Specified Stage (e.g., Mixer, Amplifier, Or Demodulator) Patents (Class 455/293)
  • Patent number: 8467760
    Abstract: Embodiments of a SAW-less RF receiver front-end that includes a frequency translated notch filter (FTNF) are presented. An FTNF includes a passive mixer and a baseband impedance. The baseband impedance includes capacitors that form a low-Q band-stop filter. The passive mixer is configured to translate the baseband impedance to a higher frequency. The translated baseband impedance forms a high-Q notch filter and is presented at the input of the FTNF. The FTNF can be fully integrated in CMOS IC technology (or others, e.g., Bipolar, BiCMOS, and SiGe) and applied in wireless receiver systems including EDGE/GSM, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Bluetooth, and wireless LANs (e.g., IEEE 802.11). In addition, embodiments of a generalized FTNF for wideband applications are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmad Mirzaei, Hooman Darabi
  • Patent number: 8463200
    Abstract: In a wireless communication apparatus, when a first switch electrically connects a second antenna to an impedance matching circuit and a second switch electrically connects a first antenna to a reception circuit, a frequency signal output from an oscillator of the reception circuit is received by the second antenna and applied to the impedance matching circuit. Then, a controller controls the impedance of the impedance matching circuit so as to bring a RSSI voltage output from a signal strength detection circuit of the reception circuit into agreement with a reference RSSI voltage, thereby bringing the reference frequency of the first antenna into agreement with a reference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kakuya, Akira Takaoka, Munenori Matsumoto, Tomotsugu Sekine
  • Patent number: 8456252
    Abstract: A dual in-situ mixing approach for extended tuning range of resonators. In one embodiment, a dual in-situ mixing device tunes an input radio-frequency (RF) signal using a first mixer, a resonator body, and a second mixer. In one embodiment, the first mixer is coupled to receive the input RF signal and a local oscillator signal. The resonator body receives the output of the first mixer, and the second mixer is coupled to receive the output of the resonator body and the local oscillator signal to provide a tuned output RF signal as a function of the frequency of local oscillator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Emmanuel P. Quevy
  • Patent number: 8447259
    Abstract: A mode-switching LNA generally includes an input unit, an output unit and a bias voltage generator. The input unit amplifies an input signal to generate an amplified signal. The output unit receives the amplified signal from the input unit and operates either in an oscillation mode or in an amplification mode in response to a control signal to generate an output signal having a center frequency equal to a target frequency. The control signal indicates whether the center frequency of the output signal is the same as the target frequency. The bias voltage generator provides an input bias voltage to the input unit in response to the control signal, where the input bias voltage includes a first bias voltage in the amplification mode and a second bias voltage in the oscillation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Jae-Hong Chang, Hyung-Ki Ahn, Hui-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 8442470
    Abstract: A system includes a weighting module, a mixer module, and a frequency selective impedance (FSI). The weighting module is configured to receive an input signal having an amplitude and to generate weighted outputs. Amplitudes of the weighted outputs have ratios relative to the amplitude of the input signal. The mixer module has switches configured to receive the weighted outputs and to generate a staircase waveform when the switches are clocked by clock signals. Amplitudes of steps of the staircase waveform are based on the ratios. The FSI is configured to communicate with the switches. The switches are configured to translate an impedance of the FSI centered on a first frequency to a second frequency determined by a frequency of the clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Cao-Thong Tu, David Cousinard, Frederic Declercq
  • Patent number: 8437723
    Abstract: There is provided an amplifier circuit including: a first transistor having a source thereof connected to an input port and having a gate thereof grounded; a second transistor having a gate thereof grounded; a first inductor provided between a drain of the first transistor and a source of the second transistor; and a second inductor provided between a drain of the second transistor and an output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaru Sato
  • Patent number: 8412134
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radio transmitter comprises a passive mixer that mixes the radio-frequency signal and a local oscillation signal, and outputs a mixed signal to the frequency response device, thereby shifting the frequency characteristic of the frequency response device to high frequency by a local oscillation frequency of the local oscillation signal and applying the frequency characteristic shifted to high frequency on the radio-frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Gaku Takemura
  • Patent number: 8406707
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer are provided. One embodiment is a system for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer. One such system comprises a local oscillator, a divide-by-N frequency divider, a divide-by-three frequency divider, and a harmonic rejection mixer. The local oscillator is configured to provide a reference frequency signal. The divide-by-N frequency divider is configured to divide the reference frequency signal by a value N and provide an output signal. The divide-by-three frequency divider is configured to receive the output signal of the divide-by-N frequency divider and divide the output signal into three phase-offset signals. The harmonic rejection mixer is configured to receive the three phase-offset signals and eliminate third frequency harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajasekhar Pullela, Dmitriy Rozenblit, Hamid Firouzkouhi
  • Patent number: 8401511
    Abstract: A current-mode wireless receiver includes a pre-processor to receive a voltage-mode input signal and output a current-mode pre-processed signal corresponding to the voltage-mode input signal, a mixer to perform frequency down-conversion upon the current-mode pre-processed signal to generate a current-mode frequency down-converted signal, and an amplifier to amplify the current-mode frequency down-converted signal to generate a current-mode output signal. A method of wireless reception is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Ying-Hsi Lin, Yi-Shao Chang
  • Patent number: 8391823
    Abstract: A method of setting filtering characteristic of a signal processing apparatus includes following steps: configuring a first signal processing path, included in the signal processing apparatus and electrically connected to a signal input port of the signal processing apparatus, to have a first filtering characteristic; and configuring a second signal processing path, included in the signal processing apparatus and electrically connected between the signal input port and the first signal processing path, to have a second filtering characteristic different from the first filtering characteristic. When an input signal received at the signal input port includes a first signal component with a first frequency and a second signal component with a second frequency, most of the first signal component is processed by the first signal processing path, and most of the second signal component is processed by the second signal processing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Ming-Da Tsai
  • Patent number: 8380153
    Abstract: A radio front end includes a transformer and an adjustable load. The transformer includes a first winding and a second winding, wherein the first winding is operably coupled to an antenna and the second winding coupled to at least one of a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier. The adjustable load is operably coupled to the second winding, wherein the adjustable load provides a first impedance based on a first impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a transmit mode and provides a second impedance based on a second impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a receive module such that impedance at the first winding is substantially similar in the transmit mode and in the receive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Rozieh Roufoogaran, Jesus Alfonso Castaneda
  • Patent number: 8374566
    Abstract: A wideband RF tracking filter having a set of parallel tuned resonator amplifier stages with a de-Q resistor for each subband is disclosed. The resonant amplifier contains programmable tuned LC tank impedance and an array of parallel voltage to current converters (V2I) for each subband. The de-Q resistor together with the array of V2I converters provides a flat gain over each subband and each of the other subbands covering different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Weinan Gao, Ray Rosik
  • Publication number: 20130017798
    Abstract: The present invention provides a universal demodulation circuit, a load modulation circuit and associated method, and an associated power transfer system, all suitable for use in wireless power transfer. A power receiver with signal strength detection is also provided. Modulation of the impedance of the demodulation circuit is determinable by detecting the amplitudes of a first and a second electrical parameter, thereby demodulating data communicated by modulation of the impedance of the demodulation circuit. The modulation circuit has a communication modulator to modulate the impedance of the modulation circuit, to a predetermined minimum modulation depth, thereby to communicate data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: CONVENIENTPOWER HK LTD.
    Inventors: Xun Liu, Wai Pong Choi
  • Publication number: 20120295564
    Abstract: A general receiver device with adaptive filter includes an antenna, a low noise amplifier, a bandpass tracking filter, a single-ended-to-differential converter unit, a mixer, and an adaptive filter. The antenna receives an RF signal. The low noise amplifier amplifies the RF signal for generating an amplified RF signal. The band-pass tracking filter filters the amplified RF signal for generating a filtered RF signal. The single-ended-to-differential converter unit converts the filtered RF signal into a differential RF signal. The mixer receives a differential local oscillation signal and uses the differential local oscillation signal to down-convert the differential RF signal into a differential IF signal. The adaptive filter filters the differential IF signal for generating a filtered differential IF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Liang CHEN
  • Patent number: 8315568
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving a first signal and generating an output signal indicative of radio data system (“RDS”) information. A receiver circuit of the invention can include mixer circuitry, lowpass filter circuitry, downsampler circuitry, and decoder circuitry. Advantageously, the receiver circuit can operate entirely within the digital domain, promoting interoperability with digital frequency modulation (“FM”) demodulator circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungwon Lee, Dimitrios-Alexandros Toumpakaris, Hui-Ling Lou, Chris Cheng-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20120281843
    Abstract: A receiving antenna circuit is arranged in a reactive near-field of a modulated magnetic induction signal and forms a narrow band-pass filter. The output of the antenna circuit is not subjected to any frequency translation prior to digitising, and the signal may nevertheless be digitised with low resolution, which radically reduces the power consumption of the receiving circuits. The reduction in power consumption is of several orders of magnitude, which allows implementation of such receiving circuits in battery-driven devices such as hearing devices without substantially affecting the battery life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Kåre Tais CHRISTENSEN, Rasmus Glarborg JENSEN
  • 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: 8301101
    Abstract: Embodiments of a frequency translated filter (FTF) are presented. An FTF includes a passive mixer and a baseband impedance. The baseband impedance includes a network of one or more passive components (e.g., resistors, inductors, and capacitors) that form a low-Q filter. The passive mixer is configured to translate the baseband impedance to a higher frequency. The translated baseband impedance forms a high-Q filter and is presented at the input of the FTF. The FTF can be fully integrated in CMOS IC technology (or others, e.g., Bipolar, BiCMOS, and SiGe) and applied in wireless receiver systems including GSM, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Bluetooth, and wireless LANs (e.g., IEEE 802.11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmad Mirzaei, Hooman Darabi, John Leete
  • Patent number: 8301099
    Abstract: Circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed for controlling multiple antenna receive paths in a wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the circuit may include a pair of receiving antennas, a first receive path including a VCO coupled to receive a PLL signal and a first mixer coupled to receive a first signal from the VCO and a signal from one of the antennas, and a second receive path integrated separately from the first receive path including a second mixer coupled to receive a second signal from the VCO and a signal from the other antenna. By utilizing the output of the VCO to tune the first and second mixers in the first and second receive paths to the same phase and frequency, control of the multiple antenna receive paths may be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Javor, Malcolm H. Smith, Nir Binshtok, Eran Segev
  • Patent number: 8290463
    Abstract: The present invention provides a universal demodulation circuit, a load modulation circuit and associated method, and an associated power transfer system, all suitable for use in wireless power transfer. A power receiver with signal strength detection is also provided. Modulation of the impedance of the demodulation circuit is determinable by detecting the amplitudes of a first and a second electrical parameter, thereby demodulating data communicated by modulation of the impedance of the demodulation circuit. The modulation circuit has a communication modulator to modulate the impedance of the modulation circuit, to a predetermined minimum modulation depth, thereby to communicate data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Ltd.
    Inventors: Xun Liu, Wai Pong Choi
  • Patent number: 8290100
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting and mitigating interference are described. A device (e.g., a cellular phone) senses interference levels and digitally reconstructs the expected interference in the received signal. The device may correlate the reconstructed interference with the received signal and determine interference in the received signal based on correlation results. The device may adjust the operation of one or more circuit blocks (e.g., a mixer, an LNA, etc.) in a receiver based on the detected interference in the received signal. Alternatively or additionally, the device may condition the digital interference to obtain conditioned reconstructed interference matching the interference in the received signal and may then subtract the conditioned interference from the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Christos Komninakis, Daniel F. Filipovic
  • Patent number: 8275332
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of switchable full step mixer unit cells, wherein each switchable full step unit cell is configured to, when the full step transceiver mixer unit cell is turned on, increase the gain experienced by an electronic signal by a full step increment, and wherein the step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature; and at least one switchable partial step mixer unit cell configured to, when the partial step transceiver mixer unit is turned on, increase the gain experienced by the electronic signal by a predetermined step increment less than that of a full step, and wherein the partial step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmad Mirzaei, Alireza Zolfaghari, Hooman Darabi
  • Patent number: 8270926
    Abstract: A radio front end includes a transformer and an adjustable load. The transformer includes a first winding and a second winding, wherein the first winding is operably coupled to an antenna and the second winding coupled to at least one of a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier. The adjustable load is operably coupled to the second winding, wherein the adjustable load provides a first impedance based on a first impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a transmit mode and provides a second impedance based on a second impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a receive module such that impedance at the first winding is substantially similar in the transmit mode and in the receive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Razieh Roufoogaran, Jesus Alfonso Castaneda
  • Patent number: 8260225
    Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The amplitude correction signal may also be split into two or more signals with different frequency ranges and provided respectively to different types of power supplies with different efficiencies to generate the adjusted supply voltage to the power amplifier. The phase control loop adjusts the phase of the input signal based upon a phase error signal indicating a phase difference between phases of the input signal and the output signal to reduce phase distortion generated by the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Quantance, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Vinayak, Serge Francois Drogi
  • Patent number: 8238862
    Abstract: Embodiments of a SAW-less RF receiver front-end that includes a frequency translated notch filter (FTNF) are presented. An FTNF includes a passive mixer and a baseband impedance. The baseband impedance includes capacitors that form a low-Q band-stop filter. The passive mixer is configured to translate the baseband impedance to a higher frequency. The translated baseband impedance forms a high-Q notch filter and is presented at the input of the FTNF. In an embodiment, the capacitors are implemented using MOS capacitors. In another embodiment, the capacitors are partially formed from MOS capacitors and fringe capacitors. The FTNF can be fully integrated in CMOS IC technology (or others, e.g., Bipolar, BiCMOS, and SiGe) and applied in wireless receiver systems including EDGE/GSM, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Bluetooth, and wireless LANs (e.g., IEEE 802.11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmad Mirzaei, Hooman Darabi
  • Publication number: 20120178390
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radio transmitter comprises a passive mixer that mixes the radio-frequency signal and a local oscillation signal, and outputs a mixed signal to the frequency response device, thereby shifting the frequency characteristic of the frequency response device to high frequency by a local oscillation frequency of the local oscillation signal and applying the frequency characteristic shifted to high frequency on the radio-frequency signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Gaku Takemura
  • Publication number: 20120171980
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a radio receiver comprising a radio-frequency amplifier and a radio-frequency filter is described. The amplifier receives radio-frequency signals from an antenna, the filter is connected to the amplifier output, and the output of the filter is provided to a processing stage of the receiver. The amplifier comprises an amplifying stage controlled by a radio-frequency input signal and a signal fed back from the filter. The amplifier input impedance is substantially matched to the antenna impedance at a frequency band of interest. The signal fed back from the filter providing attenuation of signals outside the frequency band of interest at the amplifier input. The filter comprises one or more filter components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventors: Pete Sivonen, Jonne Riekki, Jouni Kaukovuori, Sami Vilhonen, Jarkko Jussila
  • Patent number: 8199863
    Abstract: The multiple-antenna space multiplexing system using enhancement signal detection comprising: a code modulation module for coding and modulating bit information; a signal transmission module for transmitting the modulated signals; a signal reception module for receiving the signals; a signal form transform module for transforming form of a channel matrix H and the received signal vector r; a signal detection module for detecting the received signals; a signal reconstruction module for reconstructing the detection results of in the signal detection module, and obtaining a detected signal; a demodulation decoding module for demodulating and decoding the output of the signal reconstruction module, and outputting bit information. Compared with the conventional detection methods, the system performance is improved in considering the realization complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center
    Inventors: Peng Chen, Young-Hak Kim
  • Publication number: 20120142300
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to multiband receivers that include at least one divider unit having a divisor that is other-than-two. For example, in some embodiments the divisor is an odd integer (e.g., three). Such divisors allow oscillators for respective receiver subunits in a multi-band receiver to have frequencies that are sufficiently different from one another so as to limit cross-talk interference there between, even when the receiver subunits are concurrently receiving data on adjacent channels. To facilitate this other-than-two divisor, a phase error compensation block is often used to compensate for the effects of using the other-than-two divisor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Herzinger, Volker Neubauer
  • Patent number: 8195119
    Abstract: Techniques for designing a switchable amplifier are described. In one aspect, a switchable amplifier including a core amplifier circuit configured to selectively enable one or more parallel input transistor pairs is described. The core amplifier circuit comprises a permanently enabled input transistor pair. In another aspect, a device operable between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation comprising a receiver logic circuit for selectably enabling and disabling a plurality of input transistor pairs within a switchable amplifier is described where the switchable amplifier also includes a core amplifier circuit coupled to the receiver logic circuit for selectably enabling and disabling a transistor pair therein. The described switchable amplifiers result in the ability to provide varying amplifier performance characteristics based upon the current mode of operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Marco Cassia, Aleksandar M. Tasic
  • Patent number: 8195116
    Abstract: Receiving circuitry having a plurality of amplifiers coupled in series, a first of the amplifiers receiving an input signal and each of the amplifiers outputting an amplified signal; a plurality of comparators each coupled to the output of one of the amplifiers and having an input for receiving the amplified signal; signal identification circuitry coupled to the outputs of the comparators and arranged to determine whether the outputs of the comparators validly represent data; and signal selection circuitry arranged to select the best signal originating from the comparators based on the validity of the outputs of the comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Sirito-Olivier, Pietro Calo, Mario Chiricosia
  • Patent number: 8180313
    Abstract: Provided are a mixer and a transceiver having the mixer. The mixer includes: an local oscillation (LO) differential signal generator converting an input LO signal into a differential signal; and a mixing unit receiving the LO differential signal as a first input and a first signal having a first frequency as a second input and performing differential amplification on the LO differential signal and the first signal to output a second signal having a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Bong-Su Kim, Woo Jin Byun, Kwang Seon Kim, Min Soo Kang, Tae Jin Chung, Myung Sun Song
  • Patent number: 8170518
    Abstract: Circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed for controlling multiple antenna receive paths in a wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the circuit may include a pair of receiving antennas, a first receive path including a VCO coupled to receive a PLL signal and a first mixer coupled to receive a first signal from the VCO and a signal from one of the antennas, and a second receive path integrated separately from the first receive path including a second mixer coupled to receive a second signal from the VCO and a signal from the other antenna. By utilizing the output of the VCO to tune the first and second mixers in the first and second receive paths to the same phase and frequency, control of the multiple antenna receive paths may be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Javor, Malcolm H. Smith, Nir Binshtok, Eran Segev
  • Patent number: 8165538
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer are provided. One embodiment is a system for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer. One such system comprises a local oscillator, a divide-by-N frequency divider, a divide-by-three frequency divider, and a harmonic rejection mixer. The local oscillator is configured to provide a reference frequency signal. The divide-by-N frequency divider is configured to divide the reference frequency signal by a value N and provide an output signal. The divide-by-three frequency divider is configured to receive the output signal of the divide-by-N frequency divider and divide the output signal into three phase-offset signals. The harmonic rejection mixer is configured to receive the three phase-offset signals and eliminate third frequency harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajasekhar Pullela, Dmitriy Rozenblit, Hamid Firouzkouhi
  • Publication number: 20120094625
    Abstract: A method for detecting unauthorised radio communications devices, the method including the steps of filtering received radio frequency signals into desired signals having a frequency band characteristic of an unauthorised radio communications device and undesired signals having a different frequency band characteristic of an authorised radio communications device, comparing respective levels of the desired and undesired signals with respective predetermined threshold levels, and generating detection signals indicative of the presence of the unauthorised radio communications device only if the desired signals exceed their predetermined threshold level and the undesired signals do not exceed their predetermined threshold level, thereby passively discriminating between the authorised and unauthorised radio communications devices, and interference therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Compucat Research Pty Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Worley, Kathryn Maureen Devoy
  • Patent number: 8155618
    Abstract: A waveform shaping circuit wave-shapes a demodulated signal after FM demodulation to generate a binary value. A smoothing circuit smoothes the demodulated signal to generate a reference voltage. A comparator compares the reference voltage with the demodulated signal to output the binary value. A potential difference limiting circuit determines whether a potential difference between the demodulated signal and the reference voltage exceeds a set voltage. When the potential difference exceeds the set voltage, the potential difference is controlled to a value less than the set voltage. At the initiation of signal reception or after a jamming signal stops, the reference voltage follows the demodulated signal, thus allowing data reception to rapidly begin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Kato, Gorou Inoue, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 8135367
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for on-demand linearity in a receiver are provided. In this regard, in a receiver such as on-chip receiver, a strength of a signal received by one or more antennas may be measured and linearity of the receiver may be controlled in response to the measured signal strength. The linearity may be controlled based on signal strength of in-band and/or out-of-band signals and by configuring component(s) of the receiver. Exemplary components may comprise one or more filter, amplifier, mixer, analog-to-digital converter, feedback loop, and equalizer and/or post corrector. Linearity may be increased, by switching one or more feedback loops and/or an equalizers and/or post correctors into a signal path of the receiver. Power consumption may be decreased, at the expense of reduced linearity, by switching one or more feedback loops and/or an equalizers and/or post correctors out of a signal path of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8135375
    Abstract: A gain-controllable stage (CLN, A1, A2 . . . , A7, ACC) comprises a reactive signal divider (CLN) followed by an amplifier arrangement (A1, A2 . . . , A7, ACC). The reactive signal divider (CLN) may be in the form of, for example, a capacitive ladder network. The gain-controllable stage (CLN, A1, A2 . . . , A7, ACC) has a gain factor that depends on a signal division factor that the reactive signal divider (CLN) provides. The reactive signal divider (CLN) forms part of a filter (LC). The signal division factor is adjusted on the basis of a frequency (F) to which the receiver is tuned and a signal-strength indication (RS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Hubertus Antonius Brekelmans
  • Patent number: 8131245
    Abstract: A mixer for downconversion of RF signals includes at least one RF transistor (305); at least one switching pair (303) connected to the drain current (301) of the at least one RF transistor (305); and a common mode sensing component (300) configured to detect deviations in the common mode output of the switching pair (303) from a specified output; wherein the deviations modify the current of the at least one switching pair (303).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
    Inventors: Niels Christoffers, Nicolas Sornin
  • Patent number: 8121577
    Abstract: The present invention is a controllable input impedance RF mixer, which when fed from a high impedance source, such as a current source, provides a high quality factor (Q) impedance response associated with an impedance peak. The high-Q impedance response may be used as a high-Q RF bandpass filter in a receive path upstream of down conversion, which may improve receiver selectivity and replace surface acoustic wave (SAW) or other RF filters. The present invention uses polyphase reactive circuitry, such as capacitive elements, coupled to the down conversion outputs of an RF mixer. The RF mixer mixes RF input signals with local oscillator signals to translate the impedance of the polyphase reactive circuitry into the RF input impedance of the RF mixer. The RF input impedance includes at least one impedance peak. The local oscillator signals are non-overlapping to maximize the energy transferred to the polyphase reactive circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Gregory McKay
  • Patent number: 8099050
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving a first signal and generating an output signal indicative of radio data system (“RDS”) information. A receiver circuit of the invention can include mixer circuitry, lowpass filter circuitry, downsampler circuitry, and decoder circuitry. Advantageously, the receiver circuit can operate entirely within the digital domain, promoting interoperability with digital frequency modulation (“FM”) demodulator circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungwon Lee, Dimitrios-Alexandros Toumpakaris, Hui-Ling Lou, Chris Cheng-Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 8095096
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for a receiving station, such as the receive part of a mobile station, that has diversity antennas. The receiving station includes both legacy demodulators and a diversity demodulator. Calculations are made to determine signal indicia associated with the signal energy detected at the diversity antennas. Responsive to the signal indicia, selection is made as to whether to utilize demodulation data, demodulated pursuant to a diversity demodulation technique or pursuant to a legacy demodulation technique. As the characteristics of received signals change, reselection of the demodulation is correspondingly made, such as on a frame-by-frame basis of frame-formatted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Johanna Dwyer, Huan Wu, Sean Simmons, Mark Pecen
  • Patent number: 8086208
    Abstract: A passive wireless receiver to receive an input signal and passively process the input signal to generate an output signal. An embodiment of the receiver includes an input circuit, a dynamic switching circuit, and a switch signal generator. The input circuit is configured to receive an input signal and produce a first output signal. The input circuit includes a passive network configured to condition the input signal. The dynamic switching circuit is configured to perform frequency translation on the first output signal. The switch signal generator is configured to drive the dynamic switching circuit to activate and deactivate the dynamic switching circuit at a sampling frequency that is controlled and stabilized by a frequency control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Passif Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Benjamin Walter Cook, Axel Dominique Berny
  • Patent number: 8081937
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of switchable full step mixer unit cells, wherein each switchable full step unit cell is configured to, when the full step transceiver mixer unit cell is turned on, increase the gain experienced by an electronic signal by a full step increment, and wherein the step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature; and at least one switchable partial step mixer unit cell configured to, when the partial step transceiver mixer unit is turned on, increase the gain experienced by the electronic signal by a predetermined step increment less than that of a full step, and wherein the partial step increment is substantially constant regardless of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmad Mirzaei, Alireza Zolfaghari, Hooman Darabi
  • Publication number: 20110294453
    Abstract: A method for signal processing includes distributing an analog input signal to a plurality of processing channels. In each processing channel, the input signal is mixed with a respective periodic waveform including multiple spectral lines, so as to produce a respective baseband signal in which multiple spectral slices of the input signal are superimposed on one another. The baseband signal produced in each of the processing channels is digitized, to produce a set of digital sample sequences that represent the input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: TECHNION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LTD.
    Inventors: Moshe Mishali, Yonina Eldar
  • Publication number: 20110294452
    Abstract: Even when an input is weak, an antenna amplifier device may achieve a high sensitivity while reducing a noise factor (NF). The antenna amplifier device includes an amplification circuit 7 for amplifying a high frequency signal received by an antenna A, and an NF matching circuit 5 provided between the amplification circuit 7 and the antenna A of which input impedance has a capacitance, the NF matching circuit 5 for switching the input impedance to the amplification circuit 7 in accordance with a reception frequency. The NF matching circuit 5 includes a plurality of coils having different inductances, and at least one switch SW for connecting one of the coils, selected in accordance with the reception frequency, between the antenna A and the amplification circuit 7. A step-up coil SC is interposed between the NF matching circuit 5 and the amplification circuit 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenji KAWAI, Kazuo TAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8058940
    Abstract: A dual in-situ mixing approach for extended tuning range of resonators. In one embodiment, a dual in-situ mixing device tunes an input radio-frequency (RF) signal using a first mixer, a resonator body, and a second mixer. In one embodiment, the first mixer is coupled to receive the input RF signal and a local oscillator signal. The resonator body receives the output of the first mixer, and the second mixer is coupled to receive the output of the resonator body and the local oscillator signal to provide a tuned output RF signal as a function of the frequency of local oscillator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Emmanuel P. Quevy
  • Patent number: 8060042
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a low frequency downmix signal including a multi channel signal, phase shift information and spatial information corresponding to parameter band of the low frequency downmix signal, generating the multi channel signal by applying the spatial information based on the parameter band to a whole frequency downmix signal, generating estimated phase shift information of a parameter band by using the phase shift information, and generating a phase shift multi channel signal by shifting a phase of the multi channel signal based on the phase shift information and the estimated phase shift information. Accordingly, it is able to efficiently reproduce a phase or delay difference, which is difficult to be efficiently reproduced by a decorrelator, in a manner of shifting a phase of a decoded audio or speech signal based on phase shift information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyen O. Oh, Yang Won Jung
  • Patent number: 8060025
    Abstract: A filter arrangement comprises a first impedance, a second impedance and a subtractor. The first impedance comprises a first connection connected to an input of the filter arrangement and has a first resonant frequency. The second impedance comprises a first connection likewise connected to the input of the filter arrangement and has a second resonant frequency which is higher than the first resonant frequency. The subtractor comprises a first input connected to a second connection of the first impedance, comprises a second input connected to a second connection of the second impedance, and comprises a first connection of the output connected to a first output of the filter arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Grigory Itkin, Nikolai Filimonov, Oleg Varlamov, Igor Chugunov, Viktor Gromorushkin
  • Patent number: 8055233
    Abstract: A high linearity mixer circuit includes a commutation network comprising four switches to provide an electrical coupling between a first pair of circuit nodes and a second pair of circuit nodes, whereas the coupling has two states and is controlled by a pair of complementary logical signals. The mixer circuit further comprises a first pair of current-sourcing devices coupled to the first pair of circuit nodes and a second pair of current-sourcing devices coupled to the second pair of circuit nodes. The mixer circuit further includes a pair of capacitors to provide AC coupling, either between the first pair of circuit nodes and a first external circuit, or between the second pair of circuit nodes and a second external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Hong Yean Hsieh, Chao-Cheng Lee, Chia-Liang Lin