Controlled Patents (Class 342/372)
  • Patent number: 10063291
    Abstract: An antenna beam searching method uses a balance puzzle concept to perform group division of a plurality of antenna beams supported by a transmitter end, so as to perform evaluation on the antenna beam group(s) thus divided to determine an angle of departure of the transmitter end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Li-Ming Wei, Jen-Ming Wu, Chin-Liang Wang
  • Patent number: 10056957
    Abstract: A method provides mixed analog/digital beamforming by a transmitter in a mobile communication system. The method includes converting a modulation symbol into a parallel symbol stream, performing digital beamforming on the parallel symbol stream, performing an IFFT operation on the digital-beamformed parallel symbol stream to generate a time-domain symbol, converting the IFFT-operated time-domain symbol into a serial time-domain symbol, inserting a CP into the serial time-domain symbol, performing a DAC operation on the CP-inserted symbol to generate an analog signal, and performing analog beamforming by multiplying the analog signal by the analog beamforming precoder optimized for the first subcarrier transmitted through at least one RF channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuangfeng Han, Bruno Clerckx
  • Patent number: 10056689
    Abstract: Provided are an electronically steerable parasitic radiator antenna and a beam forming apparatus. The ESPAR antenna includes: an active patch radiator disposed at the center of one surface of a substrate to radiate a beam corresponding to a signal applied through a feeding line; a plurality of parasitic patch elements disposed to have a predetermined angle in different directions, respectively based on a central position of the active patch radiator to derive the beam radiated by the active patch radiator in a predetermined direction; and a reactance element disposed between the active patch radiator and the plurality of parasitic patch elements to determine a direction of the beam radiated by the active patch radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Jung Nam Lee
  • Patent number: 10044492
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an antenna and a communications device, and relate to the field of wireless communications technologies. The antenna includes at least one receive antenna unit, at least one transmit antenna unit, a transmit and receive antenna unit connected to a three-port component having a circulator characteristic, a signal output port, and a signal input port, where each receive antenna unit and a receiver port of the three-port component are both connected to the signal output port by using a power combiner, and the signal output port is configured to connect to a receiver; and each transmit antenna unit and a transmitter port of the three-port component are both connected to the signal input port by using a power divider, and the signal input port is configured to connect to a transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Huaping Qing, Kun Li
  • Patent number: 10027036
    Abstract: An antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements is disclosed. The antenna array comprises: a plurality of transceiver modules; an active antenna element subset of the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the active antenna element subset comprises at least one active antenna element being actively coupled to an associated transceiver module of the plurality of transceiver modules; and at least one passively combined sub-array of at least two antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements. A method for generating antenna patterns with the antenna array is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG
    Inventors: Georg Schmidt, Martin Weckerle
  • Patent number: 10018715
    Abstract: A radar sensor for vehicles, including a group antenna, having a linear array of antenna elements, a feed unit for feeding transmission signals having a settable phase relationship into the antenna elements, a control unit controlling the feed unit, and an evaluation device evaluating received radar echoes and angle-resolving locating of objects. The group antenna includes at least two non-interleaved subgroups, the feed unit supplies in-phase transmission signals to the elements, while the transmission signals for the various subgroups have a settable phase difference, the control unit periodically changes the settable phase difference so that the transmission signals have a base phase difference in one measuring cycle and a phase difference in another measuring cycle which differs by a fixed absolute value from the base difference. The control unit sets the base difference based on levels of the received radar echoes to maximize the level difference between the measuring cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Steinhauer, Raphael Hellinger
  • Patent number: 9967006
    Abstract: The concepts, systems and method described herein provide a scalable beam steering control system having a primary beam steering controller and one or more secondary beam steering controllers to control a direction of a beam generated by an antenna array. The scalable beam steering control system may include a plurality of array blocks, each array block having one or more array elements. The primary controller block may be coupled to at least one array block and include a beam steering module to generate beam steering signals for the one or more array elements of the array block. The one or more secondary controller blocks may be coupled to the primary controller block and at least one array block. In an embodiment, each secondary controller block may include a beam steering module to generate beam steering signals for array elements of at least one array block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Glenn D. Henseler
  • Patent number: 9954706
    Abstract: Spatially combining signals may include receiving a number of RF input signals at a number of RF input connectors. At least one of the RF input signals is a variable envelope signal. A variable envelope signal is converted into two or more outphased constant envelope signals. The two or more outphased constant envelope signals are amplified. The amplified outphased constant envelope signals are radiated. At a spatial combiner aperture, the radiated amplified outphased constant envelope signals are combined to create a combined signal. The combined signal is output onto an output RF connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: L3 Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Johnny M. Harris, Kyle D. Holzer, Janez Jeraj
  • Patent number: 9954615
    Abstract: To provide a method capable of easily compensating waveform distortion due to a non-linear effect caused by a complicated electric circuit, and a device for implementing the method. Provided are a method capable of effectively compensating signal degradation such as waveform distortion due to a nonlinear effect caused by an optical fiber that is an optical transfer path using an optical phase conjugate signal pair at the time of optical up-conversion or down-conversion, and a device capable of implementing the method. This emission device 25 includes an optical modulator 11, a signal source 13, an optical fiber 15, a multiplexing unit 17, a multiplexing local signal source 19, an optical detector 12, and a transmission antenna 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventor: Takahide Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9941586
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a beam direction is for use in a beamforming system. The beam direction selection method of a reception device having a plurality of antenna elements in a wireless communication system using beamforming according to the present disclosure includes acquiring a first reception beam angle estimated as optimal by allocating a first predetermined number of antenna elements to each of beam ports and scanning signals and acquiring a second reception beam angle estimated as optimal by allocating a second predetermined number of antenna elements, which is greater than the first predetermined number, to some of the beam ports and scanning the signals using the first reception beam angle. The beam selection apparatus and method of the present disclosure is capable of selecting a reception beam direction efficiently in a beamforming system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jiyun Seol, Inhye Son, Taeseung Lee, Joohwan Chun, Sanghyouk Choi, Taeyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 9936292
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: an input configured to receive at least one audio signal from a further apparatus; an input configured to receive at least one audio signal associated with the apparatus; an orientation/location determiner configured to determine a relative orientation/location difference between the apparatus and the further apparatus; an audio processor configured to process the at least one audio signal from the further apparatus based on the relative orientation/location difference between the apparatus and the further apparatus; and a combiner configured to combine the at least one audio signal from the further apparatus having been processed and the at least one audio signal associated with the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Kalevi Virolainen, Kari Juhani Jarvinen, Marko Tapani Yliaho, Antti Heikki Tapio Sassi
  • Patent number: 9915850
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for producing and/or receiving an optical beam are disclosed, A phased array on a chip comprises phase shifters and off-chip couplers to provide phase controlled pixels. An optical system is arranged in front of the phased array. The optical system is configured to concentrate light from the phased array and/or expand a received beam of light for input into the phased array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: David Bitauld, Antti Niskanen
  • Patent number: 9912053
    Abstract: Multi-directional antenna apparatuses, which may include phased array antennas and/or arrays of multiple antennas, and methods for operating these directional antennas. In particular, described herein are apparatuses configured to operate as an access point (AP) for communicating with one or more station devices by assigning a particular directional beam to each access point, and communicating with each station device using the assigned directional beam at least part of the time. Methods and apparatuses configured to optimize the assignment of one or more directional beam and for communicating between different station devices using assigned directional beams are described. Also described are methods of connecting a radio device to an antenna by connecting a USB connector on the radio device to a USB connector on an antenna and identifying the antenna based on a voltage of the ground pin on the antenna's USB connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ubiquiti Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sanford, Sriram Dayanandan, Vish Ponnampalam, Gonzalo P. Jabbaz, Robert J. Pera
  • Patent number: 9905650
    Abstract: Uniaxially strained nanowire structures are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of vertically stacked uniaxially strained nanowires disposed above a substrate. Each of the uniaxially strained nanowires includes a discrete channel region disposed in the uniaxially strained nanowire. The discrete channel region has a current flow direction along the direction of the uniaxial strain. Source and drain regions are disposed in the nanowire, on either side of the discrete channel region. A gate electrode stack completely surrounds the discrete channel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Seiyon Kim, Annalisa Cappellani
  • Patent number: 9903944
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to methods of detecting a target that include: receiving signals reflected from a target of interest, the signals having a bandwidth large enough to provide a plurality of range cells along an expected target, and processing the received signal(s) by (i) determining the phases of contiguous groups of range cells, the group size selected to approximate to sizes of targets of interest, (ii) phase-shifting the returns within a group to increase constructive interference and thereby signal power; and (iii) combining the phase shifted returns to produce phase-adjusted combined returns, and performing a detection on those combined returns. Some embodiments may provide enhanced target detection capabilities. The process may be repeated for different potential target sizes, and may be performed either on real time data, or off-line on recorded data, and is applicable to both radar and sonar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher John Peacock
  • Patent number: 9887457
    Abstract: A low complexity/cost beamsteering antenna includes a central line feed affixed to a radial waveguide structure, radiating elements positioned along the circumference of the radial waveguide structure, and a plurality of active elements interspersed along the surface of the radial waveguide structure between the central line feed and the radiating elements. The active elements may comprise PIN diodes or microelectromechanical system (MEMS) components, and may be selectively activated/deactivated by DC switches in order to direct the propagation of an RF signal over the radial waveguide structure in a manner similar to a power divider. As a result, the RF signal may be funneled to selected radiating elements, thereby effectively directionally aiming the main lobe of the emitted radiation pattern to beamsteer the wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Halim Boutayeb
  • Patent number: 9885938
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for producing and/or receiving an optical beam are disclosed, A phased array on a chip comprises phase shifters and off-chip couplers to provide phase controlled pixels. An optical system is arranged in front of the phased array. The optical system is configured to concentrate light from the phased array and/or expand a received beam of light for input into the phased array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: David Bitauld, Antti Niskanen
  • Patent number: 9871571
    Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus including an antenna, which, in operation, changes a beam pattern by using a plurality of antenna elements, a communicator, which, in operation, performs wireless communication with a communication terminal by using the antenna, quality information acquisition circuitry, which, in operation, acquires quality information indicating a communication quality of the wireless communication, movement information acquisition circuitry, which, in operation, acquires movement information indicating movement of a relative position of the communication terminal with respect to the antenna, and beam control circuitry, which, in operation, controls the beam pattern to be changed by the antenna on the basis of the acquired quality information and movement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Kobayashi, Naganori Shirakata, Tomoya Urushihara
  • Patent number: 9858775
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a gyro system attached to or integrated in a wireless communication device may be configured to generate physical force to prompt movement towards a stronger signal that indicates a direction in which the wireless communication device should be positioned or moved to improve the wireless communication quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Xuefeng Yin, Quan Zuo
  • Patent number: 9853362
    Abstract: The present invention provides an array antenna apparatus for a rotation mode, a wireless communication terminal, and a method thereof. The apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment includes an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements; and a control unit which determines an antenna pattern in accordance with a transmission/reception characteristic of a signal and assigns a weight to antenna elements in a position corresponding to the determined antenna pattern on the antenna array to implement a rotation mode antenna based on the antenna element to which the weight is assigned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Bong Su Kim, Min Soo Kang, Kwang Seon Kim, Woo Jin Byun, Mi Kyung Suk
  • Patent number: 9851439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting a scatterer in a structure, such as a building structure. The method comprises the steps of transmitting from one or a multiple number of positions exterior to a structure, a wall probing radar signal towards the structure. The method also comprises the step of receiving, at one or a multiple number of positions exterior to the structure, signals that have been reflected by scatterers in the structure. Further, the method comprises the step of filtering, from the received signals, reflection information of a specific scatterer at a specific position. In addition, the method comprises the step of identifying a geometry of the specific scatterer, based on the reflection information. The filtering step comprises applying a phase change algorithm corresponding to a specific scatterer type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Felix Maria Antonius Smits, Jacobus Johannes Maria de Wit, Wilhelmus Lambertus van Rossum
  • Patent number: 9847803
    Abstract: A system, method, and array of transceivers are disclosed. The disclosed method enables an efficient mechanism for managing electromagnetic radiation by a first processing device and a second processing device into a common area. Concepts of employing different time-varying phase delays at the different emitters of electromagnetic radiation help to minimize the otherwise cumulative effects of multiple emitters being located in close proximity to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Michael J. Brosnan
  • Patent number: 9831565
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement comprising a SIW with at least one radiating arrangement. The SIW comprises a dielectric material, a first and second metal layer and a first and second electric wall element running essentially parallel and electrically connecting the metal layers. For each radiating arrangement, the antenna arrangement comprises at least one coupling aperture in the first metal layer, and for each coupling aperture there is a third wall element running between the first and second electric wall elements, across a SIW longitudinal extension (es). For each radiating arrangement, the antenna arrangement further comprises an at least partly electrically conducting antenna component which comprises at least four radiating elements and is surface-mounted on the first metal layer, enclosing at least one coupling aperture. For each radiating arrangement, electromagnetic signals are arranged to be transmitted between said coupling aperture and said radiating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Ola Tageman, Per Ligander, Lars Manholm, Valter Pasku, Ove Persson, Pietro Sanchirico
  • Patent number: 9810848
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an optical rotating joint (2); comprising: providing redundancy for camera sensor signals to be passed through an optical rotating joint (2) by: (i) passing signals from a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70) to the optical rotating joint (2); and/or (ii) passing signals for a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) toward the camera sensors (28, 30) from the optical rotating joint (2) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70). The signals may be sensor control signals or sensor output signals to/from a plurality of sensors (26, 28, 30), for example camera sensors. The apparatus may further comprise one or more wavelength division multiplexers (68, 94) and/or wavelength division demultiplexers (66, 95).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Christopher Ralph Pescod, Mohammed Nawaz
  • Patent number: 9810849
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an optical rotating joint (2); comprising: routing optical signals through an optical rotating joint (2) by using a first optical circulator (64) on a first side of the optical rotating joint (2) to receive an optical signal and direct the optical signal onward to a first side of the optical rotating joint (2), and using a second optical circulator (93) on a second side of the optical rotating joint (2) to receive the optical signal from the second side of the optical rotating joint (2) and direct it onwards. The signals may be sensor control signals or sensor output signals to/from a plurality of sensors (26, 28, 30), for example camera sensors. The apparatus may further comprise one or more wavelength division multiplexers (68, 94) and/or wavelength division demultiplexers (66, 95).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Christopher Ralph Pescod, Mohammed Nawaz
  • Patent number: 9806778
    Abstract: A transmitter generates a first precoding vector for a first virtual antenna port among a plurality of virtual antenna ports using a first sequence having a constant magnitude and a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) vector sequence in a time domain and a frequency domain. The transmitter generates a plurality of second precoding vectors for the remaining virtual antenna port, except for the first virtual antenna port of the plurality of virtual antenna ports by circular shifting the first precoding vector. The transmitter maps a plurality of first data streams for the plurality of virtual antenna ports to a plurality of physical antenna ports using the first precoding vector and the plurality of second precoding vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seok Ho Won, Seyoung Cho, Suchang Chae, Il Gyu Kim, Seung Chan Bang
  • Patent number: 9790426
    Abstract: A component for high-frequency technology or for the microwave range and millimeter wave range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The component contains a liquid-crystal compound of the formula I in which the parameters have the respective meanings given in the claims or in the text, or a liquid-crystal medium which itself comprises one or more compounds of this formula I. Also, the corresponding, novel liquid-crystal media, the use and preparation thereof, and the production and use of the components. The components are particularly suitable as phase shifters in the microwave and millimeter wave range, for microwave and millimeter wave array antennae and very particularly for so-called tuneable reflectarrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Atsutaka Manabe, Mark Goebel, Dagmar Klass, Elvira Montenegro, Detlef Pauluth
  • Patent number: 9763106
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for performing cell reconfiguration in a network node, which is associated with at least two antennas. Each antenna is capable of transmitting a signal covering at least one sector. The method comprises switching (1212) from a first state (1210) wherein a multi-sector cell covering at least two sectors is active, to a second state (1220), wherein sector cells covering each of the at least two sectors are active in addition to the multi-sector cell. In the second state, the same antennas are utilized for the sector cells as for the multi-sector cell. The method further comprises switching (1222) from the second state to a third state (1230) wherein the multi-sector cell is deactivated and the sector cells are active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Pål Frenger, Harald Kallin
  • Patent number: 9755321
    Abstract: A smart antenna system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention including a beam forming antenna which includes an active antenna and a plurality of parasitic antennas, the system including: a reactance load which is connected to the parasitic antenna; a transceiver which transmits and receives a signal to the beam forming antenna; and an antenna adjusting block which tracks a signal source in real time using a plurality of beam patterns having the largest signal size and forms a beam in a direction having the largest signal size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Young Kyun Cho, Bong Hyuk Park, Jung Hoon Oh, Jung Nam Lee, Gweon Do Jo
  • Patent number: 9735469
    Abstract: A system and method provides time delays for an antenna array such as an electronically-scanned antenna array in a wide band range. The system and method can utilize time delay units including a radio frequency integrated circuit time delay unit portion provided on a radio frequency integrated circuit and an interposer time delay unit portion. The interposer time delay portion is provided on an interposer associated with the radio frequency integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. West, Michael L. Hageman, Russell D. Wyse
  • Patent number: 9735622
    Abstract: An isolated signal transmission apparatus isolatingly transmits, from a control-side apparatus to a control target apparatus, an electric signal obtained by superimposing a communication signal on a direct-current signal. The apparatus includes a lower limiter circuit configured to output, to the control target apparatus, a direct-current signal, whose value is a predetermined lower limit value, if a value of the direct-current signal from the control-side apparatus is less than the predetermined lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Ito
  • Patent number: 9728850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a node (1) in a wireless communication system, the node (1) comprising at least one antenna (2) which is arranged to cover a first sector (3) in a first direction (4) and comprises a number (A) of antenna ports (5, 6, 7, 8), which number (A) is at least four. The antenna ports (5, 6, 7, 8) are connected to a transformation matrix (9) which is arranged for transforming the antenna ports (5, 6, 7, 8) to at least a first set (S1) of virtual antenna ports (10, 11) and a second set (S2) of virtual antenna ports (12, 13), each set (S1, S2) comprising a number (B) of virtual antenna ports (10, 11; 12, 13). The present invention also relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Fredrik Athley, Sven Petersson
  • Patent number: 9728631
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device having a conductive film, which sufficiently serves as an antenna, and a method for manufacturing thereof. The semiconductor device has an element formation layer including a transistor, which is provided over a substrate, an insulating film provided on the element formation layer, and a conductive film serving as an antenna, which is provided on the insulating film. The insulating film has a groove. The conductive film is provided along the surface of the insulating film and the groove. The groove of the insulating film may be provided to pass through the insulating film. Alternatively, a concave portion may be provided in the insulating film so as not to pass through the insulating film. A structure of the groove is not particularly limited, and for example, the groove can be provided to have a tapered shape, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Tsurume
  • Patent number: 9706438
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for congestion relief in a communication network. In use, information is collected for all subscribers utilizing at least one service in at least one of a plurality of sectors associated with a communication network, the information including at least an identity associated with each subscriber and a service type being utilized by each subscriber. Further, the collected information is aggregated to determine a sector status for each of the plurality of sectors, the sector status for each of the plurality of sectors including a total number of active subscribers for a corresponding sector, a service distribution associated with the corresponding sector, and a bandwidth consumption associated with the corresponding sector. Additionally, specific business data associated with the active subscribers in each of the plurality of sectors is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: Amdocs Software Systems Limited, Amdocs Development Limited
    Inventors: Yaron Shlomo Kadmon, Ronen Kenig, Dori Ben-Moshe, Meir Oren Levy, Nadav Kremer
  • Patent number: 9698886
    Abstract: In a mobile communication system that supports downlink multi-antenna transmission, a base station managing a cell receives beamforming control information fed back from each of a plurality of beamforming target terminals connected to the cell, and null steering control information fed back from a null steering target terminal. When there exists no beamforming target terminal that feeds back the beamforming control information that coincides with the null steering control information, the base station selects, as a pair terminal, a beamforming target terminal that feeds back the beamforming control information containing a predefined rank indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Kugo Morita
  • Patent number: 9697948
    Abstract: The semiconductor device of the present invention includes an insulating layer, a high voltage coil and a low voltage coil which are disposed in the insulating layer at an interval in the vertical direction, a low potential portion which is provided in a low voltage region disposed around a high voltage region for the high voltage coil in planar view and is connected with potential lower than the high voltage coil, and an electric field shield portion which is disposed between the high voltage coil and the low voltage region and includes an electrically floated metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosei Osada, Isamu Nishimura, Tetsuya Kagawa, Daiki Yanagishima, Toshiyuki Ishikawa, Michihiko Mifuji, Satoshi Kageyama, Nobuyuki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9692123
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method of controlling a radiation pattern includes selecting a signal processing characteristic to vary based on a radiation pattern to be emitted by an antenna array of a wireless device, wherein the antenna array includes a plurality of antennas, wherein the signal processing characteristic provides a target resultant radiation pattern, and wherein the signal processing characteristic is applies to less than all elements of the antenna array, and varying the signal processing characteristic across time, frequency, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sameer Vermani, Didier Johannes Richard Van Nee, Sanaz Barghi, Hemanth Sampath, Vincent Knowles Jones, IV
  • Patent number: 9686001
    Abstract: Beam-steering for a 2-dimensional array of an arbitrary number of radiating elements around both possible axes may be accomplished using a limited number of control components. By selectively coupling signal lines to different feed ports of the antenna array's feed network, it is possible to steer the main beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Marek Klemes
  • Patent number: 9685998
    Abstract: An orientation control apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The orientation control apparatus for controlling orientation of a phased array antenna includes the phased array antenna and an orientation controller. In the phased array antenna, a plurality of antenna elements are disposed on a plane. The phased array antenna receives a signal transmitted from at least one transmitter. The orientation controller controls orientation of the phased array antenna based on a channel estimated result of each sub array where the plurality of antenna elements have been grouped in the phased array antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Masaaki Fujii
  • Patent number: 9685989
    Abstract: Electronically scanned array antenna radiating elements include a phase comparator. The phase comparator connects the transmission circuitry to the receiving circuitry via a shunt switch to compare the intended phase with the actual phase. The phase of a signal received via the shunt switch is sensitive to the performance of power amplifiers in the transmission circuitry, transmitter/receiver switch, and load impedance. Distributed attenuators between the shunt switch and a phase comparator reduce crosstalk. Phase comparison circuitry is useful for detecting faults in the ESA radiating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Chenggang Xie, Anders P. Walker
  • Patent number: 9681311
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are example embodiments for local cooperation between or among portable wireless nodes. For certain example embodiments, at least one device, such as a portable wireless node: (i) may identify at least one cooperative portable wireless node to participate in an antenna assembly configuration parameter architecture; or (ii) may communicate with at least one cooperative portable wireless node to share one or more antenna assembly configuration parameters that are associated with at least one orientation position of at least one portable wireless node. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 9680547
    Abstract: A network control device. A wireless communications module receives a plurality of first signals each including information regarding a preferred transmitting beam in a first beam level determined by a communications apparatus. A controller selects a group of communications apparatuses to join a 1-to-many beam training according to the received first signals and selects one or more transmitting beams in a second beam level to be trained. The communications apparatuses in the group have the same preferred transmitting beam in the first beam level and the transmitting beam(s) in the second beam level associates with the preferred transmitting beam in the first beam level. The wireless communications module further uses the transmitting beam(s) in turn to transmit signals to perform the 1-to-many beam training for training the transmitting beam(s) in the second beam level among the group of communications apparatuses at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Yu, Ming-Po Chang, Jiann-Ching Guey
  • Patent number: 9673882
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an antenna, a base station, and a beam processing method. The method includes: performing, by a hybrid network, phase adjustment for signals received from a transceiver, generating signals having a preset phase, and sending the signals to a power dividing apparatus; performing, by the power dividing apparatus, amplitude adjustment for the signals, and outputting multipath signals having an array amplitude and the preset phase to multiple antenna arrays; and transmitting, by the multiple antenna arrays, the multiple signals having the array phase and the array amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Ai, Weihong Xiao
  • Patent number: 9667305
    Abstract: A receiver-transmitter includes active two-face phased arrays comprising transmit-receive modules. Each module includes two radiating elements, a transmitter, two receivers, two isolator switches, mixers and a phase shifter. The two-face phased arrays are either unidimensional or two-dimensional. The arrays are arranged in the horizontal plane at an angle of 75-105° to each other while keeping the capability of all-around looking. The transmit-receive module is provided with an additional phase shifter. Each phase shifter can be permanently connected, via a selector switch, to one of the receivers or to the transmitter, and the transmitter is connected, via a switch and circulators, to the radiating elements. Alternatively, each phase shifter can be connected to the radiating elements with the use of different frequencies and/or with the use of a different signal coding, corresponding to different frequencies and coding of the receivers receiving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Evgeny Vyacheslavovich Komrakov
  • Patent number: 9660777
    Abstract: A communication device that comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a central processor and a network management engine, may be configured for a multiplexing mode of operation. Configuring of the multiplexing mode of operation may include configuring one or more communication modules for multiplexing a plurality of data streams. Each of the communication modules may comprise one or more antennas and/or antenna array elements and one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers associated with said one or more antennas and/or antenna array elements. The communication modules may be configured to be spatially distinct and/or to use different frequency channels. The data streams may be communicated to a single target device or to a plurality of target devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GOLBA LLC
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 9628164
    Abstract: A system for beamforming employing true time delay. The system includes a deserializer configured to receive a serial data stream and to convert the serial data stream into a plurality of parallel data streams, a zero-insertion block configured to insert zeroes into each of the parallel data streams, and a crossbar switch having a plurality of inputs and an equal number of outputs. The inputs are connected to the zero-insertion block, each of the outputs corresponding to one of the inputs. The crossbar switch is configured, in a first state, to connect each output to the corresponding input, and in a second state, to connect each output to an input different from the corresponding input, the set of outputs being a circular shift of the set of inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Thompson, Harry Marr
  • Patent number: 9618622
    Abstract: An optical object sensing device for a motor vehicle, having an emitter unit for emitting an emission light beam and having a receiver unit for receiving a reception light beam, and having an electronic evaluation device for detecting an object external to the vehicle in a vicinity of the motor vehicle as a function of the reception light beam. The emitter unit includes an emitter for generating the emission light beam, a controllable micromirror by which the emission light beam can be panned at least in a first panning direction, and an emission lens arranged behind the micromirror in the emission beam path, where at least along the first panning direction, the emission lens is configured as a concave-convex lens with a concavely curved surface, which faces towards the micromirror, and with a convexly curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Geiger, Manja Greimeier, Michael Kiehn, Michael Koehler
  • Patent number: 9621201
    Abstract: Methods and systems for emulating an interference environment include combining a plurality of emulated interfering signals and transmitting the plurality of emulated interfering signals using at least one transmitter. The methods and systems may further include receiving a selection of a frequency region, where the plurality of emulated interference signals are transmitted in all or part of the selected frequency region. The selected frequency region may be at least partially within an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) radio band. The plurality of emulated interfering signals may be transmitted to at least one device to test the interference immunity of the at least one device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: QRC, INC.
    Inventors: Sinisa Peric, Jeffrey D. Lazzuri, Raymond Everett Babineau, Jr., Thomas F. Callahan, III
  • Patent number: 9614594
    Abstract: A method for transmitting a signal in a multi-antenna system is provided. The method includes designating an analog beam to a plurality of generated modulation symbol sequences corresponding to a plurality of antenna ports, for each antenna port of the plurality, multiplexing signals, to which a beam is designated by the beam assignment, to a plurality of beam groups each having the same antenna beam combination, mapping beam group signals generated by the beam multiplexing, to at least one Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol and time and frequency resources, generating OFDM symbol signals corresponding to one or more antenna beams by OFDM-converting the beam group signals according to the resource mapping, converting the OFDM symbol signals into analog Radio Frequency (RF) signals, and transmitting the analog RF signals via a plurality of antenna elements by carrying the analog RF signals on associated antenna beams by analog beamforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9607603
    Abstract: An adaptive filter of an adaptive blocking matrix in an adaptive beam former or null former may be modified to track and maintain noise correlation between an input and a reference noise signal to the adaptive noise canceller module. That is, a noise correlation factor may be determined, and that noise correlation factor may be used in an inter-sensor signal model applied when generating the blocking matrix output signal. The output signal may then be further processed within the adaptive beamformer to generate a less-noisy representation of the speech signal received at the microphones. The inter-sensor signal model may be estimated using a gradient decent total least squares (GrTLS) algorithm. Further, spatial pre-whitening may be applied in the adaptive blocking matrix to further improve noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel P. Ebenezer