Constant Or Controlled Input Impedance Patents (Class 455/248.1)
  • Patent number: 11961712
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for calibrating sensors used by a match network during tuning of power delivery to a plasma processing chamber. The calibration can include self-calibration of two sensors in isolation relative to a self-load, and Relative or Absolute mutual calibration of both sensors used together across a mutual load. The mutual calibration can determine errors between the two sensors after they are each calibrated in isolation, and this additional calibration provides previously unrealized tuning accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Winter
  • Patent number: 11770779
    Abstract: A method and system to provide adaptive power control for a Wide Band Automatic Gain Control (WB-AGC) including: determining a signal is present when a power derivative of the signal ramps up; adapting a gain for an Automated Gain Control (AGC) when the signal is present; and disabling the adapting when the signal is not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Hughes Network Systems
    Inventor: Jorge Cadena
  • Patent number: 11765605
    Abstract: A wireless communication system includes: a first sub-system including a first radio and a second radio, each including a transceiver or a receiver; and a second sub-system coupled to the first sub-system and including: a first antenna configured to convey signals; a first tuner coupled to the first antenna; and a controller coupled to the first tuner, the controller being configured to cause the first tuner to adjust a characteristic of the first tuner; where the controller and/or the first tuner is configured to provide, to the first sub-system, an indication of an effect on operational performance of a portion of the second sub-system coupled to the second radio based on operation of the first tuner or the first antenna, or a combination thereof; where the first sub-system is configured to modify operation of the second radio based on the indication of the effect on operational performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jordan Cookman, Jie Wu, David Loweth Winslow, Daniel Filipovic, Liang Zhao
  • Patent number: 11600474
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) system includes a RF power source configured to power a load with an RF signal; an RF pipe including an inner conductor and an outer conductor connected to ground coupling the RF power source to the load; and a current sensor aligned to a central axis of the RF pipe carrying the RF signal. A sensor casing is disposed around the RF pipe, where the sensor casing includes a conductive material connected to the outer conductor of the RF pipe. A gallery is disposed within the sensor casing and outside the outer conductor of the RF pipe, where the current sensor is disposed in the gallery. A slit in the outer conductor of the RF pipe exposes the current sensor to a magnetic field due to the current of the RF signal in the inner conductor of the RF pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Barton Lane, Merritt Funk, Yohei Yamazawa, Justin Moses, Chelsea Dubose, Michael Hummel
  • Patent number: 10992327
    Abstract: A system comprises an antenna, a port converting device, an information transmission device, a shield case, and a reference voltage end; wherein the antenna, the port converting device, and the information transmission device are connected sequentially, and the information transmission device is disposed within the shield case, and both the shield case and the port converting device is connected with the reference voltage end; the antenna is configured for a conversion between a radio frequency signal and a single-ended signal; the port converting device is configured for a conversion between the single-ended signal and target differential mode signals; the information transmission device is configured to transmit and process the target differential mode signals; and parameters of components in the port converting device is determined according to a preset communication frequency and a voltage amplitude and phase of a differential mode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Yizhen Hou, Zhimin Dan, Wei Zhang, Jiechao Luo, Wenbin Lu, Jia Xu, Teng Yu
  • Patent number: 9484880
    Abstract: Disclosed is an impedance matching device. Variable devices of the impedance matching device installed in a mobile terminal, such as a portable terminal, are configured to have a MEMS structure. The MEMS structure and other components are integrated as one package, so the manufacturing cost is reduced and the manufacturing efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 9356636
    Abstract: A single-ended-input current-reuse wideband receiver comprising (1) a stacked Radio Frequency to Baseband (RF-to-BB) front-end with an 8-path active mixer realizing RF amplification, harmonic-recombination (HR) down-conversion, and BB filtering in the current domain for better linearity and power efficiency; (2) a feedforward 8-path passive mixer enabling LO-defined input impedance matching without external components, while offering frequency-translated bandpass filtering and noise cancelling; (3) a single-MOS pole-zero lowpass filter (LPF) permitting both RF and BB filtering at low voltage headroom consumption, while easing the tradeoff between the in-/out-of-band linearity; and (4) a BB-only two-stage HR amplifier boosting the 3rd and 5th harmonic rejection ratios (HRR3,5) with low hardware intricacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MACAU
    Inventors: Pui-In Mak, Fujian Lin, Rui Paulo Da Silva Martins
  • Patent number: 9020458
    Abstract: A passive mixer with channel impedance equalization is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes replica devices configured to generate replica output signals and an error amplifier configured to generate bias signals based on the replica output signals. The bias signals are configured to equalize on-state channel impedances associated with a mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeremy Mark Goldblatt
  • Publication number: 20150087254
    Abstract: An antenna matching device includes an antenna terminal connected to an antenna and an RF terminal connected to an RF circuit. The antenna terminal and the RF terminal are connected to each other through a first transmission path only via an inductor. The antenna terminal and the RF terminal are connected to each other through a second transmission path only via an SPST switch. By switching between the open state and the closed state of the switch in accordance with the frequency of an RF signal, the first transmission channel or the second transmission channel is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Minoru IWANAGA
  • Patent number: 8965280
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a chip card communication arrangement is provided comprising a matching network and a chip card communication circuit comprising at least one matching network terminal, a receiver coupled to the matching network via the at least one matching network terminal and an active transmitter coupled to the matching network via the at least one matching network terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Richard Sbuell, Walter Kargl, Matthias Emsenhuber
  • Patent number: 8942657
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Heinz Bachmann, Greg Mendolia
  • Patent number: 8897734
    Abstract: The invention provides circuitry integrated into a silicon chip that measures aspects of an RF signal on a transmission line in order to provide data that is ultimately used by an antenna tuner circuit to substantially match the impedance of the antenna with that of the transmission line providing the RF frequency to be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ericsson Modems SA
    Inventor: Janne Olavi Peltonen
  • Patent number: 8880015
    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: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8848394
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) circuit is configured for impedance matching, such as for mitigating noise. In connection with an example embodiment, an RF circuit includes a transceiver in a substrate, and a conductive ring-type of material in the substrate and around at least a portion of the transceiver circuit. An upper conductive ring material is over the substrate and separated from the conductive ring-type material by an insulating layer. The upper conductive ring material is configured to generate an inductance that matches input impedance characteristics of the transceiver circuit. In some implementations, the upper conductive ring material connects a gate input pin of the circuit with the gate of an input transistor of an amplifier in the transceiver, and exhibits an impedance that matches the impedance of the input transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Cristian Andrei
  • Publication number: 20140057584
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for a low-noise, highly-linear receiver front-end are provided. In this regard, a received signal may be processed via one or more transconductances, one or more transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), and one or more mixers to generate a first baseband signal corresponding to a voltage at a node of the receiver, and a second baseband signal corresponding to a current at the node of the receiver. The first signal and the second signal may be processed to recover information from the received signal. The first signal may be generated via a first one or more signal paths of the receiver and the second signal may be generated via a second one or more signal paths of the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: David Murphy, Ahmad Mirzaei, Mohyee Mikhemar, Hooman Darabi
  • Patent number: 8639203
    Abstract: An antenna system for reception of channel signals form the UHF band by a receiver, including an electrically small antenna and, connected between the port connected to the antenna and that of the receiver, an active impedance matching device controlled by command signals depending on the quality of the signal received by the receiver to compensate for the impedance variations due to the environment associated with the antenna and to reject the frequencies of interfering channels adjacent to the reception channel without interfering with the active impedance matching of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Robert, Philippe Minard, Brice Praho
  • Patent number: 8620246
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, determining at a port of a matching network reflection information from a signal sampled across at least one predetermined fixed-value reactance component, generating at least one control signal according to the reflection information, and tuning the matching network with the at least one control signal, where the matching network comprises one or more controllable variable reactive elements each with an independent control voltage. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, Heinz Bachmann, Gregory Mendolia
  • Patent number: 8620247
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, determining from nodal voltages sampled at an input port of a matching network an impedance of a variable load coupled to an output port of the matching network, generating at least one control signal according to the nodal voltage, and tuning the matching network with the at least one control signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, Heinz Bachmann, Gregory Mendolia
  • Publication number: 20130324066
    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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20130288631
    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: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20130231155
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to real-time calibration of a tunable matching network that matches the dynamic impedance of an antenna in a radio frequency receiver system. The radio frequency receiver system includes two non-linear equations that may be solved to determine the reflection coefficient of the antenna. Control system that calculates, in realtime, a value of an input impedance of the antenna to match a load in a receiver system, wherein said impedance is calculated directly using a closed-form solution. The reflection coefficient of the antenna may be used to determine the input impedance of the antenna. The elements of the matching circuit are then adjusted to match the input impedance of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Arnold Sheynman, James Paul Warden, Shirook M. Ali
  • Patent number: 8509720
    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: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8472894
    Abstract: A signal transmitting/receiving circuit includes a transmitter, a receiver, a balun and an impedance matching circuit. The transmitter is utilized for transmitting an output signal. The receiver is utilized for receiving an input signal. The balun includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The impedance matching circuit, which is coupled between the transmitter, the receiver, and the balun, provides transmitting impedance when the transmitter transmits the output signal such that an output signal may be output at an output terminal of the balun via a transmitting path. Also, the impedance matching circuit provides transmitting impedance when the receiver receives the input signal such that the input signal may be transmitted from the output terminal of the balun to the receiver via a receiving path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Po-Chih Wang, Chia-Jun Chang
  • Patent number: 8463218
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion RF, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Heinz Bachmann, Greg Mendolia
  • Patent number: 8396441
    Abstract: A mixer circuit suitable for broadband RF applications is disclosed. A unique biasing scheme for a conventional Gilbert-cell type 4-quadrant multiplier is used, resulting in relatively good linearity, relatively low noise, and relatively low power consumption. Disclosed techniques provide programmability in gain for the mixer and a broadband frequency of operation. A non-linear feedback loop is wrapped around the circuit to stabilize the common-mode voltage shifts due to programming. In one embodiment, a non-linear switch as load-resistance is used to improve the linearity of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventor: Vikas Choudhary
  • Patent number: 8351978
    Abstract: A circuit is described. The circuit includes a low noise amplifier (LNA), a passive switching core (PSC), a transimpedance amplifier filter (TIA-filter) and a degenerative-impedance gain-tuning network (Zdeg network) having a first Zdeg network input lead, a second Zdeg network input lead, a first Zdeg network output lead and a second Zdeg network output lead, wherein the first Zdeg network input lead is coupled to a first output lead of the LNA and the second Zdeg network input lead is coupled to a second output lead of the LNA, and wherein the first Zdeg network output lead is coupled to a first signal input lead of the PSC and the second Zdeg network output lead is coupled to a second signal input lead of the PSC. The LNA, the Zdeg network, the PSC, and the TIA-filter together form a receiver. A receiver gain is adjusted by the Zdeg network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Aleksandar Tasic, Christian Holenstein, Junxiong Deng
  • Patent number: 8306494
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a single-ended input low noise amplifier (LNA) with differential output are disclosed and may include configuring the LNA and/or a balun on a chip for single-ended or differential mode, which may function as a load for the LNA. A frequency response and gain of the LNA may be configured via switched capacitors and resistors, which may include CMOS transistors. A transition frequency, and thus impedance matching and matching network gain, may be tuned via configurable gate-source capacitors. A received signal may be filtered via a surface acoustical wave (SAW) filter. The LNA may be impedance matched with an input device via the transition frequency tuning and off chip inductors and/or capacitors. The LNA may be configured for single-ended or differential input mode via switches outside of a signal path to the LNA and reverse isolation may be enabled via a cascode device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Adedayo Ojo
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120058739
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, determining from nodal voltages sampled at an input port of a matching network an impedance of a variable load coupled to an output port of the matching network, generating at least one control signal according to the nodal voltage, and tuning the matching network with the at least one control signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: PARATEK MICROWAVE, INC.
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Heinz Bachmann, Greg Mendolia
  • Patent number: 8095101
    Abstract: A receiving device includes a mixer, an AC coupling circuit, a post-stage circuit, and a DC offset calibration circuit. The mixer is utilized for mixing an input signal with a local oscillating (LO) signal from an oscillator to generate a converted signal. The AC coupling circuit is coupled to the mixer and utilized for reducing at least one portion of DC offset of the converted signal to generate a filtered signal. The post-stage circuit is coupled to the AC coupling circuit and utilized for processing the filtered signal to generate an output signal. The DC offset calibration circuit is coupled to the post-stage circuit and utilized for providing at least a compensation current for the post-stage circuit to reduce DC offset of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Pei-Ju Chiu, Chia-Jun Chang, Chao-Cheng Lee
  • Patent number: 8078126
    Abstract: A communication apparatus and a low noise amplifying method. The communication apparatus includes a gain adjusting unit to adjust a gain of an input signal; a combiner to generate an output signal using the signal gain-adjusted at the gain adjusting unit; and a feedback unit which provides a feedback signal, which is generated using the output signal generated at the combiner, to an input stage. Accordingly, various frequency bands defined in the wireless standards can be supported. Since the load impedance is generated without resistance, the manufacturing cost and the product size can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-woo Park, Chang-sik Yoo, Jin-soo Park, Heung-bae Lee, Young-eil Kim
  • Patent number: 8010084
    Abstract: An RF power delivery diagnostic system is provided herein. The system comprises an RF power source (303), an impedance matching network (305), a plasma reactor (307) in electrical contact with the RF power source by way of the impedance matching network, a first RF sensor (309) adapted to measure at least one attribute of the RF power input to the impedance matching network, and a second RF sensor (311) adapted to measure at least one attribute of the RF power output by the impedance matching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Turner Enterprises & Associates
    Inventor: Terry R. Turner
  • Patent number: 7986924
    Abstract: An impedance control apparatus and method for portable mobile communication terminal is disclosed capable of accurately adjusting impedances relative to environment when the portable mobile communication terminal is being used, wherein an impedance of a first variable impedance matching part is varied to receive a reception impedance correction signal transmitted by a base station and to detect a reception strength, an impedance of the first variable impedance matching part is set by a impedance value of the largest reception strength out of the reception strengths, the portable mobile communication terminal varies the impedance of a second variable impedance matching part to transmit a transmission impedance correction signal to a base station and to allow the base station to detect the reception strength, and the impedance setting of the second variable impedance matching part is performed using the reception strength detected by the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Teuk Kim, Kwy Ro Lee
  • Patent number: 7949322
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a frequency-selective low noise amplifier (LNA) with wide-band impedance and noise matching. The LNAS may include a closed loop circuit that supports wideband input matching. For example, the closed loop circuit may be configure to impedance match an input signal and provide a low noise figure. In addition, the LNA may include an open loop circuit that amplifies the input signal and provides a high output impedance. The open loop circuit may further include a selectivity filter that filters out frequencies outside a desired frequency band. The LNA may drive a tunable band-pass filter via the open loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tae Wook Kim, Kenneth Charles Barnett
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7917114
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a DC offset canceling circuit. In one aspect of the invention, a DC offset canceling circuit with independently configurable gain and roll-off frequency is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, the DC offset canceling circuit is used in the receive path of a down-conversion wireless receiver. In another aspect of the invention, a method for independently varying the gain and the roll-off frequency of the DC offset canceling circuit is provided. In one embodiment, the method is used to independently operate a gain control scheme and a DC offset cancellation strategy in a DC canceling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Amit Bagchi, Rohit Gaikwad
  • Patent number: 7869771
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed relating to wireless transmitters, and also relating to multi-band transformers. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus may include a multi-band transformer configured to receive as an input a signal associated with a first frequency band or a signal associated with a second frequency band. The transformer may include one or more inputs and a first output and a second output. The transformer may also include one or more switches coupled to the transformer and configured to selectively output a received input signal onto the first output and/or the second output of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alireza Zolfaghari
  • Patent number: 7848713
    Abstract: Techniques for attenuating undesired signal components from a differential duplexer are described. The duplexer provides a differential received signal at RX+ and RX? ports. This differential received signal includes an undesired common mode signal, which may come from a transmit signal. The common mode signal is attenuated with a common mode trap in an impedance matching network coupled to the RX+ and RX? ports. The matching network includes a first passive circuit coupled between the RX+ port and a first node, a second passive circuit coupled between the RX? port and a second node, and the common mode trap coupled between the first and second nodes. In one design, the common mode trap includes a first inductor coupled between the first node and a common node, a second inductor coupled between the second node and the common node, and a capacitor coupled between the common node and circuit ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jose Cabanillas, Prasad S. Gudem, Sai Chong Kwok, David Love
  • Patent number: 7840194
    Abstract: A transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit and an interface switching module for SATA or SAS interface are provided. The invention uses transistors as elements with different impedance and also provides impedance modulating method in coordination with the exterior circuit and the layout design so as to develop an auto-switching mechanism between SATA and SAS interfaces, thereby integrating two transmission interfaces in a single system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsin Wu, Min-Chung Chou, Hung-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 7786819
    Abstract: An apparatus including a matching circuit; a first variable reactance component, having a first range of reactance values, and connected to the matching circuit and connectable to an antenna element operable in a first frequency band and a second frequency band; a second variable reactance component, having a second range of reactance values, and connected to the matching circuit; a detector for detecting a parameter, indicative of the impedance of the apparatus, over at least a part of the first range and second range of reactance values; and a controller configured to determine, using information provided by the detector, optimum ratios of second reactance values to first reactance values, at a frequency in the first frequency band, and configured to select a first optimum ratio when the second frequency band is greater than the first frequency band and configured to select a second different optimum ratio when the second frequency band is less than the first frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Juha S. Ella, Janne P. Kylakoski
  • Publication number: 20100159864
    Abstract: An RF communication device provides impedance matching by generating a frequency selection signal. A plurality of programmable impedance matching networks, coupled to an antenna, and formed by a plurality of off-chip impedance matching components, a first on-chip adjustable impedance and a second on-chip adjustable impedance are programmed. The programming includes adjusting a first impedance of the first on-chip adjustable impedance to a first value based on the frequency selection signal, and adjusting a second impedance of the second on-chip adjustable impedance to a second value based on the frequency selection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7711337
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention an apparatus, comprising an adaptive impedance matching module (AIMM) adapted to minimize the magnitude of an input reflection coefficient seen at an RFin port under boundary conditions of a variable load impedance ZL, a tuner connected to the AIMM and including a plurality of variable reactance networks with independent control signals, wherein node voltages are sampled within the tuner; and a microcontroller or digital signal processor (DSP) calculates complex reflection coefficient information from the sampled voltages, the microcontroller or DSP providing a coarse and fine tune function that feeds bias signals to control impedance matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Mckinzie, III, Heinz Bachmann, Greg Mendolia
  • Patent number: 7693495
    Abstract: A transmitting arrangement includes a matching circuit, a reference circuit and a comparator. The output of the matching circuit can be coupled to an antenna and comprises an adjustable impedance. The reference circuit is connected to an input of the matching circuit and comprises a reference impedance. Inputs of the comparator are coupled to the matching circuit and the reference circuit and its output is coupled to the adjustable impedance via a control input of the matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Grigory Itkin, Bernd Adler
  • Publication number: 20100029323
    Abstract: A circuit is described. The circuit includes a low noise amplifier (LNA), a passive switching core (PSC), a transimpedance amplifier filter (TIA-filter) and a degenerative-impedance gain-tuning network (Zdeg network) having a first Zdeg network input lead, a second Zdeg network input lead, a first Zdeg network output lead and a second Zdeg network output lead, wherein the first Zdeg network input lead is coupled to a first output lead of the LNA and the second Zdeg network input lead is coupled to a second output lead of the LNA, and wherein the first Zdeg network output lead is coupled to a first signal input lead of the PSC and the second Zdeg network output lead is coupled to a second signal input lead of the PSC. The LNA, the Zdeg network, the PSC, and the TIA-filter together form a receiver. A receiver gain is adjusted by the Zdeg network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Aleksandar Tasic, Christian Holenstein, Junxiong Deng
  • Publication number: 20090325527
    Abstract: A dual band amplifier is provided comprising a first matching circuit disposed in a first radiofrequency path between an input port and a first amplifier and a second matching circuit disposed in a second radiofrequency path between the input port and a second amplifier. The first matching circuit transforms a first input impedance of the first amplifier to a predetermined input port impedance when the radiofrequency signal is in a first frequency range and transmits the first input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the second frequency range. The second matching circuit transforms the second input impedance to the input port impedance when the input signal is in the second frequency range and transmits the second input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the first frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: SIGE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Gordon G. RABJOHN
  • Patent number: 7616934
    Abstract: A method of providing an impedance match for an integrated semiconductor circuit to other microwave elements is provided by allowing the selection of one of a plurality of impedance matching ratios between the circuit and other elements. The tunable impedance match comprises a microwave impedance transformer with at least a single primary winding, and a plurality of secondary windings, wherein the winding configuration is determined by an electrical switching apparatus allowing the secondary windings to be connected in series, parallel and combinations thereof to provide the required impedance matching. The method allows for both dynamic matching of an integrated semiconductor circuit for increased efficiency, and hence reduced power consumption, and directly matching said circuit to high impedance antennae etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: SiGe Semiconductor (Europe) Limited
    Inventor: Philip Macphail
  • Publication number: 20090233565
    Abstract: A receiving device is provided capable of avoiding reception of unnecessary energy when a signal waveform actually changes on a receiving side. An impedance control circuit includes a sensing unit to sense one or more of a voltage, current, or power of a signal to be received by a receiving circuit. The impedance control unit varies an input impedance according to the change in the sensed one or more quantities so that the received signal will be reflected. Thus the excess energy of the signal is reflected and fed to any other receiving circuit achieving stable communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzki, Noboru Maeda, Takahisa Koyasu, Koji Kondo, Shigeki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7577411
    Abstract: Wireless communication device tuning an antenna matching circuit responsive to a receive signal quality indicator and, optionally, responsive to a failed access probe is provided. Systems and methods are provided that increase the antenna efficiency in either the transmit frequency or the receive frequency in an idle or access state as needed, based on fading conditions, non-ideal antenna efficiency balance, mobile station forward versus reverse link usage and system forward versus reverse link usage. The antenna efficiency may be changed incrementally or may be optimized completely for the transmit frequency or the receive frequency. The re-balancing is accomplished by tuning the antenna matching circuit. One way to tune the antenna matching circuit is to apply a voltage to a ferro-electric capacitor in the matching circuit, thereby changing the capacitance of the ferro-electric capacitor, thereby changing the impedance of the matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Chang, Gregory Poilasne, Jorge Fabrega-Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7512389
    Abstract: An active inductor includes bipolar transistors T1, T2, T3 and TD (TD being arranged in diode), where T1's emitter is connected to an output port and to T2's collector. T2's base is connected to a first voltage line and between two connected capacitors. T2's emitter is connected to T3's collecter. An end of one capacitor is connected to T1's base and to a second voltage line. An end of the other capacitor is connected to T3's emitter and to a third voltage line. T1's collector is connected to a fourth voltage line and to TM's collecter, which is connected to TM's base. TM's emitter is electrically connected to T3's base. Preferably, the transistors T1-T3 and TD are Silicon based, and the active inductor is fabricated on a single substrate comprising Silicon. The active inductor is incorporated into adaptive oscillators and amplifiers and an improved transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Laurent Desclos
  • Patent number: 7403764
    Abstract: An RF power delivery diagnostic system is provided herein. The system comprises an RF power source (303), an impedance matching network (305), a plasma reactor (307) in electrical contact with the RF power source by way of the impedance matching network, a first RF sensor (309) adapted to measure at least one attribute of the RF power input to the impedance matching network, and a second RF sensor (311) adapted to measure at least one attribute of the RF power output by the impedance matching network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Terry R. Turner