Processor Controlled Patents (Class 455/234.2)
  • Patent number: 8428535
    Abstract: A controller in a receiver monitors RSSI and AGC gain levels to determine signal conditions and adjust filter performance accordingly to optimize power consumption while providing acceptable signal quality. When RSSI level is high and AGC gain is low, a strong signal-of-interest is present. In this case, adaptive filter bias currents may be reduced raise the noise floor and degrade intermodulation to reduce power consumption because the strong signal-of-interest can tolerate the higher noise and distortion. When the RSSI level is low and AGC gain is high, a weak signal is present a low noise mode may be effected by increasing bias current to filters used to lower the noise floor, but intermodulation effects may still be tolerated so those filters may be cut back. Other cases are supported. RSSI and AGC gain level thresholds may be dynamically altered based on relative RSSI and AGC levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: David Cousinard, Patrick Clement, Cao-Thong Tu
  • Publication number: 20130052974
    Abstract: Provided is a receiving apparatus for processing an analog baseband signal in an information terminal that communicates using a dielectric. The receiving apparatus includes an electrode for receiving an electric-field signal; a first gain adjuster for gain adjustment by amplifying the received signal; a channel selection filter for selecting a signal corresponding to a receive channel bandwidth from the gain-adjusted signal; a second gain adjuster for gain adjustment by amplifying the selected signal; a comparator for converting a signal output from the second gain adjuster into a digital signal; an oversampler for oversampling the digital signal at a frequency fClock higher than a receive channel frequency fSignal; a demodulator for demodulating the oversampled signal; and a clock generator for providing necessary a clock signal to the oversampler and the demodulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-Jun Song, Sang-Yun Hwang, Chul-Jin Kim, Jong-Rim Lee, Hyun-Kuk Choi, Seok-Yong Lee
  • Publication number: 20120322397
    Abstract: A technique for controlling operation of a communication subsystem is described. The subsystem is set to a first wake-up mode of operation, during which a state value from the system is read and stored in memory. The subsystem is then set to a sleep mode of operation after the first wake-up mode of operation, and to a second wake-up mode of operation after the sleep mode of operation. The stored state value is then read from the memory, where the subsystem is set to operate based on the read state value during a warm-up period of the second wake-up mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Qingzhong Jiao, Tom Yun Sang Young
  • Patent number: 8306162
    Abstract: A method for use in a digital communications receiver for controlling an input signal level (200) into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) initially receives a sample sequence (201) where a threshold crossing rate is measured as a percentage samples of an input signal that exceed the threshold (203). The error between the measured threshold crossing rate and a desired reference threshold crossing rate is calculated (205) and an error signal is then utilized in a feedback loop to control the receiver gain such that the error is reduced (207).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Corke, Daniel G. Prysby
  • Publication number: 20120270506
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes an RF receiver having an AGC module that generates an automatic gain control (AGC) signal based on a strength of a received signal, and a low noise amplifier that amplifies the received signal based on the AGC signal. A processing module generates a power mode signal based on the AGC signal, the power mode signal for adjusting a power consumption parameter of the IC based on the power mode signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20120270517
    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: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8280339
    Abstract: A mixer capable of detecting or controlling a common mode voltage thereof, includes at least: a mixing module for mixing a first set of differential signals and a second set of differential signals to generate at least one mixed signal; and a compensation module for compensating at least one operation point of the mixing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Ying-Hsi Lin
  • Patent number: 8275335
    Abstract: A communication device reads and stores in memory a state value which was utilized for operating a communication subsystem during a wake-up period of the communication subsystem. The device then causes the communication subsystem to enter into a sleep mode. Subsequently, the device causes the communication subsystem to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a current wake-up period. The stored state value is provided to the communication subsystem for use in operating the communication subsystem during a warm-up period of the current wake-up period. After the warm-up period of the current wake up period, a current state value is provided from a state controller to the communication subsystem for use in operating the communication subsystem during the wake up period. The current state value is determined based on a detected signal level of a current signal received in the communication subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Qingzhong Jiao, Tom Yun Sang Young
  • Patent number: 8259878
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus and method for receiving signals in a wireless communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chanho Yoon, Hun-Sik Kang, Eun-Young Choi, Sok-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 8238861
    Abstract: Techniques for performing automatic gain control (AGC) at a terminal in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, the terminal may use different receiver gain settings to receive different types of signals in different time intervals. The terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for each signal type and may use the receiver gain setting to receive signals of that signal type. In another aspect, the terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for a future time interval based on received power levels for peer terminals expected to transmit in that time interval. The terminal may measure received power levels of signals received from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may determine a set of terminals expected to transmit in the future time interval and may determine the receiver gain setting for the future time interval based on the measured received power levels for the set of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Junyi Li, Ying Wang, Thomas Richardson, Aleksandar Jovicic
  • Patent number: 8229382
    Abstract: A switched current resistor (SCR) PGA for constant-bandwidth gain control includes an inverting amplifier, a feedback resistor forming a feedback loop between an output side and an input side of the inverting amplifier, and a switched current resistor (SCR) array connected in parallel to the feedback resistor, and configured to tune a gain range between a maximum and a minimum. The SCR array includes a plurality of switched resistors, each comprising a switch in series with a resistor. When the plurality of switched resistors are switched by a gain-control logic, a plurality of switched current sources and a plurality of grounded resistors are switched correspondingly to deliver a transient current, an equivalent of which flows through the plurality of grounded resistors out from the input side of the inverting amplifier, leading to a feedback factor of the PGA being constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: University of Macau
    Inventors: Pui-In Mak, Seng-Pan U, Rui P. Martins
  • Patent number: 8224270
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable code for optimizing transmit power of a power amplifier using a Vbat monitor are disclosed and may comprise adjusting the gain of gain stages in a transmit path based on a control signal that is a function of a supply voltage signal, among other variables, derived from a supply voltage that may be used to power a transmit path. The supply voltage signal may be received from a power management unit or derived directly from a battery or other supply. The supply voltage signal may be compared to a reference signal, the result of which may be utilized to generate the control signal. The values for the control signals may be determined over a range of supply voltages and stored in a lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Arya Behzad
  • Publication number: 20120142299
    Abstract: A communication device reads and stores in memory a state value which was utilized for operating a communication subsystem during a wake-up period of the communication subsystem. The device then causes the communication subsystem to enter into a sleep mode. Subsequently, the device causes the communication subsystem to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a current wake-up period. The stored state value is provided to the communication subsystem for use in operating the communication subsystem during a warm-up period of the current wake-up period. After the warm-up period of the current wake up period, a current state value is provided from a state controller to the communication subsystem for use in operating the communication subsystem during the wake up period. The current state value is determined based on a detected signal level of a current signal received in the communication subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Qingzhong Jiao, Tom Yun Sang Young
  • Patent number: 8160527
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing automatic gain control (AGC) for received multi-carrier signals are disclosed. A receiver circuit comprises a common analog signal path, which includes an analog variable-gain circuit and an analog-to-digital converter, and further comprises first and second carrier-specific, digital variable-gain circuits corresponding to first and second carriers of the received multi-carrier signal, respectively. The receiver circuit further includes a gain control circuit configured to control the analog and digital variable-gain circuits and to allot gain adjustments to the analog variable-gain circuit based on a difference between carrier signal levels for the first and second carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Elias Jonsson, Niclas Danielsson
  • Patent number: 8155612
    Abstract: A wireless device that can process signals according to multiple wireless protocols simultaneously and without signal loss. The wireless device may comprise an antenna and first and second wireless protocol circuitry. The first wireless protocol circuitry comprises a shared gain element that amplifies signals that are processed by each of the first and second wireless protocol circuitry. Since the third signals are amplified by the shared gain element prior to being split out to the respective protocol circuitry, the first and second portions of the amplified third signals do not have significant signal loss relative to the third signals provided by the antenna. Thus the wireless device can receive and process wireless signals according to both the first and second protocols simultaneously without any significant signal losses due to splitting of the receive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Husted, Srenik Mehta, Soner Ozgur
  • Patent number: 8149964
    Abstract: Techniques for scaling symbols to account for large abrupt changes in received power at a user equipment (UE) are described. The UE performs AGC on received samples to obtain input samples. The UE processes (e.g., CDMA demodulates) the input samples to obtain first symbols. The UE determines the power of the input samples and derives a symbol gain based on (e.g., inversely related to) the power of the input samples. The UE scales the first symbols with the symbol gain to obtain detected data symbols having approximately constant amplitude, even with large abrupt changes in the power of the input samples. The UE estimates signal amplitude and noise variance based on the detected data symbols, computes LLRs for code bits of the detected data symbols based on the signal amplitude and noise variance, and decodes the LLRs to obtain decoded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan Sidi, Ketan N. Patel
  • Patent number: 8145169
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for LNA adjustment to compensate for dynamic impedance matching are provided. In this regard, an antenna matching network may be configured to maximize received signal strength for a determined frequency and an amplifier gain may be adjusted based on the maximized signal strength such that output levels of the amplifier are between specified limits. The antenna matching network may be programmatically controlled via one or more switching elements. The amplifier gain may be programmatically controlled via one or more bias points. The antenna matching network may be configured for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band, such as an FM broadcast band, and a configuration for each frequency may be stored. Accordingly, when the receiver is tuned to a frequency, a corresponding configuration may be retrieved from memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8145166
    Abstract: An enhanced programmable automatic level control loop comprising an input for receiving an input RF signal; a level modulator, wherein the level modulator receives the input RF signal and a control signal and wherein the level modulator produces a first signal; a mixer that receives the first signal and mixes it with an LO signal to produce a second signal; a programmable attenuator that receives the second signal and produces an output signal; a level detector that monitors RF power of the output signal and produces a DC voltage proportional to the RF power; and wherein the DC voltage is received at a loop amplifier which produces the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Anritsu Company
    Inventors: Richard Glenn Barber, Russell A. Brown
  • Patent number: 8131241
    Abstract: A variable attenuator and method of attenuating a signal is presented. The variable attenuator contains an input that receives an input signal to be attenuated. A voltage divider between a resistor and parallel MOSFETs provides the attenuated input signal. The MOSFETs have different sizes and have gates that are connected to a control signal through different resistances such that the larger the MOSFET, the larger the resistance. The control signal is dependent on the output of the attenuator. The arrangement extends the linearity of the attenuation over a wide voltage range of the control signal and decreases the intermodulation distortion of the attenuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. McCarthy, Lawrence E. Connell, Neal W. Hollenbeck
  • Patent number: 8116712
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver involve causing the wireless receiver to enter into a sleep mode; causing the wireless receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a wake-up period; providing, via a multiplexer, a stored gain control state value to the wireless receiver for use during a warm-up period of the wake-up period, the stored gain control state value being previously read from a gain controller during a previous wake-up period of the wireless receiver; and after the warm-up period of the wake up period, providing, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver for use during the wake up period, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently-received signal in the wireless receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Qingzhong Jiao, Tom Yun Sang Young
  • Patent number: 8112053
    Abstract: A wireless device includes at least one antenna, a plurality of shared signal path components coupled to the at least one antenna, the plurality of shared signal path components including a shared adjustable gain element, e.g., Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), Power Amplifier (PA), etc., a first wireless interface, e.g. Wireless Local Area Network interface coupled to the plurality of shared signal path components, and a second wireless interface, e.g., Wireless Personal Area Network interface, coupled to the plurality of shared signal path components. During a first operational period, the first wireless interface controls gain of the shared adjustable gain element and during a second operational period that differs from the first operational period, the second wireless network interface controls gain of the shared adjustable gain element. With another embodiment the first wireless interface and/or the second wireless interface each includes shared adjustable gain elements for transmit and receive diversity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Prasanna Desai, Mark Gonikberg, Brima B. Ibrahim, Luis Gutierrez, Sreenivas Karanam, Thomas Varghese
  • Patent number: 8107907
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: judging means for judging whether a receiving device for receiving a signal amplified by an amplifying circuit which amplifies a supplied signal has a good reception state or not; and control means for changing a power supply voltage of said amplifying circuit to change a gain of the amplifying circuit if said judging means judges that said receiving device does not have a good reception state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8103234
    Abstract: In a radio including analog and digital portions, with at least one A/D converter between the analog and digital portions, and the selectivity of the radio at least partly implemented in the digital domain, an AGC controller sets a first variable gain amplifier (VGA) (302) to low gain upon a determination that a wide-band power estimation exceeds a wide-band threshold. The wide-band threshold is selected to reduce the occurrence of A/D converter saturation. If the wide-band power estimation is less than the wide-band threshold, then for each VGA (302) in the analog portion, a determination is made whether a narrow-band power estimate exceeds a narrow-band threshold, corresponding to that VGA (302), plus a hysteresis value, in which case that VGA (302) is set to low gain; or whether the narrow-band energy estimate is less than the narrow-band threshold minus a hysteresis value, in which case that VGA (302) is set to high gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Charles Razzell
  • Patent number: 8077875
    Abstract: An audio device includes a jack, a switch, an amplifier, an internal sound producer, and a determining circuit. The jack establishes a connection with an external sound producer. The switch is in an opened state when the connection is established, and in a closed state when the connection is open. The amplifier amplifies audio signals to amplified audio signals and sends the amplified audio signals to the switch. The determining circuit receives the amplified audio signals from the switch, and generates a high voltage to control the amplifier not to output the amplified audio signals to the internal sound producer when the switch is in the closed state, and generates a low voltage to control the amplifier to output the amplified audio signals to the internal sound producer. The determined circuit further filters out the amplified audio signals when the switch is in the opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Lung Hung, Kun Huang, Shao-Lin Zhang, De-An Zhang
  • Patent number: 8068801
    Abstract: An electric wave receiving apparatus comprises: an antenna; an amplifier; filter circuits that extract signals in different frequency bands from an output of the amplifier; detector circuits that demodulate time codes from outputs of the filter circuits; automatic gain control circuits that generate gain control signals from the detector circuits; a selector that selects one gain control signal indicating a maximum signal level among the gain control signals; and an arithmetic processing section to be able to analyze the time codes of outputs of the plurality of detector circuits, wherein the one gain control signal is supplied to the amplifier to control an amplification factor of the amplifier so that signal levels output from detector circuits do not become excessive, and the arithmetic processing section selects an output to enable the analysis of the time code among the outputs of detector circuits to perform the analysis of the time code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Someya
  • Patent number: 8055231
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to perform radio frequency (RF) analog-to-digital conversion are described. According to one example, a receiver includes an amplifier to amplify received analog RF signals and a mixer-free circuit for converting the received analog RF signals to digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Khurram Muhammad, Meng-Chang Lee, Dirk Leipold
  • Patent number: 8055232
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus may achieve optimal RF and IF gain control while suppressing saturated amplification due to interference. The receiving apparatus includes an RF variable gain Amp that amplifies a received RF signal, a mixer that converts an output signal of the RF variable gain Amp into an IF signal, an IF variable gain Amp that amplifies the IF signal, a demodulator that demodulates an output signal of the IF variable gain Amp, and an AGC circuit. The AGC circuit sets a period of gain control for the RF variable gain Amp to be shorter than a period of gain control for the IF variable gain Amp when gains of the RF variable gain Amp and the IF variable gain Amp are controlled based on the output signal of the IF variable gain Amp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroji Akahori
  • Patent number: 8055229
    Abstract: The invention provides a signal amplifying stage, used in a signal receiver. The signal amplifying stage has: a fixed-gain low noise amplifier (LNA), amplifying an input signal; a variable-gain LNA (VG-LNA) array, amplifying the input signal, including a plurality of parallel VG-LNAs, the VG-LNA array being parallel with the fixed-gain LNA; a variable-gain amplifier (VGA), being in series with the fixed-gain LNA and the VG-LNA array, for amplifying output signals from the fixed-gain LNA and the VG-LNA array to generate an output signal; an attenuator, being in parallel with a combination of the fixed-gain LNA, the VG-LNA array and the VGA, for attenuating the input signal to generate the output signal; and a control loop, coupled to the VGA and the attenuator, for detecting power levels of the output signal to enable and control the fixed-gain LNA, the VG-LNA array, the VGA and the attenuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Maxrise Inc.
    Inventor: Yi-Ti Huang
  • Patent number: 8000671
    Abstract: A method, algorithm, circuits, and/or systems for demodulation in an amplitude modulated (AM) radio receiver are disclosed. In one embodiment, a radio receiver can include an amplifier configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal and a gain control signal, and provide an amplified signal, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit configured to receive a high threshold comparator output and provide the gain control signal, a mixer configured to combine the amplified signal and a local oscillation signal and provide a mixed output, a high threshold comparator configured to compare the mixed output with a reference level and provide the high threshold comparator output, and a low threshold comparator configured to compare the mixed output with the reference level and provide an output of the radio receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: David Meltzer, Gregory A. Blum, Muralikumar A. Padaparambil
  • Patent number: 7983641
    Abstract: A STB 1 of this CATV system includes a diplexer 11, a signal level adjusting unit 30, a splitter 12, a tuner 2, a demodulating unit 3, a memory 17, and a CPU 19. The CPU 19 finds a correct reception level of a downstream signal by arithmetically operating a level correction value which is found based on a detected level adjustment state (state of switches) of the signal level adjusting unit 30 and a reception level after AGC which is found from signal intensity outputted from the demodulating unit 3, and notifies the found reception level to a CATV center station 40 by means of an upstream signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuya Kudo, Masami Oosawa
  • Patent number: 7945227
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for controlling a voltage gain in an ultra wideband receiving apparatus. The apparatus includes a register for storing an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) value detected in a section where an AGC operation control signal is “ON”; and a voltage gain controller for generating a voltage gain control value by reading the AGC stored in the register during a section where a reception enable signal is “ON”, and transferring the generated voltage gain control value to a voltage gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kyu-Min Kang, Sang-In Cho, Sang-Sung Choi
  • Patent number: 7945226
    Abstract: A method for adaptive automatic gain control and an automatic gain control circuit are provided. A predetermined waveform is injected into the automatic gain control circuit. A signal is sampled at at least one point in the automatic gain control circuit in which the sampled signal includes the injected predetermined waveform. A small-signal control characteristic is calculated using the sampled at least one signal. A determination is made as to whether the calculated small-signal control characteristic is valid. In the case of a valid determination, the calculated small-signal control characteristic is used to adjust the gain of the automatic gain control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Mak
  • Patent number: 7933573
    Abstract: An IC chip allows first communication for performing communication with all of the other IC chips, and second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties. That is to say, the IC chip performs sending/receiving signals with a new communication arrangement with both the first communication which is a broadcasting arrangement and the second communication which is a communicatory arrangement. This enables the function upgrading electronic equipment to be performed easily, and enables flexible signal processing with a new communication arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7933361
    Abstract: A hybrid structure circuit for the cancellation of both Type-I and Type-II DC offsets. It comprises a static compensator in conjunction with a servo-loop feedback amplifier to suppress the undesired DC components present along the path of the base band after the direct conversion mixer. Two mixers are used to down convert a received RF signal directly to a base band signal with two components: in-phase and quadrature-phase. Both in-phase and quadrature-phase branches employ the same circuitry for DC offset cancellation. Miller effect is also utilized in the structure in order to implement the circuit on-chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Integrated System Solution Corp.
    Inventors: Kuang-Hu Huang, Wei-Chung Peng, Chia-So Chuan
  • Patent number: 7933574
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for LNA adjustment to compensate for dynamic impedance matching are provided. In this regard, an antenna matching network may be configured to maximize received signal strength for a determined frequency and an amplifier gain may be adjusted based on the maximized signal strength such that output levels of the amplifier are between specified limits. The antenna matching network may be programmatically controlled via one or more switching elements. The amplifier gain may be programmatically controlled via one or more bias points. The antenna matching network may be configured for a plurality of frequencies in a frequency band, such as an FM broadcast band, and a configuration for each frequency may be stored. Accordingly, when the receiver is tuned to a frequency, a corresponding configuration may be retrieved from memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20110076977
    Abstract: A signal processor for a radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a plurality of distributed signal processing elements, in which a first one receives an input signal and a last one provides an output signal, and a plurality of gain elements interspersed between pairs of said plurality of distributed signal processing elements. The signal processor also includes a like plurality of peak detectors coupled to outputs of corresponding ones of said plurality of gain elements, and an automatic gain controller having inputs coupled to outputs of each of the peak detectors, and outputs coupled to each of the plurality of gain elements. The automatic gain controller independently controls each of the plurality of gain elements to form a like plurality of independent automatic gain control (AGC) loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdulkerim L. Coban, Alessandro Piovaccari, Ramin Khoini-Poorfard, James T. Kao
  • Patent number: 7907589
    Abstract: A reception apparatus capable of preventing saturation and sensitivity degradation of a receiver when base transceiver station transmit power control is performed and calibrating offset voltage without increasing the amount of current consumption. In this apparatus, a gain setting section (109) estimates reception field intensity of each time slot in the next frame based on information of the reception field intensity and transmit power information which is information of the transmit power of the base transceiver station and calculates a gain set value according to the estimated reception field intensity. A gain control circuit (110) extracts a maximum gain out of the gains set by the gain setting section (109), uses the maximum gain as a set gain for DC offset voltage calibration and performs gain control at the gain set value corresponding to each time slot. A voltage calibration circuit (111) performs the DC offset voltage calibration of the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Shimizu, Noriaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20110053542
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver involve causing the wireless receiver to enter into a sleep mode; causing the wireless receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a wake-up period; providing, via a multiplexer, a stored gain control state value to the wireless receiver for use during a warm-up period of the wake-up period, the stored gain control state value being previously read from a gain controller during a previous wake-up period of the wireless receiver; and after the warm-up period of the wake up period, providing, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver for use during the wake up period, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently-received signal in the wireless receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Qingzhong Jiao, Tom Yun Sang Young
  • Patent number: 7894561
    Abstract: A method for providing dynamic DC offset correction is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of uncorrected samples. A determination is made regarding whether a specified number of consecutive uncorrected samples that correspond to a nominal voltage level has been received. When the specified number of consecutive uncorrected samples that correspond to the nominal voltage level has been received, an offset is generated based on an actual voltage level for each of the consecutive uncorrected samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 7890075
    Abstract: A radio receiver such as a frequency modulation (FM) receiver, for example, includes a radio frequency (RF) amplifier having an adjustable gain output. The RF amplifier may be configured to receive and amplify an incoming RF signal. The receiver also includes an intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier having an adjustable gain output. The IF amplifier may be configured to receive and amplify an IF signal that corresponds to the RF signal. The receiver also includes a gain control unit that is coupled to the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier. The gain control unit may be configured to independently adjust the gain of each of the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier, dependent upon a peak output level of both the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunyu Xin, G. Tyson Tuttle, Scott D. Willingham, Peter J. Vancorenland
  • Patent number: 7885625
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to perform radio frequency (RF) analog-to-digital conversion are described. According to one example, a receiver includes an amplifier to amplify received analog RF signals and a mixer-free circuit for converting the received analog RF signals to digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Khurram Muhammad, Meng-Chang Lee, Dirk Leipold
  • Patent number: 7860473
    Abstract: A radio frequency receiver includes a receiver circuit for processing RF signals, an antenna to receive millimeter wave RF signals, and an attenuator circuit, coupled between the receiver circuit and antenna. In one embodiment, the attenuator circuit may be used to determine a signal strength of the millimeter wave RF signals, compare this signal strength to a first threshold value. If the signal strength is above the first threshold value, a level of attenuation applied to the millimeter wave RF signals may then be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Hardacker, Hiroyuki Mita, Kenichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7853230
    Abstract: The settling time of a wireless receiver is reduced by providing a previously utilized gain control state value to an amplifier of a receiver front end during a warm-up portion of a wake-up period of the wireless receiver which follows a sleep period. One illustrative method includes the steps of receiving a notification signal which indicates that the wireless receiver is to be placed in a sleep mode, reading a gain control state value from a gain controller based on receiving the notification signal, storing the gain control state value in memory, providing the stored gain control state value from the memory to the wireless receiver during a warm-up period of a second wake-up period following the first wake-up period, and providing a gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver based on a signal level of a currently received signal of the wireless receiver after the warm-up period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Qingzhong Jiao, Tom Yun Sang Young
  • Patent number: 7844239
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) performs DC removal on a received signal using a coarse DC removal unit that removes relatively large DC components and a fine DC removal loop that removes residual DC components. The coarse DC removal unit can be implemented in a receiver, and the fine DC removal loop can be implemented in a modem. In addition, a coarse DC estimation loop implemented on the modem may be coupled to the coarse DC removal unit to update DC offset values stored in the DC removal unit. By storing coarse DC offset values locally on the receiver, DC removal can be achieved very quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel F. Filipovic
  • Publication number: 20100297956
    Abstract: The invention provides a control method for generating variable operating currents in relation to input signal power and output signal power and achieving both low noise and low power consumption. Emitter follower circuits are attached to output terminals of a frequency divider for generating a local signal. By adjusting the currents flowing through the emitter follower circuits, the amount of currents flowing into mixers is adjusted. When the amount of currents of local signals flowing into the mixers increases, the effect of noise suppression is expected. The amount of the currents flowing through the emitter follower circuits is changed depending on the amplification factor of variable amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Norio HAYASHI, Satoshi ARAYASHIKI, Takeshi UCHITOMI, Tomomitsu KITAMURA
  • Patent number: 7831228
    Abstract: An integrated circuit radio receiver includes radio frequency (“RF”) front end circuitry for receiving and transmitting digital data received through a wireless interface. A baseband processor is operable to process the digital data received through the wireless interface. A plurality of digital filtering logic is included wherein each digital filtering logic includes a level of digital filtering based upon a received digital data signal format. The integrated circuit radio receiver includes logic that is operable to select between each digital filtering logic of the plurality of digital filtering logic based upon the received digital data signal format to process the digital data received through the wireless interface with the selected level of digital filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Weidong Li
  • Patent number: 7805121
    Abstract: A radio signal receiver in which a RF-receiving unit 12 converts a radio received signal to a baseband signal, an AD-conversion unit 15a, 15b converts that baseband received signal to a digital signal, and a baseband-processing unit 16 uses the digital signal to perform specified baseband processing, and in which an average-interference-level-measurement unit (SIR measurement unit) 17 measures the average interference level of the received signal, an amp-gain-adjustment unit 18 sets the gain so that a fixed binary value becomes that measured average interference level, and a variable-gain amp 14a, 14b controls the reception level of the received signal by that set gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Dai Kimura, Hiroyuki Seki
  • Patent number: 7787851
    Abstract: The invention specifies a circuit arrangement with a radio-frequency mixer (4) in which a plurality of preamplifiers (1, 2, 3) in a receiver have a common output node (6). This node is connected to a common, broadband radio-frequency mixer (4) via common coupling capacitances (41, 42). Switching means (17, 18; 27, 28; 37, 38) can be used to connect and disconnect the preamplifiers (1 to 3), which can be associated with various frequency bands, independently of one another. The present principle can be applied in multiband receivers in mobile radio and allows integration using little chip area with good radio-frequency characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Axel Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7778618
    Abstract: Systems for suppressing image noise are provided. In this regard, one embodiment includes a system for suppressing image noise comprising a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured to amplify a received RF signal, an RF variable gain attenuator with an image rejection filter with programmable bandwidth configured to suppress image noise and image interference, and an RF mixer configured to perform frequency translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhua Lu, Mark Santini, Weinan Gao, Mats Lindstrom, Damian Costa
  • Patent number: 7778617
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a receiver for processing a RF input signal having a variable signal strength includes an RF amplifier, an IF amplifier, and a controller. The RF amplifier is configured to receive and amplify the RF input signal. The IF amplifier is coupled to an output of the RF amplifier. The controller controls gains of the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier during times of falling signal strength. A gain of the IF amplifier is increased as the signal strength falls until a first amplitude threshold is reached for the falling signal strength. If the signal strength falls beyond the first threshold, a gain of the RF amplifier is increased until a second amplitude threshold is reached. The second amplitude threshold is lower than the first amplitude threshold. If the signal strength falls below the second amplitude threshold, the gain of the IF amplifier is further increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon Alejandro Gomez, Stephen Krafft, Tommy Yu