In Antenna Circuit Patents (Class 455/121)
  • Patent number: 8391804
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing close proximity antenna measurement and tuning, includes a first receive-only antenna, a second antenna operable in a transmit mode, a tuning circuit coupled to the first antenna, a transmitter coupled to the second antenna, a receiver coupled to the first antenna, the receiver operable to measure a power into the first antenna delivered by a signal from the second antenna driven by the transmitter, and a processor coupled to the tuning circuit, transmitter, and receiver, the processor operable to step changes in the tuning circuit until a substantially maximum power of the signal is measured by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Duron, Rehan K. Jaffri, Richard T. Knadle
  • Patent number: 8369268
    Abstract: A multiple device to one-antenna combining circuit for transferring wireless communication signals from a first and second wireless communication device connected to a donor antenna is described. The circuit comprises a first single-stage circulator configured to be coupled to a transmission-reception path of the first wireless communications device; a two-stage circulator coupled to the first single-stage circulator and configured to be coupled a transmission-reception path of the second wireless communications device; a two-way splitter coupled to the two-stage circulator and configured to be coupled a transmission-reception path of the donor antenna; and a second single-stage circulator coupled between the two-way splitter and the first single stage circulator. The wireless transmissions of the first wireless communications device travel from the first signal stage circulator to the two-stage circulator to the two-way splitter to the donor antenna. The first wireless device can be a repeater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Clearwire IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Walter F. Rausch
  • Patent number: 8369796
    Abstract: A wireless device using natural higher order harmonics on multi-band reconfigurable antenna designs where the antenna higher order resonance is used to build a multi-band to multi-band frequency reconfigurable antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Helen K. Pan, Songnan Yang, Debabani Choudhury, Vijay K. Nair
  • Patent number: 8364102
    Abstract: In one embodiment a universal front end module for network communications is disclosed. The module can include a mode controller coupled to components of a transmission path. A first tunable filter on a transmit path can receive a mode control signal from the mode controller and receive a signal to be transmitted and provide a filtered output signal responsive to the mode control signal and the signal to be transmitted. The mode control signal can be associated with a predetermined network protocol such as WiMax, a WiFi, a 3G LTE and a cellular standard where each standard has a predetermined operating frequency and protocol. The module can also include a tunable power amplifier to provide an amplified transmittable signal over a single transmit path can be utilized to transmit the transmittable signal in at least two different modes responsive to the mode controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nader Rohani, Hongtao Xu, Yulin Tan
  • Patent number: 8351888
    Abstract: A wireless network device including a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) module, an error rate module, and an antenna selection module. The signal-to-noise ratio measures i) a first average SNR while utilizing a first antenna, and ii) a second average sNR while utilizing a second antenna. The error rate module measures i) a first error rate while utilizing the first antenna, and ii) a second error rate while utilizing the second antenna. The antenna selection module selects the first antenna or the second antenna based on i) a first comparison of the first average signal-to-noise ratio to the second average signal-to-noise ratio, and ii) a second comparison of the first error rate to the second error rate. The second comparison is selectively performed depending on the first comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Milind Kopikare, Brian Bosso, Partho Mishra
  • Patent number: 8340714
    Abstract: A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Christian Huitema
  • Patent number: 8340589
    Abstract: A radio communication device capable of lightening the influence of a frequency selective fading in the wide-band transmission of a single carrier thereby to prevent deterioration of error rate characteristics. In this device, an FFT unit subjects a modulated signal inputted from a modulation unit to a Fourier transformation. A pilot insertion unit inserts a pilot symbol into a plurality of individual frequency components of the modulated signal. Weight multiplication units multiply the individual frequency components and the pilot symbols inserted into the individual frequency components, by weight coefficients set at a weight coefficient setting unit. IFFT units subject the frequency components to an inverse Fourier transformation, thereby to convert the frequency components into time domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Nishio
  • Patent number: 8340596
    Abstract: Disclosed are a signal transmission apparatus and method using a eigen antenna technique in a wireless communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Yong Hwan Lee, Jae Yun Ko
  • Patent number: 8335470
    Abstract: A communication apparatus and a method used by the communication apparatus to perform magnetic-field communication with an external apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus determines the communication distance between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus based on the voltage level of a radio signal, a distance measuring device, or other means. The communication distance is compared to a predetermined distance and the communication apparatus dynamically adjusts its resonance frequency for improved magnetic-field communication with the external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Koyama
  • Patent number: 8320856
    Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing a leaky wave antenna as a load on a power amplifier are disclosed and may include configuring one or more leaky wave antennas as a load for one or more power amplifiers (PAs) in a wireless device. RF signals may be transmitted via the leaky wave antennas which may be integrated on the chip, a package to which the chip is affixed, or on a printed circuit board to which the chip is affixed. The antennas may include an inductive load and/or a balun for the one or more PAs. The leaky wave antennas may be impedance matched to the PAs. The PAs may amplify a signal to be transmitted, and an output power of the PAs may be configured by controlling a bias voltage for the PAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8315562
    Abstract: A method for improving RFID readers includes transmitting an outgoing RF signal to an antenna through a directional device, and generating a demodulated vector signal from an RF signal related to the RF signal received from the receiver. The method also includes setting the impedance of a controllable-variable-reflectance element with control-parameters from a memory circuit. The memory circuit includes a look up table having therein a corresponding relationship between the control-parameters and an error vector related to the demodulated vector signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Duron, Richard T. Knadle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8311504
    Abstract: A method for wireless communication is provided and may include configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals. An antenna and at least one inductor in the antenna system may be configured for receiving external signals at a first frequency. An inductor and a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference may be configured for receiving the external signals at a different frequency if the frequency is utilized for backscattered signal reception and/or magnetically coupled signal reception. Near field communication (NFC) signals may be received at the different frequency for backscattered signals. Radio frequency identification (RFID) signals may be received at the different frequency for magnetically coupled signals. The first frequency may be within the FM frequency band. The antenna system may be configured to transmit signals to be subsequently received as backscattered signals or magnetically coupled signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8301092
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a low noise amplifier utilizing a leaky wave antenna are disclosed and may include one or more low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) coupled to one or more leaky wave antennas (LWAs) in a wireless device. RF signals may be received via one or more LNAs coupled to one or more feed points on a LWA. The one or more LNAs may be coupled to the feed points based on an impedance of the feed points and an input impedance of the one or more LNAs. The impedance of the feed points may be configured by locating them along a vertical axis in a resonant cavity of the LWA. The LWAs may be integrated on a chip, and/or on a package or printed circuit board to which the chip is affixed. The RF signals may be amplified by the LNAs and may be down-converted to baseband signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8280323
    Abstract: Fuzzy logic is utilized to control an RF amplifier and associated tuner for continuous self-optimization and automatic load matching to at least double the battery life of a battery-powered transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Rick L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8270907
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for matching an integrated system to an antenna utilizing on-chip measurement of reflected signals are provided. In a chip comprising at least a portion of a receiver and at least a portion of a transmitter, a best impedance match between an antenna and the chip may be determined based on on-chip measurement of one or more signals reflected from the antenna. The best impedance match between the antenna and the chip may be determined utilizing a correction algorithm. The correction algorithm may be determined utilizing data from an external test set that measures signals transmitted by the chip via the antenna. The reflected signals may be routed to a signal analyzer via on on-chip directional coupler. The best impedance match may be determined for each of a plurality of frequencies and/or each of a plurality of transmit signal strengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Baker
  • Patent number: 8265577
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using antenna hopping are disclosed. In this regard, in a wireless device comprising an antenna that is configurable into a plurality of configurations, determining a subset of the configurations, where each configuration of the subset enables received signal strength above a threshold for a wireless channel, may be determined. During a time interval in which the wireless device is receiving signals on the wireless channel, the antenna may be configured to sequentially utilize each configuration of the subset. During the time interval, a plurality of samples of the wireless channel may be generated, where each of the samples corresponds to a different one of the configurations of the subset. The plurality of samples may be aggregated. The aggregated samples may be processed to recover information communicated on the wireless channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8233856
    Abstract: A communications circuit processes a signal in at least one predetermined communications standard such as GSM or UMTS. A switched capacitor impedance matching unit is provided, controlled by driver control unit. The driver control unit is arranged to control the driver to start switching of the capacitors of the switched capacitor array during transition periods in the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Adrianus Van Bezooijen, Jacobus G. Sneep, Maurice De Jongh
  • Patent number: 8219053
    Abstract: A system and method of automatically tuning a reading device that remotely monitors RFID tags or transponders. The reading device utilizes the phase signal of an antenna signal wherein the harmonic of the antenna signal is filtered through a signal coupling transformer and utilizes the antenna current reading to determine the optimal capacitance setting for the reader by adjusting capacitors and storing the relative phase signal and level of current in a processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises supplying power to the reading device, monitoring the power supply, storing data related to the monitored power supply, emitting a signal from an antenna, filtering the harmonic of such signal, outputting the phase signal to a processor and adjusting capacitors based on the phase signal and monitored current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Destron Fearing Corporation
    Inventors: Ezequiel Mejia, Yuri Smirnov
  • Patent number: 8213886
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver, an antenna tuner connecting the transceiver to an antenna, a power sensor adapted to acquire measurements about transmit power, a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) adapted to acquire measurements about receive power and wherein the tuner tunes the antenna based upon the transmit and receive measurements to optimize the antenna in both the receive and transmit bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Guillaume Blin
  • Publication number: 20120164960
    Abstract: A safe area voltage and current interface is provided that includes an antenna and mode selection unit, an antenna tuner unit and an interface unit. The antenna and mode selection unit determines a frequency mode and an antenna mode for an output signal. The antenna tuner unit is directly connected to the antenna and mode selection unit and is configured to tune the output signal based on the frequency mode and the antenna mode determined by the antenna and mode selection unit. The interface unit is directly connected to the antenna tuner unit and is configured to ensure that a current and voltage level of the output signal does not exceed an intrinsically safe current and voltage level, while maintaining the peak current level of the output signal to a level sufficient to drive an electronic component disposed in an unsafe environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: David O. LEVAN, Munroe C. CLAYTON
  • Patent number: 8208882
    Abstract: An antenna sense circuit includes a detector and a level shifter. The detector consists of a voltage drop component, a transistor component, a first resistor component, and a second resistor component. The voltage drop component is coupled between a first power supply and a first terminal of the first resistor component. The second resistor component has a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first resistor component and a second terminal coupled to a second power supply. The transistor component has a control terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor component and the first terminal of the second resistor component, a second connection terminal coupled to the first power supply, and a first connection terminal for outputting a first detecting signal. The level shifter adjusts a voltage level of the first detecting signal to generate a second detecting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation
    Inventors: Chen-An Hsieh, Cheng-Hsiung Hsu, Tsai-Wang Chang
  • Patent number: 8204545
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a coupler which transmits and receives an electromagnetic wave to and from another coupler includes a substrate, a coupling element, a ground plane, and a feed terminal. The coupling element is positioned at a first surface of the substrate and includes a feed point. The ground plane is positioned at a second surface of the substrate. The ground plane includes a base portion and a protrusion. A first surface of an end of the protrusion is in contact with the second surface of the substrate. The base portion faces the second surface of the substrate with a gap therebetween. The feed terminal is positioned at a second surface of the end of the protrusion and connected to the feed point of the coupling element via a first through-hole in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shimasaki
  • Patent number: 8204458
    Abstract: A transmitting device comprising a transmitter, an antenna and a tuning means comprising a matching network connectable between the transmitter and the antenna, the matching network comprising a plurality of capacitors; characterized in that the tuning means further comprises a means of selectively individually adjusting the capacitors to increase the output power of the transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurent Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8200168
    Abstract: A programmable antenna assembly includes a configurable antenna structure, a configurable antenna interface, and a control module. The configurable antenna structure includes a plurality of antenna elements that, in response to an antenna configuration signal, are configured elements into at least one antenna. The configurable antenna interface module is coupled to the at least one antenna and, based on an antenna interface control signal, provides at least one of an impedance matching circuit and a bandpass filter. The control module is coupled to generate the antenna configuration signal and the antenna interface control signal in accordance with a first frequency band and a second frequency band such that the at least one antenna facilitates at least one of transmitting and receiving a first RF signal within the first frequency band and facilitates at least one of transmitting and receiving a second RF signal within the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8199683
    Abstract: A system for fall-duplex communication using a single transmitter is presented. The system comprises a base station with a signal and data processor, peripheral detectors each placed at a distance from the transmitting antenna, and a mobile device having at least a dipole antenna having a switch and a loop antenna having a switch, wherein the sending device modulates the shorting state, i.e., the electromagnetic configuration, of the wire and coil antennas using the switches, the modulating resulting in alteration in load at the base station. This alteration can be calculated based on input from the transmitting antenna and the detectors, each input having time coding. The input from the transmitting antenna can be magnitude of propagated signal and the input from each detector can comprise a quantified signal level and the quantified signal level time-delayed by propagation time. The detectors can be peripheral signal level detecting antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Telcordia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratul K. Guha, Wai Chen
  • Patent number: 8195229
    Abstract: A device includes a gyrating circuit that generates a motion parameter based on motion of the device. An RF transceiver generates an outbound RF signal from an outbound symbol stream, transmits the outbound RF signal to a remote station of a wireless network, and generates an inbound symbol stream from an inbound RF signal received from the at least one remote station. A processing module processes the motion parameter to produce motion data, converts outbound data into the outbound symbol stream, converts the inbound symbol stream into inbound data, compares current motion data to past motion data, detects when a difference between the current motion data and the past motion data compares unfavorably to a motion change threshold, and include the motion data in the outbound data when the difference between the current motion data and the past motion data compares unfavorably to the motion change threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8185162
    Abstract: An electrically tilted antenna system with polarization diversity has a dual polarized, tilt adjustable antenna (32). The antenna (32) has dipoles (34, 36) of two orthogonal polarizations associated with independently adjustable electrical tilt angles. The tilt angles are implemented by relative delays between corporate feed input or output signals, the delays being introduced by an antenna tilt assembly (54). Two signal feeders (F21, F22) associated with different antenna polarizations connect the antenna tilt assembly (54) to a base station filter assembly (50): the base station filter assembly 50 routes transmit signals from base stations (BS21, BS22) to different antenna polarizations via respective feeders (F21, F22) and the antenna tilt assembly (54). This assembly also divides receive signals from feeders (F21, F22) between both base stations (BS21, BS22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Quintel Technology Limited
    Inventors: Philip Edward Haskell, Louis David Thomas, Stephen Thomas Newbold, David Edwin Barker
  • Patent number: 8185062
    Abstract: A configurable antenna assembly includes an antenna structure and a configurable antenna interface. The antenna structure is operable, in a first mode, to provide a first antenna structure and a second antenna structure, wherein the first antenna structure receives an inbound radio frequency (RF) signal and the second antenna structure transmits an outbound RF signal. The configurable antenna interface is operable in the first mode to provide a first antenna interface and a second antenna interface, wherein the first antenna interface is configured in accordance with a receive adjust signal to adjust at least one of phase and amplitude of the inbound RF signal, and wherein the second antenna interface is configured in accordance with a transmit adjust signal to adjust at least one of phase and amplitude of the outbound RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8170510
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques, systems, and methods relating to minimizing mutual coupling between a first antenna and a second antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Mikael Bergholz Knudsen, Bernd Adler, Peter Bundgaard, Jan-Erik Mueller, Gert F Pedersen, Mauro Pelosi
  • Patent number: 8149742
    Abstract: A diplexer for steering transmit and receive signals between an antenna and a transmitter and receiver of a radio frequency communication system. The diplexer includes a first quadrature hybrid device configured for bidirectional communication with the antenna and configured for rerouting transmission signals from the transmitter. The diplexer also includes at least one pair of filters coupled to quadrature ports of the quadrature hybrid device. The at least one pair of filters provides a receive signal from the antenna via the quadrature hybrid device through a receive path and routes a transmit signal from the transceiver via the quadrature hybrid device through a transmit path. The at least one filter pair is configured to filter out noise from the receive signal and to reflect the transmit signal energy while allowing noise through from the transmit signal. The diplexer also includes a second quadrature hybrid device configured to receive an output from each of the at least one pair of filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Sorsby
  • Patent number: 8126407
    Abstract: A transmitter circuit. One embodiment provides for emitting electromagnetic waves. The circuit has a transmitting device for outputting a transmission signal, an antenna device for emitting the transmission signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave, and a matching device which is electrically connected to the transmitting device and to the antenna device. The matching device includes at least two tuning elements for setting the resonant frequency of a circuit arrangement, formed from the antenna device and the first and second tuning elements, and for matching the impedance of the transmitting device and the antenna device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jakob Jongsma, Vjekoslav Matic
  • Patent number: 8103311
    Abstract: An omni-directional antenna supporting simultaneous transmission/reception, from the same AP, on multiple frequencies, allowing each AP to communicate using each possible frequency. Each AP multiplexes its outgoing signals onto its transmitting antenna, and de-multiplexes its incoming signals from its receiving antenna. The transmitting and receiving antennae are each substantially located in each other's NULL zone (or one is in the NULL zone of the other). The AP can transmit/receive on many distinct frequencies without needing more antennae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Meru Networks
    Inventors: Rajendran Venugopalachary, Senthil Palanisamy, Srinath Sarang, Vaduvur Bharghavan
  • Patent number: 8081940
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using on-chip digitally controlled array of capacitors are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include dynamically tuning a mobile terminal antenna (MTA) using on-chip arrays of capacitive devices. The tuning may be, for example, to compensate for center frequency drift during operation of the mobile terminal. The tuning may be accomplished by selecting capacitive devices in the on-chip arrays of capacitive devices to use in conjunction with an inductive circuit coupled to the MTA, where the inductive circuit may be either off the chip or on the chip. Accordingly, an impedance of the circuit formed by the capacitive devices in the on-chip arrays of capacitive devices and the inductive circuit may be adjusted with respect to the MTA. A valid circuit configuration may include a configuration where no capacitive device may be selected for use with the inductive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8073392
    Abstract: The invention is a radio transmitter that includes an antenna having at least one driven element and at least one reflector element. The driven element is electrically coupled to a radio carrier source. At least one of the driven elements or the at least one reflector element, includes at least one switch to modulate the radio carrier. Also, a secure communication system includes a radio transmitter configured to transmit a modulated signal within an information beam width. Also, a method for modulating a radio signal includes the steps of causing the transmitted carrier signal to be modulated by the modulation signal in response to switching the at least one reflector switch. Also, a method for selecting desirable antenna reflector switch combinations includes performing a mathematical simulation to determine whether the combination of reflector switch positions results in a modulated signal that can be demodulated within an information beam width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aydin Babakhani, David B. Rutledge, Seyed Ali Hajimiri
  • Patent number: 8068798
    Abstract: A wireless terminal includes an RF transceiver, an auto tuner, and an antenna. When a remote signal is received at the wireless terminal, the auto tuner is adjusted in accordance with the received signal to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal. As further remote signals are received by the wireless terminal, the tuner is readjusted. As a user inputs information to be transmitted, the tuner is also readjusted in accordance with the transmission signals to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal, and a best compromise between the TX OTA performance and the RX OTA performance is calculated. Current/temperature information may also be obtained for readjusting the tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Bruce E. Wilcox, Mete Ozkar, Kerrance L. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 8064955
    Abstract: A device includes an on-chip gyrating circuit that generates a motion parameter based on motion of the device. An RF transceiver generates an outbound RF signal from an outbound symbol stream, transmits the outbound RF signal to a remote station of a wireless network, and generates an inbound symbol stream from an inbound RF signal received from the at least one remote station. A processing module processes the motion parameter to produce motion data, converts outbound data into the outbound symbol stream, converts the inbound symbol stream into inbound data, compares current motion data to past motion data, detects when a difference between the current motion data and the past motion data compares unfavorably to a motion change threshold, and include the motion data in the outbound data when the difference between the current motion data and the past motion data compares unfavorably to the motion change threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8055219
    Abstract: A first value of an operational center frequency of a signal to transmit is determined according to received user input. The operational center frequency is centered within a first band of frequencies and the first band of frequencies has a first bandwidth. A single loop antenna is tuned to match the first value of the center frequency and the single loop antenna is arranged and configured to operate across a second band of frequencies having a second bandwidth. The first bandwidth is less than the second bandwidth. The signal is transmitted from the single loop antenna according to the first value of the operational center frequency to provide a transmitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy E. Jenkins, Dilip Patel
  • Publication number: 20110244817
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to forward link signaling via transmitter detuning A method may include selectively detuning a circuit to adjust an amplitude of an associated transmit signal based on data to be transmitted. The method may also include selectively retuning the circuit to differently adjust the amplitude of the transmit signal based on the data to be transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Zhen Ning Low
  • Patent number: 8014744
    Abstract: A wireless network device includes a plurality of antennas for transmitting and receiving data packets. An antenna diversity module measures at least one of an average signal-to-noise ratio and a packet error rate associated with the data packets and selects a given antenna of the plurality of antennas based on at least one of the average signal-to-noise ratio and the packet error rate. The antenna diversity module measures a first average signal-to-noise ratio or a first packet error rate while utilizing a first antenna of the plurality of antennas, measures a second average signal-to-noise ratio or a second packet error rate while utilizing a second antenna of the plurality of antennas, and selects the given antenna based at least in part on a comparison of the first average signal-to-noise ratio to the second average signal-to-noise ratio or a comparison of the first packet error rate to the second packet error rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Milind Kopikare, Brian Bosso, Partho Mishra
  • Patent number: 8014732
    Abstract: A programmable antenna assembly includes a configurable antenna structure, a configurable antenna interface, and a control module. The configurable antenna structure includes a plurality of antenna elements that, in response to an antenna configuration signal, are configured elements into at least one antenna. The configurable antenna interface module is coupled to the at least one antenna and, based on an antenna interface control signal, provides at least one of an impedance matching circuit and a bandpass filter. The control module is coupled to generate the antenna configuration signal and the antenna interface control signal in accordance with a first frequency band and a second frequency band such that the at least one antenna facilitates at least one of transmitting and receiving a first RF signal within the first frequency band and facilitates at least one of transmitting and receiving a second RF signal within the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8005448
    Abstract: The present invention is an RF duplex filter that is used to remove transmit signals from the receive path of a full duplex transceiver. The RF duplex filter includes a notch filter for blocking signals at a transmit frequency and a bandpass filter for enhancing signals at a receive frequency. The notch filter is formed with series resonant elements and the bandpass filter is formed with parallel resonant elements. One embodiment of the present invention may include tunable resonant elements for tuning the notch filter to a transmit frequency, tuning the bandpass filter to a receive frequency, or both. Calibration circuitry may be included in the full duplex receiver for adjusting the tunable resonant elements. The present invention includes a method for calibrating the tunable resonant elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelvin Kai Tuan Yan, Dong-Jun Yang
  • Patent number: 8000744
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for beamforming in a communication system are provided, in which a base station receives a channel vector from each of a plurality of mobile stations, generates an uplink channel matrix using the received channel vectors, generates a beamforming weight vector using the uplink channel matrix and a fixed constant that minimizes a channel error rate, and forms beams using the beamforming weight vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-Chul Yoon, Min-Su Lee
  • Patent number: 7957767
    Abstract: A device includes an on-chip gyrating circuit that generates a motion parameter based on motion of the device. An RF transceiver generates an outbound RF signal from an outbound symbol stream, transmits the outbound RF signal to a remote station of a wireless network, and generates an inbound symbol stream from an inbound RF signal received from the at least one remote station. A processing module is coupled to process the motion parameter to produce motion data, to convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream, and to convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data, wherein the outbound data includes the motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza Reza Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7953549
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a mobile device receives previous route traversal information for a route from a server. During a subsequent traversal of the route, the mobile device determines comparative split information for the subsequent traversal by reference to the previous route traversal information and presents the comparative split information during traversal of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Andrew J. Graham, Alan R. Lee, Jon H. Werner
  • Patent number: 7944403
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an on-chip antenna interface, coupled to an off-chip antenna interface having at least one off-chip impedance matching component, that forms a programmable impedance matching network with the at least one off-chip impedance matching component. The programmable impedance matching network is programmable based on a control signal. An RF receiver, coupled to the programmable impedance matching network, that generates inbound data in response to a received signal from the programmable impedance matching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7941194
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the co-location of radio frequency (RF) antennas in portable devices, portable devices and their docking stations and related systems, and devices with restrictive space constraints to allow for simultaneous receive (RX) and transmit (TX) operation without degradation. The systems and methods disclosed overcome RX channel degradation, receiver performance, and other problems seen in prior solutions. More particularly, transmit and receive antennas are oriented to provide for cross-polarization of their electro-magnetic fields, are oriented to allow one or both antenna to fall within null regions of the other antenna, and/or oriented with both cross-polarization and null region considerations in mind. Other variations and implementations are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Nisha Ganwani, Greg Allan Hodgson, Russell Croman, Jonathan D. Pearce, Wade R. Gillham
  • Patent number: 7937051
    Abstract: On a radio frequency signal path a transmission phase shifter causes a phase shift. From a first end of said phase shifter comes a first sample, and from a second end of said phase shifter comes a second sample. Another phase shifter changes the phase of the second sample by the same magnitude as said transmission phase shifter. A measurement circuit combines the phase-shifted second sample with a phase-inverted version of the first sample to produce an output indicative of a power level of the original signal on the radio frequency signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Risto Väisänen
  • Patent number: 7933562
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a baseband processing module, a configurable receiver section, a configurable transmitter section and a configurable antenna assembly. The baseband processing module converts outbound data into an outbound symbol stream, converts an inbound symbol stream into inbound data and generates a transmit adjust signal and a receive adjust signal. The receiver section converts an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream. The transmitter section converts the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal. The antenna assembly receives the inbound RF signal via a first antenna structure and transmits the outbound RF signal via a second antenna structure. The first antenna structure and/or the configurable receiver section adjusts phase and/or amplitude of the inbound RF signal in accordance with the receive adjust signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Reza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7929923
    Abstract: A novel out-phasing-array transmitter system and method are disclosed. The method is based on decomposing the input signal into an array of signals to drive a general, multiple paths out-phasing-array transmitter. This decomposition is less sensitive to the phase difference between the multiple paths, and extends the dynamic range of the out-phasing-array transmitter system. The wide dynamic range and the multiple transmission paths increase the maximum achievable output power, in accordance with the WiMAX specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Mostafa Elmala
  • Publication number: 20110086601
    Abstract: Real-time calibration of a tunable matching network that matches the dynamic impedance of an antenna in a radio frequency transmitter system. The radio frequency transmitter system includes two non-linear equations that may be solved to determine the reflection coefficient of the antenna. The tunable matching network is repeatedly perturbed and the power reflected by the antenna is measured after each perturbation at the same node within the tunable matching network. The power values are used by an optimizer in converging to a solution that provides input impedance of the antenna. The elements of the matching circuit are adjusted to match the input impedance of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Shirook Ali, James Paul Warden, Mohamed Bakr