Automatic Gain Control To Improve Strong Signal Handling Patents (Class 455/250.1)
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Patent number: 7489912Abstract: A signal receiver (300) has a tuner (301), which receives an RF_IN signal and outputs a desired IF_OUT intermediate frequency signal to a demodulator (311). The demodulator (311) controls the RF_AGC and IF_AGC tuner gains according to an AGC characteristic of the tuner, to provide a constant level of the IF_OUT signal. The demodulator (311) sends to the processor (321) a digital stream of a desired signal TS. The processor comprises an AGC characteristic controller (327) for calculating the AGC characteristic of the tuner on the basis of a level of the desired signal and a strongest level of close signals, which are detected within the passband of the input filter (101) of the tuner (301) for the desired signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignees: Advanced Digital Broadcast Polska SP. Z O.O., Advanced Digital Broadcast, Ltd.Inventor: Sebastian Zylowski
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Patent number: 7486941Abstract: Dynamic gain and phase compensation is provided in a radio frequency (RF) receiver (106) including at least one switched Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) (212) coupled to an RF gain control unit (226) providing a gain control signal to the at least one switched LNA (212) for control thereof. The RF receiver also includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter (222) for digitizing the RF signal and outputting an N-bit digital signal to the RF gain control unit (226). The method for gain compensation includes dynamically adjusting the N-bit digital signal to compensate for the at least one switched LNA (212) in response to the gain control signal. The method for phase compensation includes dynamically normalizing the N-bit digital signal into an M-bit signal range to derive an M-bit digital signal, where M?N and dynamically phase adjusting the M-bit digital signal to compensate for the at least one switched LNA (212) in response to the gain control signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Mahibur Rahman, Charles L. Sobchak, James David Hughes
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Patent number: 7486942Abstract: In a receiver, a mixer portion provided in a front-end portion thereof is built with two mixers with different input/output linearity characteristics and different current consumption. According to the electric-field strength of a received signal, or manually, one of the mixers is chosen to operate so that, when the electric-field strength is in an ordinary range, the mixer with a better input/output linearity characteristic is chosen to operate with lower current consumption and, when the electric-field strength is in a high range, the mixer that, despite operating with higher current consumption, exhibits a still better input/output linearity characteristic is chosen. The receiver thus operates with lower current consumption and lower signal distortion.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shoji Sakurai
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Patent number: 7486940Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus, which has a receiving circuit for receiving a transmitted high frequency signal of a plurality of time division multiplexed programs, includes a circuit for selecting a better receiving characteristic condition while a desired program is not received.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Ozeki, Hisaya Kato, Sadashi Kageyama, Takeo Yasuho
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Patent number: 7477876Abstract: A channel quality feedback method for wireless transmission is described in which the rate for reporting channel quality information from a mobile station to a base station is variable as a function of the presence or absence of a transmission from the base station to the mobile station. In particular, the feedback rate from the mobile station to the base station is increased when the mobile station detects a transmission from the base station. As such, the feedback rate is slower when there is no data transmission for the mobile station and faster when the mobile station is receiving data.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.Inventors: Amab Das, Farooq Ullah Khan
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Patent number: 7460841Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes two adjustable amplification devices where the signal output of the first amplification device is connected to the signal input of the second amplification device. The first amplification device has a digital input for controlling its gain and the second amplification device has an input for controlling its gain. The input for gain control in the second amplification device is connected to the input for controlling the gain of the first amplification device via a means such that a change in the gain of the second amplification device in one direction is effected by a change in gain, brought about by means of the control, in the first amplification device in the opposite direction such that the total gain remains essentially the same.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Frank Fischer, Horst Klein, Erwin Krug, Bernd Pflaum
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Publication number: 20080293370Abstract: A gain controller for controlling the gain of at least one amplifier in a receiver, the gain controller being arranged to, when the receiver is receiving a signal: for a first period of time, repeatedly determine an indication of the strength of the received signal and adjust the gain of the at least one amplifier in dependence on each indication of signal strength and following the expiry of the first period of time: determine a subsequent indication of the strength of the received signal and make a single adjustment of the gain of the at least one amplifier in dependence on the subsequent indication of signal strength.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: CAMBRIDGE SILICON RADIO LIMITEDInventor: Roger WOOD
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Patent number: 7457598Abstract: A signal amplifier system is provided for a mobile or portable broadcast receiver. The signal amplifier system includes an operational circuitry, a signal generator and a voltage supply. The signal generator receives a field strength signal that indicates a field strength of at least one broadcast signal. The signal generator outputs a supply voltage control signal based on the field strength signal. The voltage supply provides one of a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage to the operational circuitry in accordance with the supply voltage control signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbHInventors: Michael Zahm, Stefan Köhler
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Patent number: 7454189Abstract: Calibration of received signal strength indication (RSSI) within a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) begins by concurrently enables a transmitter portion and receiver portion. With both the transmitter and receiver enabled, the RFIC provides a zero input to the transmitter portion, where the zero input is an effective zero input based on the input circuitry of the transmitter portion. The RFIC then measures, via the receiver portion, the received signal strength of the RF signal generated by the transmitter portion regarding the zero input signal. The RFIC then compares the measured received signal strength with a desired zero input signal strength value. If the measured received signal strength compares unfavorably with the desired zero input signal strength value (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2004Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Hea Joung Kim
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Patent number: 7450533Abstract: A wireless transmitting device includes a first and a second antennas, a first and a second transmitters connected to the first and the second antenna, respectively, signal provide unit provide a short preamble sequence, a first and a second signal fields to the first transmitter, and provide an AGC preamble sequence, a data and a long-preamble sequence to estimate a channel response to the first and the second transmitters, and a controller to power on the transmitters at different timings, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Tsuguhide Aoki, Ichiro Seto, Kazumi Sato
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Patent number: 7447490Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver (“Rx”) is disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or impedance.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Nvidia CorporationInventors: Timothy C. Kuo, Mansour Keramat, Edward Wai Yeung Liu
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Patent number: 7440738Abstract: A receiver (100) adjusts its overall gain based on the detected power level of an incoming signal. The receiver is built with two detectors (D1, D2) which operate with different detecting ranges within the dynamic range of the incoming signal. If the actual power level of the incoming signal falls within one of the resolving ranges, an automatic gain control adjusts the gain of the receiver to a corresponding gain value. If not, the resolving range of one of the two detectors is shifted and eventually reduced to cover the portion of the dynamic range in which the power level is comprised. The gain of the receiver is then temporarily adjusted and a new measurement is carried out by the detector using the new resolving range. The AGC then re-adjusts the gain of the receiver based on the measurement given by the modified detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2004Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Yifeng Zhang, Henk Visser
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Patent number: 7437133Abstract: A front end for a radio frequency tuner, for example for connection to a cable distribution network, including an input connected to a signal path comprising an LNA connected via an AGC stage to a signal splitter. The input path has a bandwidth sufficiently wide to pass all of the channels in an input signal and has a substantially constant voltage standing wave ratio over the bandwidth. The splitter supplies identical signals to several filtering paths, each of which comprises a fixed filter. The paths are selectable one at a time and the filters divide the input frequency band into a plurality of contiguous or slightly overlapping sub-bands. The output of the front end is supplied to, for example, a double conversion arrangement comprising an upconverter and a downconverter with first and second IF filters.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Mark Stephen John Mudd, Nicholas Paul Cowley
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Patent number: 7433663Abstract: A multiple receiving antennae system having a plurality of radio frequency (RF) modules being responsive to incoming signals for processing the same to generate baseband signals. The multiple receiving antennae system further processes baseband signals to generate digital baseband signals, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The multiple receiving antennae system further still includes a plurality of automatic gain control (AGC) modules being responsive to digital baseband signals for processing the same to generate a plurality of gain values. The plurality of gain values are used in the plurality of RF modules for independent gain adjustment of the incoming signals. The plurality of gain values are used to generate adjusted signals with enhanced signal to noise ratio (SNR) to improve the performance of the multiple receiving antennae system, whereby the plurality of gain values are used to enhance reception of incoming signals by improving SNR.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Ralink Technology, Inc.Inventor: Po-Yuen Cheng
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Patent number: 7433662Abstract: An apparatus and method to use a gain control network across source terminals of cascode transistors that drive a differential current to control gain. The drains of the cascode transistors are coupled to a load such as a mixer. The cascode arrangement provides high impedance coupling to the load and the proximity of the gain control network allows offsets to be gain tracked to signal gain.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Arya Behzad, C. Paul Lee
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Patent number: 7430406Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques that can be executed by a wireless device to perform various signal processing tasks associated with wireless communication. The techniques involve gain state switching based on an output of an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, rather than gain state switching techniques in which an estimation of signal strength at the antenna is mapped to gain states. Use of the A/D converter output for gain state selection can provide more accurate and dynamic switchpoints.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Daniel F. Filipovic
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Patent number: 7415259Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) for a Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) receiver, a method of automatically controlling gain and a SDARS receiver incorporating the AGC or the method. In one embodiment, the AGC includes: (1) an AGC function selector configured to compare first and second time division multiplexed (TDM) power signals and a nonzero threshold and select an AGC function based thereon and (2) an AGC function applier associated with the AGC function selector and configured to apply the AGC function to the first and second TDM power signals to develop therefrom an AGC control signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: David A. Fishman, Robert C. Malkemes, Denis P. Orlando, Jie Song, Eric Zhong, Ying Zhu
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Patent number: 7409197Abstract: A transceiver includes a detuning circuit to generate an impedance mismatch in a receive signal path in response to a control signal provided by loop-control circuitry. The loop-control circuitry generates the control signal based on a comparison of detected peak signal levels in the receive signal path. In this way, high-power input signal levels in the receive signal path may be reflected back to an input of the receiver due to the impedance mismatch.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Joshua Posamentier
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Patent number: 7403759Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for eliminating interference in measuring signals (SM) which are corrupted by pulsed interference signals (SST) having a known or determinable interference pulse interval (TSt), whereby the detection period (?tE) of an individual measured value (E) is shorter than an interference pulse period (?tSt), and a plurality of individual measured values (E) is detected at freely selectable time intervals (TE) of the measuring signal (SM). A reliable elimination of interferences caused by radio-interference sources transmitting in a pulsed manner is achieved by detecting at least three consecutive individual measured values (E) at time intervals (TE) that differ from the interference pulse interval (TSt), and by determining an interference-filtered measured quantity (M) with the at least three individual measured values (E).Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Hans Irion, Bjoern Haase
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Patent number: 7403757Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic gain controller in a wireless packet communication system and an automatic gain control method thereof. The automatic gain controller includes a variable gain amplifier, a signal saturation determining unit, a power calculator, and a gain controller. The gain controller includes a first gain selector and a second gain selector. In the automatic gain control method, an establishment gain of a variable gain amplifier is reduced when the number of samples greater than a predetermined reference is greater than a predetermined number. After a received power value is measured, the establishment gain is controlled by a difference between the received power value and a reference power value.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Heejung Yu, Taehyun Jeon, Myung-Soon Kim, Eun-Young Choi, Sok-Kyu Lee, Deuk-Su Lyu
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Publication number: 20080160948Abstract: Provided are a broadcasting receiving apparatus and a broadcasting receiving method using the same. The broad-casting receiving apparatus including: a low noise amplifying unit low- noise-amplifying an RF signal received from an antenna; an RF attenuating unit attenuating the received RF signal to output the attenuated RF signal; a supply unit supplying a DC voltage to the low noise amplifying unit; and a control unit controlling an output of the DC voltage depending on a change of an electric field strength of the received signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventor: Jong Woon Kim
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Patent number: 7386285Abstract: An AGC circuit controls LNA and VGA amplifiers such that a received signal is converted at a high speed with tracking errors prevented according to each modulation scheme. The AGC circuit generates LNA and VGA control signals controlling the LNA and VGA amplifiers, respectively. A digital signal, converted from the received signal, is calculated for a power value, on which scaling is performed by a scaling section to then be provided through an adder and a register to a control signal generator for generating the LNA and VGA control signals. The scaling section compares the power value with a target value to perform scaling with a scaling coefficient according to the sign of the comparison value so that an increase of the tracking error is avoided, thus preventing phenomena where the AGC control oscillates without convergence, thereby making it possible to attain the optimum automatic gain control.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigeki Yamauchi
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Publication number: 20080090539Abstract: Fuzzy logic is utilized to control an RF amplifier and associated tuner for continuous self-optimization and automatic load matching to at least double the battery life of a battery-powered transmitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Inventor: Rick L. Thompson
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Patent number: 7359690Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically controlling the gain of a digital radio receiving circuit in which a single set of analogue amplifiers is used as the front end to feed two separate digital back-end, demodulating circuits, and in which, for optimal performance, each of the two digital demodulating circuits require the front end analogue amplifiers to operate over a significantly different dynamic range. An automatic-gain-control selector selects one of two automatic-gain control signals to set the gain of the analogue amplifier. In addition, the automatic-gain-control selector sets a compensatory gain of a digital automatic gain control in the back-end circuit not selected, so that the unselected demodulating circuit has substantially the same input signal as if it had been selected. In this way, both demodulating circuits can process the input signal as if they were in control of the analogue amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventor: Yhean-Sen Lai
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Patent number: 7356322Abstract: A wireless receiver detects signals received at two or more antennas, with each antenna coupled to an input receive chain. A switch is employed to couple selected input receive chains to one or more corresponding output receive chains during listening, coarse-detection, and fine-adjustment modes. At least one channel selection filter (CSF) is employed in each output receive chain, and the receiver employs sub-ranging. During idle mode, one antenna's input receive chain is connected to two or more CSFs to detect the packet. When the packet is detected, during a coarse-adjustment mode, the CSFs are reconfigured to couple each antenna's input receive chain to a corresponding output receive chain using low-gain signals. During fine-adjustment mode, the various gains are adjusted to be either high- or low-gain to maintain signals within the dynamic range of the corresponding CSFs.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Joachim S. Hammerschmidt, Danilo Manstretta
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Patent number: 7317894Abstract: A satellite digital radio broadcast receiver has an integrated circuit including a first reception series for processing a satellite wave signal from a satellite and a second reception series for processing a ground wave signal from a repeater in order to receive both the satellite wave signal and the ground wave signal having the same broadcast contents and different modulation methods. The receiver has an automatic gain control unit for amplifying a signal from a single antenna at a variable gain amplifier, and in accordance with the level of a signal outputted from the variable gain amplifier, for controlling the gain of the variable gain amplifier; and a two-way distributor for distributing an output of the automatic control unit to two distribution outputs, wherein one distribution output of the two-way distributor is supplied to the first reception series of the integrated circuit and the other distribution output is supplied to the second reception series of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2004Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha KenwoodInventor: Koji Hirose
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Patent number: 7313378Abstract: An automatic gain control provides for enhanced acquisition and tracking of wireless signals. The wireless signals may include signals using electrostatic fields, magnetic fields, or electromagnetic fields. In an embodiment, wireless signals are provided as radio frequency signals. The automatic gain control design is intended to quickly acquire new incoming information in a wireless signal. A control unit regulates the automatic gain control to manage the acquisition and gain of the wireless signal based on a transmission protocol. The automatic gain control adjusts the gain for the wireless signal to a minimal level required for detection for a preprogrammed amount of time, at the same time minimizing unwanted background noise from interfering with the data packet. When the communication session is concluded, the automatic gain control can be released allowing increased sensitivity in preparation of the next transmission.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: John David Terry
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Patent number: 7313377Abstract: A circuit includes one or more first amplifiers operable to amplify an incoming signal to produce an amplified incoming signal. The incoming signal is associated with a desired signal. The circuit also includes a controller. In response to the amplified incoming signal exceeding a first threshold and the desired signal not exceeding a second threshold, the controller is operable to allow one or more second amplifiers to amplify the incoming signal and/or increase a current supplied to the one or more first amplifiers.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: RF Monolithics, Inc.Inventor: Robert J. Kansy
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Patent number: 7305218Abstract: An RF switch is disclosed. Power of an amplifier installed in an RF switch of a TV receiver is adjusted by using a Schmitt trigger circuit. If an output voltage of an RF automatic gain controller of a tuner is greater than a pre-set upper limit threshold value, the amplifier is turned on, whereas if an output voltage of an RF automatic gain controller of a tuner is smaller than a pre-set lower limit threshold value, the amplifier is turned off. Thus, a signal distortion phenomenon that may occur when an infinitesimal signal, a strong signal and several signals with high power levels are adjacent to each other can be avoided, so a performance of a receiving unit is improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Jeong-Pil Yun
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Patent number: 7299021Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for operating a RF receiver. The method executes, during operation of the RF receiver, by periodically determining existing RF receiver operational conditions; determining RF receiver performance requirements based at least in part on the determined existing RF receiver operational conditions; and by allocating power consumption between RF receiver functional blocks in accordance with the determined RF receiver performance requirements and in accordance with a behavior model of at least one of the RF receiver as a whole and individual functional blocks of the RF receiver. The method may also monitor the resulting RF receiver signal quality to determine if allocation of power consumption has resulted in an optimum allocation of the power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventors: Aarno Pārssinen, Pauli Seppinen, Jussi Vepsäläinen, Mikael Gustafsson, Miikka Hämäläinen
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Patent number: 7295820Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit has an automatic gain controlled amplifier connected in series with a DC blocking capacitor. A reference DC voltage is selectively applied to an input of the automatic gain controlled amplifier and to an output of the DC blocking capacitor output so as to cause the DC blocking capacitor to store a charge proportional to a DC voltage offset introduced by the controllable gain amplifier. The selectively application of the reference DC voltage is momentarily applied for a duration of less than about 1 microsecond and preferably about 0.4 microseconds. The AGC circuit, including both the amplifier and capacitor, are fabricated as an integrated circuit device.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2004Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Synad Technologies LimitedInventor: Hassan Shafeeu
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Patent number: 7283797Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method improve the dynamic range of a receiver in the presence of a narrowband interfering signal. An error rate of a received signal is computed, and the input intercept point of a low noise amplifier in the receiver is adjusted based on the error rate. The transmit power level is detected, and the input intercept point is adjusted based also on the transmit power level. The received signal strength is also detected, and the gain of the low noise amplifier is adjusted based on the received signal strength. In this manner, the effect of crossmodulation on the received signal is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1998Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Ericsson Inc.Inventor: John G. Freed
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Patent number: 7277685Abstract: A method includes amplifying the plurality of received signals, generating a plurality of time domain samples of the amplified signals with at least an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), determining at least a candidate power according to root-mean-square (RMS) powers of a first group of symbols received at the receiver antennas, and setting the gain of the amplifier according to a selected candidate power with the processor. The received RMS power for one antenna is determined as the square root of the averaged product of each received symbol and its complex conjugate for all symbols of the first group. The candidate power can be determined considering a subgroup of antennas using an RMS value, an arithmetical mean value, or a geometric mean value of this subgroup.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.Inventors: Der-Zheng Liu, Shan-An Yang, Kuang-Yu Yen
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Patent number: 7263143Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method which statistically determines when regularly occurring interference events of a predictable duration will occur, for example radar pulses and dynamically adjusts an automatic gain control (AGC) for RF data transmissions accordingly. The repetition rate and width of radar pulses are regular. By averaging and watching for correlations, the present AGC identifies the pulse rate and pulse widths and over a fairly short period of time predicts when the next pulse is coming. When the next pulse occurs, the AGC is adjusted to react accordingly. The AGC can raise or lower gain levels for the duration of the pulse; or ignore the pulse, if it is of a very short duration, so that the AGC level will coast through the event.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2001Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Adaptix, Inc.Inventors: Bruce C. Rothaar, Jerry Prismantas, Randy J. Karr, Jean-Francois Grenon, Heinz Lycklama a'Nyeholt
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Patent number: 7257178Abstract: A base band circuit of a receiver and a low cut-off frequency control means can quickly converge transition state due to gain fluctuation with setting a low cut-off frequency of a high-pass filter as low as possible. The base band circuit of a receiver has a variable amplifier variably amplifying a base band signal depending upon a gain control signal, a high-pass filter provided in a path of the base band signal, and a controller detecting variation magnitude of the gain control signal and controlling variation of a low cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter means depending upon the detected variation magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Masaki Ichihara
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Patent number: 7248847Abstract: Accordingly, a system and method are provided for adaptively controlling amplification in a wireless communications device receiver. The method comprises: receiving a signal with a variable signal strength; amplifying the received signal in response to the signal strength, to supply an amplified signal. More specifically, amplifying the received signal in response to signal strength includes selecting a gain state in response to a plurality of signal strength switch point. The method further comprises: measuring signal quality; measuring signal energy; and, modifying a relationship between receiver performance and amplified signal strength, in response to the measured signal quality and measured signal energy. Other aspects of the method comprise processing the amplified signal, so that a processed signal quality and processed signal energy can be measured.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corp.Inventors: Ray Wallace, Ed Corn
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Patent number: 7242915Abstract: A Radio Frequency (RF) receiver includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a mixer coupled to the output of the LNA. The gain of the LNA is adjusted to maximize signal-to-noise ratio of the mixer and to force the mixer to operate well within its linear region when an intermodulation interference component is present. The RF receiver includes a first received signal strength indicator (RSSI_A) coupled to the output of the mixer that measures the strength of the wideband signal at that point. A second received signal strength indicator (RSSI_B) couples after the BPF and measures the strength of the narrowband signal. The LNA gain is set based upon these signal strengths. LNA gain is determined during a guard period preceding an intended time slot of a current frame and during a guard period following an intended time slot of a prior frame. The lesser of these two LNA gains is used for the intended time slot of the current frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Hong Shi
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Patent number: 7218905Abstract: A receiver front end is provided with a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a linearity on demand (LOD) circuit, and a gain calibration device. The LOD circuit provides current to the LNA depending on linearity requirements. The gain calibration device monitors the amount of current provided by the LOD circuit to the LNA and provides signals to help compensate for variations in the LNA's gain due to the variations in the current supplied to the LNA by the LOD circuit. The compensation signals may be used to adjust the gain of a variable-gain amplifier, or may comprise compensation parameters usable by a digital signal processor, to compensate for the gain variations.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Alyosha C. Molnar, Rahul Magoon, Keith J. Rampmeier
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Patent number: 7215936Abstract: An improved low-cost super-regenerative receiver includes sampling phase-locked loop. Phase sampling is controlled by the quench signal (264). In the preferred embodiment, logic state HIGH to logic state LOW transition of the quench signal (264) defines the timing for the event of sampling. While the quench signal (264) is in logic state HIGH, a quenched oscillator is being turned ON and the oscillation amplitude builds-up until a steady-state level is reached. When the oscillator is turned OFF, effective quality factor of an electronically tunable resonator (206) is reduced, by increasing losses in the circuit, thus to ensure aperiodic (non-oscillatory) decay. The resonator's charge—an energy stored on internal reactive components of the resonator (206), which existed at the instant of turning the oscillations OFF, is transferred during precisely defined period of time to the charge holding capacitor (404) of a charge transfer circuit (216).Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Inventor: Bogdan Sadowski
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Patent number: 7194244Abstract: A wireless communication receiver that is able to lessen the effect of noise that accompanies gain change by programmable gain amplifiers. The receiver includes an AGC controller which controls the timing at which the programmable gain amplifiers make gain change, using a terminal counter and a sequencer. The receiver prevents gain change noise signals during the reception of control signals and other signals that are susceptible to noise. By the timing control feature, the programmable gain amplifiers make gain change while reducing noise impact.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Renesas Technology CorporationInventors: Yukinori Akamine, Hisayoshi Kajiwara, Satoshi Tanaka, Takashi Yano, Hirotake Ishii, Akio Yamamoto, Kazuaki Hori, Kazuhiko Hikasa
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Patent number: 7184730Abstract: An automatic gain control system (100) and methods thereof for a receiver for providing a wide range of continuous gain control has been discussed. The AGC includes an input stage (120) for providing an indication of a strength of a received signal; an attenuator stage (107) operable to switch a fixed amount of attenuation for the received signal; a variable attenuator (109) to provide a variable amount of attenuation for said received signal, and a controller (135) responsive to said indication for providing a variable control signal (145) to the variable attenuator; wherein the controller concurrently changes the variable control signal to change in the opposite direction the variable amount of attenuation by approximately the fixed amount of attenuation whenever the attenuator stage is switched, thereby extending the range of continuous gain control beyond the range of the variable attenuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: James David Hughes, Lynn R. Freytag, John Richard Oakley
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Patent number: 7171185Abstract: A determining section (18) and gain variation amount detecting section (9) detect a period having a possibility of a DC-component offset in an internal circuit of a direct conversion receiver increasing beyond an allowable value due to AGC operation, and during the period, a cut-off frequency of each of high-pass filters (12a to 12d) is set at a frequency higher than that in general operation, thereby rapidly converging transient responses of signals passed through the high-pass filters, while controlling precisely operation timings of reception power measuring section (16), gain calculating section (22), gain control section (23) and circuit power supply control section (24) composing an AGC loop, whereby the DC offset is prevented from increasing and stable circuit operation is assured. It is thereby possible to achieve further reductions in size and power consumption of a CDMA receiver using the direct conversion receiver.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidenori Matsumoto, Toshio Obara
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Patent number: 7171179Abstract: A method for adjusting a received signal strength indication (RSSI) begins by obtaining a first RSSI value of a first signal, wherein the first signal has a known first power level. The method continues when the first RSSI value does not substantially correspond to the known first power level by adjusting an RSSI intercept value of an RSSI curve until the first RSSI value substantially corresponds to the known first power level. The method continues by obtaining a second RSSI value of a second signal, wherein the second signal has a known second power level. The method continues when second RSSI value does not substantially correspond to the known second power level by adjusting slope of the RSSI curve until the second RSSI value substantially corresponds to the known second power level.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Zhmin Zhou
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Patent number: 7158766Abstract: A radio transceiver encompasses an antenna unit configured to convert the electric wave to the electric signal, a receiver configure to generate the compensation current supplied to load having an output capacity based on the electric signal and the second in-phase signal of an in-phase, a transmitter configured to transmit the signal, and a baseband circuit configured to transmit and to receive of the signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Teruo Imayama, Tsuneo Suzuki
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Patent number: 7155185Abstract: Apparatus and methods for eliminating DC offset in a wireless communication device operable on a continuous basis or on a sampled basis. In a receive channel, the output of a forward variable gain amplifier is fed back to an RC circuit to charge the capacitor (C) to a voltage dependent on the DC offset in the variable gain amplifier output. The voltage on the capacitor is amplified and summed with the input to the variable gain amplifier. The RC circuit is configured to provide a high gain feedback at DC and very low frequencies, but very low gain at signal frequencies. Preferably the output of the forward variable gain amplifier is fed back to the RC circuit with a gain that is inversely proportional to the forward gain. Disconnection of the capacitor and feedback of the capacitor voltage provides sampled operation. Various embellishments and sample applications are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Theta Microelectronics, Inc.Inventor: Spyros Pipilos
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Patent number: 7120410Abstract: A Radio Frequency (RF) receiver includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a mixer coupled to the output of the LNA. The gain of the LNA is adjusted to maximize signal-to-noise ratio of the mixer and to force the mixer to operate well within its linear region when an intermodulation interference component is present. The RF receiver includes a first received signal strength indicator (RSSI_A) coupled to the output of the mixer that measures the strength of the wideband signal at that point. A second received signal strength indicator (RSSI_B) couples after the BPF and measures the strength of the narrowband signal. The LNA gain is set based upon these signal strengths. By altering the gain of the LNA by one step and measuring the difference between a prior RSSI_B reading and a subsequent RSSI_B? reading will indicate whether intermodulation interference is present.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Hong Shi
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Patent number: 7116958Abstract: The use of wideband or software defined radio is attractive in terms of cost reduction since it allows re-use of base stations for different transmission modes. However, wideband radio also introduces the problem of how to deal with high level interfering signals. Presently, such signals saturate parts of the receive circuit—typically the ADC. By detecting interference and determining its frequency, it is possible to tune a bandpass or bandpass with notch filter, to take the interfering signal out of the reception band of the receiver thereby taking the ADC out of saturation whilst retaining the ability to resolve low level signals.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Nortel Networks LimitedInventors: David A. Brown, William R. Kirkland, Steve A. Beaudin
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Patent number: 7116955Abstract: An AGC circuit includes both wide-band and narrow-band VGAs. Two power monitors monitor the power level of the two VGAs. Based upon the signals provided by the power monitors, the AGC circuit derives two error terms. The AGC circuit filters and combines the error terms to determine a desired adjustment to the total gain and a desired adjustment to the distribution of the gain between the wide-band VGA and the narrow-band VGA. The AGC circuit also minimizes the noise figure of the narrow-band VGA subject to linearity constraints.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: ATI Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Troy A. Schaffer, Samir N. Hulyalkar, Anand M. Shah
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Patent number: 7110736Abstract: A receiver portion of a radio includes an analog circuit for determining a peak amplitude in a way that eliminates or reduces the effects of frequency errors that are introduced by crystals within filters and other devices. A voltage follower and a current mirror in which a MOSFET coupled to an output node produces a voltage across its gate to source terminals whose value is a function of a sum of the gate to source voltages of two MOSFET devices that receive a logarithm of an I modulated channel and a logarithm of a Q modulated channel, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2005Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Hooman Darabi
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Patent number: 7110734Abstract: This invention describes how to quickly cancel DC offsets that are present in the two quadrature paths of a zero intermediate frequency transceiver. Previously known techniques are not suitable for the 5 GHz WLAN standards because of the very short transmit to receive turn around times and extraordinarily large dc offsets in these systems. This invention solves the above problems. The present invention uses both AC and DC coupling along with automatic gain control techniques to remove unwanted DC offsets within an acceptable time period. The invention further uses a digital signal processor to estimate and subtract out the DC offset errors using time averaged signals. The digital signal processing circuit is capable of further AC filtering and Analog to Digital conversions.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2002Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products Inc.Inventor: Rishi Mohindra