Automatic Adjustment Of Tuning Patents (Class 455/125)
  • 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: 8351874
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatically adjusting antenna impedance match in a wireless transceiver employing phase-amplitude modulation. According to some embodiments of the invention, a wireless transceiver comprises a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit connected to the antenna by a transmit/receive duplexer. An electronically adjustable matching network is located between the transmitter output and the antenna. To control the adjustable matching network, a directional coupler is located between the transmitter output and the matching network to separate transmit signals reflected from the antenna system, including the antenna, the matching network and the T/R duplexer. The reflected transmit signals are routed to the receiver circuit, which digitizes the reflected signal and determines an antenna reflection coefficient based on the digitized reflected signal and the modulation signal used to create the transmit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Paul Wilkinson Dent, Sven Mattisson
  • Patent number: 8351850
    Abstract: An apparatus for emitting and receiving radio-frequency signals includes a circuit to cancel interference. The apparatus transmits and receives signals using an antenna, and isolates the transmission and receiving circuitry. The circuit taps a first part of a signal to be transmitted, and controls the amplitude and phase of this signal. The circuit then introduces the first part of the signal into the receiver after the first part of the signal has been amplified and phase-shifted, so as to cancel in the receiver interference due to portions of the signal that have undesirably entered the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Thales Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Rogier Herman Van Aken, Jan Martinus Schouten, Hubert Langeraar
  • 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: 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: 8299867
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF input port, an RF output port connected to the RF input port via a multichip adaptive impedance matching module (AIMM), and the multichip AIMM comprising one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements, wherein the multichip AIMM is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the bias voltage or bias current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion RF, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 8285228
    Abstract: A signal transmitting circuit includes: a signal generating circuit arranged to generate an output signal to a loading device according to an input signal; an adjusting circuit; and a matching circuit having a first port coupled to the adjusting circuit and a second port coupled to the signal generating circuit, wherein the second port is arranged to couple to the loading device so as to provide a matching impedance corresponding to the loading device; and the adjusting circuit is arranged to generate an adjusting signal of which a voltage applied on the first port is substantially equal to a voltage of the output signal applied on the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 8280319
    Abstract: A communications device is provided. The communications device includes a first antenna port coupled to a signal line, transmitter circuitry coupled to the signal line and configured to broadcast a radio frequency (RF) output signal across the first antenna port, tuning circuitry coupled to the signal line, and a controller configured to adjust a tuning of the tuning circuitry. The first antenna port, the transmitter circuitry, the tuning circuitry, and the controller are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Dan B. Kasha, Aslamali A. Rafi, Abhishek V. Kammula, Peter J. Vancorenland, George T. Tuttle
  • 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: 8254850
    Abstract: A communication module is provided. The module includes at least one transceiver, a filter, a power amplifier, an enclosure, an internal interface and an external interface. The power amplifier is in communication with the at least one transceiver and filter. Moreover, the at least one transceiver, filter and power amplifier are tuned and calibrated to work with each other. The enclosure is configured to physically retain the at least one transceiver, filter and power amplifier. The internal interface is configured to interface connections between the at least one transceiver and the power amplifier and the external interface configured to provided external connections to the module. In addition, the external interface is coupled to the internal interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Wayman, Michael J. Nelson, Dean Zavadsky
  • 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: 8229366
    Abstract: A mobile station with a tunable duplexer is disclosed. The mobile station includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. The mobile station includes a receive path that has a receive band reject filter in electronic communication with an antenna at a common node. The receive path also includes a receive band pass filter in electronic communication with the receive band reject filter. The mobile station includes a transmit path that has a transmit band reject filter in electronic communication with the antenna at the common node. The transmit path also includes a transmit band pass filter in electronic communication with the transmit band reject filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Harris Smith Simon, Stanley S. Toncich
  • 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: 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: 8140027
    Abstract: An automatic frequency tuning system and method for a transmit power amplifier. The transmit power amplifier has an antenna feed line including a series capacitor and is coupled to an output of an output driver. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a shunt capacitor array having a plurality of capacitors selectably couplable to the antenna feed line to apply a programmable shunt capacitance thereto, (2) a peak detector circuit couplable to nodes of the antenna feed line associated with both terminals of the series capacitor and (3) a processor configured to control the peak detector circuit to determine a ratio of voltage levels measured at the nodes at a given power level of the output driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mehmet T. Ozgun, Luis E. Ossa, Brian P. Ginsburg, Srinath M. Ramaswamy, Zahir I. Parkar
  • Patent number: 8121561
    Abstract: An automatic power tuning system and method, and a transmitter employing either the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a power detector circuit coupled to an output of a transmitter, the transmitter having an integrator with a first, reference integrator current power control input, a second, integrator capacitor power control input and a plurality of driver fingers selectably employable by a third, driver finger power control input, the power detector configured to generate signals indicating an output voltage of the transmitter and (2) a digital processing circuit coupled to the power detector circuit and configured to employ the signals to determine at least near-optimum reference integrator current and integrator capacitor settings and select a number of driver fingers to employ to drive the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mehmet T. Ozgun, Luis E. Ossa, Brian P. Ginsburg, Srinath M. Ramaswamy, Zahir I. Parkar
  • Patent number: 8116706
    Abstract: To calibrate a bandpass filter, a received signal strength corresponding to a received communication channel is determined. A variable element of the bandpass filter is adjusted based on the received signal strength of the received communication channel to calibrate the bandpass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Clement, King Chu Tsai, Heinz Maeder
  • Patent number: 8107902
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing the current consumption and increasing the efficiency of an RF power amplifier (PA), according to which the load, connected to the output stage of the PA, tuned dynamically or statically for each level of the desired output power. By doing so, the output impedance of the output stage is essentially matched, such that the dynamic RF load line has a slope that corresponds to the impedance required to provide this level. Whenever a smaller output power is desired in response to reduction in the input signal to the amplifier, the load is further tuned, such that the dynamic or static RF load line has a slope that causes the power amplifier to essentially remain in saturation at the smaller output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Paragon Communications Ltd.
    Inventor: Avner Elia
  • Patent number: 8068795
    Abstract: A multi-band RF transmitter circuit (30) for a wireless communication device combines a plurality of RF transmission blocks into a single transceiver integrated circuit which includes a shared broadband SVGA (32), a shared tunable balun (34), and an output switching network (38) at the output of the balun to support three different frequency bands. The outputs of the multi-band RF transmitter circuit are connected to separate external power amplifier circuits (42-44), where each power amplifier circuit generates an amplified signal for one of the plurality of predetermined frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit D. Bavisi, Walter J. Grandfield, Darioush Keyvani, Mark A. Kirschenmann
  • Publication number: 20110287724
    Abstract: A frequency modulation (FM) transmitter, a broadcast receiver having the same, and a method of transmitting an audio are provided. The FM transmitter selects a specific frequency from among frequencies in FM frequency band, which exclude a frequency in use, and transmits an audio signal over the selected specific frequency. Accordingly, the FM transmitter can transmit the audio signal using the confusion-free or interference-free frequency. As a result, a user can select a frequency to transmit the audio of the broadcast receiver easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-joong NOH, Dae-hyun JANG
  • Patent number: 8055215
    Abstract: Provided is a transmission circuit capable of operating with high linearity and with low noise. An AM variable fc filter uses an AM cutoff frequency to remove a high frequency component from an amplitude signal. An amplifier supplies a power amplifier with a voltage which is a result of amplifying the amplitude signal outputted from the AM variable fc filter. A PM variable fc filter uses a PM cutoff frequency to remove a high frequency component from a phase signal. A phase modulator phase-modulates the phase signal outputted from the PM variable fc filter to output a high-frequency phase-modulated signal. The power amplifier amplifies the high-frequency phase-modulated signal by using the voltage supplied from the amplifier, and outputs a resultant signal as a transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hara, Shunsuke Hirano, Toru Matsuura, Shigeru Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8032074
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection state setting method of a dual tuner and an apparatus. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method of setting a tuner connection state of n satellites in a digital broadcast receiver having the plurality of tuners, n being a natural number, that are connected to one or more antennas includes setting the tuner connection state for each satellite by using a satellite signal inputted from each satellite, which has information on one antenna, and setting the tuner connection state between the satellites by using a connection state set for each satellite and the satellite signal inputted from each satellite. Accordingly, with the present invention, the digital broadcast receiver having two tuners can automatically set the connection state of satellite lines of each tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Humax Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Hyung Kim, Ho Yi, Min-Haeng Cho
  • Patent number: 8014738
    Abstract: Some embodiments discussed relate to an apparatus comprising a power amplifier module. The power amplifier module includes a plurality of sensors, and a first digital communication port configured to provide a monitor signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors. The apparatus includes a transceiver module coupled to provide an signal to an input of the power amplifier the transceiver module including a second digital communication port configured to receive the monitor signal from the first digital communication port, a processing unit configured to generate at least one of a bias control signal and a back-off signal dependent upon the monitor signal, and a power controller to receive the at least one of bias control signal and the back-off signal and provide at least one further input signal to the power amplifier based on at least one of the bias control signal and the back-off signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andrea Camuffo, Andreas Langer
  • 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: 7991363
    Abstract: A tunable matching circuit is adjusted primarily based on transmitter oriented metrics and is then applied to attain a desired tuning for transmitter and receiver operation. In a TDM system, this is accomplished by identifying an optimal tuning for the transmitter and then applying an empirically derived adjustment to the tuning circuit in receiver mode. In an FDM system, this is accomplished by identifying a target operation that is a compromise between transmitter performance and receiver performance, and then adjusting the tuning circuit as a function of transmitter metrics and the current tuning values to achieve the desired compromised performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew R. Greene
  • Patent number: 7955585
    Abstract: Separation of carbon nanotubes or fullerenes according to diameter through non-covalent pi-pi interaction with molecular clips is provided. Molecular clips are prepared by Diels-Alder reaction of polyacenes with a variety of dienophiles. The pi-pi complexes of carbon nanotubes with molecular clips are also used for selective placement of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes on substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Cherie R. Kagan, Rudolf Tromp
  • Patent number: 7949309
    Abstract: An antenna system includes an antenna, a transmission line, an inductor module, a tunable capacitor module, and control logic. The transmission line is coupled to the antenna and to the inductor module. The tunable capacitor module is coupled to the transmission line in accordance with a capacitance control signal to provide a desired capacitance such that inductance of the inductor module and the desired capacitance tunes the antenna system. The control logic is coupled to generate the capacitance control signal based on the operational parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • 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: 7917104
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements; and wherein the RF matching network is tuned to optimize the RF matching network and wherein said tuning is limited by a predetermined number of tuning steps that are taken within a transmit burst and/or limited by the magnitude of each step taken within a transmit burst and/or limited to the steps only being allowed between bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith R. Manssen, Matthew R. Greene, Wayne E. Smith, Guillaume Blin
  • Patent number: 7899417
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for reducing the current consumption and increasing the efficiency of an RF power amplifier (PA), while maintaining the output power. The desired output power of the PA is determined and for each level of the desired output power, the load that is connected to the output stage of the PA is tuned to essentially match the output impedance of the output stage to provide maximal gain. By doing so, the dynamic RF load line has a slope that causes it to intersect with the drain-source (or emitter-collector, in case of a bipolar transistor) voltage, across the output stage, at a value that corresponds to the voltage swing required to provide the desired output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Paragon Communications Ltd.
    Inventor: Avner Elia
  • Patent number: 7884680
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a circuit for active loss compensation. The circuit includes a parallel inductor-capacitive (LC) tank circuit having a first single-ended output. A first adjustable capacitor, which includes a first terminal and a second terminal, is coupled to the first single-ended output. The circuit also includes a first pair of transistors having sources coupled to a first common node. One transistor of the first pair of transistors has a drain coupled to the first single-ended output and the other transistor of the first pair of transistors has a gate coupled to the second terminal of the first adjustable capacitor. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfred Raidl, Christoph Schmits, Wolfgang Thomann
  • Patent number: 7867469
    Abstract: Separation of carbon nanotubes or fullerenes according to diameter through non-covalent pi-pi interaction with molecular clips is provided. Molecular clips are prepared by Diels-Alder reaction of polyacenes with a variety of dienophiles. The pi-pi complexes of carbon nanotubes with molecular clips are also used for selective placement of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes on substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Cherie R. Kagan, Rudolf Tromp
  • Patent number: 7865154
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an input port and a dynamic impedance matching network capable of determining a mismatch at the input port and dynamically changing the RF match by using at least one matching element that includes at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor. The matching network may be a “Pi”, a “T”, or “ladder” type network and the apparatus may further comprise at least one directional coupler capable of signal collection by sampling a portion of an incident signal, a reflected signal or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Mendolia, James Andrew Martin, III, Izz Khayo, Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Heinz Bachmann, William McKinzie
  • Patent number: 7848386
    Abstract: A (radio frequency) RF transmission system includes an RF transmitter that generates an RF signal at a sequence of selected carrier frequencies. A frequency hop module, coupled to the RF transmitter generates the sequence of selected carrier frequencies. A programmable antenna is tuned to each of the sequence of selected carrier frequencies to transmit the RF signal via an antenna current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7840196
    Abstract: In a filter circuit, resonators is connected in parallel between input and output terminal, an input signal is input through the input terminal and supplied to the resonators. Signal generators are connected to the resonators to control the resonators. The signal generators are controlled by a control unit so that the resonators are resonated to generate resonance signals at different resonant frequencies and at predetermined resonance phases. Thus, the output signal is set within a desired frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kayano
  • Patent number: 7831219
    Abstract: A matching network for matching an antenna to a transmitter or receiver comprises an input port for receiving high-frequency power, an output port and a switchable impedance transformation circuit, which is connected between the input port and the output port. The impedance transformation circuit comprises a CMOS switch in a high-frequency path, which has a first switching state and a second switching state. The impedance transformation circuit is implemented to match a first impedance applied to the output port to a first predetermined impedance in the first switching state, and to match a second impedance applied to the output port to a second predetermined impedance in the second switching state. The inventive matching network allows a particularly good utilization of power provided by a transmitting amplifier or an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Holger Heuermann, Arash Sadeghfam
  • Patent number: 7801500
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a radio tuner capable of receiving broadcast media contents and information about each of the broadcast media contents from a plurality of radio stations; a user communication interface configured for receiving from a user a list of desired broadcast media contents; a memory; and a processor. According to the invention the processor is responsible for accessing the list of desired broadcast media contents stored in the memory; the radio tuner is controlled to detect the radio stations to retrieve information of the broadcast media contents that are currently being, or are in the near future to be, broadcast from the radio stations; the retrieved information is compared with the list of desired broadcast media contents; and the user is alerted via the user communication interface if the comparison reveals that a broadcast media content that is currently being, or are in the near future to be, broadcast is comprised in the list of desired broadcast media contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Kraft, Peter Dam Nielsen, Michael Kristiansen
  • Patent number: 7787833
    Abstract: A broadband transmitter includes a modulator and circuits for translating and conditioning the modulated signal to produce a modulated, analog signal at a predetermined frequency. A low-linearity power amplifier amplifies the analog signal at a predetermined frequency; the low-linearity amplifier benefits from having a smaller physical size and a lower heat dissipation. A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-switched filter bank includes at least one MEMS switch and at least one filter. The MEMS-switched filter bank reduces in-band noise and harmonics from the amplified analog signal for transmission of the amplified analog signal at the predetermined frequency in the broadband network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Jay F Gillette, Athena Leitzke
  • Patent number: 7764932
    Abstract: An antenna system includes an antenna, a transmission line, an inductor module, a tunable capacitor module, and control logic. The transmission line is coupled to the antenna and to the inductor module. The tunable capacitor module is coupled to the transmission line in accordance with a capacitance control signal to provide a desired capacitance such that inductance of the inductor module and the desired capacitance tunes the antenna system. The control logic is coupled to generate the capacitance control signal based on the operational parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7761067
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods implementing techniques for calibrating a filter circuit. A comparator generates an output based on a filter output amplitude signal and a reference amplitude signal. A calibration logic unit receives the comparator output and produces a component code that is used by the filter circuit to adjust one or more component values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: King Chun Tsai, Sang Won Son, Wayne A. Loeb
  • Patent number: 7761064
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) matching control apparatus and method for a portable communication terminal is provided. An RF matching control apparatus for a portable communication terminal according to the present invention includes matching circuitry for performing RF matching on an RF signal input through an input line connected to an antenna and outputting a matched RF signal through an output line; and a decoding unit for generating matching control signals according to a utilization environment of the portable communication terminal and providing the matching control signals to the matching circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dong-Il Yang, Chung-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7761061
    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: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Reza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7720511
    Abstract: The present invention determines optimal positions of a variable antenna using an artificial intelligence-based genetic algorithm (GA). The GA acquires a fitness value for an individual of a genetic algorithm population by updating positions of the antenna. The population improves through an evolutionary computational process using a fitness measure based on the signal strength. At the end of the process, the system positions the antenna to the best position found by the GA. Therefore, the final position gives exceptionally clear reception for a chosen received frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brian Hanley, Choong K Oh
  • Publication number: 20100099369
    Abstract: An automatic frequency tuning system and method for a transmit power amplifier. The transmit power amplifier has an antenna feed line including a series capacitor and is coupled to an output of an output driver. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a shunt capacitor array having a plurality of capacitors selectably couplable to the antenna feed line to apply a programmable shunt capacitance thereto, (2) a peak detector circuit couplable to nodes of the antenna feed line associated with both terminals of the series capacitor and (3) a processor configured to control the peak detector circuit to determine a ratio of voltage levels measured at the nodes at a given power level of the output driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mehmet T. Ozgun, Luis E. Ossa, Brian P. Ginsburg, Srinath M. Ramaswamy, Zahir I. Parkar
  • Patent number: 7693499
    Abstract: In a transmission path, an input signal is amplified in a manner dependent on a digital control word present and is processed by an arrangement for signal processing to form an output signal. A digital setting word is read out from a memory device in a manner dependent on the digital control word, setting signals being derived from said setting word. The gain setting of the amplifier and the operating mode of the arrangement for signal processing are influenced by the setting signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Rainer Koller
  • Patent number: 7583930
    Abstract: There is provided a transmission means (3) configured to transmit a modulated signal obtained by modulating data, a transmission electrode (8) that induces an electric field based on the modulated signal in an electric field transmission medium (20), a first reactance means (2) that is provided between the electric field transmission medium (20) and an earth ground (14) and configured to cause resonance with parasitic capacitance produced between a ground (6) the transmission means (3) and the earth ground (14), parasitic capacitance produced between the electric field transmission medium (20) and the ground (6) of the transmission means (3) and parasitic capacitance produced between the electric field transmission medium (20) and the earth ground (14), and a second reactance means (1) provided between an output of the transmission means (3) and the ground (6) of the transmission means (3) or between the transmission electrode (8) and the ground (6) of the transmission means (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Minotani, Nobutarou Shibata, Mitsuru Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 7577411
    Abstract: Wireless communication device tuning an antenna matching circuit responsive to a receive signal quality indicator and, optionally, responsive to a failed access probe is provided. Systems and methods are provided that increase the antenna efficiency in either the transmit frequency or the receive frequency in an idle or access state as needed, based on fading conditions, non-ideal antenna efficiency balance, mobile station forward versus reverse link usage and system forward versus reverse link usage. The antenna efficiency may be changed incrementally or may be optimized completely for the transmit frequency or the receive frequency. The re-balancing is accomplished by tuning the antenna matching circuit. One way to tune the antenna matching circuit is to apply a voltage to a ferro-electric capacitor in the matching circuit, thereby changing the capacitance of the ferro-electric capacitor, thereby changing the impedance of the matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Chang, Gregory Poilasne, Jorge Fabrega-Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7548762
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for tuning a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna matching circuit in a portable wireless communications device. The method includes accepting a first matching circuit tuning value, measuring satellite vehicle (SV) carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) associated with the first tuning value and a first search time interval, measuring the SV C/N associated with a next tuning value, and selecting the tuning value associated with the highest SV C/N to tune the matching circuit. In one aspect, the method further includes comparing the SV C/N to a first minimum threshold. If the first tuning value SV C/N exceeds the first minimum threshold, then the method measures the SV C/N associated with the next tuning value. Otherwise, a default tuning value can be selected to tune the matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge Fabrega-Sanchez, Henry Chang, Srivatsan Veeraraghavan, Ammar Kitabi
  • Publication number: 20090130978
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of identifying at least one transmission frequency in a set of carrier frequencies can include: (a) determining a first signal strength for each carrier frequency in the set of carrier frequencies; (b) choosing a first transmission frequency from the set of carrier frequencies at least partially based on the first signal strength of each of the carrier frequencies of the set of carrier frequencies; and (c) broadcasting electrical signals over the first transmission frequency. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy King, Scott Jackson, Jeong Lee, Wesley Kung, James Foo, Jerry (Ngai-Chiu) Wong, Kelly Ferdman, Vannin Gale