Gain Control Patents (Class 455/127.2)
  • Patent number: 8478214
    Abstract: Methods and systems for receiving signals via a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include selectively enabling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) coupled to the antenna. The selective enabling may be based on a desired gain level applied to a signal received from the antenna. The LNAs may be coupled to ports on the antenna based on an input impedance of the LNAs and an impedance of the ports. Each of the LNAs may be configured for optimum linearity in different gain ranges, which may be proportional to the input impedance of the LNAs. The antenna may be integrated on a chip with the LNAs, or may be located external to the chip. The antenna may include a microstrip antenna. The LNAs may include variable gain and may be enabled utilizing a processor. Linearity on demand may be enabled via the selective enabling of the LNAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Marvan Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20130165061
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods relating to a mixer having high second- and third-order intercept points are disclosed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: TRIQUINT SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Yan Guo, Patrick T. Clancy, Peter J. Mares
  • Publication number: 20130157598
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting forward power sent to an antenna and reflected power reflected back from the antenna. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for measuring forward and reflected power and controlling the amount of power supplied to the antenna responsive to these measurements. Embodiments of the present invention enable the power sent to the antenna to be dynamically altered when antenna impendence changes (e.g., when the antenna gets too close to another object).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitriy ROZENBLIT, Masoud Kahrizi
  • Patent number: 8467749
    Abstract: An FM-band transmit power amplifier and a method of transmitting in multiple bands. In one embodiment, the FM-band transmit power amplifier has an input and an output and includes: (1) a pre-filter including a charge-pump based integrator coupled to the input and a passive notch filter having a notch frequency in a band other than an FM band and (2) an output driver coupled between the passive pre-filter and the output and having PMOS and NMOS transconductors configured to receive an output from the passive filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mehmet T. Ozgun, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 8467747
    Abstract: A high performance and cost effective method of RF-digital hybrid mode power amplifier systems with high linearity and high efficiency for multi-frequency band wideband communication system applications is disclosed. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multiple operating frequency bands on the same PA system over a very wide bandwidth. In addition, the present invention supports multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers and multi-channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Dali Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Jong Kim, Kyoung-Joon Cho, Shawn Patrick Stapleton
  • Patent number: 8467750
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radio frequency (RF) communication circuit having an input for receiving an RF signal and providing independently gain controlled signal paths from the input. In a first signal path, the signal is amplified by a constant gain. In a second signal path, the signal is amplified by a constant gain and by a variable gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Saeed Chehrazi, Renaldi Winoto, Jinho Park
  • Publication number: 20130149978
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to a power management block and an amplification block used in the transmitter of a communication subsystem. The power management block provides improved control for the gain control signal provided to a pre-amplifier and the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier which are both in the amplification block. The power expended by the power amplifier is optimized by employing a continuous control method in which one or more feedback loops are employed to take into account various characteristics of the transmitter components and control values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Wen-Yen Chan, Nasserullah Khan
  • Publication number: 20130149979
    Abstract: An amplifier includes a first amplification element configured to amplify a first signal in one of first and second operation classes, a second amplification element configured to amplify a second signal in one of first and second operation classes, a first transmission line through which the amplified first signal is transferred, and a coupler configured to couple the transferred first signal and the amplified second signal, wherein the first amplification element amplifies the first signal in the first operation class and the second amplification element amplifies the second signal in the second operation class, when the first signal and the second signal have a first frequency band, and wherein the first amplification element amplifies the first signal in the second operation class and the second amplification element amplifies the second signal in the first operation class, when the first signal and the second signal have a second frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: FUJITSU LIMITED
  • Patent number: 8463207
    Abstract: A wireless communication unit comprising a transmitter having a power amplifier, a controller logic module arranged to control a power control value of the power amplifier and a closed loop control system operably coupled to the power amplifier and arranged to monitor a level of peak PA compression, wherein in response to the identified level of peak PA compression the controller logic module is arranged to automatically adjust a power amplifier power control value of the PA to obtain a predetermined level of peak PA compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Pratt, George Norris
  • Patent number: 8463209
    Abstract: The described devices, systems and methods include an integrator circuit having two separate operational modes to control a power output level delivered by the power amplifier to an antenna during start of a transmission burst. The first operational mode utilizes a wide bandwidth control loop to pre-charge a capacitor of the integrator circuit, which generates a pedestal voltage delivered to the power amplifier control input. The second operational mode utilizes a lower bandwidth control loop to ensure stable operation of the control loop during normal operation of the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Alexander Wayne Hietala, Jeffery Peter Ortiz
  • Patent number: 8457567
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating a modulation signal for use in modulating the power supply of a power amplifier uses coarse and fine control for controlling the amplitude of the modulation signal, and thereby controlling the output power of the power amplifier. The modulation signal may be generated in the digital domain and converted to the analog domain by a digital-to-analog converter, with the digital-to-analog converter providing the fine control and a variable gain amplifier providing the coarse control of the analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Roland Ryter
  • Patent number: 8457680
    Abstract: A method in a transmitter including a transmission chain and a Power Amplifier (PA), includes storing calibration data relating a plurality of specified output power levels of the transmitter to respective PA control voltages for application to the PA and respective gain levels for application to the transmission chain that cause the transmitter to output signals at the specified output power levels. A target output power level is specified, and an actual control voltage is applied to the PA. The actual control voltage is derived from a specified target control voltage depending on the target output power. A modified gain level which, when applied to the transmission chain while the PA is controlled with the actual control voltage, causes the transmitter to output the signals at the target output power level, is computed based on the calibration data. The modified gain level is applied to the transmission chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: David Lipshitz, Alexander Zaslavsky
  • Publication number: 20130137384
    Abstract: A communication system is provided, including an antenna, a PA, a linearization circuit to enhance linearity, a filter system, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive information on the signals and conditions, and based on the information the controller controls one or more of the antenna, the PA, the linearization circuit and the filter system to provide an optimum configuration to meet specifications of signal properties under the conditions. The controller may look up a registry having entries regarding the specifications of signal properties under conditions in terms of predetermined parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ETHERTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Ethertronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8452247
    Abstract: In one example, a Bluetooth enabled navigation device pairs with a mobile phone and then sends a plurality of tuning transmissions, each at a different transmission power gain amount, to a remote server using the mobile phone. These tuning transmissions are encoded using frequency tones that synthesize speech for transmission through the mobile phone and a voice channel of its wireless telecommunications network. The navigation device then tunes transmit power settings according to a received response to the tuning transmissions and uses the tuned transmit power settings for subsequent transmission to the remote server using this particular mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventors: Leon L. Hong, David Quimby, Ken Johnson
  • Patent number: 8452243
    Abstract: A power amplifier system includes a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of a power amplifier, the first power detector configured to provide a first power detector output and an adjustable load coupled to the output of the power amplifier and configured to receive the first power detector output, the adjustable load configured to provide an adjustable impedance at the output of the power amplifier in response to one of the output of the power amplifier and the first power detector output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Dima Prikhodko, Hichem Abdallah, Sergey Nabokin, Gene A. Tkachenko
  • Patent number: 8451960
    Abstract: Embodiments provide improved systems and methods of gain control and calibration for wireless transmitters. In particular, embodiments allow linear gain control over the entire transmitter gain control range, independent of temperature/process variations. Embodiments require very low power consumption compared to existing approaches. Embodiments may also be used for gain control calibration during production time, thereby substantially reducing production calibration time and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitriy Rozenblit, Masoud Kahrizi, Morten Damgaard
  • Patent number: 8447246
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a multi-band transmitter comprises a plurality of band paths with each band path configured for a different frequency range. Each band path comprises a modulator configured to modulate a data signal onto a carrier signal associated with the frequency range of the band path to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with the band path and frequency range of the band path. Each band path also comprises a step-down balun that includes an input coil configured to receive the RF signal from the modulator. Each band path further comprises a tuner configured to tune the input coil to the frequency range of the band path. The tuner is also configured to compensate for off-state conduction of switches of the tuner to reduce non-linear tuning effects of the balun associated with the off-state conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Omid Oliaei, David Newman, Benjamin Gilsdorf, Patrick L. Rakers
  • Patent number: 8447249
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods that provide control of transmitted signal power that do not require the use of an external power detector. By determining the expected transmit power based upon conditions such as temperature or voltage, the settings of the transmitters amplifier can be adjusted to more closely match the desired transmit power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Tuofu Lu, Kai Shi, Richard T. Chang, Sang-Min Lee, Joe I. Jamp, Paul J. Husted, Praveen Dua
  • Patent number: 8447247
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compensating for a Transmission (Tx) gain in a transmitter of a wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a Tx Automatic Gain Control (AGC) for generating at least an adjustment value for controlling a Tx gain; a Tx Power Adjust (TPA) controller for generating a compensation value for compensating for Nonlinear Compensate Table (NCT) control information using frequency and temperature changes according to operations of the transmitter and the adjustment value provided from the Tx AGC; and an NCT controller for generating the NCT control information using the adjustment value provided from the Tx AGC, and compensating for the NCT control information with the compensation value output from the TPA controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hung-Su Park, Dong-Kyoon Cho
  • Patent number: 8433361
    Abstract: A digital modulator for a portable handset using 8PSK or EDGE modulation with a direct launch transmitter is used to controllably adjust the transmit power of the portable handset. The digital modulator includes a controller coupled between a memory and an accumulator. The controller is responsive to an indication that the transmit power should be transitioned. The controller temporarily alters the data transferred from the memory to the accumulator during transitions of the transmit power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Masoud Kahirzi, John E Vasa, Darioush Agahi
  • Patent number: 8433268
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for transmitting complex signals in a wireless communication system. The present invention, there is provided a method for controlling gain according to a magnitude change of output signals in a polar transmitter including an amplification unit having two or more amplification degrees, the method includes processes to control an output level of a modulated signal when a output-required power of transmission signals are less than a predetermined threshold value, and to perform a basic amplification through the amplification unit; to amplify the amplification unit at a first amplification level when the output-required power of the transmission signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value and is less than a predetermined second threshold value; and to amplify the amplification unit at a second amplification level when the output-required power of the transmission signal is equal to or greater than the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jae-Ho Jung, Joon-Hyung Kim, Kwang-Chun Lee
  • Patent number: 8433263
    Abstract: A wireless communication unit comprises a transmitter having a forward path comprising a power amplifier, PA, and a feedback path arranged to feed back a portion of a signal output from the PA to a point in the forward path prior to the PA. The forward path and feedback path form a constant gain tracking (CGT) loop. The feedback path comprises an adaptive predistortion logic module located outside of the CGT loop and arranged to form an APD loop with the forward path and feedback path. The CGT loop comprises a controller logic module arranged to determine a gain offset of a signal routed through the forward path and feedback path and in response thereto set a drive level of the PA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Pratt, Jau Horng Chen, George Norris
  • Patent number: 8428201
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting receiver gain adjustment values. In one aspect, a method includes receiving aggregate signal characteristic values (“aggregate values”) for a plurality of signals being received over active channels of a power line communications network, the aggregate values being computed based on signal characteristic values for each of the signals being received over the active channels. Using the aggregate values, a determination is made that one or more of the aggregate values have been outside of a valid range of signal characteristic values over a specified period. In response to determining that the aggregate values have been outside of the valid range, a receiver gain adjustment value is selected based on the aggregate values and a receiver gain of a receiver that receives the signals is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stanley E. McHann, Jr., Jim Amweg
  • Publication number: 20130095777
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for controlling power in a transmitter, the method comprising measuring an indication of an output power of the transmitter, comparing a first value corresponding to the indication of the output power to a second value corresponding to a desired output power; and adjusting a bias of at least one component in the transmitter in order to bring the output power closer to the desired output power. Embodiments also include various methods, systems and apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Khurram Muhammad
  • Patent number: 8422545
    Abstract: An adaptive equalizer adapted to compensate a signal transmitted by a channel is provided. The adaptive equalizer includes a signal booster, an amplifier unit and an adaptive control loop. The signal booster receives the signal, adjusts gain for the signal, and outputs the signal which has been adjusted. The amplifier unit is coupled to the signal booster, amplifies the signal and outputs it to the next stage. The adaptive control loop is coupled to the signal booster, detects a ratio of a maximum value and a minimum value of the signal package, and outputs an adjusting signal to adjust the gain of the signal booster to change the maximum value or the minimum value, so that the ratio of the maximum value and the minimum value is not less than a specific value. Furthermore, an adaptive equalizing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Phison Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wei-Yung Chen
  • Patent number: 8422962
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for generating adjustment commands in a node. The adjustment commands adjust the transmission power of radio signals. The radio signals are sent over at least a first channel and a second channel. The adjustment is performed by adjusting a gain factor. The gain factor is associated with the relation between a first transmission power level of a first channel and a second transmission power level of a second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Qingyu Miao, Rui Fan, Xinyu Gu, Rong Hu
  • Patent number: 8422969
    Abstract: A radio frequency transceiver includes a mixer circuit configured to convert an intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, a driver amplifier circuit configured to amplify the radio frequency signal from the mixer circuit, a temperature sensing circuit configured for sensing ambient temperature, and an attenuation circuit connected with the temperature sensing circuit, configured to decreasingly attenuate the radio frequency signal from the driver amplifier circuit as the ambient temperature increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Microelectronics Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Chung Jui Wang
  • Patent number: 8422968
    Abstract: Wireless circuitry in an electronic device may contain radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and power amplifier circuitry that transmits radio-frequency signals through an antenna. A tap and power detector that are interposed in the radio-frequency signal path between the power amplifier circuitry and the antenna may be used to make output power measurements. Control circuitry may control the wireless circuitry in an open-loop control regime in which output power adjustments are based on a requested power without using the output power measurements. The control circuitry may also control the wireless circuitry in a closed-loop control regime in which the output power measurements serve as a source of real time feedback to determine whether to increase or decrease the output power. The output power may be controlled using linear transition zone power control curves in a transition zone between the open-loop regime and the closed-loop regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Donovan, Justin Gregg
  • Patent number: 8422959
    Abstract: A compensation method for radio frequency module performance, it is adding a module monitoring circuit and a radio frequency power detection circuit to an existing radio frequency module, meanwhile replacing an existing hardware compensation circuit with a radio frequency digital controlled attenuator. The method replaces hardware method by a method of combining software of the module monitoring circuit and hardware such as module monitoring circuit, radio frequency digital controlled attenuator and radio frequency power detection circuit, as well as intelligently compensates the radio frequency module by using data obtained by predefined table or formula/algorithm, so as to adjust each characteristic index of the device accurately and easily, thus to improve performance of the radio frequency module and further meet the requirement of working stability of the radio frequency module. The present invention further provides a radio frequency module improved by such method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Shenzhen Grentech Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chengsheng Li, Yali Wang, Limeng Xiao
  • Publication number: 20130090077
    Abstract: A system, such as a transceiver, for controlling an adjustable power level includes first and second power detectors, a network of attenuators, a compensator, a comparator, and a controller. The first power detector measures the power of a signal. The network of attenuators receives the signal and generates an attenuated signal. The compensator receives the attenuated signal and generates a compensated signal. The second power detector measures the power of the compensated signal. The comparator receives the respective outputs from the first and second power detectors and generates a first error signal. The controller enables the fixed attenuation, correspondingly adjusts the variable attenuation, receives a second error signal, and provides a control signal to the network of attenuators to nullify an attenuation mismatch introduced between the fixed attenuation and the variable attenuation. A corresponding method for controlling an adjustable power level is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130090076
    Abstract: Generally described, the present disclosure relates to antennas with an active component and a passive component, generally referred to as an active-passive antenna. More specifically, aspects of the present application include a combination of an active antenna element configured to process communications in accordance with a first frequency bandwidth and a passive antenna element configured to process communication in accordance with a second frequency bandwidth. Still further, the present disclosure includes the integration of the active and passive antenna components as well as the utilization of components of traditional active array antennas to allow the incorporation of the active-passive antenna in the same form factor previously utilized for solely active array antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: POWERWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Teillet, Khurram Parviz Sheikh
  • Patent number: 8417194
    Abstract: A method for determining pre-distortion of a power amplifier includes the following steps: providing a first power input signal to make the power amplifier generate a first power output signal; receiving a first receiving signal, which is acquired according to the first power output signal; detecting a predetermined gain of the power amplifier by means of the first power input signal and the first receiving signal; providing a second power input signal to make the power amplifier generate a second power output signal; receiving a second receiving signal, which is acquired according to the second power output signal; determining pre-distortion amplitude values and pre-distortion phase values of the power amplifier by means of the predetermined gain, the second power input signal and the second receiving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Chung Huang
  • Publication number: 20130084816
    Abstract: Embodiments provide transmitter topologies that improve the power efficiency and bandwidth of RF transmitters for high transmission power applications. In an embodiment, the common-emitter/source PA of conventional topologies is replaced with a current-input common-base/gate PA, which is stacked on top on an open-collector/drain current-output transmitter. The common-base/gate PA protects the output of the transmitter from large output voltage swings. The low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA makes the PA less susceptible to frequency roll-off, even in the presence of large parasitic capacitance produced by the transmitter. At the same time, the low input impedance of the common-base/gate PA reduces the voltage swing at the transmitter output and prevents the transmitter output from being compressed or modulated. In an embodiment, the DC output current of the transmitter is reused to bias the PA, which results in power savings compared to conventional transmitter topologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ray (Ramon) Gomez, Leonard Dauphinee, Massimo Brandolini, Jianhong Xiao, Dongsoo Koh, Young Shin, Chonghua Zhong, Rezaur Rahman Khan
  • Patent number: 8406706
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and method of controlling a driving voltage of a power amplifier therein are provided. The present invention includes a power amplifier module having a plurality of operative modes, the power amplifier module configured to amplify a power strength of an RF signal, a modem configured to deliver the RF signal to the power amplifier module, and to control the operative modes of the power amplifier module, a power detecting unit configured to output a reference voltage by detecting the power strength of the RF signal outputted from the power amplifier module, and a DC/DC converter configured to supply a driving voltage to the power amplifier module by adjusting a detected power value according to a gain corresponding to each of the operative modes of the power amplifier module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Heo, Jonghun Kwon, Hungchol Chin
  • Publication number: 20130072140
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes reducing a beam width of transmission to increase an open-loop beamforming gain, reducing a channel bandwidth of the transmission to increase a channel bandwidth gain, and increasing a sequence length of the transmission to increase a sequence length gain. In this embodiment, a gain improvement is based on the product of the open loop beamforming gain, the channel bandwidth gain and the sequence length gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: ALCATEL-LUCENT USA INC.
    Inventors: Li Li, Thomas Marzetta, Hong Yang
  • Publication number: 20130072141
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an integrated leaky wave antenna-based transmitter and on-chip power distribution are disclosed, and may include supplying one or more bias voltages and ground for a chip including a plurality of power amplifiers (PAs) utilizing bias voltage and ground lines. One or more leaky wave antennas (LWAs) may be communicatively coupled to the power amplifiers. Wireless signals may be transmitted utilizing the LWAs integrated in the lines in the chip. Radio frequency (RF) signals may be transmitted via the plurality of LWAs. The RF signals may include 60 GHz signals and the LWAs may include microstrip and/or coplanar waveguides. A cavity length of the LWAs may be configured by a spacing between conductive lines in the microstrip and/or coplanar waveguides. The LWAs may be configured to transmit the wireless signals at a desired angle from a surface of the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Broadcom Corporation
  • Patent number: 8396432
    Abstract: A transmitter circuit is provided which is capable of reducing modulation distortion even when an output power of a power amplifying section 141 is low. A signal generation section 11 generates an amplitude signal and a phase signal. A regulator 12 outputs a current based on the amplitude signal. A phase modulation section 13 phase-modulates the phase signal, and outputs a phase-modulated signal. The power amplifying section 141 receives the current which is based on the amplitude signal and supplied as a bias current from the regulator 12, and amplifies the phase-modulated signal by using the supplied current. Further, to the power amplifying section 141, a predetermined DC voltage is supplied as a collector voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Kitamura, Kaoru Ishida, Mikihiro Shimada, Hiroshi Komori
  • Patent number: 8391811
    Abstract: Embodiments of circuits, apparatuses, and systems for a protection circuit having a control element with an attenuation state to protect against overload conditions. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Triquint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: John Bellantoni
  • Patent number: 8391814
    Abstract: A power control loop includes a low-frequency signal path and a high-frequency signal path with the delay compensation block. The delay compensation block is used to determine a correlation between an average reference level and an average measured power level. The result may control a delay line to compensate a time misalignment in the power control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventor: Nick Shute
  • Publication number: 20130053089
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reducing power consumption in a wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes an antenna, a Radio Frequency (RF) module, a first amplifier, an external power amplifier, and a controller. The RF module converts a baseband transmission signal to an RF signal. The first amplifier amplifies power of the RF signal inside the RF module. The external power amplifier amplifies power of an output signal of the first amplifier. When a transmission power level of a transmission signal is equal to or less than a maximum output level of the first amplifier, the controller controls to transmit the transmission signal amplified by the first amplifier via the antenna. When the transmission power level of the transmission signal is equal to or greater than the maximum output level of the first amplifier, the controller controls to transmit a transmission signal amplified by the external power amplifier via the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Yun HWANG, Jin-Woo ROH
  • Patent number: 8385862
    Abstract: It has now been found that in some transmitter implementations which transmit multiple code channels, for example CDMA transmitters, the observed power for each code channel at the output relative to the other code channels is dependent upon the total transmit power due to non-linearities in the transmitter. Methods and apparatus are provided which use pre-set digital gains or digital gain adjustments to compensate for the non-linearities as a function of total transmit power such that at the output, the desired relative powers are observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Wen Zhao, Qingzhong Jiao
  • Patent number: 8385859
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having communications capabilities, including: an envelope detector that detects an envelope of a transmission signal; a differentiator that differentiates the envelope with respect to time to obtain differential components; a filtering processor that filters the differential components; an integrator that integrates the filtered differential components with respect to time to generate an envelope tracking signal; an amplifying unit that amplifies the transmission signal; and a voltage controller that controls, in accordance with the envelope tracking signal, a voltage the amplifying unit uses to amplify the transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Mitsuharu Hamano
  • Patent number: 8385854
    Abstract: A device including a gain control element coupled prior to or within a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) with an adaptive parametric PA protection circuit is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes a gain control element coupled prior to a radio frequency power amplifier with a power stage with corresponding transistor breakdown threshold values, having an adaptive parametric PA protection circuit configured to receive at least one power stage drain-source voltage parameter value, at least one power stage drain-gate voltage parameter value, and at least one power stage drain-source current parameter value, and including an adaptive parametric PA protection circuit having a first section for processing the parameter values and a second section for generating a gain correction signal to adjust the gain control element with optimal power added efficiency (PAE) for the power stage within the corresponding transistor breakdown threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Aristotele Hadjichristos, Gurkanwal S. Sahota
  • Patent number: 8385853
    Abstract: A system for detecting power output of a power amplifier includes a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of a power amplifier, the first power detector configured to provide a first power detector output, and a second power detector configured to receive a collector parameter signal and detect a collector parameter therefrom, the second power detector also configured to provide a second power detector output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Dima Prikhodko, Gene A. Tkachenko, Atiqul Baree, Steven C. Sprinkle, Paul T. Dicarlo
  • Patent number: 8385861
    Abstract: A disclosed radio communication apparatus transmits a radio signal to multiple users via multiple transmit antenna groups at appropriate transmit power levels, each of the transmit antenna groups including one or more transmit antennas, the transmit antenna groups having respective transmit power constraints. The apparatus includes a precoding unit configured to perform precoding on signals modulated for individual users and generate transmit weights, an optimum transmit power calculation unit configured to receive the transmit weights from the precoding unit and use components of the transmit weights and respective transmit power limit values for the transmit antenna groups to calculate an initial value for a transmit power optimization problem for calculation of the appropriate transmit power levels for the users, and a transmission unit configured to transmit radio signals at the calculated transmit power levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ohwatari, Anass Benjebbour, Tomoyuki Ooya, Junichiro Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 8385469
    Abstract: A low cost high-efficiency all-digital transmitter using all-digital power amplifiers (“DPA”) and various mapping techniques to generate an output signal, which substantially reproduces a baseband signal at a carrier frequency. A baseband signal generator generates a baseband signal which is quantized by a signal processor using a quantization map. A DPA control mapper outputs control signals to phase selectors using the quantized signal and a quantization table. Each phase selector receives one of the control signals and outputs a waveform at a carrier frequency with a phase corresponding to the control signals, or an inactive signal. Each DPA in a DPA array has an assigned weight, receives one of the waveforms from the phase selectors, and outputs a power signal according to the weight of the DPA and the phase of the received waveform. The combined power signal substantially reproduces the baseband signal at the carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Toru Matsuura, Gregoire le Grand de Mercey, Paul Cheng-Po Liang, Koji Takinami, Richard W. D. Booth
  • Patent number: 8380145
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a wireless communication unit has a transmit power control system employing a quadrature (I/Q) based power detector having at least one reference path and at least one detector path. The integrated circuit includes: a first quadrature error determination module for determining a quadrature error of a transmit signal and a second quadrature error determination module for determining a quadrature error of a detector signal input to the at least one detector path; a first quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the transmit signal and output a reference signal to the at least one reference path; a second quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the reference signal input to the at least one reference path, and a third quadrature balancing module arranged to correct for quadrature error of the detector signal input from the at least one detector path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Pratt, Bernard Mark Tenbroek
  • Publication number: 20130040591
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure an attenuating circuit comprises a balun configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal at first and second input ports and configured to output the RF signal. The circuit further comprises an attenuator coupled in parallel with the first and second input ports. A power level of the RF signal output by the balun is based at least partially on an impedance of the attenuator. The attenuator comprises a resistor ladder configured to receive at least a portion of the RF signal and a plurality of switches coupled to the resistor ladder. The plurality of switches are configured to open and close such that the impedance of the attenuator is a function of which switches are open and closed. Therefore, the power of the RF signal is controlled based at least on the opening and closing of the switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Kurt B. Hausmann, Omid Oliaei
  • Publication number: 20130040586
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a circuit comprises a balun configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal at a first input port and a second input port of an input coil. The balun is further configured to output the RF signal at an output coil communicatively coupled to the input coil. The circuit also comprises a supply voltage selector circuit coupled to the input coil and configured to adjust a bias voltage at the input coil according to a power level of the RF signal received at the input coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Omid Oliaei, David Newman, Mark Kirschenmann
  • Patent number: 8374559
    Abstract: An internal operation of RF IC is adjusted so that the level of an RF transmitter signal is substantially stopped from rising, or made to descend in course of ramp-up of the RF transmitter signal. This adjustment is enabled by ramp-up adjustment data Last 4 symbols contained in preamble data precedent to real transmission data transmitted after completion of ramp-up. The ramp-up adjustment data and real transmission data are supplied from a baseband LSI. The RF transmitter signal contains phase and amplitude modulation components according to the EDGE system. RF IC includes phase and amplitude modulation control loops PM LP and AM LP. Ramp-up of RF power amplifiers PA1 and PA2 is performed by controlling the gain of the first variable amplifier MVGA included in the AM LP according to ramp information. Thus, unwanted radiation's level is reduced during ramp-up of the RF transmitter signal of the RF power amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsui, Yasuo Shima, Yasuyuki Kimura, Masahiko Yamamoto