Variably Tunable Or Adjustable Patents (Class 455/340)
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Patent number: 7065337Abstract: A single conversion tuner is provided for receiving digital terrestrial broadcast signals. The tuner comprises a single frequency changer comprising a mixer and local oscillator controlled by a PLL synthesiser. A non-alignable variable low pass filter is provided between the tuner input and the mixer, which is of the image reject type. The bandwidth of the filter is varied so as to track the local oscillator frequency to provide sufficient attenuation of the image channel without requiring any alignment during manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor LimitedInventors: Nicholas Paul Cowley, Scott Cuthbertson, Matthew Timothy Aitken
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Patent number: 7050778Abstract: A direct conversion tuner down-converts television signals, cable signals, or other signals directly from an RF frequency to an IF frequency and/or baseband, without an intermediate up-conversion step for image rejection. The direct conversion tuner includes a pre-select filter, an amplifier, an image reject mixer, and a poly-phase filter. The pre-select filter, amplifier, and the image reject mixer can be calibrated to provide sufficient image rejection to meet the NTSC requirements for TV signals. The entire direct conversion tuner can be fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate without requiring any off-chip components. The tuner configuration described herein is not limited to processing TV signals, and can be utilized to down-convert other RF signals to an IF frequency or baseband.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Erlend Olson
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Patent number: 7050781Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include a circuit in a wireless transmitter or other apparatus is automatically calibrated using a calibration circuit to accommodate provide a desired characteristic such as a filter response, where the component values of the filter circuit may vary such as in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the calibration circuit is coupled to one or more adjustable capacitors in the filter circuit to select a capacitor value so that the filter circuit exhibits the desired filter response. In one particular embodiment, the adjustable capacitor is charged in an RC circuit for each clock cycle at power up. The value of the adjustable capacitor is changed for each clock cycle until the capacitor charges to a level greater than or equal to predetermined reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Waleed Khalil, Tsung-Yuan Chang, Bobby Nikjou
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Patent number: 7039385Abstract: A radio has a tunable bandpass filter that is tuned by apparatus within the radio. A reference generator generates a reference signal for use in tuning the tunable bandpass filter. The tunable bandpass filter receives the reference signal and provides a filter output signal. A digital signal processing and control processor is connected to the tunable bandpass filter to receive the filter output signal. The digital signal processing and control processor has a phase comparison function that provides a phase error metric from the filter output signal. The digital signal processing and control processor tunes the tunable bandpass filter to provide a desired phase error metric signal thereby tuning the tunable bandpass filter to the desired center frequency. The digital signal processing and control processor stores tunable filter parameters for the desired center frequency. The tuning process may be repeated for several desired center frequencies of the tunable bandpass filter.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Theodore J. Hoffmann, Mark M. Mulbrook
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Patent number: 7013124Abstract: When changeover switch (26) selects the output of L band filter (23), changeover switch (28) is turned off and mixer (29) is operated as an amplifier such that the oscillation frequency of local oscillator (31) is controlled based on data fed to data terminal (37) and a channel selection can be performed in mixer (32). When changeover switch (26) selects the output of V band filter (25), changeover switch (28) is turned on and a channel selection is performed based on data fed to data terminal (37) in mixer (29). With this arrangement, the need for a tuning filter is eliminated and a broadband tuner not requiring manpower for adjustments can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2002Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masashi Yasuda, Akira Fujishima
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Patent number: 7002427Abstract: An adjustable phase shifter generates a phase shifted reference signal by introducing a phase shift in a reference signal. A phase detector identifies a phase difference between the reference signal and the phase shifted reference signal. A control signal generator generates a plurality of control signals, each of which causes the adjustable phase shifter to adjust a magnitude of at least one component value in the adjustable phase shifter. The phase shift introduced by the adjustable phase shifter is based at least partially on the magnitude of the at least one component value in the adjustable phase shifter. The control signal generator also selects one of the control signals, where the selected control signal causes the adjustable phase shifter to produce the phase shifted reference signal such that the phase difference attains a specified value. The analog filter adjusts a magnitude of at least one component value in the analog filter based at least partially on the selected control signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Christian Nystrom, Per Konradsson, Ari Grasbeck
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Patent number: 6999742Abstract: A heterodyne receiver includes a tuner to select a frequency of a received signal and a converter to change the frequency of the received signal to an intermediate frequency. A single-pole/double throw switch has an input coupled to an output of the converter, a first output connected to a first band-pass filter and a second output connected to an amplifier. A second band-pass filter is coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a demodulator is coupled to an output of the second band-pass filter to produce an output signal and a characteristics signal. A logic circuit is coupled to receive the characteristics signal and for by-passing the first band-pass filter if the characteristics signal is less than a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: George Fang
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Patent number: 6977545Abstract: An FM signal receiver for use in receiving a burst signals as in a Bluetooth system includes a BPF and a frequency-demodulation circuit, each having, for example, a phase shifter, which is constructed from similar or related circuitry so as to enable adjustment of the frequency characteristics of the BPF and frequency-demodulation circuit through an identical control signal. A short-circuit switch is disposed linking the input and output terminals of an amplifier. A control circuit opens the switch in a receiving operation and closes the switch in an adjusting operation. Thus, adjustment is carried out without using the amplifier. Therefore, an amplifier offset does not affect the frequency-to-voltage conversion by the frequency-demodulation circuit in the adjusting of the frequency-demodulation circuit and similar adjusting of the BPF. Thus, the BPF is prevented from being incorrectly adjusted due to the offset. The BPF characteristics are suitably adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2004Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinji Amano, Yusuke Kishino
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Patent number: 6970685Abstract: A method for processing a radio signal which may include a narrowband signal or a wideband signal or both, comprises the steps of receiving the radio signal, initially processing the radio signal using a narrowband filter, switching to a wideband filter for further processing of the radio signal, determining if the wideband signal is acquired, and if the wideband signal is not acquired, alternating between narrowband filter processing for a narrowband filter hold time and wideband filter processing for a wideband filter hold time, where the narrowband filter hold time is gradually increased until a predetermined maximum time limit is reached. If the wideband signal is acquired, the narrowband filter hold time can be set to a predetermined minimum time limit. Receivers which implement the method are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: iBiquity Digital CorporationInventors: Marek Milbar, Ashruf El-Dinary
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Patent number: 6970701Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive method of calibrating radios. The present invention automatically corrects for crystal frequency drift by determining the true crystal frequency. Once the true crystal frequency has been measured and calculated, the proper multiplier required to produce a desired frequency can easily be found and implemented. The present invention allows for a constantly changing desired frequency without recalibration and without readjusting the crystal frequency once the true crystal frequency is known. Once the true crystal frequency is found, a proper multiplier can be calculated to produce the desired frequency. Continuously adjusting the multiplier thus allows for a changing desired frequency, thereby facilitating clear communications between radios, regardless of whether they are in motion or not.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2000Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Seste Dell'Aera
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Patent number: 6968173Abstract: A tuner comprises a frequency changer which converts an input signal to a predetermined fixed intermediate frequency. The frequency changer is followed by an IF filter having a filter parameter, such as center frequency, which is electronically adjustable. A controller adjusts the adjustable filter characteristic so as to achieve a predetermined desired filtering performance, such as ensuring that the filter center frequency corresponds to the desired intermediate frequency. The controller comprises a local oscillator having the same type of tuned circuit as the IF filter. A phase locked loop compares the local oscillator frequency with a reference frequency and controls the tuned circuits of the IF filter and the local oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2002Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor LimitedInventor: Nicholas Paul Cowley
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Patent number: 6959178Abstract: Tunable upconversion mixers that have a controllable passband response and provide substantial image rejection, making costly post-mixing filtering at least optional, if not unnecessary for many applications. A single mixer is able to support several frequency bands (and/or be accurately tuned within one frequency band) by means of varying the capacitance in a tunable load circuit for the mixer circuit. The tunable mixer comprises a mixer circuit having inputs for receiving a signal to be upconverted and an oscillator signal to be mixed with the signal to be upconverted. The mixer generates a mixer output signal at a desired sideband frequency and an image signal at an image frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: IPR Licensing Inc.Inventors: José A. Macedo, Neric H. W. Fong, David G. Rahn
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Patent number: 6959170Abstract: A method in a radio communication device having a receiver receiving a wideband signal in the presence of narrowband blockers method in direct conversion and intermediate frequency RF receivers including determining power for signal distortion products (40), determining power for a desired signal and the distortion products (41), filtering the signal distortion products with a filter having a bandwidth of rejection, and dynamically adjusting a rejection property (43) as a function of the power for both the desired signal and the signal distortion products. In some embodiments, a determination is made whether a ratio of powers exceeds a threshold (45) as a condition for adjusting the rejection property.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Louis Vannatta, David Haub, John Solar
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Patent number: 6957054Abstract: A radio receiver (100) has an IF (intermediate frequency) filter (200) for automatically adjusting its intermediate frequency. The filter (200) includes a filter bank (304), an accumulative sub-band formation (322) and an accumulative sub-band power estimator/switch control (324). The filter bank (304) generates sub-bands, each sub-band having a predetermined frequency range. The accumulative sub-band formation (322) selectively sums the sub-bands to provide lowpass filters having incrementally increasing bandwidth. Power estimates of the lowpass filters are used to determine which lowpass filter output is appropriate for adjacent station interference. Also, if there is no adjacent station interference, the IF filter (200) selects the appropriate filter output depending on the signal strength of the desired station.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2002Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: Junsong Li
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Patent number: 6914437Abstract: A method for calibrating a filter begins with the filter filtering a first signal having a first frequency to produce a first filtered signal, wherein the first frequency is in a known pass region of the filter. The processing continues by measuring signal strength of the first filtered signal to produce a first measured signal strength. The processing continues with the filter filtering a second signal having a second frequency to produce a second filtered signal, wherein the second frequency is at a desired corner frequency of the filter. The processing continues by measuring signal strength of the second filtered signal to produce a second measured signal strength. The processing continues by comparing the first measured signal strength with the second measured signal strength to determine whether the filter has attenuated the second signal by a desired attenuation value with respect to the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2003Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Broadcom Corp.Inventors: Brima B. Ibrahim, Hea Joung Kim
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Patent number: 6915121Abstract: A tunable filter circuit includes a first differential pair biased by a first current, a second differential pair biased by a second current, a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The tunable filter circuit of the present invention can be configured as a bandpass filter or a bandstop filter by connecting the input voltage signal to different input nodes of the tunable filter circuit. The tunable filter circuit can be tuned by adjusting the values of the first current and the second current. In an alternate embodiment, frequency tuning is achieved either by switching capacitive loads or changing resistive impedances introduced at the emitter of the differential pairs, which also extends the input voltage range of the filter. This emitter resistance is implemented using MOS switches whose on-resistance can be controlled for a precise tuning within a large frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Xceive CorporationInventors: Dominique Python, Pierre Favrat, Didier Margairaz, Alain-Serge Porret
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Patent number: 6909882Abstract: The invention provides a signal processing semiconductor integrated circuit of the direct conversion system, which includes a dummy amplifier having the same circuit configuration as a low noise amplifier being the first stage amplifier, in which the DC offset calibrations on the subsequent stage amplifiers are carried out during shifting into the reception mode in a state that the low noise amplifier is deactivated and the dummy amplifier is activated. Thereby, the invention achieves to suppress generation of the DC offsets resulting from the leakage noises of the local oscillator during shifting into the reception mode, and to enhance the reception sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2002Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norio Hayashi, Noriyoshi Hagino, Toshiki Matsui, Kazuo Watanabe, Satoshi Tanaka
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Patent number: 6895190Abstract: A novel transceiver is provided which allow for either a transmitter or receiver to be dynamically switched between two different frequency bands by use of a novel switchable lowpass filter.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Picolight, IncorporatedInventors: Richard L. Neumann, James E. Myers
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Patent number: 6871055Abstract: In a direction conversion receiver, a quadrature demodulator produces differential signals in a baseband on the basis of a local signal of a frequency synthesizer, with the differential signals being inputted through a first low pass filter, a gain control amplifier and an amplifier to a control unit and a direct current component between the differential signals being extracted in a second low pass filter. In addition, an offset compensating section reduces an offset voltage while the control unit outputs a control signal for the control of the gain control amplifier. The second low pass filter includes a time constant circuit for determining a time constant through the use of resistors and a capacitor, and a time constant changing section. A time constant control unit controls the time constant changing section for a predetermined period of time after the control unit outputs data for the change of a frequency of the local signal so that the time constant of the time constant circuit decreases.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunsuke Hirano, Yasunori Miyahara
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Patent number: 6868135Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting for a phase shift between a transmitter and receiver comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a signal from a transmitter (14); b) receiving the transmitted signal (16) at a receiver (20); c) comparing the received signal (17) to a reference signal; d) if a difference between the reference signal and the received signal (17) is greater than a predetermined value go to step e), if not go to step g); e) adjusting a frequency of the transmitted signal (16); f) go to step a); and g) calibration complete.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2000Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignees: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester Institute of TechnologyInventors: Daniel P. Phinney, Albert H. Titus
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Patent number: 6842610Abstract: A tuner includes an input terminal, first to fourth band-pass filters, an automatic gain controller, first to third amplifiers, first and second mixers, first and second voltage controlled oscillators, first and second PLL ICs, a reference oscillator circuit, and an output terminal. The second PLL IC and the reference oscillator circuit are connected through a capacitor and an amplifier. An amplifier for reference oscillation, included in the first PLL IC is connected to the reference oscillator circuit through an inductor that defines an inductance device.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoji Maeda, Akimasa Matsushima, Yoshikazu Shimamura
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Publication number: 20040214549Abstract: A switchable high frequency bandpass filter includes an input node and an output node, a switchable LC resonator, and a switch signal input interface circuit. The switchable LC resonator is coupled between the input node and the output node for providing a plurality of high frequency signals having different frequencies with a plurality of switchable filter transfer functions. The switch signal input interface circuit is coupled to the switchable LC resonator. A switch signal is supplied to the switchable LC resonator through the switch signal input interface circuit for controlling the switchable LC resonator to provide the plurality of high frequency signals having different frequencies with a suitable one of the plurality of switchable filter transfer functions, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventor: Ming-shuan Yeh
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Patent number: 6721544Abstract: A duplexer structure for allowing an RF transmitter and an RF receiver to share a common antenna includes impedance matching circuitry to match the receiver input impedance to the antenna impedance during a receive operation and impedance transformation circuitry to transform the antenna impedance to a lower impedance at the receiver input terminals during a transmit operation. The impedance matching circuitry and the impedance transformation circuitry of the duplexer share one or more passive components, thus reducing the overall number of components required to implement the duplexer. This reduction in component count reduces the amount of chip area required to implement the duplexer and increases the ease with which the RF transceiver is integrated onto a semiconductor chip. In one embodiment, the duplexer uses a differential topology to provide common mode noise rejection and even harmonic distortion cancellation within a transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2000Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Luiz M. Franca-Neto
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Patent number: 6686809Abstract: The invention relates to trimming of analogue filters (201) in integrated circuits by means of an automatic adjusting circuit. A local oscillator (202) in the automatic adjusting circuit provides a periodic reference signal (R) to an adjustable phase shifter (203), which on basis thereof, produces a periodic phase shifted signal (R*). A phase detector (204) receives both the periodic reference signal (R) and the phase shifted period signal (R*) and produces a test signal (T) in response to a phase difference between the periodic reference signal (R) and the periodic phase shifted signal (R8). A lowpass filter (205) receives the test signal (T) and generates a level signal (TDC) relative a reference level, e.g. representing a zero voltage. A digital signal processor (207) produces a primary control signal (CS), having a serial format, on basis of the observation signal (M). A serial-to-parallel converter (208) converts the primary control signal (CS) into a control signal (CP) having a parallel signal format.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Christian Nystrom, Per Konradsson, Ari Grasbeck
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Patent number: 6681102Abstract: A radio transmitter and/or receiver comprising: an oscillator tuning circuit comprising an adjustable capacitor whose capacitance is adjustable by means of a first tuning signal; a filter tuning circuit comprising an adjustable capacitor whose capacitance is adjustable by means of a second tuning signal; an oscillator whose operational frequency is dependant on the reactance of the oscillator tuning circuit; a filter for filtering signals in the course of transmission and/or reception, and whose response is dependant on the reactance of the filter tuning circuit; and a tuning unit for generating the first and second tuning signals; wherein at least a part of the filter tuning circuit is a replica of at least a part of the oscillator tuning circuit and the tuning circuit is capable of generating one of the first and second tuning signals in dependence on the other of the tuning signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2000Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd.Inventors: James Digby Yarlet Collier, Ian Michael Sabberton
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Publication number: 20040002361Abstract: The band pass filter includes at least first and second band pass filters. A selector receives at least one signal, and supplies the signal to one of the first and second band pass filters. A controller controls the selector based on a frequency of the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventor: Munawar Hussein Kermalli
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Patent number: 6643503Abstract: A wireless speaker apparatus for a radio communication device includes a receiver front end to receive two RF carrier signals with audio information. A tunable filter circuit provides a low side and high side frequency response slope to slope demodulate the carrier frequencies to provide respective amplitude modulated output signals. A control signal tunes a center frequency of the tunable filter circuit to center one of the low or high side frequency response slopes near its associated carrier frequency while decentering the other frequency response slope from its carrier frequency so as to favor demodulation of the former modulated output signals over the latter. An audio back end converts the amplitude modulated output signals to audio. This same simple apparatus can be used for either left or right channel audio signals depending on the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventor: Sharon E. T. Phillips
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Publication number: 20030194984Abstract: The present invention provides a phase shifting filter and a phase compensating direct downconversion receiver. A DC offset detector detects a DC offset in a received baseband signal and provides a feedback signal. A tunable filter phase shifts a local oscillator signal responsive to the feedback signal. The phase-shifted local oscillator signal is used to directly downconvert a received RF signal, whereby DC offset in the resulting baseband signal is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Stanley S. Toncich, Raymond Curtis Wallace
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Patent number: 6631265Abstract: A signal having a substantially uniform spectral distribution, e.g., a flat noise signal such as a signal ground, is provided at the input of a bandpass filter such as an IF filter of a receiver circuit, to thereby produce an output signal at the output of the bandpass filter. The output signal is processed in a limiter to produce a limited signal. An average frequency of the limited signal is determined, and the bandpass filter is adjusted based on the determined average frequency. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the bandpass filter comprises a Gm-C filter having a transconductance, and the filter is adjusted by adjusting the transconductance of the Gm-C filter based on the determined average frequency. According to another aspect of the present invention, a desired center frequency for the bandpass filter is identified. A resolution and a desired confidence interval are also identified.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2000Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Ericsson Inc.Inventors: Alan R. Holden, Antonio Montalvo, Richard H. Myers
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Publication number: 20030186673Abstract: A filter chip includes multiple series-arm resonators arranged in series arms of a ladder arrangement, and multiple parallel-arm resonators arranged in parallel arms of the ladder arrangement. A common line is connected to first electrodes of at least two parallel-arm resonators among the multiple parallel-arm resonators. Second electrodes of said at least two parallel-arm resonators are connected to associated series-arm resonators among the multiple series-arm resonators.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicants: FUJITSU MEDIA DEVICES LIMITED, FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Rei Kimachi, Tokihiro Nishihara, Takeshi Sakashita, Tsuyoshi Yokoyama, Tsutomu Miyashita
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Publication number: 20030109277Abstract: A delay-and-add filtering technique positions one or more filter nulls substantially at points of narrowband interference in a relatively wideband received signal. For example, the technique is useful in removing adjacent channel interference in a received W-CDMA signal caused GSM radio transmissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2001Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Tracy L. Fulghum, William O. Camp, Rajaram Ramesh, Yi-Pin Eric Wang
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Patent number: 6553216Abstract: A tuner includes a tunable filter for selecting a desired RF signal in response to a tuning control signal and a tunable image trap for rejecting the undesired image signal corresponding to the desired RF signal responsive to the tuning control signal coupled in cascade between an RF amplifier and a mixer. The tunable trap also serves as an impedance transformation element between the tunable filter and said mixer. The arrangement is particularly useful in a tuner in which the frequency range of the local oscillator signal is below the frequency range of the received RF signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1995Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.Inventors: Michael Anthony Pugel, Gary Dean Grubbs
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Patent number: 6542724Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing image rejection filtering in a radio signal processing device. In a specific example of implementation, the apparatus is a radio transceiver that includes a transmitter and a receiver, each comprising an image rejection filter. A control signal, already available in the usual radio transceiver architecture, is used to simultaneously tune the LO frequency of the transceiver and the image rejection frequency of the image rejection filters. The image rejection filters are designed such that their image reject frequency accurately tracks the Local Oscillator (LO) frequency of the transceiver over a range of frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Nortel Networks LimitedInventors: Miles A. Copeland, Sorin Petre Voinigescu, David Marchesan
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Patent number: 6535722Abstract: A tuning circuit, as for a television receiver or video recorder, employs switchable tuning circuits including micro-electronic electro-mechanical switches for selecting the ones of an array of capacitors and/or inductors as is useful in tunable circuits. The array of capacitors and/or inductors and micro-electro-mechanical switches of the switched tuning matrix is formed on an integrated circuit or an electronic circuit substrate along with amplifiers and other electronic elements of the tuning circuit for which the switched tuning matrix is employed. The switchable capacitance and inductance matrices are well suited for use in the resonators employed in the pre-selector filters, post-selector filters and oscillators of electronic tuners, such as those employed in television receivers and video recorders.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1998Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Sarnoff CorporationInventors: Arye Rosen, Stewart Mark Perlow, Raymond Louis Camisa
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Multi-mode bidirectional communications device including a diplexer having a switchable notch filter
Publication number: 20030022631Abstract: A multi-mode bidirectional communications device including a diplexer having a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter, and a notch filter selectively coupled to the low-pass filter. The notch-filter is selectively coupled to the low-pass filter in response to an indicium of a desired spectral region.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Robert Andrew Rhodes, Kevin Paul McReynolds, Michael Anthony Pugel, Wesley John Boyd -
Publication number: 20030003889Abstract: A communication device includes a noise flattening filter having a filter response that dynamically adjusts based on the current noise spectrum in a wireless channel. The noise spectrum of the wireless channel is estimated and used to determine a noise classification for the channel. A noise flattening filter response is then selected based upon the noise classification for use in filtering signals received from the channel. The filtered signals are then delivered to an equalizer for further processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2001Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Intel CorporationInventor: Yoni Perets
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Patent number: 6453157Abstract: A passive bandpass tracking filter tracks the frequency of an RF input signal received within a radio receiver's tracking range of RF frequencies. The bandpass filter includes parallel inductor and capacitor circuits connected in shunt between the input and output filter ports. A tracking control signal is selectively applied to change the capacitance of the LC circuits in order to shift the filter's frequency characteristics/profile as the filter tracks through the tracking band. The filter attenuates half-IF, receiver IF, and image spurious signals. In particular, the filter substantially attenuates the image spurious signal throughout the tracking frequency range by 50 dB or more below the filter output signal level. The filter also attenuates the half-IF spurious signal throughout the tracking frequency range by well over 10 dB or more below the filter output signal level. The receiver IF spurious signal is attenuated about 40 dB.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Ericsson Inc.Inventor: Gerald E. Roberts
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Patent number: 6445735Abstract: A switched bandwidth filter in a digital signal processor selectively provides a first bandwidth characteristic or a second bandwidth characteristic by loading separate first and second sets of filter coefficients into the digital filter. The level of transients during coefficient switching is reduced by specially designing the respective coefficient sets using modifications obtained according to the invention. The modifications substantially match net gains at at least one of the internal nodes between filter sections provided by the first and second coefficient sets, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1999Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: J. William Whikehart
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Publication number: 20020098819Abstract: A receiver (600) uses a scanning technique (100) to minimize scan time. An initial bandwidth setting is selected that covers multiple channel frequencies (106). A signal detection step (108) is performed looking for channel activity. As channel activity is detected, the bandwidth of a baseband filter (628) is narrowed (140, 146). The radio remains programmed to the same channel while the bandwidth is varied. Once the last signal detection with the narrowest possible bandwidth setting has been determined (144, 150, 152) the radio is programmed to that channel. Thus, more than one channel frequency is capable of being scanned without reprogramming the radio to a new channel for each scan.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Wayne M. Phang, John K. Mckinney, Dang Vu
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Patent number: 6424824Abstract: A setting apparatus for setting the tuning voltage of a tunable resonant circuit has an amplification device which amplifies an oscillator tuning voltage, output by a phase locked loop, nonlinearly to produce the tuning voltage. The gain of the amplification device can be set by a digital gain control signal. The signal resolution of the setting apparatus can be controlled in different ways as a function of the gain by using two differently driven digital/analog converters.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2000Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Richard Stepp, Hans-Eberhard Kröbel
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Publication number: 20020086686Abstract: A programmable band-pass filter in a radio-frequency receiver. The band-pass filter has a bandwidth substantially covering a channel bandwidth. Once the appropriate channel in use is determined, the frequency band of the band-width filter is set to correspond to it.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2000Publication date: July 4, 2002Applicant: Siemens Information and Communication Products Inc.Inventor: Juergen Kockmann
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Publication number: 20020068541Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tuning a filter (5). The filter has at least one variable time constant, by which the location of the pass band (pc) of said at least one filter can be changed. In the method, at least one reference signal is inputted in said filter (5), and the frequency of said at least one reference signal is changed, and/or said at least one time constant of the filter (5) is changed. The method also comprises the steps of measuring the strength of the output signal of the filter (5) and determining, on the basis of the measurement on the strength of the output signal of the filter (5), the location of the pass band of said filter (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2001Publication date: June 6, 2002Inventors: Petri Helio, Tomi-Pekka Takalo
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Patent number: 6400932Abstract: The present invention relates to a tuning circuit, more specifically to a tuning circuit for continuous-time filter capable of making exact the Gm value to minimize the variation of the cutoff frequency due to the variation of process in the Gm-C type of continuous-time filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1999Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Chang Jun Oh, Jong Kee Kwon, Jong Ryul Lee, Won Chul Song, Hee Bum Jung, Kyung Soo Kim, Han Jin Cho, Ook Kim
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Patent number: 6377788Abstract: A single chip superheterodyne AM receiver is disclosed herein. The receiver has a control pin for application of control signals to adjust a frequency response of a baseband filter to tailor its frequency response to a particular type of signal received by the receiver. Various techniques are described for enabling a complete superheterodyne AM receiver to be implemented on a single chip which receives an antenna input signal and outputs a digital data signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Micrel, IncorporatedInventors: Joseph S. Elder, Joseph T. Yestrebsky, Mohammed D. Islam
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Patent number: 6347222Abstract: The invention relates to a tuning method used in a base station which comprises, in addition to at least one transceiver unit generating signals, a filtering means which is separate from the transceiver unit and filters signals which are generated on the transmitting end of the transceiver unit, of which signals part advances to the filtering means and part is reflected back, and which filtering means is tuned to operate in a predetermined frequency band. The transceiver unit comprises a test signal generating means which generates a control signal and a test signal that is located in a predetermined frequency band, which test signal is transmitted further to the filtering means, a means which generates signals of the same magnitude as the signal which advances to the filtering means and is reflected from the filtering means, which signals are connected from the transmitting end to the receiving end of the transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1999Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: Nokia Networks OyInventor: Kari Niemelä
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Publication number: 20010049271Abstract: The invention provides a simple solution for a broadband transmitter/receiver for which the working bandwidth is split into at least two non-contiguous sub-bands. The invention uses a filtering means 50 which comprises at least two band-pass filters 51 and 52 provided with switching means 53 and 54. The use of two switched filters 51 and 52 makes it possible to use a single synthesizer 6 to scan two sub-bands of the working bandwidth. The frequency synthesizer 6 operates for one sub-band in supradyne mode and for the other sub-band in infradyne mode. In a variant, the invention uses a third filter and divides the bandwidth into three sub-bands.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Inventors: Patrice Hirtzlin, Jean-Yves Le Naour, Patrick Wurm
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Patent number: 6324390Abstract: A superhetrodyne AM receiver and digital decoder are formed on the same chip. The frequency responses of the various filters are tied to the reference frequency. To compensate for process variations in the implementation of the IC, bias currents setting the operating conditions for various amplifiers, filters, and other components in the system are adjusted based on frequency control signal in a PLL circuit in the local oscillator. Since the magnitude of the control signal reflects the process variations, the bias currents are adjusted based on the control signal to offset these variations in other portions of the receiver. To further improve the signal to noise ratio of the receiver. The IF filter is tuned within a range so as not to include any integer multiple or integer divisor of the timing reference frequency. Various techniques are described for enabling a complete superhetrodyne AM receiver to be implemented on a single chip which receives an antenna input signal and outputs a digital data signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Micrel, IncorporatedInventors: Joseph S. Elder, Joseph T. Yestrebsky, Mohammed D. Islam
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Patent number: 6321384Abstract: A method of reducing noise and ingress in cable return paths is disclosed in which the return frequency spectrum is divided into two regions; one frequency region being for transmissions from in-home devices such as television settops and personal computers, and another frequency region being for transmissions from communications devices called coaxial termination units located between the drop cable and the home coaxial wiring. By locating blocking filters between the drop cable and home coaxial wiring, undesirable signals emanating in the home in the second part of the return spectrum are prevented from entering the cable return system. The location of the blocking filter reduces the noise in the second part of the return spectrum substantially and allows the establishment of reliable telecommunications services on the cable return in such second part of the return spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventor: Charles A. Eldering
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Patent number: 6278870Abstract: A phasing receiver includes a quadrature mixing arrangement for frequency converting an input or high IF information signal to a pair of quadrature related low IF signals. The low IF signals are applied to a polyphase filter which functions as a low pass and adjacent channel rejection filter. One or more elements effecting a fine adjustment of relative phase away from quadrature and/or relative amplitude away from equality of the low IF signals are incorporated in information or oscillator signal paths in or about the mixing arrangement or a superhet stage preceding the quadrature mixing arrangement. These elements effect a predistortion of relative phase and/or relative amplitude of the low IF signals in order to compensate for mismatches in an input stage of the filter, and thereby improve image rejection by the filter.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1998Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventors: Alan J. Davie, Paul A. Moore
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Publication number: 20010013132Abstract: The invention provides a frequency converter for a cable television transmitter, which executes frequency conversion with one frequency mixer to simplify the total configuration, to prevent deterioration of the carrier vs. noise ratio, and to effectively remove spurious frequency components. The frequency converter of the invention includes a frequency conversion unit that executes frequency mixing of an intermediate frequency signal and a local oscillator signal to convert the intermediate frequency signal into a high frequency signal corresponding to a transmission channel, and plural stage variable tuning filters connected in cascade to the output of the frequency conversion unit, which are each individually tuned to the high frequency signal corresponding to the transmission channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2001Publication date: August 9, 2001Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasuharu Kudo, Etsuya Shibata