With Particular Receiver Circuit Patents (Class 455/334)
  • Publication number: 20110136461
    Abstract: The functionality of smartphone applications may be extended to a basic phone, i.e., a phone lacking a particular smartphone capability, by providing a data synthesizer in the basic phone that synthesizers required data points. The data synthesizer may communicate with nearby smartphones to collect relevant data points such as location or motion data. Data points for the basic phone may be calculated from the collected data points. When an application on the basic phone requests data, a data provider proxy may retrieve a synthesized data point from the data synthesizer. In one example, a basic phone without a GPS or similar location module may execute a mapping application by averaging location data from nearby smartphones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Robert R. Hauser, Thomas T. Wheeler, Robert W. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20110135041
    Abstract: A procedure of receiving includes estimating a phase offset of a received signal and calculating one or more phase offsets which result in the estimated phase offset of the received signal and which have different phase rotation directions and/or different phase rotation amounts from one another; compensating for the phase offset of the received signal, using each of a plurality of phase offsets that are the estimated phase offset and the calculated phase offsets, and demodulating and decoding the plurality of compensated received signals; and selecting a decoding result that is the most likely to be the received signal among a plurality of results of the decoding corresponding one for each of the plurality of phase offsets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takato Ezaki, Dai Kimura
  • Patent number: 7957716
    Abstract: An embodiment of a baseband filter in a transmitter subsystem of a wireless device comprises an operational amplifier (op-amp), a pole circuit, a feedback capacitor, and an active device. The op-amp is adapted to produce an amplified signal that includes noise gain produced by the op-amp. The pole circuit is electrically coupled with an output terminal of the op-amp, and is adapted to receive the amplified signal and to attenuate the noise gain to produce a filtered, amplified signal. The feedback capacitor is electrically coupled between the first pole circuit and an input terminal of the op-amp, and is adapted to compensate for a phase shift produced by the pole circuit. The active device is electrically coupled with the pole circuit, and is adapted to amplify the filtered, amplified signal and to produce a baseband filtered output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Ganger, Niall Duncan, Michael L. Gomez, Christian J. Rotchford
  • Publication number: 20110130161
    Abstract: Provided are a terminal and a base station, and a frequency sensing method thereof. The terminal or the base station may filter a frequency band needing frequency sensing in the entire frequency band where the terminal or the base station may receive an input signal. It is possible to enhance a detection performance and rate of signals by applying frequency sensing to the filtered frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sang In CHO, Kyu-Min KANG, Heon Jin HONG
  • Patent number: 7953384
    Abstract: A wireless communication system includes: a filter; and a semiconductor chip including a signal processing integrated circuit having an amplifier, wherein a main surface of the semiconductor chip is provided with a plurality of electrode terminals along an edge portion thereof; wherein the amplifier has a transistor including a control electrode, a first electrode through which a signal is outputted, and a second electrode to which a voltage is applied; wherein the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode of the transistor are connected to the electrode terminals, respectively; and wherein none of wirings are arranged between the electrode terminals and placements of the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode, making space between the electrodes and the electrode terminals narrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kumiko Takikawa, Satoshi Tanaka, Yoshiyasu Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20110117871
    Abstract: A technique for processing radio packages is disclosed. In an embodiment, the processing of a radio package is divided into subtasks and results of the radio package processing are stored on a per-subtask basis. Because the processing of a radio package is divided into subtasks and because results of the processing are stored on a per-subtask basis, context switches can be made at the subtask level instead of at the task level. With the ability to perform context switches at the subtask level, the processing of radio packages can be scheduled in a more efficient manner and context switches can be made without losing processing results that have already been generated. In addition to storing the processing results on a per-subtask basis, in an embodiment, a processing pipeline is drained on a per-subtask basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Liangliang Hu, Yanmeng Sun
  • Publication number: 20110110453
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling the rectification of deteriorated channel conditions on a communication link are described. In particular, the methods and systems can employ mechanisms that prioritize beams in accordance with signal quality measures, direction of departures of transmission beams and/or direction of arrivals of reception beams to address variable channel conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayan Prasad, Kishore Ramachandran, Sampath Rangarajan
  • Publication number: 20110111722
    Abstract: Provided is an identification signal analyzing apparatus and method for compensating power of a channel profile occurring at a conventional identification signal analyzing apparatus by using a power compensation. The identification signal analyzing apparatus includes: an identification signal generator for generating an identification signal identical to a known identification signal inserted by a transmission device; a partial correlator for calculating a correlation value between a received signal including the known identification signal inserted by the transmission device and the identification signal generated by the identification signal generator through a partial correlation; a power compensator for compensating power of the correlation value calculated by the partial correlator; and a channel profile extractor for extracting a channel profile from the correlation value compensated by the power compensator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Jae-Young Lee, Sung-Ik Park, Ho-Min Eum, Jae-Hyun Seo, Heung-Mook Kim, Jong-Soo Lim, Soo-In Lee
  • Publication number: 20110105167
    Abstract: The field of wireless communications is related, especially the technique of transmitting uplink sounding reference signal (SRS) by a mobile terminal with multiple transmission antennas is related. A method for receiving uplink sounding reference signal includes the following steps: receiving the SRS signals, which are respectively transmitted from respective radio frequency transmission modules of the mobile terminal according to the respectively allocated Transmission Comb (TC) values and Cyclic Shift (CS) values when the transmission period arrives, wherein TC values and/or CS values allocated for any two radio frequency transmission modules are different; determining the radio frequency transmission module corresponding to every received SRS signal according to the TC values and CS values respectively allocated for respective radio frequency transmission modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Xueming Pan, Shiqiang Suo, Deshan Miao, Yu Ding
  • Publication number: 20110105073
    Abstract: A method and mobile electronic device are provided which automatically adjust settings based on the environment of the mobile electronic device. The settings of the mobile electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ahmed E. Hassan, Denny Chiu, J.F. Sean Wilson
  • Patent number: 7937058
    Abstract: A digital tuning system (250) for changing a cutoff frequency of an analog filter (132) includes digital synthesizers (292 and 294) for producing a two-tone calibration signal (196) applied to an input of the filter after a quality factor of the filter is increased. The filter includes at least one R/C circuit with two resistors (304 and 306) for changing the quality factor and arrays (308 and 310) of capacitors for changing the cutoff frequency. The amplitude of the magnitude responses (409 and 411) of the filter to each tone (405 and 407) is measured by a two discrete Fourier transform single-frequency bin power detection circuits (253 and 254) while the filter is sequenced through a plurality of capacitance settings. An optimal capacitance for the R/C circuit is selected by comparing, to a pre-selected value, a difference between the responses of the filter to each tone, for each capacitance setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahibur Rahman, John J. Parkes, Jr., James J. Riches
  • Patent number: 7937059
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110098015
    Abstract: Synchronization for achieving low power battery operation of a vehicle locating unit in a stolen vehicle recovery system whose radio receiver receives periodic transmissions, includes receiving periodic transmissions; turning on a radio receiver for a limited time to detect an expected message; if an expected message is not found, turning off the receiver and turning it on again after a time asynchronous with the transmission period; and after finding an expected message, waiting for the period of the transmissions less the length of an expected message and then looking for a synchronization symbol in the expected message and synchronizing subsequent actuation of the receiver using that synchronization symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Goodwin, James Justice, Jesse Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7933562
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a baseband processing module, a configurable receiver section, a configurable transmitter section and a configurable antenna assembly. The baseband processing module converts outbound data into an outbound symbol stream, converts an inbound symbol stream into inbound data and generates a transmit adjust signal and a receive adjust signal. The receiver section converts an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream. The transmitter section converts the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal. The antenna assembly receives the inbound RF signal via a first antenna structure and transmits the outbound RF signal via a second antenna structure. The first antenna structure and/or the configurable receiver section adjusts phase and/or amplitude of the inbound RF signal in accordance with the receive adjust signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza Reza Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7929936
    Abstract: A receiver arrangement with AC coupling is specified in which a filter arrangement (3) is provided in a baseband signal processing chain in a homodyne receiver and can be switched between at least two high-pass filter cut-off frequencies. In this case, a brief changeover is made to a higher cut-off frequency when varying the gain of a low-noise baseband amplifier (2), for example when the received field strength changes, during the reception mode. The described arrangement allows changes to be carried out to the gain in baseband during the normal reception mode. The present receiver is accordingly suitable for code division multiple access methods, such as those which are provided in the UMTS Standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Bernd Adler, Dieter Pimingsdorfer, Harald Pretl, Werner Schelmbauer
  • Patent number: 7928814
    Abstract: A set top box is described including multiple tuners and an apparatus and method for controlling signal level. The apparatus includes a signal splitter for splitting signal power of a signal between an input and at least two outputs, a controller coupled to an output, and a circuit controlled by the controller and selectively coupled to the signal splitter for altering a signal transfer response characteristic of the signal. The method describes controlling the signal level of signals outputted by a signal splitter including determining a signal quality characteristic of one of the output signals and altering a signal response in the signal splitter in response to comparing the signal quality characteristic to a predetermined signal quality characteristic threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: David G. White, Brian David Bajgrowicz
  • Patent number: 7920652
    Abstract: To detect phase mismatches between in-phase and quadrature signals of a quadrature demodulator. The phase mismatches can be detected using the signals obtained by removing high frequency components of output of a multiplier by a low pass filter, the output being the product of the in-phase signals of which low frequency components are removed by a first high pass filter by the quadrature signals of which low frequency components are removed by a second high pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Hayase, Kazuyuki Hori
  • Publication number: 20110076980
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining environmental conditions associated with operation of a chip having multiple device types, accessing a table stored in the chip based on the determined environmental conditions, and dynamically operating the chip at a bias point accessed from the table based on the determined environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel J. Cooley
  • Patent number: 7916050
    Abstract: Previously, when designing receivers for radio frequency (RF) or wireless communications, designers chose between time-interleaved (TI) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for intermediate frequency architectures and dual channel ADCs for direct conversion architectures. Here, similarities between TI ADCs and dual channel ADC were recognized, and an ADC that has the capability of operating as a TI ADCs and dual channel ADC is provided. This allows designer to have greatly increased flexibility during the design process which can greatly reduce design costs, while also allowing the manufacturer of the ADC to realize a reduction in its operating costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Fernando A. Mujica, Charles K. Sestok, Zigang Yang
  • Publication number: 20110065398
    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 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Xun Liu, Wai Pong Choi
  • Patent number: 7907922
    Abstract: A receiver implemented without using a phase locked loop frequency synthesizer and a receiving method of a receiver implemented without using a phase locked loop frequency synthesizer are provided. The receiver includes a radio frequency (RF) receiving unit; a band-selecting unit; an RF amplifier; a local oscillation (LO) signal generator; a mixer; an IF amplifier; an analog to digital (A/D) converter; and a channel-selecting unit. The method includes passing a frequency band of a radio frequency (RF) signal received by an RF receiving unit; amplifying the passed RF signal; generating a local oscillation (LO) signal having a fixed frequency; mixing the LO signal with the amplified RF signal to lower the frequency of the amplified RF signal; outputting an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; amplifying the IF signal; converting the amplified IF signal into a digital signal; and selectively passing frequencies of the digital signal corresponding to a specific channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Lee, Joong-suk Park
  • Patent number: 7904049
    Abstract: A baseband processing module for use within a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver includes a downlink/uplink interface, TX processing components, a processor, memory, RX processing components, and a turbo decoding module. The RX processing components receive a baseband RX signal from the RF front end, produce a set of IR samples from the baseband RX signal, and transfer the set of IR samples to the memory. The turbo decoding module receives a set of IR samples from the memory, forms a turbo code word from the set of IR samples, turbo decodes the turbo code word to produce inbound data, and outputs the inbound data to the downlink/uplink interface. The turbo decoding module performs metric normalization based upon a chosen metric, performs de-rate matching on the set of IR samples, performs error detection operations, and extracts information from a MAC packet that it produces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark David Hahm, Li Fung Chang
  • Patent number: 7903762
    Abstract: A direct conversion multi-band TV tuner includes: a plurality of RF (radio frequency) paths for processing the RF signal and for generating a plurality of processed RF signals, respectively; and a TSC (tri-state chopper) based quadrature frequency converter for receiving one of said processed RF signals and converting the received processed RF signal into a in-phase baseband signal and a quadrature baseband signals; wherein the TSC based quadrature frequency converter operates in accordance with a first set of periodic three-state control signals and a second set of periodic three-state control signals that are approximately 90 degrees offset from the first set of periodic three-state control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Liang Lin
  • Publication number: 20110053548
    Abstract: An electrical circuit includes a first path including even-number inverters connected in series from a first node serving as an input side to a second node serving as an output side, a second path including even-number inverters connected in series from the second node serving as an input side to the first node serving as an output side, a latch circuit providing a connection between the first node and the second node such that a logical value of the first node and a logical value of the second node are opposite to each other, and one or more control signal paths to supply one or more control signals to the latch circuit to provide and sever a connection between the latch circuit and a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masafumi KONDOU
  • Patent number: 7899424
    Abstract: A method for reducing frequency glitches in a digital transceiver due to power amplifier input impedance variations. According to the method, the power amplifier is switched on after the end of a prior packet reception period and before a new packet transmission begins. Instead of ramping the power amplifier gain, the method ramps the modulation signals. As a consequence, any VCO frequency transients that may result from turning on the power amplifier have an opportunity to decay before the new packet transmission is initiated. This technique effectively isolates the transmitter power amplifier from the frequency synthesizer VCO to facilitate fast switching transceiver operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Rishi Mohindra
  • Patent number: 7899426
    Abstract: In a SAW-less receiver involving a passive mixer, novel degenerative impedance elements having substantial impedances are disposed in incoming signal paths between the differential signal output leads of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and the differential signal input leads of the passive mixer. The passive mixer outputs signals to a transimpedance amplifier and baseband filter (TIA). Providing the novel degenerative impedance elements decreases noise in the overall receiver as output from the TIA, with only minimal degradation of other receiver performance characteristics. In some examples, the passive mixer receives local oscillator signals having duty cycles of substantially less than fifty percent. In some examples, the degenerative impedance elements can have one of several impedances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Aleksandar Tasic, Junxiong Deng, Namsoo Kim
  • Publication number: 20110045768
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating a pencil beam using a plurality of small diameter dish antennas. A plurality of small diameter dish antennas are spatially arranged and driven by varying electronic signals in such a way that the plurality of small diameter dish antennas co-operatively produce a pencil beam in the direction of a distant object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Ampire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Arvind Vijay KEERTHI
  • Patent number: 7894785
    Abstract: An amplifier assembly and also a receiver including such an amplifier assembly is disclosed, wherein the amplifier includes a programming input for setting the gain thereof. The signal level at the output of the amplifier is compared with a reference level and a counter is incremented in a step-by-step fashion such that the gain in the amplifier is reduced for as long as the output level lies above the reference level. The amplifier assembly enables frequency-dependent received field strength fluctuations that occur in frequency hopping methods to be corrected in a manner dependent on the conditions in the current time slot. The assembly is also suitable for modulation methods that use a modulation with phase and amplitude variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Elmar Wagner
  • Patent number: 7886421
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit device having antenna conductors is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer with a plurality of integrated circuit components; forming a first antenna conductor on the surface of each integrated circuit component; forming a plurality of metal bumps above the first antenna conductor; coating an insulating layer to encapsulate the plurality of integrated circuit components and to cover the plurality of metal bumps; removing a portion of the insulating layer to expose a top portion of each metal bump; and forming a second antenna conductor on the insulating layer by screen printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mutual-Pak Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Lu-Chen Hwan, P. C. Chen, Yu-Lin Ma
  • Patent number: 7881685
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an automatic gain controller with an amplifier (10) having an amplifier output connected to a mixer (20) and a receiver signal strength indicator (100) connected to the amplifier output and to a first counter (60). The first counter (60) is adapted to produce a signal to control gain of the amplifier (10) and receives its input from the receiver signal strength indicator (100) which causes the first counter (60) to count up or down depending on the strength of the signal output from the amplifier (10). The automatic gain controller also includes a second counter (70) which is connected to an applications circuit and is adapted to produce a signal to control gain of the mixer (20). The second counter (70) receives its input from a gain control signal from the applications circuit (50) and also from the first counter (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Ricardo dos Santos Reis
  • Publication number: 20110021171
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to use sieving to reduce the number of hypotheses and the length of time for acquisition of GPS satellite signals. In sieving, hypothesis testing is performed after a short non-coherent integration duration on a first set of hypotheses. At the end of the non-coherent integration time, multiple candidate hypotheses having high likelihood of signal detection are identified. Further non-coherent integration of each candidate hypothesis is performed by using a tracking loop to remove Doppler frequency and code phase variations on the signal. In parallel, additional hypotheses testing is performed on a second set of hypotheses. At the end of the next non-coherent integration time, the best candidate hypotheses among the candidate hypotheses sieved from the first set of hypotheses running in the tracking loops and the candidate hypotheses from the second set of hypotheses are identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Sturza, Paul Underbrink
  • Patent number: 7877075
    Abstract: A single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a differential input circuit having a single-ended input. The differential input circuit is responsive to a single-ended input signal to generate first and second signals. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a passive tank circuit in communication between a reference voltage and the differential input circuit. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a mixer circuit in communication with the differential input circuit and responsive to the first and second signals and a second input signal to generate a differential mixer output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Jin, Lawrence Tse
  • Patent number: 7869785
    Abstract: A Method and Apparatus for Enhancing the Speed of Wideband Signal Search Systems provides a system that can perform hyper fast scanning for signals while at the same time provide very good phase noise performance. The method and apparatus provide a way to reduce costs by avoiding the expensive solutions employed by the unmodified prior systems. The method and apparatus have all of the abilities of standard wideband signal collection systems. Secondly the method and apparatus are able to automatically, and extremely quickly, control multiple VCO's in a finely coordinated tuning process. Thirdly, the method and apparatus still have very good phase noise performance, even though it has hyper fast tuning speeds. Fourthly, the preferred method and apparatus pipeline the digitization and tuning phases of the collection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7869784
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) circuit (100) as disclosed herein is fabricated on a substrate (204, 304) using integrated passive device (IPD) process technology. The RF circuit (100) includes an RF inductor (200, 300) and an integrated inductive RF coupler (202, 302) located proximate to the RF inductor (200, 300). The inductive RF coupler (202, 302), its output and grounding contact pads, and its transmission lines are fabricated on the same substrate (204, 304) using the same IPD process technology. The inductive RF coupler (202, 302) includes a coupling section (212, 306) that is either located inside or outside a spiral of the RF inductor (200, 300). The inductive RF coupler (202, 302) and the RF inductor (200, 300) are cooperatively configured to function as the windings of an RF transformer, thus achieving the desired coupling. The inductive RF coupler (202, 302) provides efficient and reproducible RF coupling without increasing the die footprint of the RF circuit (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Lianjun Liu
  • Publication number: 20100330948
    Abstract: A filter circuit enhances a deficient Q-value in a filter stage and buffers the filter stage from subsequent filter stages using a common active device. A filter circuit includes a first buffered filtering stage including a first Q-deficient filter stage to receive an input signal and a first Q-enhancement buffer stage. The first Q-enhancement buffer stage is coupled to the first Q-deficient filter stage, wherein the first Q-enhancement buffer stage includes a single active device to increase a Q-value of the first Q-deficient filter stage and isolate the first Q-deficient filter stage from any subsequent filter stage. A filtering method includes filtering an input signal in a first Q-deficient filter stage and enhancing a deficient Q-value of the first Q-deficient filter stage with an active device. The method further includes buffering the first Q-deficient filter stage from any subsequent filter stage with the active device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce Judson, Cong T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7860189
    Abstract: Disclosed are hybrid heterodyne transmitters and receivers for use in communications systems, or other systems, and the corresponding methods for hybrid heterodyne transmitting and receiving. A heterodyne receiver for converting a continuous time modulated signal to a discrete time digital baseband signal includes a sigma-delta modulator. The sigma-delta modulator is a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter constructed and arranged to receive a modulated signal at an RF carrier frequency and provide a quantized output at a first intermediate frequency. The heterodyne receiver may also include a digital mixer constructed and arranged to receive a data stream quantized by the sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter and receive a signal at a second mixing frequency. The digital mixer then provides digital signals representative of a baseband signal suitable for digital signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Intrinsix Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene M. Petilli, Brian Jadus, Clyde Washburn, John M. Alvermann
  • Publication number: 20100316167
    Abstract: A clock receiver (301) on an integrated circuit (202) includes a programmable AC voltage divider (502) for receiving, through an input capacitor (406), a clock signal (206) from a clock generator (204) off the integrated circuit and for outputting a modified signal that has a reduced voltage swing, an inverter (440) coupled to the programmable voltage divider, and a common mode setting circuit (506), coupled to an input and an output of the inverter. The common mode setting circuit sets and maintains a common mode at the input of the inverter in response to a voltage at the input of the inverter and a voltage at the output of the inverter. The strength of transistors in the common mode tracking circuit tracks the strength of transistors in the inverter such that the common mode at the input to the inverter tracks a trip point of the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinghai TANG, Hector SANCHEZ
  • Patent number: 7853234
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) front-end includes a plurality of power amplifier modules and a plurality of impedance matching circuits. Each of the plurality of impedance matching circuits includes an input connection and an output connection, wherein outputs of the plurality of power amplifier modules are coupled to corresponding input connections of the plurality of impedance matching circuits to provide a desired loading of the plurality of power amplifier modules and wherein the output connections of the plurality of impedance matching circuits are coupled together to add power of the plurality of power amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ali Afsahi
  • Patent number: 7848727
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) module includes a multilayer substrate having dielectric layers and metallization layers that include one or more circuit elements. The metallization layers are located between the dielectric layers. The RF module also includes a symmetric transmission input associated with the multilayer substrate, an RF element on the multilayer substrate to provide RF functionality, and a balun integrated in the substrate behind the symmetric transmission input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Epcos AG
    Inventors: Christian Block, Miguel Falagan, Isabel Gavela, Holger Fluhr
  • Patent number: 7848725
    Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) a phase detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, a controlled oscillator, and a feedback divider. The phase detector is coupled to produce a difference signal based on a difference between phase of a reference oscillation and phase of a feedback oscillation. The charge pump is coupled to convert the difference signal into an up-signal or a down signal. The loop filter coupled to filter the up signal or the down signal to produce a control signal. The controlled oscillator is coupled to generate an output oscillation based on the control signal. The feedback divider is coupled to generate the feedback oscillation from the output oscillation based on a divider value. The loop filter includes a first resistor-capacitor circuit and a second resistor-capacitor circuit. The first resistor-capacitor circuit is calibrated using a first calibration technique and the second resistor-capacitor circuit is calibrated using a second calibration technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alireza Zolfaghari, Hooman Darabi
  • Patent number: 7844243
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a receiver has two mux circuits, two receiver circuits, and a mixer. The muxes select first and second input signals for the receiver circuits. A p-type transistor in a transmission gate in each mux is connected (i) at its channel nodes between a pad and the mux output and (ii) to receive a control signal at its gate node. Control circuitry for the p-type transistor implements a threshold reduction filter that ensures that a maximum voltage level at the mux output is at least a threshold below the mux's power supply voltage. Based on first and second input signals, the first receiver circuit generates first and second intermediate signals, and the second receiver circuit generates third and fourth intermediate signals. The mixer circuit combines the intermediate signals to generate first and second output signals, wherein the first and second receiver circuits effectively operate over different ranges of common-mode voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Andrews, John Schadt
  • Patent number: 7844242
    Abstract: A wireless communication device includes an integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna system. The IC includes a processing module and a transceiver section. The processing module establishes a wireless communication protocol, converts outbound data into an outbound symbol stream, converts an inbound symbol stream into inbound data, and establishes operational parameters. The transceiver section converts an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream and converts the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal. The antenna system provides a plurality of antenna structures corresponding to the plurality of operational modes of the wireless communication device, wherein the antenna system provides one of the plurality of antenna structures in accordance with the operational parameters to transceive the inbound and outbound RF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20100296592
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit, a signal processing method and a recording medium suppressing occurrence of unnecessary waves are provided. A timing generation means which generates timing to select a signal of a predetermined local frequency in a set time period and not to select any signal of all local frequencies in a different set time period, and a plurality of switches which switch over a signal of the local frequency from each multiband generator to the transmission mixer by an instruction from the timing generation means are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Akio Tanaka, Kiyoshi Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20100297975
    Abstract: A signal processor for processing a receiving signal having a first usable frequency band and a second usable frequency band includes a first mixer for mixing the receiving signal with a first local oscillator signal, wherein a frequency of the first local oscillator signal is asymmetrical between the first usable frequency band and the second usable frequency band. The first mixer is implemented to obtain an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal, having a first signal portion representing a mixed image of the first usable frequency band, and having a second signal portion representing a mixed image of the second usable frequency band. The signal processor comprises a second mixer) for mixing the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal by using the second local oscillator signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Alfonso Carrera, Stefan Koehler, Guenter Rohmer
  • Patent number: 7838976
    Abstract: In inlets used for ID tags and the like, a defective connection between an integrated circuit part and an antenna is suppressed by improvement of tolerance for a bending or a pressing pressure. The integrated circuit part includes a semiconductor chip and a multilayer substrate having a concave portion. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the bottom of the concave portion. The multilayer substrate includes a connection electrode at the top surface and a connection electrode connected to the semiconductor chip on the bottom of the concave portion. The connection electrode on the bottom of the concave portion is connected to the connection electrode at the top surface by a penetration electrode inside a multilayer substrate. By such a configuration, the semiconductor chip is connected to the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yasuyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 7835714
    Abstract: A received low-frequency standard radio wave, which is an amplitude modulation signal, is converted to an intermediate frequency signal Sa, and is output to a detection circuit and an AGC circuit. The detection circuit and AGC circuit generates an RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 from the input intermediate frequency signal Sa, and controls an RF control circuit and IF control circuit by outputting the generated RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 to the RF control circuit and IF control circuit. By this a radio wave reception device can speed up AGC operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Someya
  • Patent number: 7831197
    Abstract: The invention proposes an LNB using two transposition frequencies chosen on either side of the reception band so as to obtain a transposition of supradyne type and a transposition of infradyne type according to the frequency used. This choice of transposition frequencies makes it possible to have an overlap zone in the middle of the reception band which is transposed with the aid of the two oscillation frequencies but at different frequencies. This makes it possible to choose between the two transpositions in the case where the frequency transposed with the aid of an oscillator corresponds to a particularly noisy frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Marc Louchkoff
  • Patent number: 7822401
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting and up-converting an electromagnetic signal. In embodiments, the invention operates by receiving an electromagnetic signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles of a carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In embodiments, up-conversion is accomplished by controlling a switch with an oscillating signal, the frequency of the oscillating signal being selected as a sub-harmonic of the desired output frequency. When the invention is being used in the frequency modulation or phase modulation implementations, the oscillating signal is modulated by an information signal before it causes the switch to gate a bias signal. The output of the switch is filtered, and the desired harmonic is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Michael J. Bultman, Robert W. Cook, Richard C. Looke, Charley D. Moses, Jr., Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7822403
    Abstract: A receiver has an offset application circuit for applying a known offset to an input signal, and a decision circuit for comparing the offset-applied input signal with a reference voltage. The level of the input signal is determined based on the known offset and on the result output from the decision circuit. With this configuration, a large common mode voltage can be eliminated in a circuit used for signal transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hirotaka Tamura
  • Patent number: 7817968
    Abstract: A transmitter and receiver circuit includes antennas for receiving high-frequency signals; a local oscillator for generating local oscillation signals; mixers connected to respective antennas for converting the frequency of the high-frequency signals from corresponding antennas in response to the high-frequency signals input from the local oscillator; and a switch for inputting the local oscillation signals generated by the local oscillator into a selected one of the mixers so that receiving channels are switched by the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ko Kanaya