Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080198269 | Front-end integrated circuit for television receivers - A tuner front-end circuit for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal includes a first filter block that terminates the RF signal for unwanted frequency bands; a second filter block that provides selectivity within the unterminated signal by separating the unterminated signal into a plurality of separate signals, each of a different desired frequency band; and an amplifier block that amplifies each of the separate signals. One or more of the amplified separate signals can be provided to a tuner. The circuit can also include a daisy chain output block that provides the amplified separate signals to one or more additional tuners. One or more tracking filter blocks can also be included to provide further selectivity to the amplified separate signals and to reject signals at specific harmonics to prevent degradation of a signal-to-noise ratio. A method of processing an RF signal is also presented. | 08-21-2008 |
20100052967 | Analog to digital converter (ADC) with extended dynamic input rang - A method and apparatus is disclosed to extend a dynamic input range of an analog to digital converter (ADC). A composite ADC may include one or more ADCs. The one or more ADCs compare a signal metric of an analog input signal to quantization levels to produce intermediate digital output signals using one or more non-clipping input values. The composite ADC may select among the one or more intermediate digital output signals based on the signal metric of the analog input signal to produce a final digital output. | 03-04-2010 |
20100197244 | Direct coupled radio frequency (RF) transceiver front end - A method and apparatus is disclosed to couple a transmission amplifier and a reception amplifier to a shared medium. An output of the transmission amplifier is directly coupled to an input of the reception amplifier to form a common connection. The transmission amplifier and the reception amplifier may receive a first amplifier bias via the common connection. In response to the first amplifier bias, the transmission amplifier provides a first communication signal to the shared medium and the reception amplifier does not provide a second communication signal from the shared medium. Alternatively, the transmission amplifier and the reception may receive a second amplifier bias via the common connection. In response to the second amplifier bias, the reception amplifier provides the second communication signal from the shared medium and the transmission amplifier does not provide the first communication signal to the shared medium. | 08-05-2010 |
20100306814 | Integrated Set-Top Box with Daisy-Chaining - The present invention is an integrated set-top box having daisy-chaining capability. The set-top box includes a down-stream path having a tuner and a digital receiver portion and an up-stream path having a power amplifier. In one embodiment, the tuner, digital receiver, and power amplifier can all be disposed on a common substrate. In another embodiment, the tuner can be disposed on a first substrate, and the digital receiver and the power amplifier can be disposed on a second substrate. The set-top box includes a daisy-chain buffer having an input coupled to an input of the tuner and having an output coupled to an input of another receiving entity such as another set-top box, tuner, cable, etc., where the daisy-chain buffer is configured to provide a signal to drive the receiving entity. | 12-02-2010 |
20110063148 | Imbalance and distortion cancellation for composite analog to digital converter (ADC) - Imbalance and distortion cancellation for composite analog to digital converter (ADC). Such an ‘ADC’ is implemented using two or more ADCs may be employed for sampling (e.g., quantizing, digitizing, etc.) of an analog (e.g., continuous time) signal in accordance with generating a digital (e.g., discrete time) signal. Using at least two ADCs allows for the accommodation and sampling of various signals having a much broader dynamic range without suffering degradation in signal to noise ratio (SNR). Generally, the signal provided via at least one of the paths corresponding to at least one of the respective ADCs is scaled (e.g., attenuated), so that the various ADCs effectively sample signals of different magnitudes. The ADCs may respectively correspond to different magnitude and/or power levels (e.g., high power, lower power, any intermediary power level, etc.). Various implementations of compensation may be performed along the various paths corresponding to the respective ADCs. | 03-17-2011 |
20110227768 | Imbalance and distortion cancellation for composite analog to digital converter (ADC) - Imbalance and distortion cancellation for composite analog to digital converter (ADC). Such an ‘ADC’ is implemented using two or more ADCs may be employed for sampling (e.g., quantizing, digitizing, etc.) of an analog (e.g., continuous time) signal in accordance with generating a digital (e.g., discrete time) signal. Using at least two ADCs allows for the accommodation and sampling of various signals having a much broader dynamic range without suffering degradation in signal to noise ratio (SNR). Generally, the signal provided via at least one of the paths corresponding to at least one of the respective ADCs is scaled (e.g., attenuated), so that the various ADCs effectively sample signals of different magnitudes. The ADCs may respectively correspond to different magnitude and/or power levels (e.g., high power, lower power, any intermediary power level, etc.). Various implementations of compensation may be performed along the various paths corresponding to the respective ADCs. | 09-22-2011 |
20130314261 | Digital Correction Techniques for Data Converters - A method and apparatus is disclosed to compensate for impairments within a data converter such that its output is a more accurate representation of its input. The data converter includes a main data converter, a reference data converter, and a correction module. The main data converter may be characterized as having the impairments. As a result, the output of the main data converter is not the most accurate representation of its input. The reference data converter is designed such that the impairments are not present. The correction module estimates the impairments present within the main data converter using its output and the reference data converter to generate corrections coefficients. The correction module adjusts the output of the main data converter using the corrections coefficients to improve the performance of the data converter. | 11-28-2013 |
20140002284 | Compensation for Lane Imbalance in a Multi-Lane Analog-To-Digital Converter (ADC) | 01-02-2014 |
20140184339 | High Efficiency Output Stage Amplification for Radio Frequency (RF) Transmitters - Highly power efficient transmitter output stage designs are provided. In an embodiment, the probability density function (PDF) of an input signal is divided into a plurality of regions, and samples of the input signal are processed depending on the region of the PDF within which they fail. The PDF can be divided between an inner region corresponding to samples of the input signal that are within a predetermined amplitude range, and outer regions corresponding to samples of the input signal that are outside of the predetermined amplitude range. Samples of the input signal that fall in the inner region are processed by a class A biased amplifier and samples of the input signal that fall in the outer regions are processed by a class B biased amplifier. Output stage designs according to embodiments can be implemented as power amplifiers or power digital-to-analog converters (DACs). | 07-03-2014 |
20140233679 | Rceiver with Reduced Wake-up Time - An auxiliary reduced power analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided for use during sleep periods of a receiver. The auxiliary ADC has a reduced dynamic range but sufficient accuracy to allow demodulation of signaling information contained in an input signal and to update control parameters used for synchronization and channel estimation. As such, a main higher power, higher dynamic range ADC can be turned off during sleep periods, reducing receiver power consumption. The main ADC is turned on at the end of a sleep period, and the receiver can be ready for receiving data immediately using the main ADC because the control parameters are maintained up to date during the sleep period using the auxiliary ADC. | 08-21-2014 |
20150082363 | Spectrum Analysis and Plant Diagnostic Tool for Communication Systems - A system, method, and apparatus to allow an operator of a broadcast communication system, such as a cable television or satellite television service to provide some examples, to diagnose performance of this communication system remotely. The operator of a first communication device, such as a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to provide an example, may remotely diagnosis performance problems, or potential performance problems, occurring at a second communication device, such as a cable modem (CM) to provide an example, or a group of second communication devices. For example, the operator of the first communication device may view a spectrum analysis of communication signals being routed to, processed by, and/or provided by the second communication device, or group of second communication devices, to diagnose the performance problems, or the potential performance problems, in real time. | 03-19-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090168924 | SCALABLE ARCHITECTURE FOR SATELLITE CHANNEL SWITCH - A frequency translation module for a broadband multi-channel communication system may include an analog signal converter, a digital channel selection device, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The analog signal converter is configured to receive a plurality of analog signals, to select analog signals residing in a predefined frequency band, and to convert each of the selected analog signals into a digital signal. The digital channel selection device is configured to process digital signals corresponding to the selected analog signals and to generate a composite output of digital signals representative of the selected analog signals. The D/A converter is configured to translate the composite output to an analog signal output decodable by a receiver. Further, the frequency translation module may include a mixer configured to upconvert the analog signal output to a frequency decodable by the receiver. | 07-02-2009 |
20090261899 | Amplifier with Automatic Gain Profile Control and Calibration - Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatic amplifier gain profile control, including a method for automatically configuring a variable gain profile amplifier according to received input and a variable gain profile amplification system. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for increased gain profile accuracy, including methods and systems to reduce the effects of temperature and/or process variations on the gain profile of an amplifier. | 10-22-2009 |
20100066917 | Multi-Tuner Variable Low IF Receiver for Multi-Channel Applications - Systems and methods for demodulating a plurality of contiguous channels contained within a bandlimited portion of a radio-frequency (RF) input signal are provided. In an embodiment, the bandlimited portion of the RF input signal is down-converted to baseband. After down-conversion, the bandlimited portion overlaps at baseband with a mirror image of the bandlimited portion. The plurality of contiguous channels within the down-converted signal similarly overlap at baseband and subsequently occupy a bandwidth substantially equal to half that required before down-converting. Image rejection is performed in the digital domain to recover each of the plurality of overlapping channels. | 03-18-2010 |
20100067630 | Variable Low IF Receiver for Multi-Channel Applications - Systems and methods for demodulating a plurality of contiguous channels contained within a bandlimited portion of a radio-frequency (RF) input signal are provided. In an embodiment, the bandlimited portion of the RF input signal is down-converted to baseband. After down-conversion, the bandlimited portion overlaps at baseband with a mirror image of the bandlimited portion. The plurality of contiguous channels within the down-converted signal similarly overlap at baseband and subsequently occupy a bandwidth substantially equal to half that required before down-converting. Image rejection is performed in the digital domain to recover each of the plurality of overlapping channels. | 03-18-2010 |
20100264984 | System and Method for Over-Voltage Protection of a Power Amplifier - A system and method for over-voltage protection of a power amplifier is provided. A power amplifier is typically employed in a transmitter to amplify signals prior to transmission via a load; the load may include an antenna or a cable. As a result of an impedance mismatch between the power amplifier and its load, excess power from the power amplifier output fails to reach the load and must be dissipated by one or more transistors in the power amplifier. In severe impedance mismatch conditions, this dissipated power may damage or destroy the transistor(s). An automatic gain control (AGC) is provided for detecting a gain difference between the power amplifier and a replica power amplifier. A gain difference may signal an over-voltage situation. The AGC may be configured to adjust the gain of the power amplifier if a gain difference exists to prevent device damage. | 10-21-2010 |
20100308918 | Amplifier with Automatic Gain Profile Control and Calibration - Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatic amplifier gain profile control, including a method for automatically configuring a variable gain profile amplifier according to received input and a variable gain profile amplification system. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for increased gain profile accuracy, including methods and systems to reduce the effects of temperature and/or process variations on the gain profile of an amplifier. | 12-09-2010 |
20110140812 | Programmable Gain Attenuator With A Wide Attenuation Range And A Fine Attenuation Step Size - A programmable gain attenuator (PGA) configured to receive a signal at an input and provide an attenuated version of the signal at an output is provided herein. The PGA includes a resistor coupled between a first tap and a second tap, where the first tap is coupled to the input of the PGA. The PGA further includes two sets of switches. The first set of switches is coupled in parallel between the first tap and the output, and the second set of switches is coupled in parallel between the second tap and the output. The attenuation setting of the programmable gain attenuator can be determined by controlling each set of switches. | 06-16-2011 |
20110298542 | Amplifier with Automatic Gain Profile Control and Calibration - Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatic amplifier gain profile control, including a method for automatically configuring a variable gain profile amplifier according to received input and a variable gain profile amplification system. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for increased gain profile accuracy, including methods and systems to reduce the effects of temperature and/or process variations on the gain profile of an amplifier. | 12-08-2011 |
20120281788 | Scalable Architecture for Satellite Channel Switch - A frequency translation module for a broadband multi-channel communication system may include an analog signal converter, a digital channel selection device, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The analog signal converter is configured to receive a plurality of analog signals, to select analog signals residing in a predefined frequency band, and to convert each of the selected analog signals into a digital signal. The digital channel selection device is configured to process digital signals corresponding to the selected analog signals and to generate a composite output of digital signals representative of the selected analog signals. The D/A converter is configured to translate the composite output to an analog signal output decodable by a receiver. Further, the frequency translation module may include a mixer configured to upconvert the analog signal output to a frequency decodable by the receiver. | 11-08-2012 |
20140062738 | SUCCESSIVE EQUALIZER FOR ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER (ADC) ERROR CORRECTION - Various pipeline ADCs are disclosed that substantially compensate for interference or distortion that results from imperfections with various ADC modules of the pipeline ADCs. The pipeline ADCs include various ADC stages and various compensation stages that are coupled to the various ADC stages. The various ADC stages convert their corresponding analog inputs from an analog signal domain to a digital signal domain to provide various digital output signals and various analog residual signals to subsequent ADC stages. The various compensation stages compensate for interference or distortion that is impressed onto the various analog residual signals which results from imperfections within previous ADC stages. | 03-06-2014 |