Uhf And Vhf Patents (Class 455/180.2)
  • Patent number: 8755739
    Abstract: Capability checking to examine a computing device's capabilities to determine if the device supports a software defined radio to communicate according to a specific wireless protocol. Applicants have appreciated that as the reliance on software defined radio increases, numerous potential options may be available to a user for performing wireless communication. Applicants have appreciated the desirability of providing the ability to discover the capabilities of a user's computer to determine whether it is capable of supporting one or more wireless protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Vishesh M. Parikh, Thomas W. Kuehnel, Deyun Wu, Christian Huitema, David Jones, Andrew T. Baron
  • Patent number: 8538361
    Abstract: A TV tuner includes an Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) tracking filter, an UHF/VHF matching circuit and a single conversion Tuner IC. The UHF/VHF tracking filter includes a first Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) inductor, a first varactor diode and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF tracking filter. The UHF/VHF matching circuit includes a second LTCC inductance, a second varactor diodes and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Himax Technologiel Limited
    Inventor: Wen-Po Ho
  • Patent number: 8521111
    Abstract: A TV tuner includes an Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) tracking filter, an UHF/VHF matching circuit and a single conversion Tuner IC. The UHF/VHF tracking filter includes a first Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) inductor, a first varactor diode and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF tracking filter. The UHF/VHF matching circuit includes a second LTCC inductance, a second varactor diodes and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Wen-Po Ho
  • Patent number: 8350970
    Abstract: A radio frequency front end for a television band receiver and spectrum sensor includes a first plurality of adaptive matching networks connected to a signal summer that combines signals received by the first plurality of antennas respectively connected to the first plurality of adaptive matching networks and outputs a combined signal to each of a second plurality of downconverter/tuners. The downconverter/tuners are respectively or collectively connected to an analog to digital converter that converts output of the second plurality of downconverter/tuners into at least one digital signal that is output to the television band receiver and spectrum sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Wi-LAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Birkett, Shiquan Wu
  • Patent number: 8315575
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit in a mobile radio transceiver. This circuit includes a radio-frequency assembly for producing a mobile radio signal and a modulator for converting transmission data into an analogue, modulated transmission signal which is broadcast in a frequency band outside the mobile radio frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Giuseppe Li Puma, Klaus Getta
  • Patent number: 8306492
    Abstract: A TV tuner includes an Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) tracking filter, an UHF/VHF matching circuit and a single conversion Tuner IC. The UHF/VHF tracking filter includes a first Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) inductor, a first varactor diode and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF tracking filter. The UHF/VHF matching circuit includes a second LTCC inductance, a second varactor diodes and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Wen-Po Ho
  • Patent number: 8280326
    Abstract: A receiver comprises a radio frequency splitter and respective tuning elements, which are coupled to respective outputs of the radio frequency splitter One of these tuning elements has a control terminal coupled to receive a direct current control signal via a radio frequency-blocking circuit. A direct current path extends, via the radio frequency splitter, from the aforementioned control terminal to a control terminal of another tuning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Fenkes, Klaus Bracht
  • Patent number: 8175546
    Abstract: The present receive antenna interface for an RF (radio frequency) transceiver includes a transmitting and receiving antenna. The receive antenna interface also includes a relay and an electrically-isolated transmit-ground connector that are configured such that the receiving antenna is not capable of being used by the transceiver unless the transmit-ground connector is connected to a ground-on-transmit connector provided by the transceiver. As a result, damage from the accidental transmission of RF signals into the receiving circuitry of the transceiver is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: PDS Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Sergi, Charles T. Rauch
  • Patent number: 8160523
    Abstract: A channel detecting method executes a process for instructing a broadcast wave scan start, a process for performing tuning control, a process for starting initialization/operation of an OFDM demodulation section and starting the counting of a synchronous establishment timer unit, a process for determining that broadcasting is being conducted, a process for determining the expiration of the synchronous establishment timer unit, a process for outputting a TS signal and notifying that a broadcast parameter is being detected, a process for instructing transition to the next channel, a process for making a decision as to a final channel, a process for performing a transition operation, and a process for terminating a broadcast wave scan. When no broadcast is being conducted, a demodulation unit, an error correction unit and a decoder are not operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Amano
  • Patent number: 8150348
    Abstract: A TV tuner includes an Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) tracking filter, an UHF/VHF matching circuit and a single conversion Tuner IC. The UHF/VHF tracking filter includes a first Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) inductor, a first varactor diode and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF tracking filter. The UHF/VHF matching circuit includes a second LTCC inductance, a second varactor diodes and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Wen-Po Ho
  • Patent number: 8089566
    Abstract: A tuner integrated circuit is connected, in a preceding stage thereof, to an RF amplifier including a UHF dual gate FET and a VHF dual gate FET. In the reception of a signal of the UHF band, a television signal output from the UHF dual gate FET is input to a UHF RF circuit via a UHF multiple-tuning circuit. In the reception of a signal of the VHF band, a television signal output from the VHF dual gate FET is input to a VHF RF circuit via a VHF multiple-tuning circuit. A VHF input terminal of the VHF RF circuit is connected to the ground via between a collector and an emitter of a transistor. In the reception of the signal of the UHF band, the transistor is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7979040
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for adjusting the tuning frequency of a tuning circuit, which is implemented as a parallel circuit of a coil and series circuits Ai each including a capacitor Ci and a switch device Qi (i=one to n, where n denotes an integer at least equal to two), by varying the tuning frequency through control to turn on and off the switch devices Qi in accordance with control data bi, the method for adjusting the tuning frequency of a tuning circuit including the steps of: finding control data bi for a desired tuning frequency from control data bi for a tuning frequency equal to a first frequency and control data bi for a tuning frequency equal to a second frequency; and applying the control data bi found for the desired tuning frequency to the switch devices Qi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Taiwa Okanobu
  • Patent number: 7970368
    Abstract: Telephone apparatus, including a cable television (CATV) network interface, which is adapted to be connected to a CATV network so as to receive downstream cellular telephone communication signals transmitted at a downstream intermediate frequency (IF) via the CATV network from a base-station transceiver system (BTS) operative in a cellular telephone network. The apparatus includes a telephone interface, which is adapted to connect to a cellular telephone operative in the cellular telephone network via a physical connection. The apparatus also includes signal conversion circuitry, which is adapted to convert the downstream communication signals received at the downstream IF via the CATV network interface to downstream radio-frequency (RF) cellular telephone signals compatible with the cellular telephone network, and to convey the downstream RF cellular telephone signals to the cellular telephone via the physical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Haim Weissman
  • Patent number: 7949341
    Abstract: A method for an antenna architecture that handles World band cellular and broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprise receiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a first antenna, where the first signals comprise signals within at least one of a 2100 MHz band and a 1900 MHz band. The method may further comprise receiving at a second RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, second signals via the first antenna, where the second signals comprise signals within at least one of a 1900 MHz band, a 1800 MHz band, a 900 MHz band and a 850 MHz band. Additionally, third signals may be received via the first antenna at a third RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, where the third signals comprise signals within a VHF/UHF broadcast band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Pieter Gert Wessel van Rooyen
  • Patent number: 7929932
    Abstract: A wireless device includes a two-stage filter that separates UHF and VHF transmission bands in such a way as to maximize cross channel isolation, so preventing cross channel signal contamination and additionally protecting all signals from host coexistence blocking transmissions and harmonics of the wanted signals without the requirement for additional or selectable filter arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Clive A. Powell, Nicholas P. Cowley, William L. Barber
  • Patent number: 7920823
    Abstract: Capability checking to examine a computing device's capabilities to determine if the device supports a software defined radio to communicate according to a specific wireless protocol. Applicants have appreciated that as the reliance on software defined radio increases, numerous potential options may be available to a user for performing wireless communication. Applicants have appreciated the desirability of providing the ability to discover the capabilities of a user's computer to determine whether it is capable of supporting one or more wireless protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Vishesh M. Parikh, Thomas W. Kuehnel, Deyun Wu, Christian Huitema, David Jones, Andrew Baron
  • Patent number: 7852855
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling TCP/IP access includes receiving a request from a requestor for data transmission over a satellite communication channel, determining whether the request for data transmission has collided with a separate request for data transmission, if the request for data transmission has collided with a separate request for data transmission, then accepting the request for data transmission, else, temporarily denying the access to the satellite communication channel, determining the priority of the requestor and the number of users on the satellite communications channel, determining the access to the satellite communication channel of the requestor based on the priority of the requestor and the number of users on the satellite communication channel, and monitoring access to the satellite communication channel based on the priority of the requestor and the number of users on the satellite communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles Peter Gooding, David J. Aitken
  • Publication number: 20100048234
    Abstract: A system (10) and method (50 or 70) of dynamic allocation of spectrum for a communication device where a UHF band is currently unused for licensed television broadcasting involves determining (51) a location of a user device using GPS or other signals (such as television broadcast signals) received at the user device using signal strength or time distance of arrival of those signals. The method can determine (52) which UHF television broadcast channels are available for use by the user device and determine (53) a maximum allowed transmission power for a given channel based on signal strength for the given channel and on adjacent channels before transmitting (54) the maximum allowed transmission power and location by the user device to a remote server for sharing information. The method can receive (55) polygon endpoints from a television broadcast defining the location of usable reception of the television broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: RAJENDRA SINGH
  • Patent number: 7653342
    Abstract: Providing content to a device. Content stored on a device can be examined or searched based on the programming of channels that are available to the device over various networks. The content can be searched using other rules related to user preferences or content characteristics. Based on the results of the examination of the content, playlists are generated. Each playlist includes content from the device that matches or partially matches the content associated with one of the channels. Using the playlists, a user can load content from their device that has a theme consistent with a particular channel. When signal loss is detected for a given channel, the playlist associated with that channel can be loaded and played by the device. The device can resume playing the channel when the signal is again adequately detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Nichols, Mark Andrew Ross, Clare Lawson, Arthur Anthonie van Hoff
  • Patent number: 7650124
    Abstract: A television tuner includes an unbalanced output type VHF-side block, a balanced output type UHF-side block, and a mixing circuit that performs frequency conversion on the output from the VHF-side block or the UHF-side block. In the television tuner, in a first mode where the VHF-side block is connected to the mixing circuit, a first terminal, to which the unbalanced output is applied, is coupled to a first input terminal of the mixing circuit, and a second input terminal of the mixing circuit is grounded. Further, in a second mode where the UHF-side block is connected to the mixing circuit, a second terminal and a third terminal, to which the balanced output is applied, are coupled to the first and second input terminals of the mixing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7567784
    Abstract: A tuner, a broadcast signal processing apparatus and method, which satisfy reception sensitivity of both terrestrial and cable televisions, when selecting a broadcast signal through a single conversion tuner, are provided. A tuner selects a broadcast signal of a selected channel. The tuner includes an input filter that filters a received broadcast signal into plural frequency bands based on a predetermined frequency band. An amplifier amplifies a second signal having an original phase induced by an output signal of the respective frequency bands, and a first signal having an opposite phase of the second signal, and outputs the signal induced by the amplified first and second signals as an amplification signal of the signal in the respective frequency bands. An inter-stage filter filters a frequency of the broadcast signal corresponding to the selected channel among the amplification signals output from the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-ho Choi
  • Patent number: 7480495
    Abstract: A CATV tuner includes a metallic housing having first through fourth partitioned chambers. In the first through fourth partitioned chambers, a data circuit, an input filter circuit, a first mixer circuit, a first local oscillation circuit, a first intermediate frequency circuit, and other elements are housed. In the fifth partitioned chamber, a second intermediate circuit and an IC including a second local oscillation circuit are housed. With this configuration, the CATV tuner defines an up/down tuner. The third partitioned chamber in which the first local oscillation circuit is housed and the fifth partitioned chamber in which the second local oscillation circuit is housed are located adjacent to each other. Lines and terminals are used both for a first PLL circuit and a second PLL circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akimasa Matsushima, Yoji Maeda, Hiroyuki Tetsuno
  • Patent number: 7446631
    Abstract: A filter circuit topology for filtering a radio frequency input signal includes one or more inductor devices, such as, for example, discrete chip or air coils. The inductor devices are center tapped into a capacitor coupled to the ground. The center-tapped inductor configuration splits the output voltage across the inductor devices into two equal voltages of predetermined amplitude determined by the quality factor of the filter circuit. The filter circuit further includes an input capacitor to receive the RF input signal and an output capacitor coupled respectively to the inductor devices, the output capacitor having a variable capacitance, the inductor devices and the variable capacitor forming an inductive-capacitive (LC) filter capable of filtering the RF input signal and generating an output filtered signal for further transmission to a television tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: RF Stream Corporation
    Inventors: Takatsugu Kamata, Kazunori Okui
  • Patent number: 7440736
    Abstract: An intermediate frequency circuit includes an intermediate frequency tuning circuit which resonates parallel to an intermediate frequency signal, a N?1 channel trap circuit connected to the output of the intermediate frequency tuning circuit, for removing voice signal components of lower neighboring channels, an intermediate frequency amplifier connected to the output of the N?1 channel trap circuit, for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal, and an intermediate frequency signal resonance circuit connected to the output of the intermediate frequency amplifier, wherein all the components are formed on a circuit board. In this case, the coupling state of the components connected between the input and output of the intermediate frequency amplifier on the circuit board is selected, and a picture portion in a frequency characteristic of the intermediate frequency circuit is set to a peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080214131
    Abstract: This invention relates to a user interface to be implemented in a device, wherein the device comprises a tuner and a receiver for receiving broadcast signals from broadcast stations. The user interface uses semantic information associated with the received broadcast signals for sorting the received broadcast stations based on sorting criteria and displays the sorted broadcast stations on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventor: Adolf Proidl
  • Patent number: 7415258
    Abstract: A television tuner includes: low band and high-band receiving units; a mixer that frequency-converts low-band television signals from the low-band receiving unit or high-band television signals from the high-band receiving unit; first and second switching diodes that couple the low-band or high-band receiving unit and the mixer to each other, respectively; and a transistor which applies a bias voltage to one end of each of the switching diodes. The emitter of the transistor is grounded and the collector is pulled up to a power supply through a resistor. ON/OFF of the switching diodes are switched to be opposite to each other. The other end of each of the switching diodes is connected to the collector through a first inductance element. The collector of the transistor is connected to one end of a second inductance element, and the other end of the second inductance element is grounded in a high-frequency manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080176527
    Abstract: A system for tuning a radio-frequency signal includes a first input path, a second input path, a common reference generator, a selector, a mixer, and a filter. The first input path and the second input path propagate a first single-ended input signal and a second single-ended input signal, respectively, to the selector. The selector converts the first single-ended input signal and the second single-ended input signal into a first differential input signal and a second differential input signal, respectively, using a reference signal generated by the common reference generator. The selector selectively couples one of the first and the second input path to an input of the mixer. The mixer downconverts a selected on of the differential input signals received from the selector. The filter attenuates a portion of the downconverted input signal outside a passband associated with the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventor: Michael D. Womac
  • Patent number: 7356311
    Abstract: A signal transmission arrangement includes a signal transmitter and a signal receiver wirelessly communicating with the signal transmitter. The signal transmitter includes a hybrid signal device to hybridize the audio signal with the control signal to form a consolidating signal, a frequency modulator to high-frequency modulate the consolidating signal, wherein the consolidating signal is amplified and sent to the signal receiver in a wireless manner. The signal receiver includes a frequency demodulator to demodulate the consolidating signal and a signal dissociating unit to dissociate the consolidating signal to restore the audio signal and the control signal. Therefore, the signal transmission arrangement provides a low-bit rate coding transmission in control signals, in lieu of the high-bit rate coding transmission which requires the expensive high performance integrated circuit, so as to ensure the quality of the audio signal while being cost effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Shanghai Maultak Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gao Jianping
  • Patent number: 7348931
    Abstract: An antenna device which is connected to a radio module performing radio communications with a system using a first band and a system using a second band, has an antenna element which transmits/receives radio signals in the first and second bands. The antenna device has first and second matching circuits corresponding to the first and second bands, and also disposes a switching circuit between the first and second bands and the radio module. A first filter circuit is connected between the first matching circuit and the antenna element. The first filter circuit passes the radio signal in the first band and also attenuates the radio signal in the second band. Meanwhile, a second filter circuit is connected between the second matching circuit and the antenna element. The second filter circuit passes the radio signal in the second band and also attenuates the radio signal in the first band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiromichi Suzuki, Isao Ohba, Takayuki Shibuya, Yusuke Okada, Kenji Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7324832
    Abstract: In an RF communication system, aspects for supporting cellular or wireless network and broadcast utilizing an integrated single chip cellular and broadcast silicon solution may comprise receiving in a mobile terminal, a plurality of cellular frequency band communications services and VHF/UHF band broadcast services in a single baseband processor IC within a mobile terminal. Cellular information associated with the cellular frequency band communications service, and VHF/UHF broadcast information associated with the VHF/UHF broadcast service may be processed by a cellular processing module and a VHF/UHF broadcast processing module, respectively, integrated within a single integrated circuit within the mobile terminal. The cellular processing module and the VHF/UHF broadcast processing module within the mobile terminal may operate independently of each other to separately process the cellular information and the VHF/UHF broadcast information without exchanging related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Pieter Gert Wessel van Rooyen
  • Patent number: 7313414
    Abstract: A method for an antenna architecture that handles European band cellular and broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprise receiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a first antenna, where the first signals comprise signals within a 2100 MHz band. The method may further comprise receiving at a second RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, second signals via the first antenna, where the second signals comprise signals within at least one of a 1800 MHz band and a 900 MHz band and receiving at a third RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, third signals via the first antenna, where the third signals comprise signals within a VHF/UHF broadcast band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Pieter Gert Wessel van Rooyen
  • Publication number: 20070252916
    Abstract: A tuner integrated circuit is connected, in a preceding stage thereof, to an RF amplifier including a UHF dual gate FET and a VHF dual gate FET. In the reception of a signal of the UHF band, a television signal output from the UHF dual gate FET is input to a UHF RF circuit via a UHF multiple-tuning circuit. In the reception of a signal of the VHF band, a television signal output from the VHF dual gate FET is input to a VHF RF circuit via a VHF multiple-tuning circuit. A VHF input terminal of the VHF RF circuit is connected to the ground via between a collector and an emitter of a transistor. In the reception of the signal of the UHF band, the transistor is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7289780
    Abstract: A band switchable type tuning circuit has first switch means interposed between a power supply Vcc and an anode of a switch diode, a first resistor whose one end is connected to a cathode of the switch diode, second switch means interposed between the other end of the first resistor and a ground, a second resistor connected between the power supply Vcc and a connection point of the first resistor and the second switch means, and the third resistor connected between the ground and a connection point of the first switch means and the anode of the switch diode. The first switch means and the second switch means are turned on or off together by means of a band switching voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7283795
    Abstract: In a UHF band operation, a Bu terminal supplies a power supply voltage, and a (BL+BH) terminal does not supply the power supply voltage. Thereby, switching diodes are turned on, and a switching diode is turned off. In the UHF band operation, only a UHF signal in a signal provided from an ANT terminal is output to a UHF input tuning circuit. In a VHF band operation, the (BL+BH) terminal supplies the power supply voltage, and the Bu terminal does not supply the power supply voltage. Consequently, the switching diode is turned on, and the switching diodes are turned off. In the VHF band operation, only a VHF signal in the signal provided from the ANT terminal is output to a VHF input tuning portion via a filter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuuji Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7269424
    Abstract: Mobile terminal implementing a ranging signal receiver and method. Means are provided to incorporate ranging signal reception capability into a mobile terminal (such as a UMTS terminal) notwithstanding the fact that the ranging signal has a bandwidth that is wider than the bandpass of filtering for native signals within the terminal. A ranging signal receiving subsystem receives broadband signals that comprise synchronization bursts, which are equally spaced in time, such as from digital television stations. A common filter will have a bandpass that it is smaller than the bandwidth of the ranging signals. However, the correlation subsystem of the mobile terminal enables recovery of synchronization bursts by correlating the ranging signal with a known sequence that has been predistorted to account for the bandpass of the common filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: William O. Camp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7236756
    Abstract: A front end tuning system includes a tuning signal generator. The tuning signal generator includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to receive a pre-conditioned tuning signal at a reference input, to receive a digital value at a digital control input, and to produce a modified tuning signal based on the digital value and the pre-conditioned signal. Preconditioning the tuning-voltage allows a simple current type DAC to be can be used, rather than an 8-bit ladder type DAC used by some other front end tuners. Significant cost savings can be achieved because less memory is required to store the digital values supplied to the DACs, and set up times can be reduced. An adjustable temperature compensation circuit provides additional adaptability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductors, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael McGinn
  • Patent number: 7171176
    Abstract: A circuit and method for adjusting the operating characteristics of a tuner in accordance with information derived from the signals being processed by the tuner. Depending upon signal type and/or signal strength, the power levels of certain components are adjusted and/or certain components are added to (or subtracted from) the tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventor: S. Vincent Birleson
  • Patent number: 7155182
    Abstract: The invention proposes a device for high-frequency and/or radio-frequency tuning comprising within one IC-package a first variable capacitor (C1) and at least one second capacitor (C2), each of the at least one second capacitor (C2) being fixed or variable respectively, at least one signal path connected to the first variable capacitor (C1) and providing at least one input and one output port (rf-port1, rf-port2) and at least one controllable switching means (SC2) for individually connecting and disconnecting at least one of the at least one second capacitor (C2) into the signal path or from the signal path, in particular in parallel to the first variable capacitor (C1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Franz Eckl, Georg Fischer, Gerhard Kaminski
  • Patent number: 7139039
    Abstract: A VHF tuning circuit includes two tuning inductance devices connected in series with each other and having a junction thereof connected to an input terminal, and a first switch diode connected in parallel with the two in series inductance devices, and turned OFF at least when tuning is performed with a low range of a VHF band. A UHF tuning circuit is connected to the input terminal through a second switch diode that is turned ON at least when tuning is performed with a UHF band. The second switch diode is turned OFF when tuning is performed with a low range of the VHF band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7072685
    Abstract: When a digital broadcasting channel and an analog broadcasting channel, over which the same program is currently being transmitted, are provided by a broadcasting station, upon each depression of a digital/analog switching button on an operating unit, an MPU alternately switches between the digital broadcasting channel and the analog broadcasting channel across which the program is being transmitted. And when the current broadcasting station provides a digital broadcasting channel and an analog broadcasting channel across which the same program is currently being transmitted, the MPU alternately switches between a predetermined digital broadcasting channel and a predetermined analog broadcasting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamanishi
  • Patent number: 7019790
    Abstract: An integrated tuner circuit includes a first terminal to which a UHF TV signal is input via a UHF amplifier. The amplifier is switched to an operating state when a UHF TV signal is received. A switching-voltage generation circuit includes a first switching circuit for generating a switching voltage used to switch the operating state of a UHF high-frequency amplifying circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6983126
    Abstract: An audio transmitter and remote control unit receiver and storage apparatus for transmitting audio signals from electronic equipment, such as a television set, to individuals remotely located therefrom includes an audio transmitter for disposition adjacent to the electronic equipment and an audio receiver and remote control unit storage case positioned remotely form the electronic equipment. The audio transmitter having electronic circuitry for receiving audio transmissions from the electronic equipment and an audio antenna or IR sender for transmitting audio signals to remote locations. The audio receiver and remote control unit storage case having a floor and a pair of opposed sidewalls forming a receptacle for holding therein a remote control unit, a receiver antenna or IR detector for detecting audio signals conveyed from the audio transmitter, and an audio output speaker for broadcasting audio conveyed from the electronic equipment to the adjacently positioned individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Steve Saalman
  • Patent number: 6957053
    Abstract: Method for tuning the reception of radio broadcast signals to an FM RDS transmitter using program related data and transmitter related data and receiver executing the method, providing a band scanning search for detecting FM RDS transmitters exceeding a predetermined reception quality level. To enhance efficiency in data processing and use of storage capacity, transmitter related data including tuning data is stored separately from program related RDS data. Per each detected transmitter a permanency factor indicating the permanency in reception quality thereof is being allocated to each detected RDS transmitter and stored in a first memory bank, along with the relevant tuning data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventor: Paulus Louis Guido Moers
  • Patent number: 6933984
    Abstract: A tuning circuit's bandwidth is maintained almost constant throughout a UHF low to high band range so as to prevent interference by a neighboring channel, particularly in receiving high band television signals, and also to improve NF in receiving low band television signals, eliminating a difference in NF between channels. To realize this, a UHF tuner comprises: a UHF tuning circuit which has a varactor diode first and second inductance elements serially interconnected and connected in parallel with the varactor diode, where the varactor diode 11a varies a tuning frequency within a prescribed frequency range in the UHF band; and impedance means which is serially inserted between an input terminal and the junction of the two inductance elements, where the impedance by the impedance means increases as a frequency increases within the prescribed frequency range in the UHF band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yamamoto, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6904271
    Abstract: A high-frequency-signal switching circuit includes a first high-frequency-signal path which includes first and second diodes connected in series with a high-frequency amplifier stage therebetween, and a second high-frequency-signal path formed of a third diode connected in parallel to the first high-frequency-signal path. A switching-voltage supply section switches the high-frequency amplifier stage and first and second diodes ON, and the third diode OFF, so that a high-frequency signal is transferred through the first high-frequency-signal path, or switches the high-frequency amplifier stage and first and second diodes OFF and the third diode ON, so that a high-frequency signal is transferred through the second high-frequency-signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6900850
    Abstract: A switching voltage generation circuit is provided with a first switch transistor, a second switch transistor, and a third switch transistor whose base is connected to the base of the second switch transistor. When a television signal of a UHF band is to be received, the first switch transistor is turned off, and the second and third switch transistors are turned on. When a television signal of a high band of a VHF band is to be received, the first switch transistor is turned on, and the second and third switch transistors are turned off. When a television signal of a low band of the VHF band is to be received, the first, second, and third switch transistors are turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040137865
    Abstract: For tuning an LC resonator (2) which particularly comprises a miniaturized antenna coil (LA), a variable capacitance (CT) is connected in parallel to the LC resonator (2). At manufacturing time, a maximum resonance frequency of the LC resonator (2) is measured when the variable capacitance (CT) is set to its minimum value, a minimum resonance frequency of the LC resonator (2) is measured when the variable capacitance (CT) is set to its maximum value, and coded values of the measured maximum and minimum resonance frequencies are stored in non-volatile memories (Fmin, Fmax). At operations time, a binary tuning code (B) is computed as a linear interpolation between the stored values of the minimum and maximum resonance frequencies for a target resonance frequency (ft). The LC resonator (2) is tuned to the target resonance frequency (ft) by selectively connecting separate binary weighted capacitors (Cn−1, . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Francois Callias, Reto Philp, Rainer Platz
  • Patent number: 6760079
    Abstract: A TV tuner unit uses a frequency-selective element before or after the resonance stage of either a UHF or VHF tuner for separation of UHF signals from VHF signals. Thus, performance is preserved while eliminating the need for circuitry including high and low pass filters and related switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Morisada
  • Publication number: 20030181177
    Abstract: A high-frequency receiver apparatus receives a plurality of high-frequency signals having different frequencies via an input terminal, then amplifies the high-frequency signals, and then selects from among the high-frequency signals a high-frequency signal having a desired frequency by means of an input tuning circuit. A trap circuit for eliminating unnecessary signals from the plurality of high-frequency signals received is provided between the input terminal and the input tuning circuit. When high-frequency signals spreading over the VHF and UHF bands are fed to the input terminal, those of which the reception is not desired are eliminated by the trap circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Katagiri
  • Patent number: 6535722
    Abstract: A tuning circuit, as for a television receiver or video recorder, employs switchable tuning circuits including micro-electronic electro-mechanical switches for selecting the ones of an array of capacitors and/or inductors as is useful in tunable circuits. The array of capacitors and/or inductors and micro-electro-mechanical switches of the switched tuning matrix is formed on an integrated circuit or an electronic circuit substrate along with amplifiers and other electronic elements of the tuning circuit for which the switched tuning matrix is employed. The switchable capacitance and inductance matrices are well suited for use in the resonators employed in the pre-selector filters, post-selector filters and oscillators of electronic tuners, such as those employed in television receivers and video recorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Arye Rosen, Stewart Mark Perlow, Raymond Louis Camisa