Active Filter Patents (Class 327/552)
  • Patent number: 10348528
    Abstract: A system includes: a baseband phase generator configured to receive differential in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals and configured to output N phase-shifted baseband signals, wherein N is greater than 4, further wherein the baseband phase generator comprises a plurality of notch filters configured to receive the I and Q signals; and an upconverter configured to receive the phase-shifted baseband signals, to perform mixing on the phase-shifted baseband signals, and to output a differential upconverted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporation
    Inventors: Ayush Mittal, Bhushan Shanti Asuri, Krishnaswamy Thiagarajan, Sameer Vasantlal Vora, Mahim Ranjan
  • Patent number: 10340893
    Abstract: A method for compensating the bandedge ripple of an analog filter, using a circuit comprising a low pass filter is described. The method comprises receiving, at the analog filter, a plurality of tones of different frequencies from a tone generator, measuring, an amplitude of each tone in the plurality of tones after each tone is processed by the analog filter, storing the measured amplitudes and frequencies in a database, measuring a bandedge ripple by measuring a difference in amplitude between a first tone and a second tone from the plurality of tones, and selecting a low pass filter, from a plurality of low pass filters, based on the measured difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Vijay Ahirwar
  • Patent number: 10340890
    Abstract: A high order filter circuit is integrated by a plurality of the low order filter circuits. Before correcting the high order filter circuit, switch units may restore the high order filter circuit to the low order filter circuits for correction, and then combine the corrected low order filter circuits to form the original high order filter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORP., NCKU RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Shuenn-Yuh Lee, Sz-An Chen
  • Patent number: 10333481
    Abstract: According to one mode of the inventive concept, an amplification device includes a first amplifier configured to amplify an input multi-band signal to a first level, a separating unit configured to separate the multi-band signal having the first level into a first band signal and a second band signal, and a second amplifier configured to amplify the second band signal to a second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: SOLiD, INC.
    Inventor: Hwansun Lee
  • Patent number: 10312869
    Abstract: There is described herein methods and devices for high DC gain closed loop operation amplifiers exploiting cascaded low gain stages and a controller-based compensation circuit for stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: THE ROYAL INSTITUTION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING / MCGILL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Gordon Roberts, Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 10291195
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for digitally processing audio signals. Some embodiments receive an audio signal and converting it to a digital signal. The gain of the digital signal may be adjusted a first time, using a digital processing device located between a receiver and a driver circuit. The adjusted signal can be filtered with a first low shelf filter. The systems and methods may compress the filtered signal with a first compressor, process the signal with a graphic equalizer, and compress the processed signal with a second compressor. The gain of the compressed signal can be adjusted a second time. These may be done using the digital processing device. The signal may then be output through an amplifier and driver circuit to drive a personal audio listening device. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be part of the personal audio listening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: BONGIOVI ACOUSTICS LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bongiovi, Phillip Fuller, Glenn Zelniker
  • Patent number: 10263568
    Abstract: A linearized power amplifier apparatus includes a number of amplifying stages to amplify a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and a feedback loop including a feedback circuit coupled between an output port of a last amplifying stage and an input port of a first amplifying stage. The feedback loop has a loop gain frequency response that peaks at a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of the RF signal. The feedback loop can provide a linear combination of a feedback signal and the RF signal to the input port of the first amplifying stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Avaga Technologies International Sales PTE. Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey Norwood Harrison
  • Patent number: 10211811
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tunable filter. The tunable filter includes: a filter input; a filter output; at least one feedback loop coupled between the filter output and the filter input, where the at least one feedback loop includes at least one tunable feedback capacitance which is configured to tune a cut-off frequency of the tunable filter; and an active element, coupled between the filter input and the filter output and configured to drive the at least one tunable feedback capacitance, the active element having a transfer function with a primary pole and at least one secondary pole, where the active element includes a first stabilization element that is coupled to a first internal node of the active element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Gramegna
  • Patent number: 10212380
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pixel acquisition circuit, an image sensor, and an image acquisition system. The pixel acquisition circuit includes a photodetection unit, filter-amplification unit, sample and hold unit, and activation control unit. The photodetection unit outputs a first electrical signal corresponding to a light signal illuminating thereon. The filter-amplifier unit is connected to the photodetector, and amplifies and filters out the signal component below a frequency threshold on the first electrical signal, to output a second electrical signal. A threshold comparison unit determines whether the second electrical signal is greater than a first threshold and/or less than a second threshold and, if so, generates an activation instruction signal. In response to receiving an activation instruction signal, the activation control unit instructs the sample and hold unit to acquire and buffer the first electrical signal, and sends a transmission request to an interface bus connected to the sample and hold unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: CELEPIXEL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD
    Inventor: Shoushun Chen
  • Patent number: 10187097
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a notch filter capable of easily obtaining a desired frequency characteristic. In an N-path filter unit, any one of a plurality of N capacitors is selected as a signal path through which a signal passes, so that the capacitor serving as the signal path is temporally switched. A plurality of N-path filter units is cascade-connected and a capacitor is inserted to a connection point between the N-path filter units. The present technology may be applied to the notch filter which eliminates a blocker and the like, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sachio Iida
  • Patent number: 10181316
    Abstract: A maximum noise suppression level (Gmin) is not a single constant value for an entire frequency range, but is allowed to vary across frequencies. The amount of variation is dynamically computed based on the input noise characteristics. For example, if there is excess noise in the lower frequency region, the maximum noise suppression level in that region will increase to suppress the noise in that frequency region. This feature can be enabled all the time, and will be active when the input conditions warrant extra noise suppression in a particular frequency region. Thus, the effort involved in manually tuning an audio system (e.g., hands-free telephony, voice-controlled automotive head unit, etc.) can be significantly reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Kirsch, Guillaume Lamy, Bijal Joshi
  • Patent number: 10177743
    Abstract: An inductive synthesis circuit that mimics an ideal inductor over a wide range of inductance values, from less than 1 mH to more than 100 H, can be used in place of an inductor in any electrical circuit. One application of a synthesized inductor is in an integrated circuit in which it is impractical to construct a coil of wire. The inductive synthesis circuit is suitable for use in a calibration instrument for testing an inductance meter. The inductive synthesis circuit, together with a resistive synthesis circuit and a capacitive synthesis circuit, can be used to calibrate a multi-meter. Alternatively, the inductive synthesis circuit can be used to mimic an ideal inductor in a filter circuit that includes an inductor component, such as a high pass filter, a notch filter, or a band pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Britz
  • Patent number: 10177750
    Abstract: For example, an averaging circuit includes first to third capacitors and a controller. The controller causes a first first-stage average voltage to be applied to a first capacitor, the first first-stage average voltage being an average of a first voltage applied to the first capacitor and a second voltage applied to a second capacitor, causes a second first-stage average voltage to be applied to the second capacitor, the second first-stage average voltage being an average of a third voltage applied to the second capacitor and a fourth voltage applied to a third capacitor, and causes a first second-stage average voltage to be applied to the first capacitor, the first second-stage average voltage being an average of the first and second first-stage average voltages applied to the first and second capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Sungjun Lee, Makoto Takamiya, Takayasu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10171067
    Abstract: A waveform shaping filter according to an embodiment includes at least one filter stage and a control circuit. The filter stage includes a differentiation signal generation circuit, a proportional signal generation circuit, and an adder circuit. The differentiation signal generation circuit generates a differentiation signal obtained by amplifying a differentiation component of an input signal. The proportional signal generation circuit generates a proportional signal obtained by amplifying the input signal. The adder circuit outputs an output signal obtained by adding the proportional signal and the differentiation signal. The control circuit compares the output signal and a first detection level, detects at least one of an overshoot and an undershoot of the output signal, and controls a time constant of the filter stage, based on a detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Itakura, Masanori Furuta, Shunsuke Kimura, Hideyuki Funaki, Go Kawata, Hirokatsu Shirahama
  • Patent number: 10164610
    Abstract: A signal output device is provided in a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus communicates with a different one of the communication apparatus using a single line. The signal output device includes a signal output unit. The signal output unit includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter is provided by a Bessel filter. The second filter is provided by a Chebyshev filter or a Butterworth filter. The signal output unit outputs a signal which is obtained by passing a predetermined signal through the first filter and the second filter. The signal output from the signal output unit has a pass characteristic of the first filter and a pass characteristic of the second filter. A cutoff frequency of the first filter is set to be lower than a cutoff frequency of the second filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takasuke Ito, Shigeki Otsuka, Kazuyoshi Nagase
  • Patent number: 10153267
    Abstract: An ESD-protective-function-equipped composite electronic component is provided that includes multiple Zener diodes formed from first and second semiconductor layers. Moreover, the second semiconductor layers are disposed on an insulating substrate and in the same plane. The electronic component includes electrodes extending from each of the Zener diodes and one or more thin-film circuit element connected in series between a pair of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanobu Nomura, Yutaka Takeshima
  • Patent number: 10148294
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a multi-band radio frequency (RF) front-end circuit. When a first antenna transmits an RF transmit signal in an RF transmit band, a second antenna may receive the RF transmit signal as an interference signal. The multi-band RF front-end circuit includes multiple receive filters for receiving an RF receive signal in multiple RF receive bands. A selected receive filter among the multiple receive filters is opportunistically reconfigured to help suppress the interference signal. Specifically, a bandpass bandwidth of the selected receive filter is expanded to include at least a portion of the RF spectrum of the interference signal. By doing so, it is possible to shunt the interference signal to a ground through the selected receive filter. As a result, it is possible to reduce an adverse impact of the interference signal to improve RF performance of the multi-band RF front-end circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Marcus Granger-Jones
  • Patent number: 10135423
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously shifting the phase of an input signal includes a quadrature hybrid having an input/output port for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. An analog shifting unit is connected to the quadrature hybrid for performing an intermediate phase shift on the input RF signal. An additional analog shifting unit is connected to an isolation port of the quadrature hybrid to receive an intermediate output signal based on the intermediate phase shift, and shifting a phase of the intermediate output signal to produce an intermediate input signal. The analog shifting unit performs a final phase shift of the intermediate input signal and the final phase shifted intermediate input signal is output, at the input/output port, as the phase shifted RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Bingqian Lu, Hamad Alsawaha, Peter Hou, Thomas Jackson, Yilin Mao
  • Patent number: 10090872
    Abstract: A signal processing method for estimating a frequency domain representation of signal from a series of samples distorted by an instrument function, the method comprising obtaining the series of samples; obtaining a set of coefficients that fit a set of basis functions to a complex exponential function wherein the set of basis functions comprises a plurality of basis functions each defined by a shifted version of the instrument function in a signal domain; estimating the frequency domain representation of the signal based on the series of samples and the coefficients. This is wherein the estimate of the instrument function is based on a characterization of the instrument function in the frequency domain at frequencies associated with the complex exponential function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: IMPERIAL INNOVATIONS LIMITED, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Uriguen, Pier Luigi Dragotti, Thierry Albert Jean-Louis Blu
  • Patent number: 10050523
    Abstract: The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a voltage conversion circuit including a voltage conversion module and a control module, the voltage conversion module includes a input terminal, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, a first switch to thirteenth switch and a output terminal, the input terminal is used to connect the input power, the control module is connected with the voltage conversion module, the voltage conversion module is used to convert the voltage of the input power to different magnifications output voltage and output from the output terminal when the first capacitor, the second capacitor, the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor are charging and discharging. Further, the embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a liquid crystal display driving chip applied the voltage conversion circuit. The voltage conversion circuit may achieve multi-magnification voltage output, and improve the conversion efficiency of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Feilin Ji, Xiaoping Tan
  • Patent number: 9966915
    Abstract: A programmable amplifier includes an amplifier, an input capacitor, a feedback circuit, and a high-pass filter circuit. The amplifier has an input coupled to the input capacitor for receiving an input signal. The feedback circuit includes multiple feedback capacitors of differing capacitance values that are each selectively coupled between the output of the amplifier and the input of the amplifier using multiple first switches. The high-pass filter circuit includes multiple switched capacitors of differing capacitance values that are each selectively coupled between the amplifier output and a ground node using multiple second switches. The first switches are configured to be selectively switched on for activating at least one feedback capacitor to adjust a gain of the amplifier, while the second switches are configured to be selectively switched at a first and second phase of a clock signal to adjust a high-pass cutoff frequency of the amplifier independently of how the gain is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Abdullah Ahmed, Frederick Edward Sykes
  • Patent number: 9960866
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided. The method includes receiving a signal sequence and a noise sequence, determining a first absolute value sum approximation of a receive power of the signal sequence, determining a second absolute value sum approximation of a noise power of the noise sequence, and determining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) based on the first absolute value sum approximation and the second absolute value sum approximation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Binnan Zhuang, Hongbing Cheng, Jungwon Lee
  • Patent number: 9961291
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pixel acquisition circuit, an image sensor, and an image acquisition system. The pixel acquisition circuit includes a photodetection unit, filter-amplification unit, sample and hold unit, and activation control unit. The photodetection unit outputs a first electrical signal corresponding to a light signal illuminating thereon. The filter-amplifier unit is connected to the photodetector, and amplifies and filters out the signal component below a frequency threshold on the first electrical signal, to output a second electrical signal. A threshold comparison unit determines whether the second electrical signal is greater than a first threshold and/or less than a second threshold and, if so, generates an activation instruction signal. In response to receiving an activation instruction signal, the activation control unit instructs the sample and hold unit to acquire and buffer the first electrical signal, and sends a transmission request to an interface bus connected to the sample and hold unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CELEPIXEL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD
    Inventor: Shoushun Chen
  • Patent number: 9948236
    Abstract: A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Ferriss, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Bodhisatwa Sadhu, Alberto Valdes Garcia
  • Patent number: 9948235
    Abstract: A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Ferriss, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Bodhisatwa Sadhu, Alberto Valdes Garcia
  • Patent number: 9893692
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a Sallen-Key filter, which includes a source follower that implements a unity-gain amplifier; and a programmable-gain amplifier coupled to the Sallen-Key filter. The circuit enables programmable gain via adjustment to a current mirror copying ratio in the programmable-gain amplifier, which decouples the bandwidth of the circuit from its gain settings. The programmable-gain amplifier can comprise a differential voltage-to-current converter, a current mirror pair, and programmable output gain stages. The Sallen-Key filter and at least one branch in the programmable-gain amplifier can comprise transistors arranged in identical circuit configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tensorcom, Inc.
    Inventors: Zaw Soe, Kevin Jing, Steve Gao
  • Patent number: 9887636
    Abstract: A method of reducing common mode current that flows between an internal ground of an electrical circuit and an Earth ground, the electrical circuit is supplied by an electrical network delivering an alternating voltage. The method includes applying a voltage by the electrical network between the internal ground of the circuit and the Earth ground and applying an additional voltage between the internal ground of the circuit and the Earth ground using an electronic component interposed between the internal ground of the circuit and Earth ground, this additional voltage opposing the voltage applied by the electrical network between the internal ground and the Earth ground so as to reduce the common mode current at the frequency of the electrical network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventor: Pierre Sardat
  • Patent number: 9859862
    Abstract: Techniques to maintain gain flatness in the frequency response of a passband signal over a circuit chain. The techniques may be employed in the receive chain of a millimeter wave band wireless receiver, in the transmit chain of a millimeter wave band wireless transmitter, or in both the receive chain and the transmit chain of a millimeter wave band wireless transceiver. The techniques include mismatching the input and output impedance of a passive low pass filter used in the chain to peak the gain of the passband signal at or near the cutoff frequency (Fc) of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC., AMD FAR EAST LTD.
    Inventors: Natalino Camilleri, Fan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9793872
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for digitally processing audio signals. Some embodiments receive an audio signal and converting it to a digital signal. The gain of the digital signal may be adjusted a first time, using a digital processing device located between a receiver and a driver circuit. The adjusted signal can be filtered with a first low shelf filter. The systems and methods may compress the filtered signal with a first compressor, process the signal with a graphic equalizer, and compress the processed signal with a second compressor. The gain of the compressed signal can be adjusted a second time. These may be done using the digital processing device. The signal may then be output through an amplifier and driver circuit to drive a personal audio listening device. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be part of the personal audio listening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Bongiovi Acoustics LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bongiovi, Phillip Fuller, Glenn Zelniker
  • Patent number: 9755635
    Abstract: An electronic system is disclosed for an associated electrical apparatus, the system having at least a binary input adapted to receive one or more candidate signals; at least an electronic active load having one or more electronic active devices and operatively connected to the binary input; and a controller operatively associated to the binary input and to the active load. The controller can detect application of a candidate signal to the binary input and electrically drive the active load upon such detection; and after absorption of a predetermined amount of energy, validate the candidate signal if its residual content of energy exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gabriele Valentino De Natale, Luciano Di Maio, Andrea Bianco
  • Patent number: 9739872
    Abstract: An interference removal filter that includes a combination of a first filter and a second filter, where the first filter passes signals over a frequency range of size B with a variation of less than +/?3 dB, where the peak value of the impulse response of the second filter is displaced in time from the peak value of the impulse response of the first filter by at least 2/B time units, and where the combination of the first filter and the second filter produces a notch in frequency at a frequency location within the frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: NextNav, LLC
    Inventor: Norman F. Krasner
  • Patent number: 9734703
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to sensing apparatuses and methods. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, analog signals are obtained from a plurality of sensors and used to provide an output for particular ones of the sensors as follows. Analog signals are obtained from a particular sensor and one or more adjacent sensors. Different weighting factors are applied to the analog signals, based on the position of the sensor or sensors. The signals with the weighting factors applied thereto are combined to provide an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Parikshit Kumar Chhabra
  • Patent number: 9729162
    Abstract: In one form, a signal chain circuit includes a signal chain processing circuit between an input for receiving a differential input signal having a first common-mode voltage, and an output for providing a differential output signal having a second, different common-mode voltage. It includes an amplifier with a differential output stage coupled to a differential input stage and having positive and negative output terminals forming its output, and positive and negative feedback terminals. The differential output stage provides a first voltage drop between the positive output terminal and the positive feedback terminal, and a second voltage drop between the negative output terminal and the negative feedback terminal. The common-mode feedback circuit regulates a common-mode voltage between the positive and negative feedback terminals to the second common-mode voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventors: Wenhuan Yu, Abdulkerim L. Coban
  • Patent number: 9703991
    Abstract: There is provided a programmable multiplier circuit for multiplying an input voltage signal by a binary coefficient, the multiplier circuit including a transconductor including a first amplifying transistor configured to convert the input voltage signal to a current signal, the first amplifying transistor having a gate configured to receive the input voltage signal, and a coefficient multiplier coupled to the transconductor and configured to multiply the current signal by the binary coefficient to generate an amplified current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Denpol Kultran, Won Chon, Harry B. Marr
  • Patent number: 9698679
    Abstract: A circuit for DC-DC conversion with current limitation comprises a DC-DC converter (100) with a coil (110) and a controllable switch (120) that can be switched into a low-impedance and a high-impedance state, and a current limiter (300a, 300b) for generating a control signal (IOC) for controlling the state of the controllable switch in the DC-DC converter (100). The current limiter (300a, 300b) is constructed such that the current (IL) through the coil at which the current limitation takes place is nearly independent of the ratio of the on-times and off-times of the controllable switch in the DC-DC converter (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jessenig, Manfred Lueger, Christian Halper, Peter Bliem
  • Patent number: 9673783
    Abstract: A device includes a controller and an adaptive continuous-time filter that includes a control input and a first array of elements. The controller generates a digital word responsive to a time constant and compares a select bit of the digital word to a corresponding reference word to generate a control bit. The controller includes a duplicate array of elements, and applies the control bit to an adjustable element of the duplicate array of elements to modify the time constant. The controller provides the output word to the control input of the adaptive continuous-time filter to generate a filter response that accounts for effects of semiconductor process variation in the first array of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Youssoufian, David L. Yates, Aly M. Ismail, Geoffrey Hatcher
  • Patent number: 9626533
    Abstract: There is provided a programmable multiplier circuit for multiplying an input voltage signal by a binary coefficient, the multiplier circuit including a transconductor including a first amplifying transistor configured to convert the input voltage signal to a current signal, the first amplifying transistor having a gate configured to receive the input voltage signal, and a coefficient multiplier coupled to the transconductor and configured to multiply the current signal by the binary coefficient to generate an amplified current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Denpol Kultran, Won Chon, Harry B. Marr
  • Patent number: 9628121
    Abstract: A programmable-current transmit continuous-time filter (TX-CTF) system can be included in a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. The input of the TX-CTF can receive a baseband transmission signal, and the output of the TX-CTF can be provided to an upconversion mixer for conversion to RF for transmission. The TX-CTF includes amplifier circuitry and passive circuitry that together define the filter parameters. The TX-CTF further includes programmable current circuitry that provides a programmable bias current to the amplifier circuitry. The TX-CTF system also includes control logic that receives one or more transmitter control signals and, in response, generates signals that control the bias current provided to the TX-CTF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Louis D'Souza, Bipul Agarwal
  • Patent number: 9621134
    Abstract: A level shifter in a primary voltage domain has a control module receiving an input signal from a secondary voltage domain for controlling operation of the level shifter. The control module includes a complementary pair of transistors and a first native transistor connected in a series current conduction path in the primary voltage domain. The complementary pair of transistors have gates connected to receive the input signal and the first native transistor has a gate connected to limit to a leakage current the current in the series current conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Lei Tian, Yongqin Liang, Xiaowen Wu
  • Patent number: 9593914
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for acquiring the coordinates of a trigger point (P) of a projectile (4) above a field part (1) on which a target (5a, 5b, 5c) is located. The method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: emission of at least one laser pulse having a pre-determined duration and directed towards the target (5a, 5b, 5c); reception of the images reflected with a receiver equipped with means for the synchronous visualization of the laser pulses originating from a piece of observation of the field part (1); recovery of the coordinates of a desired trigger point (P) when the operator has chosen a location after the piece of observation was moved. The invention also relates to a fire-control system using such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Sylvain Muller
  • Patent number: 9584168
    Abstract: A distortion compensator that compensates for nonlinear distortion of an amplifier that amplifies power of a multicarrier signal includes a first compensation unit that performs first distortion compensation to collectively compensate for first nonlinear distortion that occurs in contact with a carrier frequency of the multicarrier signal, and second nonlinear distortion that occurs at a frequency at a predetermined distance from the carrier frequency, and a second compensation unit that performs second distortion compensation to compensate for only the first nonlinear distortion, of the first nonlinear distortion and the second nonlinear distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomoya Ota, Kazuo Nagatani
  • Patent number: 9568511
    Abstract: Various aspects provide a high frequency voltage supply monitor capable of monitoring high frequency variations of the voltage supply inside a microelectronic circuit substantially in real time. The voltage supply monitor can comprise a differential amplifier circuit having a substantially constant gain over a wide bandwidth, allowing the supply voltage variations to be amplified according to a known gain under a wide range of conditions. The amplified signal can then be sent to an output port for monitoring and measurement by an external display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Luca Ravezzi, Qawi Harvard, Hamid Partovi
  • Patent number: 9564874
    Abstract: Active-RC low-pass filters based on R-0.5R ladders are implemented to provide high linear and low power design solutions for integrated biomedical applications. Among various R-?R ladders family, R-0.5R ladders provide the best low frequency selectivity characteristics. The filters exhibit ultra-low pole frequencies and occupy relatively compact silicon areas by using the R-0.5R ladders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Hussain Abdullah Alzaher, Mohammad Khalaf Alghamdi
  • Patent number: 9552845
    Abstract: Metadata comprising a set of gain values for creating a dominance effect is automatically generated. Automatically generating the metadata includes receiving multiple audio streams and a dominance criterion for at least one of the audio streams. A set of gains is computed for one or more audio streams based on the dominance criterion for the at least one audio stream and metadata is generated with the set of gains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Riedmiller, Regunathan Radhakrishnan, Hannes Muesch
  • Patent number: 9515690
    Abstract: A radio receiver has a front end having a shared amplification path for both radio frequency signals and intermediate frequency signals. In one example, the shared amplification path can include a low noise amplifier and an attenuator. By amplifying both radio frequency (RF) signals and intermediate frequency (IF) signals with the same shared amplification path, gains in power efficiency, and reductions in cost and circuit size can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Interstate Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: David Duane Chapman
  • Patent number: 9496890
    Abstract: Provided is a loop filter for a data converter in a wireless communication system that improves both an anti-aliasing filtering characteristic and a power consumption characteristic, the loop filter including first and third resistors sequentially connected to an input end, fourth and second resistors sequentially connected to between an inverting output end and ground, a first capacitor connected to between another end of the first resistor and one end of the fourth resistor, a second capacitor connected to between the one end of the fourth resistor and the output end, a third capacitor connected to between another end of the third resistor and the output end, and an operational amplifier, wherein an inverting end of the operational amplifier is connected to the other end of the first resistor and a non-inverting end of the operational amplifier is connected to ground to output an operational amplifier response to the output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Young Kyun Cho, Bong Hyuk Park, Jung Hoon Oh
  • Patent number: 9401695
    Abstract: An immittance conversion circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and includes: a conversion target circuit configured to amplify or attenuate a signal with desired frequency and gain characteristics, and output the resultant signal; a difference signal detection circuit configured to supply the input terminal of the conversion target circuit with a signal of a difference between signals generated at the first and second terminals; an immittance conversion drive circuit configured to perform differential output processing to generate a voltage of a difference between a correction voltage and the signal outputted from the conversion target circuit, and output feedback signals to an immittance conversion generation circuit; and the immittance conversion generation circuit having an immittance conversion generation action to generate, at each of the first and second terminals, a signal of currents or voltages of the corresponding inputted feedback signal and the signal inputted to the first or se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MARCDEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Hirama
  • Patent number: 9379733
    Abstract: A Synchronous Modulation Resonator (SMR) device, the device includes a resonator having coupled to a Vd source and a Vr source, wherein the Vd is DC biased, wherein the Vr is AC, wherein the resonator provides a resonator output in response to Vd and Vr, a Sigma Delta Modulator (SDM) coupled to the resonator and to the Vr source, wherein the SDM provides a signal output in response to the resonator output and to the Vr, and a digital output block coupled to the SDM, wherein the digital output block is configured to provide a digital signal representation of the resonator output, in response to the signal output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: MCUBE, INC.
    Inventor: Te-Hsi Terrence Lee
  • Patent number: 9356639
    Abstract: A radio receiver has a front end having a shared amplification path for both radio frequency signals and intermediate frequency signals. In one example, the shared amplification path can include a low noise amplifier and an attenuator. By amplifying both radio frequency (RF) signals and intermediate frequency (IF) signals with the same shared amplification path, gains in power efficiency, and reductions in cost and circuit size can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Interstate Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: David Duane Chapman
  • Patent number: 9350309
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for digitally processing audio signals. Some embodiments receive an audio signal and converting it to a digital signal. The gain of the digital signal may be adjusted a first time, using a digital processing device located between a receiver and a driver circuit. The adjusted signal can be filtered with a first low shelf filter. The systems and methods may compress the filtered signal with a first compressor, process the signal with a graphic equalizer, and compress the processed signal with a second compressor. The gain of the compressed signal can be adjusted a second time. These may be done using the digital processing device. The signal may then be output through an amplifier and driver circuit to drive a personal audio listening device. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be part of the personal audio listening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Bongiovi Acoustics LLC.
    Inventors: Anthony Bongiovi, Phillip Fuller, Glenn Zelniker