w Photovoltaic device with back side contacts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells are provided. A photovoltaic (PV) device generally includes a window layer; an absorber layer disposed below the window layer such that electrons are generated when photons travel through the window layer and are absorbed by the absorber layer; and a plurality of contacts for external connection coupled to the absorber layer, such that all of the contacts for external connection are disposed below the absorber layer and do not block any of the photons from reaching the absorber layer through the window layer. Locating all the contacts on the back side of the PV device avoids solar shadows caused by front side contacts, typically found in conventional solar cells. Therefore, PV devices described herein with back side contacts may allow for increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells. Full Article
w Flexible solar cell photovoltaic assembly prepared with flexible substrate By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention is directed to a flexible solar cell photovoltaic module with high light transmittance based on modified substrate, which belongs to the field of thin-film solar cell technology. The objective of the present invention to provide a technical solution for a transparent flexible solar cell module and its fabrication method. Technical features include using a stainless steel template to mold a modified polyimide PI substrate (the PI substrate). The PI substrate has light-passing through-holes, including draining holes and convergence holes, through and distributed on the PI substrate, a conductive film layer, and various stacked photoelectric conversion film layers. The creativeness of the present invention is obvious, such as reducing the short circuit and current leakage due to crystallization of the photoelectric layer interface caused by a subsequent process of laser etching the conductive film layer, reducing the composition on the surface of the solar cell, reducing steps of the fabrication process, and lowering the production cost. Further, the present invention significantly increases the conversion efficiency and load capacity of the solar cell and the quality-cost ratio. The transparent flexible solar cell photovoltaic module also has a broad range of applications. Full Article
w Light power generation device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT [Problem] To provide a photovoltaic device capable of generating power whether day or night, without affecting the appearance of a structure or reducing lighting or other functions, and able to inhibit rises in room temperature by converting thermal radiation into electrical energy. [Means to Solve Problems] Provide a photoelectric conversion element 3 with a photovoltaic device 1 on structural members 2a-2d facing the outside of a house or other structure. Power generated by the photoelectric conversion element 3 is extracted via a power extraction unit 4. The power conversion element 3 includes a semiconductor layer 11, conductive layer 20, a metal nanostructure 30 having multiple periodic structures 33, a first electrode 41 and a second electrode 42. The first and second electrodes 41, 42 are separated in the direction of the surface of the photoelectric conversion element 1 with the terminals 71, 81 of the power extraction unit 4 respectively connected. Full Article
w Back electrode type solar cell, back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, solar cell module, method of manufacturing back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, and method of manufacturing solar cell module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A back electrode type solar cell in which a no-electrode-formed region where no electrode is placed is provided in a part of a peripheral portion of a back surface of the back electrode type solar cell such that a line connecting end portions of a plurality of electrodes to one another includes a partially inwardly recessed region and the no-electrode-formed region is located adjacent to each of an electrode for n-type and an electrode for p-type adjacent to each other, a solar cell module, a method of manufacturing a back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, and a method of manufacturing a solar cell module are provided. Full Article
w Nano power cell and method of use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A nano power cell and method of use are described wherein the nano power cell absorbs electromagnetic energy is nano particles in an optical fluid that flow in microchannels of the nano power cell. Full Article
w Printing material web processing machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A printing material web processing machine, in particular a web-fed rotary offset press, has at least one press cylinder for printing the web, a dryer disposed downstream of the press cylinder, which guides the web along a path, and at least a first pull roll disposed downstream of the dryer to convey the web along the path with a given tensile stress. The web processing machine further has a first apparatus disposed downstream of the press cylinder and upstream of the dryer for separating the web from the press cylinder, and a second apparatus for driving the first pull roll, which drives the first pull roll at a rotational speed that is reduced as compared with the rotational speed of the press cylinder. Full Article
w Method for controlling at least one machining device which is coupled to a machine tool by means of an encoder signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A method is disclosed for controlling at least one machining device which is coupled to a machine tool by means of an encoder signal, the machine tool having at least one motion control device. In order to improve the accuracy of the encoder connection, at least one additional variable which characterizes the transport is digitally transmitted from the motion control device to the at least one machining device and is used to correct the encoder signal. Full Article
w Method for regulating a web tension in a processing machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for regulating a web tension in a processing machine for processing a product web, in particular a shaftless printing press, includes separating a first product-web section from a second product-web section by a delay section. The web tensions in the first and second product-web sections are influenced by first and second actuators, respectively. To regulate the web tension in the first product-web section, the method further includes defining a regulation output value from which an actuating command for the first actuator is derived. An actuating command for the second actuator is defined from the regulation output value and a delay element to decouple the web tension in the second product-web section from the regulation of the web tension in the first product-web section. The delay element delays the effect of the regulation output value on the actuating command for the second actuator by a delay time. Full Article
w Stock feeder for woodworking equipment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A stock feeder for woodworking equipment includes a base, a cross clamp, a horizontal bar unit, a vertical bar unit, a feeding unit, and an electrical unit. The electrical unit has an electrical unit main body and a variable-frequency drive. The electrical unit main body has a first housing, a plurality of heat dissipation grooves provided on the outer periphery of the first housing, and a power fan which is independently mounted on a top portion of the first housing and in communication with the heat dissipation grooves. The variable-frequency drive has a second housing, a variable-frequency circuit sealed in the second housing, and a control panel exposed outside the second housing. The second housing has an outer surface provided with a plurality of heat dissipation slots corresponding in position to and in communication with the heat dissipation grooves of the electrical unit main body. Full Article
w ***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Tape feeder and method of mounting tape onto tape feeder By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A tape feeder includes a guide part that guides a carrier tape and is detachably attached to a main body. The guide part includes: a lower member guiding the carrier tape and attached to and detached from the main body; an upper member pressing down the carrier tape from above; a tape introduction part guiding the carrier tape into the upper member at an upstream side thereof in a tape feed direction; a confirmation opening part disposed in the upper member for visually confirming that the carrier tape arrives at a pin engagement range; an open/close mechanism opening and closing the upper member with respect to the lower member; and a positioning mechanism fitting a positioning pin into a feed hole of the carrier tape in the guide part, thereby positioning the carrier tape relative to the guide part in the tape feed direction. Full Article
w Web handling system and vacuum roller for use in conjunction therewith By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A vacuum roller for a web handling system comprises a hollow, cylindrical, rotably driven drum and an end cap threadingly mounted onto the rear end of the drum. Together, the drum and the end cap define a plurality of individual, externally communicable vacuum paths. A spherical, metal movable element is internally disposed within each vacuum path and regulates the passage of air therethrough. A plurality of magnetic elements is fixedly mounted on a stationary annular holder. In use, each magnetic element selectively displaces each movable element when disposed in close proximity thereto to the extent necessary so as to permit the passage of air through its corresponding vacuum path. As such, the vacuum roller is provided with a predefined range of suction, or vacuum zone, about the outer surface of its rotating drum that directly corresponds to the angular arrangement of the plurality of stationary magnetic elements. Full Article
w Wire winding-off auxiliary device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST To provide a wire unwinding auxiliary device capable of, compared to a conventional device, effectively preventing an unwound wire material from getting twisted, entangled or flawed. A wire unwinding auxiliary device used for guiding an unwound wire material when unwinding the wire material which is wound in a coiled shape. The device comprises a plurality of rotation members 1a-1e on which the unwound wire material is set to run therethrough, and a non-rotation member 2 provided adjacent to at least a rotation member 1a through which the wire material passes first in the plurality of rotation members 1a-1e, thereby a running path of the wire material is stabilized between the non-rotation member 2 and the rotation member 1a. Full Article
w Systems and methods of printing to a web substrate By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A printing device (100,101) has a first print engine (103, 303, 603, 703), a second print engine (105, 305, 605, 705), and a buffer device (107, 307, 609, 709, 711) disposed between the first (103, 303, 603, 703) and second print engines (105, 305, 605, 705). The buffer (107, 307, 609, 709, 711) is configured to store a variable amount of web substrate (106, 301, 713) received from the first print engine (103, 303, 603, 703) and feed the substrate (106, 301, 713) to the second print engine (105, 305, 605, 705). Full Article
w Automatically-adjusting web media tensioning mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST An automatically-adjusting tensioning mechanism for use in a roll-fed web media transport system, the tensioning mechanism adding tension to the web media, comprising a bracket assembly being adapted to freely pivot around a pivot axis, and first and second tensioning shoe having curved surfaces attached to the bracket assembly. The web media feeds through the tensioning mechanism in an S-shaped media path where the web media is wrapped around the first and second tensioning shoes. The pivot angle of the bracket assembly automatically adjusts in response to differences in a coefficient of friction between the web media and the tensioning shoes such that the tension in the web media has a reduced level of variability relative to configurations where the bracket assembly is held in a fixed position. Full Article
w Web conveying apparatus and web conveying control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A web conveying apparatus that conveys a web, includes: a transverse position displacement detection unit that detects a transverse position displacement of the web; a transverse position correction unit that corrects a transverse position of the web by a guide roller; width detection units that detect a width size in a left-right direction of the web; and a control unit that controls the transverse position correction unit in accordance with the transverse position displacement detected by the transverse position displacement detection unit and performs feedback control to position the web in a target position. The control unit changes a correction amount in the feedback control in accordance with the width size of the web detected by the width detection units. Full Article
w Web guiding apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Provided is a web guiding apparatus capable of ensuring a smooth operation and durability against a force applied from a web even if the apparatus is used in an environment with airborne paper powder, dust and the like. The web guiding apparatus includes a rocking frame 4 rocking around an axis perpendicular to a reference surface 2s of the base 2, and a support portion 40 supporting movement of the rocking frame 4 with respect to the base 2. The support portion 40 includes a base member 41 provided on the base 2 and having a rolling surface parallel to the reference surface 2s of the base 2, and a roller 46 provided on the rocking frame 4 so as to roll on the rolling surface of the base member 41. The rolling surface of the base member 41 is formed so that an axial direction thereof intersects an arc with a rocking shaft 3 of the rocking frame 4 as a center. A width of the roller 46 is wider than a width of the rolling surface of the base member 41. The roller 46 is provided so as to move along the arc with the rocking shaft 3 of the rocking frame 4 as the center when the rocking frame 4 rocks. Full Article
w Roll or buffer storage for a flat web material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A buffer store for a flat web material includes two roller registers having freely rotatable rollers movable relative to one another in a direction radial to a roller axis, thereby forming loops of the web material between the rollers, a piston-cylinder arrangement having a chamber containing a compressible medium and acting as a spring between the registers to generate web tension in the material, and a control-valve arrangement that switches between a first condition, for normal operation, and a second condition, for operation during a fault. In the first condition, the control-valve arrangement connects the cylinder chamber of the piston-cylinder arrangement to a device for providing a constant operating pressure. In the second condition, the control-valve arrangement closes the cylinder chamber of the piston-cylinder arrangement and connects it to a relief valve that relieves pressure therein to a residual pressure significantly smaller than the operating pressure. Full Article
w Wire-processing machine with length-compensating unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wire-processing machine or apparatus includes a wire-feeding apparatus for guiding a wire, wherein the wire-processing machine or apparatus contains a wire drive for forward movement of the wire and a guide pipe with an entry opening and an exit opening. The wire-processing machine or apparatus contains a swivel unit with drive and a wire-gripping apparatus which is arranged on a swivel arm, wherein an exit side end of the guide pipe is fastened to the swivel arm. The wire drive and the guide pipe are arranged in such manner that the wire can be shot-in through the guide pipe. The wire-feed apparatus further contains a length-compensating unit which is arranged in the area of the guide pipe and which, in a first state, shortens an effective length of the guide pipe and, in a second state, lengthens the effective length of the guide pipe. Full Article
w Method of setting web tensioning By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of setting web tensioning in a processing machine for processing a material web, in particular in a shaftless printing machine, wherein, for the purpose of setting the web tensioning in a first web-tensioning portion, which is bounded upstream by a first clamping location and downstream by a second clamping location, the first clamping location is given a control command, and at least one clamping location which is located upstream of the first clamping location, as seen over the course of the web tensioning, and at least one clamping location which is located downstream of the second clamping location, as seen over the course of the web tensioning, are precontrolled in dependence on the first control command, where the second clamping location is not adjusted. Full Article
w Packaging machine with dynamic chain tension By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a packaging machine, in particular a thermoformer, traysealer, comprising at least two transport chains for transporting a web of material, such as a film or the like. The packaging machine is characterized in that sensor means are provided for detecting the chain length and/or the chain pitch and/or the chain tension of the transport chains, means being provided for stretching and/or relaxing at least one individual transport chain, and control means being provided for adapting different lengths or chain pitches of two transport chains by stretching and/or relaxing at least one transport chain in a controlled manner. Full Article
w Towel dispenser with auto-load arrangement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A dispenser for dispensing paper toweling. The dispenser including a towel support that is positionable in a first dispensing position when a drive roller rotates in a first direction, and that is positionable in a second auto-loading position when the drive roller rotates in a second direction. Rotation of the drive roller in the first and second directions automatically loading the paper toweling for subsequent dispense. Full Article
w Debris sweep and dry assist device for strap printing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A debris sweep and dry assist device is for use with a strapping machine. The debris sweep and dry assist device is positioned between the strapping machine and an associated strap supply. The device includes a body having a strap inlet and a strap outlet and defining a strap path therethrough. The body has a first wall at about the strap inlet and a second wall at about the strap outlet. The body has a first manifold and a plurality of first branches extending between the first manifold and the first wall to provide a plurality of flow paths from the first manifold to the environs through the first branches. A compressed is gas directed into the first manifold and flows out of the first branches, and is directed onto strap material at a location at about the strap inlet. Full Article
w Thin web optical media guiding method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical data storage device includes an optical storage tape having one or more optical storage layers. A plurality of optical pickup units reads and/or writes data to the optical storage tape. A feed reel provides the optical storage tape to the optical pickup units. A guiding wheel that guides the optical storage tape when the optical storage tape is in the vicinity of the optical pickup units during read and/or write operations. Finally, a take-up reel receives the optical storage tape from the guiding wheel. Full Article
w Method for web tension setting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is disclosed for web tension setting in a processing machine for processing a material web, in particular a shaftless printing press. In order to set the web tension in a first web tension section with a length L which is delimited upstream by a first clamping point and downstream by a second clamping point, the first clamping point is loaded with a first manipulated variable which is produced using a first element with a first transfer function G1(s) (G3), and the second clamping point is loaded with a second manipulated variable which is produced using a second element with a second transfer function G2(s) (G4), wherein c1G1(s)=−c2G2(s). Thus, it is possible to keep the speed constant even during the regulation at a fixed or variable point x within the web tension section, wherein x=|c1/(c1+c2)|L lies behind the first clamping point. Full Article
w Method and device for controlling tension applied to a media web By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a web printer, tension on the moving web is controlled by monitoring the tension on the web between two rollers and selectively operating an actuator driving the second roller to restore the tension to an acceptable range. The operation of the actuator includes modulating the speed at which the second roller is driven. Full Article
w Variable frequency ratiometric multiphase pulse width modulation generation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Groups of phase shifted Pulse Width Modulation signals are generated that maintain their duty-cycle and phase relationships as a function of the period of the PWM signal frequency. The multiphase PWM signals are generated in a ratio-metric fashion so as to greatly simplify and reduce the computational workload for a processor used in a PWM system. The groups of phase shifted PWM signals may also be synchronized with and automatically scaled to match external synchronization signals. Full Article
w Method and device for detecting PWM wave By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A device for detecting a PWM wave, comprising: a PWM wave generating module, configured to generate the PWM wave; a detecting module coupled to the PWM wave generating module, configured to receive the PWM wave and to determine an electric level of the PWM wave; a timer coupled to the detecting module, configured to start a counting when the detecting module receives the PWM wave, and to interrupt the counting when the counting reaches a predetermined value, the detecting module determining whether the electric level of the PWM wave is a high electric level or a low electric level when the counting is interrupted; and a calculating module coupled to the detecting module, configured to calculate a duty ratio of the PWM wave based on a number of high electric level and a number of low electric level of the PWM wave determined within one period of the PWM wave. Full Article
w System and method for generating a pulse-width modulated signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST In an embodiment, a method of generating a pulse-width modulated signal from an input signal includes calculating a finite number of basis functions of a first pulse-width modulated signal based on the input signal, and forming an electronic output based on the calculated finite number of basis functions. Full Article
w Double-point modulator with accurate and fast gain calibration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A phase-locked loop double-point modulator may include a frequency divider having a ratio which can be changed by a first modulation signal, and an oscillator, a frequency of which can be changed by a second modulation signal correlated to the first modulation signal. A calibration circuit may be configured, in a calibration mode, to match the gains of the first and second modulation signals based on frequency measurements of the oscillator for two different calibration values of the second modulation signal. The phase-locked double-point modulator may also include an attenuator having a constant ratio greater than 1 and placed in the path of the second modulation signal, and a selector switch configured to be controlled by the calibration circuit to reduce the ratio of the attenuator in the calibration mode. Full Article
w Apparatus, system, and method for digital base modulation of power amplifier in polar transmitter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST An amplifier receives an amplitude signal of a polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a transistor and receives a phase modulated carrier signal of the polar modulated signal at the base terminal of the transistor. The amplifier combines the amplitude signal and the phase modulated signal to produce a full complex waveform at a collector terminal of the transistor. Full Article
w Low-loss, broad band, LC I/Q phase shifter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Some embodiments relate to a phase shifter that includes an I/Q phase shifter and at least one LC balun. Compared to conventional phase shifters, phase shifter has primarily only LC components, thereby limiting losses relative to conventional solutions. In one embodiment, for example, a phase shifter shows a large bandwidth at 77 GHz center frequency (e.g., 1 dB amplitude error bandwidth is approximately 40 GHz; 1° phase error bandwidth is about 16.5 GHz). The inductors included in phase shifter, in contrast to the quarter wave transmission lines used in conventional phase shifters, reduces chip area compared with conventional solutions. In some embodiments, an emitter follower helps to provide a relatively constant output that is largely independent of temperature, input power, VCC, manufacturing variation, and so on. Full Article
w Method for tuning a digital compensation filter within a transmitter, and associated digital compensation filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A method for tuning a digital compensation filter within a transmitter includes: obtaining at least one resistance-capacitance (RC) detection result, wherein the digital compensation filter includes an RC compensation module; and tuning the digital compensation filter by inputting the RC detection result into the RC compensation module. For example, the RC detection result may correspond to a detected value representing a product of a resistance value and a capacitance value. In another example, the at least one RC detection result may be obtained by performing RC detection on at least a portion of the transmitter without individually measuring resistance values of resistors therein and capacitance values of capacitors therein. An associated digital compensation filter and an associated calibration circuit are also provided. Full Article
w Pulse width modulation circuit and pulse width modulation signal generating method having two refresh rates By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A PWM circuit that can have two refresh rates, including: a first PWM signal generator and a second PWM signal generator; wherein the first PWM signal generator and the second PWM signal generator respectively control refresh rates in two dimensions of an output data generated from a target apparatus. A PWM signal generation method that can have two refresh rates, including: generating a first PWM signal; generating a second PWM signal; and controlling refresh rates in different dimensions of an output data generated from a target apparatus respectively by using the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal. Full Article
w Digital pulse width modulation controller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A digital pulse width modulation controller includes a pulse width modulation controller, a selection unit having at least one selector, a comparison unit having at least one comparator, and a signal conversion unit having at least one digital-to-analog converter. The digital-to-analog converter generates a reference current and/or voltage. The comparator receives the reference current and/or voltage, and performs a comparison operation to generate a comparison signal based on a feedback signal. The selector selects one selection signal to input into the pulse width modulation controller, which receives other parameters set by a user or the system at the same time so as to control characteristics of the digital pulse width modulation signals, thereby improving the electric properties of a loading circuit. Full Article
w Data communication in a multi-wire irrigation control system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An irrigation control device having a modulator that modulates data onto an alternating power signal by distorting amplitude of a first leading portion of selected cycles of the alternating power signal, and permit effectively a full amplitude of the alternating power signal on a following portion of the selected cycles, wherein the first leading portion and the following portion are either both on a high side of a cycle or both on a low side of a cycle of the alternating power signal. The irrigation control device further includes an interface configured to couple the modulator to a multi-wire interface coupled to a plurality of irrigation devices to permit the alternating power signal to be applied to the multi-wire interface. Full Article
w Pulse width modulator with two-way integrator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An example PWM includes a driver and a two-way oscillator. The oscillator includes, a first frequency adjust current source, a second frequency adjust current source, a capacitor, a switching reference and a comparator. The capacitor integrates a frequency adjust current by charging with the first frequency adjust current source. The capacitor subsequently integrates a second frequency adjust current by discharging with the second frequency adjust current source. The switching reference outputs a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage responsive to an oscillator signal. The comparator compares the output of the switching reference with a voltage on the capacitor. The first and second frequency adjust current sources vary the first and second frequency adjust currents to vary the frequency of the PWM signal to spread energy of switching harmonics over a frequency band and to reduce EMI. Full Article
w Switched-mode power supply apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a switched-mode power supply apparatus and a corresponding method. For an effective compensation of non-linearities caused by dead-time and voltage drops in the switching power amplifier of the apparatus, an apparatus is proposed comprising a switching power amplifier (14) for amplifying a signal supplied by an external signal source (11) and for supplying a load voltage and/or load current to a load (15), and a control unit (12; 12b) for controlling the switching of said switching power amplifier based on a timing setting, said control unit being adapted for simulating the behavior of the switching power amplifier by predicting the average load voltage and/or load current for at least two, in particular a plurality of, timing settings for a desired load voltage and/or load current based on state information about the present state of the switching power amplifier. Full Article
w Polar transmitter having frequency modulating path with interpolation in compensating feed input and related method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A frequency modulating path for generating a frequency modulated clock includes a direct feed input arranged for directly modulating frequency of an oscillator, and a compensating feed input arranged for compensating effects of frequency modulating on a phase error; wherein the compensating feed input is resampled by a down-divided clock that is an integer edge division of the oscillator. A reference phase generator for generating a reference phase output includes a resampling circuit, an accumulator and a sampler. The resampling circuit is for resampling a modulating frequency command word (FCW) input to produce a plurality of samples. The accumulator is for accumulating the samples to generate an accumulated result. The sampler is for sampling the accumulated result according to a frequency reference clock, and accordingly generating a sampled result, wherein the reference phase output is updated according to at least the sampled result. Full Article
w Frequency modulator having digitally-controlled oscillator with modulation tuning and phase-locked loop tuning By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A frequency modulator includes a digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) arranged for producing a frequency deviation in response to a modulation tuning word and a phase-locked loop (PLL) tuning word. In addition, another frequency modulator includes a DCO and a DCO interface circuit. The DCO is arranged for producing a frequency deviation in response to an integer tuning word and a fractional tuning word. The DCO interface circuit is arranged for generating the integer tuning word and the fractional tuning word to the DCO, wherein the fractional tuning word is obtained through asynchronous sampling of a fixed-point tuning word. Full Article
w System and methods of bimodal automatic power and frequency tuning of RF generators By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A radio frequency generator includes a power control module, a frequency control module and a pulse generating module. The power control module is configured to generate a power signal indicating power levels for target states of a power amplifier. The frequency control module is configured to generate a frequency signal indicating frequencies for the target states of the power amplifier. The pulse generating module is configured to (i) supply an output signal to the power amplifier, (ii) recall at least one of a latest power level or a latest frequency for one of the target states of the power amplifier, and (iii) adjust a current power level and a current frequency of the output signal from a first state to a second state based on the power signal, the frequency signal, and at least one of the latest power level and the latest frequency of the power amplifier. Full Article
w Method of generating driving signal for driving dual mode supply modulator for power amplifier and device thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Provided is a method of generating a driving signal for driving a dual mode supply modulator for a power amplifier. The method includes obtaining an envelope of a complex baseband signal to be transmitted, comparing the envelope of the complex signal with a preset threshold value, when a current envelope of the complex signal is the preset threshold value or greater or when there is a result having the preset threshold value or greater in previous N comparisons, outputting a digital board output signal configured with a first logic level through a digital-to-analog converter; and when the current envelope of the complex signal is smaller than the preset threshold value and when there is no result having the preset threshold value or greater in the previous N comparisons, outputting a digital board output signal configured with a second logic level through the digital-to-analog converter. Full Article
w Apparatus and method for producing signals coded with amplitude shift keying By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An apparatus for coding a signal by means of amplitude shift keying comprises a class E amplifier including a switching transistor, to whose gate is supplied a voltage having an operating frequency for operating the class E amplifier. For achieving an amplitude shift keying in the output signal of the class E amplifier, a circuit for switching the operating frequency of the voltage supplied to the gate of the switching transistor, or the resonance frequency of the class E amplifier, between a first value and a second value is provided and in order to switch a deviation degree between the operating frequency and the resonance frequency between a first value and a second value. Full Article
w System and method for generating a radio frequency pulse-width modulated signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST In an embodiment, a method of producing a multi-level RF signal includes producing plurality of pulse-width modulated signals based on an input signal. The method further includes driving a corresponding plurality of parallel amplifiers with the plurality of pulse-width modulated signals by setting a parallel amplifier to have a first output impedance when a corresponding pulse-width modulated signal is in an active state and setting the parallel amplifier to have a second output impedance when the corresponding pulse-width is in an inactive state. The method also includes phase shifting the outputs of the plurality of parallel amplifiers, wherein phase shifting transforms the second output impedance into a third impedance that is higher than the second output impedance, and combining the phase shifted outputs. Full Article
w Transmission device, reception device, transmission method and reception method for wireless communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A transmission device for transmitting a signal in a wireless communication system is provided. The transmission device includes: a serial-to-parallel converter configured to convert an input serial bit stream into a parallel bit stream having three bits; and a phase rotation symbol mapper configured to map the parallel bit stream to a symbol having phase rotation characteristics, wherein when the parallel bit stream includes first to third bits, the phase rotation symbol mapper maps the second and third bits to a complex variable and sequentially maps a real number part and an imaginary number part of the complex variable to the front part and the rear part of a symbol in this order or to the rear part and the front part of the symbol in this order. Full Article
w Spread spectrum clocking method for wireless mobile platforms By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to some embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided to vary a clock signal frequency for a first time period between a lower limit of a range of problematic frequencies and a frequency lower than the lower limit, and vary the clock signal frequency for a second period of time between an upper limit of the range of problematic frequencies and a frequency greater than the upper limit. Full Article
w Modulation apparatus for class D switching amplifier By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A modulation apparatus for a class D switching amplifier is capable of reducing power consumption of an Electro-Migration Interface (EMI) of an output end and a gate driver end in a zero input signal. The modulation apparatus for a class D switching amplifier includes a control unit for detecting and outputting a control signal which is a common signal component of a first modulation signal modulated by using a first input signal and a second modulation signal modulated by using a second input signal; and is characterized by feedback of a first output signal, a second output signal and a common output signal outputted by using the first modulation signal, the second modulation signal and the control signal through an input of the modulation apparatus. Full Article
w Method and systems for high-precision pulse-width modulation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT In various embodiments, systems and methods for generating high-precision pulse-width modulation include a delay-locked loop comprising multiple delay units having time-variable delays, control logic for selecting a subset S of the multiple delay units to thereby generate a time-invariant shift amount having a precision finer than that of a system clock and circuitry for applying the shift amount to rising and falling edges of a pulse-width modulation waveform to thereby generate a high-precision pulse-width modulation waveform. Full Article
w Ultra-wide band frequency modulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ultra-wide band frequency modulator is disclosed. The frequency modulator includes a direct modulation phase lock loop that receives a small component. The frequency modulator also includes a delay module that produces a plurality of delay lines. The frequency modulator further includes an edge selector that receives a large component and the plurality of delay lines. Full Article
w Method and device for digital modulation with low transition density By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a digital modulation method and a corresponding modulator. The modulator comprises a transcoder (110) followed by a FIFO register (120) and a 2-PSK modulator (130). The transcoder codes a binary word of fixed size into a code word of variable size using a transcoding table. The transcoding table codes at least one first binary word, leading to a first number of phase transitions at the output of the modulator, into a second word of size greater than that of the first word, leading to, at the output of the modulator, a second number of phase transitions less than the first number of phase transitions. Full Article
w Digitally controlled wide range pulse width modulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a digitally controlled, current starved, pulse width modulator (PWM). In the PWM of the present invention, the amount of current from the voltage source to the ring oscillator is controlled by the proposed header circuit. By changing the header current, the pulse width of the switching signal generated at the output of the ring oscillator is dynamically controlled, where the duty cycle can vary between 50% and 90%. A duty cycle to voltage converter is used to ensure the accuracy of the system under process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. The proposed pulse width modulator is appropriate for dynamic voltage scaling systems due to the small on-chip area and high accuracy under process, voltage, and temperature variations. Full Article