SiGe Semiconductor Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140176243 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ADJUST THE MATCHING CONDITIONS OF AN AMPLIFIER - A system and method improve amplifier efficiency of operation relative to that of a matching circuit with fixed matching conditions. A power level representing a level of transmission power from an amplifier circuit and an indicator of amplifier circuit operation are provided. The indicator is at least one of channel, channel bandwidth, out-of band spectral requirements, spectral mask requirements, error vector magnitude, modulation rate, and modulation type. The matching conditions for a matching circuit of an amplifying transistor are adjusted based at least in part on the power level and the indication where the matching conditions are different for channels at an edge of a channel band than for channels nearer a center of the channel band. | 06-26-2014 |
20140155051 | JURISDICTION BASED PARAMETER SETTING FOR WIRELESS TRANSCEIVERS - Low cost semiconductor manufacturing techniques have provided consumers with a wide range of electronic devices supporting communications according to multiple standards. These electronic devices will be deployed within many operational jurisdictions, particularly with roaming features, such as Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and North America. However, operational compliance requirements can vary substantially with these different jurisdictions. Current electronic devices are designed, manufactured, calibrated and operated according to a specification providing compliance with broad range of operational jurisdictions despite the performance limitations this applies in many of the operational jurisdictions. Accordingly, there is provided a method of dynamically configuring the electronic device based upon a geographically based determination of the operational jurisdiction from global navigation systems data received by the electronic device. Based upon the determined operational jurisdiction, the operational parameters of a device's communication interfaces are adjusted for improving performance and efficiency of the device within these jurisdictions. | 06-05-2014 |
20140097904 | DUAL BAND AMPLIFIER - A dual band amplifier is provided comprising a first matching circuit disposed in a first radiofrequency path between an input port and a first amplifier and a second matching circuit disposed in a second radiofrequency path between the input port and a second amplifier. The first matching circuit transforms a first input impedance of the first amplifier to a predetermined input port impedance when the radiofrequency signal is in a first frequency range and transmits the first input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the second frequency range. The second matching circuit transforms the second input impedance to the input port impedance when the input signal is in the second frequency range and transmits the second input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the first frequency range. | 04-10-2014 |
20130260698 | SWITCHING CIRCUIT - A method for controlling a switch based on transistors is disclosed. A switching circuit for switching a signal from an input port to an output port thereof is provided. A shunting circuit for switchably shunting the signal from the input port to ground is also provided. A control signal is generated for biasing a control port of the shunting circuit and an approximately complimentary control signal is generated for biasing of the switching circuit to either shunt a signal received at the input port or to switch the signal to the output port. A further bias signal for biasing a port within the switching circuit along the signal path between the input port and the output port is also provided. | 10-03-2013 |
20130188529 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATIONAL MODES FOR A TRANSCEIVER - A transceiver circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation such that a receive signal propagates from an antenna through a first filter to a low noise amplifier while simultaneously a transmit signal propagates from a power amplifier through a second filter to the antenna when operating in the first mode. The receive signal propagates from the antenna to the low noise amplifier without being filtered while alternating with the transmit signal propagating from the power amplifier to the antenna without being filtered when operating in the second mode. | 07-25-2013 |
20130181779 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ADJUST THE BIAS OF AN AMPLIFIER - A system and method improve amplifier efficiency of operation relative to that of an amplifying transistor with a fixed bias current. A power level representing a level of transmission power from an amplifier circuit and an indicator of amplifier circuit operation are provided. The indicator is at least one of channel, channel bandwidth, out-of band spectral requirements, spectral mask requirements, error vector magnitude, modulation rate, and modulation type. The amplifying transistor is biased with a bias current that is determined based at least in part on the power level and the indication where the bias current is different for channels at an edge of a channel band than for channels nearer a center of the channel band. | 07-18-2013 |
20130099845 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TRANSISTOR SWITCH BIASING IN A HIGH POWER SEMICONDUCTOR SWITCH - A circuit and method are provided for switching in a semiconductor based high power switch. Complementary p-type based transistors are utilized along insertion loss insensitive paths allowing biasing voltages to alternate between supply and ground, allowing for negative voltage supplies and blocking capacitors to be dispensed with, while improving performance. | 04-25-2013 |
20130063215 | DUAL BAND AMPLIFIER - A dual band amplifier is provided comprising a first matching circuit disposed in a first radiofrequency path between an input port and a first amplifier and a second matching circuit disposed in a second radiofrequency path between the input port and a second amplifier. The first matching circuit transforms a first input impedance of the first amplifier to a predetermined input port impedance when the radiofrequency signal is in a first frequency range and transmits the first input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the second frequency range. The second matching circuit transforms the second input impedance to the input port impedance when the input signal is in the second frequency range and transmits the second input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the first frequency range. | 03-14-2013 |
20130027023 | POWER DETECTOR AND METHOD FOR DETECTING POWER - A circuit and method are provided for detecting a power of a signal amplified in a power amplifier. A diode and a voltage bias source are used to shift a voltage of the signal taken at a base of an amplifying transistor of the power amplifier, to generate a positive signal. The positive signal is provided to a base input of an emitter follower exhibiting high input impedance to generate a power detector output which follows the positive signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20120007654 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TRANSISTOR SWITCH BIASING IN A HIGH POWER SEMICONDUCTOR SWITCH - A circuit and method are provided for switching in a semiconductor based high power switch. Complementary p-type based transistors are utilized along insertion loss insensitive paths allowing biasing voltages to alternate between supply and ground, allowing for negative voltage supplies and blocking capacitors to be dispensed with, while improving performance. | 01-12-2012 |
20110254614 | System and Method of Transistor Switch Biasing in a High Power Semiconductor Switch - A system and method are provided for biasing transistor switches in a semiconductor based high power switch. Off-state Vgsd biasing for the off transistor switches is based upon acceptable levels of spurious harmonic emissions and linearity. | 10-20-2011 |
20110248703 | Power Detector and Method for Detecting Power - A circuit and method are provided for detecting a power of a signal amplified in a power amplifier. A diode and a voltage bias source are used to shift a voltage of the signal taken at a base of an amplifying transistor of the power amplifier, to generate a positive signal. The positive signal is provided to a base input of an emitter follower exhibiting high input impedance to generate a power detector output which follows the positive signal. | 10-13-2011 |
20110193628 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT POWER AMPLIFIER BIASING - A circuit and method are provided for reducing dynamic EVM of a power amplifier (PA) used for RF communication. A temperature dependent boost bias signal is applied to the bias input port of amplifier circuitry of the PA in dependence upon a temperature of the amplifier circuitry to compensate for transience in the gain or phase response of the PA while components of the PA is differentially warming-up, advantageously taking into account an actual temperature of the amplifier circuitry. | 08-11-2011 |
20110128078 | System and Method of Prebias for Rapid Power Amplifier Response Correction - A system and method are provided for reducing dynamic EVM of an integrated circuit power amplifier (PA) used for RF communication. In a multistage PA, the largest amplification stage is biased with a high amplitude current pulse upon receipt of a Tx enable, before receipt of the RF signal data burst. The high amplitude current pulse causes a large portion of the total ICQ budget of the multistage PA to pass through the largest amplification stage causing the entire integrated circuit to rapidly approach steady-state operating conditions. A smoothing bias current is applied to the largest amplification stage after the pulse decays to compensate for transient bias current levels while standard bias circuitry is still approaching steady-state temperature. | 06-02-2011 |
20110050347 | Method and System for Amplifier Control - A method is disclosed wherein a power level indicating a level of transmission power from an amplifier is provided. An indication of at least one of channel, channel bandwidth, OOB spectral requirements, spectral mask requirements, EVM, modulation rate, and modulation type is also provided. A control signal for controlling one of a bias current provided to the amplifier and a matching circuit for matching an output port of at least a stage of the amplifier is generated, the control signal determined in dependence upon the power level and the at least an indication. Then the one of the bias current and the matching circuit is adjusted in accordance with the control signal. | 03-03-2011 |
20100327948 | Switching Circuit - A method for controlling a switch based on transistors is disclosed. A switching circuit for switching a signal from an input port to an output port thereof is provided. A shunting circuit for switchably shunting the signal from the input port to ground is also provided. A control signal is generated for biasing a control port of the shunting circuit and an approximately complimentary control signal is generated for biasing of the switching circuit to either shunt a signal received at the input port or to switch the signal to the output port. A further bias signal for biasing a port within the switching circuit along the signal path between the input port and the output port is also provided. | 12-30-2010 |
20100232476 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE IN GLOBAL POSITIONING MEASUREMENTS - Embodiments of the invention involve providing assistance data to a global position and navigation receiver, for example topographical data, such that the receiver can decide on a specific action depending on that data. The topographical data may include one or both of geographical data and architectural data. Geographical data may include information about natural formations, such as hills, valleys, forests, etc. Architectural data may include manmade formations, such as streets, buildings, bridges, etc. The receiver may then interpret and decide on a course of action for controlling the receiver base on the assistance data. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231236 | Integrated VSWR Detector for Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits - An integrated RF circuit is disclosed having an RF input port and an RF output port. The RF output port is for being coupled with a known impedance to an external circuit element such as an antenna. At least an RF circuit element is disposed along a propagation path between the RF input port and the RF output port. The RF circuit element has a first input port and a first output port and is for affecting a signal received at the first input port and providing the affected signal to the first output port. The integrated RF circuit also has a VSWR detector circuit for measuring a ratio of a characteristic of RF signals at the first input port and a same characteristic of the RF signals at the first output port and for providing an indication of the ratio at a VSWR output port. The measured ratio of the characteristic is affected by an impedance of the coupling thereby providing an indication relating to the coupling. | 09-16-2010 |
20100202325 | DUAL MODE TRANSCEIVER - A circuit is disclosed with an external coupling port for coupling to an external antenna, for example. The circuit has an FDD receive path including a narrowband passband filter. The circuit has a TDD receive path bypassing the narrowband passband filter but relying on a same amplifier. The circuit also has an FDD transmit path including a narrowband passband filter. The circuit has a TDD transmit path bypassing the narrowband passband filter of the FDD transmit path but relying on a same transmit amplifier. A switching configuration allows the circuit to operate in TDD mode, alternating between the TDD receive path and the TDD transmit path and in the FDD mode wherein the FDD transmit and receive paths are simultaneously coupled to the external coupling port. | 08-12-2010 |
20100149431 | Active Inductor Circuits for Filtering in a Cable Tuner Circuit - An integrated front-end filter for a tuner provides an array of from several to a multitude of passbands, each for passing at least one but less than all channels designated in a band of frequencies. Each passband is exclusively selectable. The integrated front end filter includes at least one active filter unit with an active reactance element in either of fixed and variable filter configurations and a decoder coupled to said at least one active filter unit and being responsive to a control signal for selecting a one of the passbands. In one example a multitude of active filter units of fixed filter configuration provide the multitude of passbands. Each data is stored at a predetermined location and reproduced in response to a corresponding control data signal from a tuner controller. Each data characterizes one of the plurality of passbands. The filter element is switchable from one passband to another in response to the control data signal. Lower power dissipation and lesser requirements of an on-following integrated circuitry tuner permit a reduction of “off chip” connections and cost. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149430 | Active Inductor Circuits for Filtering in a Cable Tuner Circuit - An integrated front-end filter for a tuner provides an array of from several to a multitude of passbands, each for passing at least one but less than all channels designated in a band of frequencies. Each passband is exclusively selectable. The integrated front end filter includes at least one active filter unit with an active reactance element in either of fixed and variable filter configurations and a decoder coupled to said at least one active filter unit and being responsive to a control signal for selecting a one of the passbands. In one example a multitude of active filter units of fixed filter configuration provide the multitude of passbands. Each data is stored at a predetermined location and reproduced in response to a corresponding control data signal from a tuner controller. Each data characterizes one of the plurality of passbands. The filter element is switchable from one passband to another in response to the control data signal. Lower power dissipation and lesser requirements of an on-following integrated circuitry tuner permit a reduction of “off chip” connections and cost. | 06-17-2010 |
20100140758 | Integrated Circuit with Improved Transmission Line Structure and Electromagnetic Shielding Between Radio Frequency Circuit Paths - An integrated circuit is disclosed having through silicon vias spaced apart one from another and conductors, each coupled to one or more of the through silicon vias, the conductors in aggregate in use forming a segmented conductive plane maintained at a same potential and forming an electromagnetic shield. | 06-10-2010 |
20100007414 | Gain Control for Linear Radio Freqency Power Amplifiers - A bias control circuit is provided comprising an input port for receiving a signal indicative of an amplitude of a supply voltage provided to a multi stage power amplifier circuit. Electronic circuitry, electrically coupled to the input port, generates a bias control signal in dependence upon the signal indicative of a supply voltage for provision to a first stage power amplifier of the multi stage power amplifier circuit. The bias control signal is generated such that a gain change of the multi stage power amplifier circuit due to a supply voltage change is substantially compensated. | 01-14-2010 |
20090325527 | DUAL BAND AMPLIFIER - A dual band amplifier is provided comprising a first matching circuit disposed in a first radiofrequency path between an input port and a first amplifier and a second matching circuit disposed in a second radiofrequency path between the input port and a second amplifier. The first matching circuit transforms a first input impedance of the first amplifier to a predetermined input port impedance when the radiofrequency signal is in a first frequency range and transmits the first input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the second frequency range. The second matching circuit transforms the second input impedance to the input port impedance when the input signal is in the second frequency range and transmits the second input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the first frequency range. | 12-31-2009 |
20090023434 | Jurisdiction based parameter setting for wireless transceivers - Low cost semiconductor manufacturing techniques have provided consumers with a wide range of electronic devices supporting communications according to multiple standards. These electronic devices will be deployed within many operational jurisdictions, particularly with roaming features, such as Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and North America. However, operational compliance requirements can vary substantially with these different jurisdictions. Current electronic devices are designed, manufactured, calibrated and operated according to a specification providing compliance with broad range of operational jurisdictions despite the performance limitations this applies in many of the operational jurisdictions. Accordingly, there is provided a method of dynamically configuring the electronic device based upon a geographically based determination of the operational jurisdiction from global navigation systems data received by the electronic device. Based upon the determined operational jurisdiction, the operational parameters of a device's communication interfaces are adjusted for improving performance and efficiency of the device within these jurisdictions. | 01-22-2009 |
20080298501 | Method and apparatus for distortion correction of RF amplifiers - A method of reducing distortion in the output of an amplifier is provided. The method comprises subtractively combining an error signals with the appropriate phase shift with input signals to be amplified. The error signal being generated by subtractively combining a fed-forward portion of the input signal with a portion of the fed-back amplified output signal, and signal processing applied to it between its generation and application to correcting the input signal in the baseband domain. The error therefore being down-converted, filtered, and up-converted in the feedback path. The filtered baseband error signal components providing inputs to a controller which adjusts active elements of the amplification and feedback path in order to minimize the distortion within the output of the amplifier. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297247 | Method and apparatus for distortion correction of RF amplifiers - A method of reducing distortion in the output of an amplifier is provided. The method comprises subtractively combining an error signals with the appropriate phase shift with input signals to be amplified. The error signal being generated by subtractively combining a fed-forward portion of the input signal with a portion of the fed-back amplified output signal, and signal processing applied to it between its generation and application to correcting the input signal in the baseband domain. The error therefore being down-converted, filtered, and up-converted in the feedback path. The filtered baseband error signal components providing inputs to a controller which adjusts active elements of the amplification and feedback path in order to minimize the distortion within the output of the amplifier. | 12-04-2008 |
20080290939 | Method and apparatus for distortion correction of RF amplifiers - A method of reducing distortion in the output of an amplifier is provided. The method comprises subtractively combining baseband error signals with the appropriate phase shift with baseband input signals, the baseband error signals generated by subtractively combining delayed fed-forward portions of the baseband input signals with baseband converted portions of a fed-back amplified output signal, the amplified output signal being a distorted replica of combined up-converted baseband input signals. The baseband error signals being filtered prior to the combining function, and also providing inputs to a controller which adjusts active elements of the amplification and fed-back paths in order to minimize the distortion within the output of the amplifier. | 11-27-2008 |
20080287077 | Method and apparatus for cartesian error feedback - A method of reducing distortion in the output of an amplifier is provided. The method comprises subtractively combining baseband error signals with the appropriate phase shift with baseband input signals, the baseband error signals generated by subtractively combining delayed fed-forward portions of the baseband input signals with baseband converted portions of a fed-back amplified output signal, the amplified output signal being a distorted replica of combined up-converted baseband input signals. The baseband error signals being filtered prior to the combining function, and also providing inputs to a controller which adjusts active elements of the amplification and fed-back paths in order to minimize the distortion within the output of the amplifier. | 11-20-2008 |
20080219389 | Feed-forward cancellation in wireless receivers - A method of suppressing interference from remote transmitters operating to a first standard having frequencies overlapping those for a receiver operating to a second standard is provided. Such interference being increasingly common as a result of the deployment of multiple wireless transceivers within electronic devices either supporting multiple international standards, such as WiFi and WiMAX, or within typical wireless environments. Advantageously, the invention presents a means of actively cancelling interference from transmitters operating within the same frequency range as defined by the standard. The active cancellation accordingly allows improved performance for systems with very low received signal powers, such as GPS, in addition to wireless data communications standards. An exemplary embodiment providing active cancellation through delaying the portion of the received signal according to the first standard adjusting both the amplitude and phase by means of polar modulation prior to summing this signal with the received signal to provide a receive signal within which the first standard signal is nulled. Control of the polar modulator being determined in the exemplary embodiment by minimizing received power after passband limiting filters. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219377 | Transmitter crosstalk cancellation in multi-standard wireless transceivers - A method of suppressing interference from a transmitter operating to a first standard to a local receiver operating to a second standard is provided. Such interference being increasingly common as a result of the deployment of multiple wireless transceivers within electronic devices supporting multiple international standards, such as WiFi and WiMAX. Advantageously, the invention presents a means of actively cancelling interference both from transmitters operating within the same frequency range as defined by the standard as well as those operating in different frequency ranges. The active cancellation accordingly allows improved performance for systems with very low received signal powers, such as GPS, in addition to wireless data communications standards. An exemplary embodiment providing active cancellation through delaying a portion of the transmitted signal and adjusting both the amplitude and phase by means of polar modulation prior to summing this signal with the detected signal to provide a receive signal within which the transmit signal is nulled. | 09-11-2008 |