the first cross-coupled transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mazhareddin Taghivand, Jafar Savoj, Mingdeng Chen
  • Patent number: 8803568
    Abstract: An apparatus for dividing a frequency by 1.5 to produce a quadrature signal is disclosed. The apparatus includes a divider that receives a differential input signal with a first frequency and two phases and creates a six-phase signal at a second frequency. The second frequency is the first frequency divided by 3. The apparatus also includes precision phase rotation circuitry that receives the six-phase signal and produces an eight-phase signal. The apparatus also includes a doubler that receives the eight-phase signal and produces a quadrature signal. The quadrature signal has a third frequency that is the first frequency divided by 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wingching Vincent Leung, Zixiang Yang
  • Patent number: 8797078
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a latch circuit comprising a sensing arrangement with one or more sensing transistors adapted to sense an input signal and to provide a first signal based on the sensed input signal, and a sensing arrangement switch device connected or connectable to a first current source, the sensing arrangement switch device being adapted to switch on or off a current to the one or more sensing transistors based on a first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Saverio Trotta
  • Patent number: 8779810
    Abstract: Disclosed are frequency dividers, methods, apparatus, and other implementations, including a frequency divider that includes at least one input line to deliver at least one signal with a first frequency, a divider stage comprising multiple divider active components to produce output signals each with a second frequency equal to substantially half the first frequency, and an input stage electrically coupled to the divider stage to enable operation of the divider stage, the input stage including multiple additional active components. Each of the output signals is electrically coupled to an input of a different corresponding component of the multiple additional active components to electrically actuate the respective different corresponding components such that each of the multiple additional active components is periodically in an ON state while during the same time at least another of the multiple additional active components of the input stage is in an OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Alberto Cicalini
  • Publication number: 20140159782
    Abstract: At least one embodiment of the invention relates to an injection-locked frequency divider adapted to generate a signal at an output frequency from an input frequency over a large range of input frequencies, wherein said input frequency is either an even or an odd integer multiple of the output frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Peter Kennedy, Malik Summair Ashgar, Muhammad Asfandyar Awan, Antonio Buonomo, Alessandro Lo Schiavo
  • Patent number: 8742804
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with low power consumption and a small area is provided. By using a transistor including an oxide semiconductor for a channel as a transistor included in a flip-flop circuit, a divider circuit in which the number of transistors is small, power consumption is low, and the area is small can be achieved. By using the divider circuit, a semiconductor device which operates stably and is highly reliable can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Fujita, Yukio Maehashi
  • Patent number: 8736317
    Abstract: A frequency includes a first edge detection unit configured to generate a first count signal responsive to detecting first edges of an input signal and a second edge detection unit configured to generate a second count signal responsive to detecting the first edges of the input signal in a first operation mode and to generate the second count signal responsive to detecting second edges of the input signal in a second operation mode. One of the first and second edges is a rising edge and the other of the first and second edges is a falling edge. A pulse triggered buffer unit generates an output signal responsive to the first and second count signals. The output signal is divided by a target division ratio with respect to the input signal that is an odd number division ratio in one mode and an even number division ratio in the other mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwan-Seok Yeo, Ji-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8730404
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes a latch circuit having a first input to receive a data signal and a second input to receive a clock signal. This latch circuit may have a first pair of transistors including a first transistor gated by the data signal and a second transistor gated by an inverted data signal and a second pair of transistors including third and fourth transistors gated by the clock signal. The first transistor may be coupled to the third transistor at a first inter-latch node and the second transistor coupled to the fourth transistor at a second inter-latch node. A reset circuit may be coupled to the latch circuit to maintain the first and second inter-latch nodes at a predetermined voltage level when the clock signal is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton Daigle, Abdulkerim L. Coban
  • Patent number: 8729930
    Abstract: A multiplier-divider circuit for signal process according to the present invention comprises a digital-to-analog converter, a first counter, a second counter, an oscillation circuit, and a control-logic apparatus. The digital-to-analog converter generates an output signal of the multiplier-divider circuit in accordance with the value of an input signal and a first signal. The first counter generates the first signal in response to a clock signal and the duty cycle of the input signal. The second counter generates a second signal in response to the clock signal and the period of the input signal. The oscillation circuit generates the clock signal in accordance with a third signal. The control-logic apparatus generates the third signal in response to the second signal and a constant. The first signal is correlated to the duty cycle of the input signal. The second signal is correlated to the period of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: System General Corp.
    Inventor: Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 8729931
    Abstract: A divide-by-two divider circuit receives a differential input signal and outputs four rail-to-rail, twenty-five percent duty cycle signals, where the frequency of the output signals is half of the frequency of the input signal. Each latch can output its output signals into loads of at least 15 fF at a frequency of at least 3 GHz so that each output signal has a phase noise of better than 160 dBc/Hz, while the latch consumes less than 0.7 mW over PVT from a supply voltage less than 1.0 volt. Each latch has a cross-coupled pair of P-channel transistors and two output signal generating branches. A static current blocking circuit in each branch prevents current flow in the branch during times when the branch is not switching its output signal. The input node of the latch is capacitively coupled to a signal source, and the DC voltage on the node is set by a bias circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Alireza Khalili
  • Patent number: 8723609
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) module including a first VCO unit, a second VCO unit, and a matching circuit is provided. The first VCO unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal and generates a first oscillator signal. The second VCO unit is coupled to the first VCO unit and generates a second oscillator signal. The matching circuit is coupled between the first VCO unit and second VCO unit. The matching circuit includes a plurality of inductor modules respectively coupled between the first terminal of the first VCO unit and the second VCO unit, between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first VCO unit, and between the second terminal of the first VCO unit and the second VCO unit. Furthermore, a method for generating oscillator signals is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Idustrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Chang, Nai-Chen Cheng, Yu Lee, Ching-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 8704557
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-speed non-integer frequency divider circuit for use in generating frequencies in a communication device, comprising: at least four bi-stable memory devices each having an input terminal, a clock terminal and an output terminal for outputting an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Adam Malmcrona, Tomas Nylén
  • Patent number: 8698525
    Abstract: A clock divider circuit. The clock divider receives m input clock signals each of the same frequency. Each input clock signal after the first has a phase offset of 2?/m from the previous input clock signal. The clock divider divides the frequency of the input clock signals by an integer of division K. The clock divider includes a counter that receives the first input clock signal and provides one or more count signals. The clock divider also includes m flip-flops, of which a first flip-flop receives the first input clock signal at its clock input and provides a first clock output signal. Each flip-flop after the first receives an input clock signal at its clock input and provides a clock output signal, each clock output signal after the first having a 2?K/m phase offset from the previous clock output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Rajesh Velayuthan
  • Patent number: 8629760
    Abstract: A signal conversion device, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and a method for operating the RFID tag. The RFID tag has an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory module for storing RFID tag information and transmitting the RFID tag information; an information comparison module coupled to the electrically erasable programmable for receiving the RFID tag information and demodulation information, comparing the RFID tag information with the demodulation information, and generating a driving signal; and a pulse oscillation module coupled to the information comparison module for receiving the driving signal, and transmitting pulse oscillating signals to the electrically erasable programmable read-only memory module, so as to allow the electrically erasable programmable read-only memory module to transmit the RFID tag information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Chi-En Liu, Jean-Fu Kiang
  • Patent number: 8629698
    Abstract: There is provided a mixing circuit in which a rise of the consumption current can be suppressed while decreasing a non-linear component. The mixing circuit includes: an input unit 803 including a grounded-gate MOS transistor M1 with a source into which an input signal is input, and a grounded-source MOS transistor M2 with a gate into which the input signal is input; a frequency converter 802 for converting frequencies of a first current signal output from the grounded-gate MOS transistor M1 and a second current signal output from the grounded-source MOS transistor M2, and for generating a third current signal and a fourth current signal; a load MOS transistor M7, with a gate and a drain connected, for receiving a third current signal; and a load MOS transistor M8, with a gate and a drain connected, for receiving a fourth current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Ueda
  • Publication number: 20130328600
    Abstract: A multi-phase frequency divider comprises first and second latches configured to receive a first input clock having a first frequency and a first phase, wherein the second latch receives the inverted first input clock. The first and second latches generate a plurality of output clocks each having a frequency that equals the first frequency divided by a predetermined divider ratio. The plurality of output clocks each have different phases staggered from the first phase. The frequency divider also comprises at least a first delay latch electrically connected between the first and second latches. The first delay latch is configured to generate, based on an output clock generated by the first latch and a second input clock at the first frequency and a second phase, two delayed output clocks. These two delayed output clocks have a frequency that equals the first frequency divided by the predetermined ratio with different staggered phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joachim Heinz Dieter Woelk, Erwin Robert Schlag
  • Patent number: 8588720
    Abstract: Techniques for decimating a first periodic signal to generate a second periodic signal. In an exemplary embodiment, the first periodic signal is divided by a configurable integer ratio divider, and the output of the divider is delayed by a configurable fractional delay. The configurable fractional delay may be noise-shaped using, e.g., sigma-delta modulation techniques to spread the quantization noise of the fractional delay over a wide bandwidth. In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second periodic signals may be used to generate the transmit (TX) and receive (RX) local oscillator (LO) signals for a communications transceiver from a single phase-locked loop (PLL) output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorproated
    Inventors: Gary J. Ballantyne, Jifeng Geng, Bo Sun
  • Patent number: 8581640
    Abstract: A clock divider circuit. The clock divider receives m input clock signals each of the same frequency. Each input clock signal after the first has a phase offset of 2?/m from the previous input clock signal. The clock divider divides the frequency of the input clock signals by an integer of division K. The clock divider includes a counter that receives the first input clock signal and provides one or more count signals. The clock divider also includes m flip-flops, of which a first flip-flop receives the first input clock signal at its clock input and provides a first clock output signal. Each flip-flop after the first receives an input clock signal at its clock input and provides a clock output signal, each clock output signal after the first having a 2?K/m phase offset from the previous clock output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Rajesh Velayuthan
  • Patent number: 8570076
    Abstract: A parallel path frequency divider (PPFD) includes a low power frequency divider and a high speed latch. A first portion of an oscillating input signal present on an input node of the PPFD is communicated to the divider and a second portion is communicated to the latch. The divider generates a frequency divided enable signal that is communicated to the latch. The latch generates a divided down output signal based on the oscillating input signal and the enable signal. The output signal is insensitive to phase noise present on the enable signal as long as the phase noise on the enable signal is less than one-half of the period of oscillation of the oscillating input signal. Because the noise generated by the low power frequency divider is not propagated to the output signal generated by the PPFD, the PPFD generates low noise, frequency divided signals with relatively low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Brown, Alberto Cicalini, Dongjiang Qiao
  • Publication number: 20130271188
    Abstract: A frequency divider circuit having two stages of transistors has improved performance at low supply voltages. The circuit may include cross-coupled PMOS and NMOS transistors, in which the input signal to be frequency divided is supplied to the body of the PMOS and/or NMOS transistors. The input signal may be coupled to the PMOS and/or NMOS transistors through capacitive or inductive coupling. The input signal to the PMOS and/or NMOS transistors may be generated by a voltage controlled oscillator circuit. With the frequency divider circuit having inputs signals coupled to the body of the PMOS and/or NMOS transistors supply voltages as low as 0.5 Volts may be possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Ngar Loong A. Chan
  • Publication number: 20130234763
    Abstract: Circuits, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for frequency division. In one such example circuit, a frequency divider is configured to alternate between providing a common frequency clock signal as an output clock signal through a first circuit responsive to a reference clock signal and providing a reduced frequency clock signal as the output clock signal through a second circuit responsive to the reference clock signal. The first and second circuits share a shared circuit through which the output clock signal is provided. An enable circuit is configured to cause the frequency divider to alternate between providing the common frequency clock signal as the output clock signal through the first circuit and the reduced frequency clock signal as the output clock signal through the second circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Tyler J. Gomm
  • Patent number: 8531213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a CMOS-inverter-type frequency divider circuit that can further reduce power consumption. The CMOS-inverter-type frequency divider circuit includes: a plurality of CMOS inverters that contribute to realizing a frequency division function; a frequency division control section for performing control such that some or all of the plurality of CMOS inverters are intermittently driven at the respective different timings in accordance with an input signal; and a drive power supplying section for supplying powers for driving the plurality of CMOS inverters, and for, based on state information indicating whether VCO sub band selection or normal transmission is performed, switching some or all of the powers for the plurality of CMOS inverters between the VCO sub band selection and the normal transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masakatsu Maeda, Mikihiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 8493104
    Abstract: Memories, clock generators and methods for providing an output clock signal are disclosed. One such method includes delaying a buffered clock signal by a adjustable delay to provide an output clock signal, providing a feedback clock signal from the output clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle of the buffered clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. An example clock generator includes a forward clock path configured to provide a delayed output clock signal from a clock driver circuit, and further includes a feedback clock path configured to provide a feedback clock signal based at least in part on the delayed output clock signal, for example, frequency dividing the delayed output clock signal. The feedback clock path further configured to control adjustment a duty cycle of the buffered input clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Willey, Yantao Ma
  • Patent number: 8493105
    Abstract: An injection-locked frequency divider (ILFD) including a signal injector, an oscillator (OSC), and a buffer stage is provided. The signal injector is configured for receiving an injection signal. The OSC is configured for dividing the frequency of the injection signal, so as to generate a first divided frequency signal, where there is an integral-multiple relation between the frequency of the first divided frequency signal and that of the injection signal. The buffer stage is configured for receiving and boosting the first divided frequency signal, and performing a push-push process on the first divided frequency signal, so as to output a second divided frequency signal, where there is a fractional-multiple relation between the frequency of the second divided frequency signal and that of the injection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hong-Yeh Chang, Yen-Liang Yeh, Chia-Hung Chang, Chun-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 8487670
    Abstract: A frequency divider involves a plurality of Injection-locked Ring Oscillators (ILRO). A first ILRO includes a pair of cross-coupled N-channel transistors, a pair of load resistors, an integrating capacitor, and a current injection circuit. The drain of each transistor is coupled to the gate of the other transistor. Each load resistor couples the drain of each transistor to a circuit voltage source. The integrating capacitor couples the sources of each transistor. The current injection circuit alternately opens and closes a path from the source of each transistor to circuit ground in response to an oscillatory input signal of a first frequency. In response, the voltage state at the drain of each transistor is alternately latched and toggled, generating a differential pair of oscillating signals frequency divided by two. A first and second ILRO driven in antiphase generate two differential output signals in phase quadrature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventor: Russell J. Fagg
  • Patent number: 8471608
    Abstract: A clock divider circuit. The clock divider receives m input clock signals each of the same frequency. Each input clock signal after the first has a phase offset of 2 ?/m from the previous input clock signal. The clock divider divides the frequency of the input clock signals by an integer of division K. The clock divider includes a counter that receives the first input clock signal and provides one or more count signals. The clock divider also includes m flip-flops, of which a first flip-flop receives the first input clock signal at its clock input and provides a first clock output signal. Each flip-flop after the first receives an input clock signal at its clock input and provides a clock output signal, each clock output signal after the first having a 2 ?K/m phase offset from the previous clock output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Rajesh Velayuthan