o Inductor Q factor enhancement apparatus has bias circuit that is coupled to negative resistance generator for providing bias signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides an apparatus for enhancing Q factor of an inductor. The apparatus includes a negative resistance generator coupled to the inductor for providing a negative resistance, and a bias circuit coupled to the negative resistance generator for biasing the negative resistance generator. Full Article
o Variable tuning circuit using variable capacitance diode and television tuner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a variable tuning circuit capable of extending a variable range in a high frequency band, ensuring the value of L of an inductor to increase the value of Q of a circuit in a low frequency band, and preventing a reduction in gain, an increase in noise, and unstable oscillation. A variable tuning circuit includes: a first parallel resonance circuit that includes a varactor diode, a capacitor connected in series to the varactor diode, and a first inductor connected in parallel to the varactor diode and the capacitor; and a second parallel resonance circuit that includes a second inductor connected in parallel to the varactor diode with a direct current cut-off capacitor interposed therebetween. When the varactor diode has a maximum capacitance, a resonant frequency of the second parallel resonance circuit is set about a lowest frequency in a variable frequency range. Full Article
o Method and apparatus to facilitate the provision and use of a plurality of varactors with a plurality of switches By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST A plurality of varactors are coupled via a first electrode to a shared terminal that in turn can operably couple to a source of control voltage. A second electrode for each varactor couples to a corresponding switch, where each switch couples to at least two different voltage levels. So configured, the second electrode of each varactor can be individually connected to either of two voltage levels. This can be leveraged to control, in coarse steps, the overall aggregate effective capacitance presented by these components. At least some of these varactors can have differing corresponding capacitances, the specific values of which can be selected in order to facilitate relatively equal spacing and substantially equal rates of reactance change versus the control voltage value between aggregate-capacitive reactance ranges as correspond to differing settings for the switches at various levels for the control voltage source. Full Article
o MEMS oscillator with temperature sensitive MEMS capacitances By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST Provided is an oscillator including: a MEMS resonator for mechanically vibrating; an output oscillator circuit for oscillating at a resonance frequency of the MEMS resonator to output an oscillation signal; and a MEMS capacitor for changing a capacitance thereof caused by a change in a distance between an anode electrode and a cathode beam according to an environmental temperature. Full Article
o Varactor device with reduced temperature dependence By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT The invention discloses a varactor device (100) for improved temperature stability, comprising a first varactor (160) connected to a decoupling network (150). The device further comprises a voltage stabilizer (110), said stabilizer comprising a capacitor (140) and a temperature dependent capacitor (130), and in that the stabilizer comprises means for connection to a DC-feed (120). Suitably, the decoupling network (150) is connected in parallel to the first varactor (160), and the capacitor (140) of the voltage stabilizer (110) is connected in parallel to the decoupling network (150), the temperature dependent capacitor (130) of the voltage stabilizer (110) being connected in series to the diode of the voltage stabilizer (110). Full Article
o Single package television tuning apparatus and television receiver including the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EDT There are provided a single package television tuning apparatus and a television receiver including the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a printed circuit board; a switching part installed on the printed circuit board and selecting one of a first radio frequency signal and a second radio frequency signal inputted; a tuner part installed on the printed circuit board and down-converting one of the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal, the one selected by the switching part; first and second input connectors receiving the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal; and a chassis supporting the first and second input connectors, covering the printed circuit board, the switching part, and the tuner part, and electrically connected to grounds of the switching part and the tuner part. Full Article
o Tunable narrow band filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EDT A tunable narrow band radio frequency (RF) filter (200) includes an RF input (225), an RF output (227), a capacitive network (201-209) for coupling the RF input (225) with the RF output (227) and an inductive network (219-223) for resonating the filter at a predetermined center frequency. A number of semiconductor devices such as varactor diodes (215, 217, 229, 233) are used for tuning respective capacitors in the capacitive network (201-209). A single voltage source (Vc) is used for tuning each one of the respective varactor diodes for moving the resonant frequency of the filter over a substantially wide frequency range. Full Article
o Apparatus, system and methods for enabling linearity improvement in voltage controlled variable capacitors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EDT An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising at least one anti-parallel pair VVC network comprised of two parallel VVCs with one biased in the opposite polarity of the other and at least one anti-series VVC network comprised of two VVCs configured in series, one biased in the opposite polarity of the other such that the resulting AC capacitive variations produce a desired capacitance variation. Full Article
o Central frequency adjustment device and adjustable inductor layout using trimmable wire By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a central frequency adjustment device and adjustable inductor layout; wherein, the central frequency adjustment device is applied in an inductor/capacitor tank (LC tank) for adjusting the central frequency of the LC tank. The device comprises a first inductor with a first end and a second end; a second inductor with one end coupled with the second end of the first inductor; and, a first trimmable wire connected to the first inductor in parallel and to the second inductor in series, which adjusts the central frequency by cutting off the first trimmable wire. Full Article
o Broadcast receiving device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EDT A broadcast receiving device includes a card slot, a fan, a temperature sensor, a memory component and a control unit. The card slot accepts an IC card. The fan rotates to cool the IC card. The temperature sensor measures a first temperature. The memory component stores correlation information indicating a correlation between the first temperature and a second temperature of the IC card. The control unit acquires the second temperature based on the first temperature and the correlation information. The control unit determines if the second temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. The control unit switches from a first output mode, in which an audio-video signal is outputted via the IC card, to a second output mode, in which the audio-video signal is outputted by bypassing the IC card, when the control unit determines that the second temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature. Full Article
o Tuner module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EDT An RF input portion is formed on a printed circuit board and is operable to input a high-frequency signal received by an antenna device. An electronic component is mounted on the printed circuit and is operable to process the input high-frequency signal. The RF input portion has a specific pattern adapted to be electrically interchangeably connectable with a plurality of types of connections. Full Article
o Boosted-bias tunable filter with dynamic calibration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EDT In a signal communication device, a frequency-selective filter has at least one component that is biased by a control signal to establish a center frequency of the frequency-selective filter. A closed-loop bias generator is provided to generate the control signal and to adjust the control signal based, at least in part, on a comparison of the control signal and a reference signal. Full Article
o Communication module having tuner units that are separated and isolated from each other, and method of manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST A communication module is provided in which its characteristic of separation between its first and second tuner units is improved. The module is equipped with a circuit board having a first main surface, and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface; a first amplifier arranged on the first main surface, for amplifying a first signal; a first mixer arranged on the first main surface, for converting a signal supplied from the first amplifier to an intermediate-frequency signal; a second amplifier for amplifying a second signal; and a mixer for converting a signal supplied from the second amplifier to an intermediate-frequency signal, both arranged on the second main surface of the circuit board. Full Article
o Double-tuning circuit of television tuner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST In a double-tuning circuit including a primary tuning circuit having a first inductor and a first variable capacitive element connected in parallel and a secondary tuning circuit having a second inductor and a second variable capacitive element connected in parallel, a fixed part of a copper-foil pattern is connected to a connection point at which the double-tuning circuit is connected to an input terminal of a frequency mixing circuit, and a tip part of the copper-foil pattern extends to near the first inductor, whereby a trap circuit for attenuating an image frequency component is formed. A pattern is formed between a ground-side terminal of the first inductor and the ground, and a capacitor is connected between a connection point at which the first inductor is connected to one terminal of the pattern and a ground-side terminal of the second variable capacitive element. Full Article
o Dynamically adjustable Q-factors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST One embodiment relates to a circuit for active loss compensation. The circuit includes a parallel inductor-capacitive (LC) tank circuit having a first single-ended output. A first adjustable capacitor, which includes a first terminal and a second terminal, is coupled to the first single-ended output. The circuit also includes a first pair of transistors having sources coupled to a first common node. One transistor of the first pair of transistors has a drain coupled to the first single-ended output and the other transistor of the first pair of transistors has a gate coupled to the second terminal of the first adjustable capacitor. Other embodiments are also disclosed. Full Article
o Integrated channel filter and method of operation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST A system includes a filter and a tuner formed on an integrated circuit. The filter receives an input signal comprising a first number of channels and communicates an intermediate output signal comprising a second number of channels less than the first number of channels. The tuner is coupled to the filter and receives the intermediate output signal and communicates an output signal comprising a third number of channels less than the second number of channels. Full Article
o Micro-electromechanical voltage tunable capacitor and and filter devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are one-port and two-port voltage-tunable micro-electromechanical capacitors, switches, and filter devices. High aspect-ratio metal micromachining is used to implement very high quality factor (Q) tunable and fixed capacitors, fixed inductors, and low insertion loss tunable and fixed bandpass LC filters. The tunable capacitors can move in the plane of the substrate by the application of DC voltages and achieve greater than 100% of tuning. A combination of low-loss substrate and highest conductivity metal is used to achieve record high Q and low insertion loss at radio frequencies. The disclosed tunable capacitor structure can also be used as a micromechanical switch. Full Article
o Apparatus for airfield management By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EDT A system for supervising the landing of an aircraft by a supervisor in a control station, each of the aircraft being incapable of being controlled by any personnel onboard, the system comprises a control station and onboard aircraft control apparatus. The station includes an input device, responsive to the supervisor, for producing a control signal for controlling the landing of the aircraft; and a transmitting device, coupled to the input device, for communication with the aircraft. The aircraft apparatus includes a receiving device for communication with the station; a logic device, coupled to the receiving device, for controlling the aircraft which is programmed to pilot the aircraft to the vicinity of the airfield. The control signal is selected by the supervisor, based on the supervisor's observations of the aircraft and is transmitted to the logic device; in response thereto, the logic device controls the aircraft. Full Article
o Band-pass filter device, method of manufacturing same, television tuner, and television receiver By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST A band-pass filter device includes: a plurality of band-pass filter elements on a principal plane of a substrate; wherein the band-pass filter elements correspond to a plurality of respective channels divided by frequency regions, and each have a plurality of piezoelectric resonators. Each of the piezoelectric resonators includes a piezoelectric film whose periphery is supported by the substrate, a first electrode formed on a lower surface of the piezoelectric film, a second electrode formed on an upper surface of the piezoelectric film and formed in a state of overlapping at least a part of the first electrode with the piezoelectric film interposed between the second electrode and the first electrode, a lower space formed between the substrate and the piezoelectric film, and an upper space formed over the piezoelectric film. Full Article
o Physiological data acquisition and management system for use with an implanted wireless sensor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a system for obtaining, processing and managing data from an implanted sensor. In some embodiments, a patient or other persons can use a flexible antenna to obtain data from the implanted sensor. The flexible antenna includes at least one transmit loop and at least one receive loop. The transmit loop is adapted to propagate energizing signals to the implanted sensor. The receive loop is adapted to detect a response signal from the implanted sensor. The transmit loop includes a capacitor formed by a discontinuous area. The capacitor is adapted to allow the loop to be tuned. The flexible antenna can communicate with a patient device that collects the data from the implanted sensor, creates a data file and transmits the data file to a remote server over a network. A physician or other authorized person may access the remote server using an access device. Full Article
o Tuner and transformer formed by printed circuit board thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 08:00:00 EDT A tuner and a transformer formed by printed circuit board thereof are provided. The transformer includes a first winding and a second winding. In which, the first winding forms a first inductor and the second winding forms a second inductor. The transformer is formed by the first and the second inductors, wherein the first winding and the second winding are formed by conducting wires of a printed circuit board. Full Article
o Memory cell based array of tuning circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EDT A method applied in a tuning circuit comprising a plurality of turning cells is disclosed. the method comprises: laying out a array of tuning cells in a matrix configuration, the matrix comprising a first dimension and a second dimension; assigning a first index associated with the first dimension and a second index associated with the second dimension to each tuning cell; controlling each tuning cell using a word line and a bit line; and summing up outputs from all tuning cells to form a combined output. The tuning cell provides a first circuit value or a second circuit value according to the logical value of the bit line, and the difference between the first circuit value and the second circuit value is determined such that a turning resolution of the tuning circuit is determined. Full Article
o Tunable high quality factor inductor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT An inductor circuit with high quality (Q) factor includes a primary inductor and a compensation sub-circuit. The compensation sub-circuit is electrically isolated from the primary inductor. The compensation sub-circuit is magnetically coupled with the primary inductor to compensate the loss in the primary inductor. Full Article
o High-power tunable capacitor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT A tunable capacitor device may be provided in accordance with example embodiments of the invention. The tunable capacitor device may include a first capacitor; a second capacitor; a third capacitor, where the first, second, and third capacitors are connected in series, wherein the second capacitor is positioned between the first capacitor and the second capacitor; and at least one switch transistor, where the at least one switch transistor is connected in parallel with the second capacitor. Full Article
o Remote programmable reference By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST Remote programmable reference systems and methods are described. A remote programmable reference system maintains a set of parameters from which a reference signal can be generated to transmit the reference signal to a system platform. In an embodiment, a parameters update can be received from which a modified reference signal can be generated to transmit the modified reference signal. In another embodiment, the remote programmable reference system maintains multiple sets of parameters from which respective reference signals can be generated for any one or more system platforms having different system configurations. The system platforms can interface with the remote programmable reference system through a system interface via a communication network. Full Article
o Frequency shift compensation, such as for use in a wireless utility meter reading environment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus for computing the carrier frequency of a transmitter using frequency modulated digital data to compensate for frequency shifting of the transmitter and the receiver local oscillators and for bandwidth adjustment of the receiver's filter. In particular, methods and apparatus are disclosed for binary systems transmitting “1” and “0” data using decoded or undecoded received signals. Full Article
o Electromagnetic system with no mutual inductance and an inductive gain By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT An electromagnetic system consists of an electric circuit comprising two solenoids wired in series, one mounted either side and proximate to a toroid. Voltage is applied across the toroid and the solenoids in a specific sequence which alters the inductance behavior of the system, resulting in an inductance gain and no mutual inductance between the toroid and the two solenoids. Full Article
o Oscillating apparatus, receiving apparatus, and oscillation control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EDT In an oscillating apparatus, a detection unit detects a frequency offset between an input signal and a reference signal. A code generation unit specifies a relationship among a code having a predetermined number of bits, the frequency offset, and a voltage to be applied to a voltage-controlled oscillator by a DAC, in accordance with a frequency offset detection state of the detection unit. The code generation unit also generates a frequency offset correction code having a predetermined number of bits in accordance with the specified relationship. The DAC applies the voltage to the voltage-controlled oscillator, in accordance with the relationship described above and the code generated by the code generation unit. The voltage controlled oscillator outputs an oscillator signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage applied by the DAC. Full Article
o Tuner circuit with loop through function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EDT The tuner circuit comprises a HF input and a HF output with a loop through function, wherein a variable capacitance diode is coupled with a first terminal to the HF input and with a second terminal to the HF output for providing a passive loop through function. The variable capacitance diode is in particular in a passing mode, when no DC reverse voltage is applied, for providing a passive loop through function. In a preferred embodiment, the tuner circuit is designed for reception of television channels, and for the variable capacitance diode one or two tuning variable capacitance diode is used being designed for satellite tuners with a frequency range of 1-2 GHz, or a specially designed variable capacitance diode with a capacitance ratio C1/C25>18 at a frequency of 1 MHz for DC reverse voltages of 1 and 25 Volts is used. Full Article
o Powder coating gun with manually operated controls on gun By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST Control method and apparatus for a manual spray gun may include a second manually actuated trigger disposed on the spray gun handle, with the second trigger being operational to select or change one or more coating operation parameters. Full Article
o PCB-based tuners for RF cavity filters By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST The present invention is directed to a piezo-electrically actuated membrane (ex.—a tuner) configured for use with a tunable cavity filter. The piezo-electrically actuated tuner may be formed of printed circuit board materials and may be placed over the cavities of the tunable cavity filter. Further, the piezo-electrically actuated tuner may promote high level performance of the tunable cavity filter, while allowing the tunable cavity filter to be tunable across wide bands. Full Article
o Self-calibrating RFID transponder By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST A RFID transponder includes a resonant circuit for providing a clock signal at a predetermined clock frequency, a self-calibration stage for calibrating the resonant circuit's current clock frequency towards the predetermined clock frequency. The self-calibration stage is adapted to compare a first clock frequency of the resonant circuit determined during an interrogation period, during which the resonant circuit is excited by an external RF signal, with a second clock frequency determined during a frequency maintenance period, during which the resonant circuit is excited internally through an oscillation maintenance circuit of the RFID transponder and to calibrate the resonant circuit towards the predetermined clock frequency based on the comparison result. Full Article
o TWACS pulse inductor reversal circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST A circuit (C1-C4) is employed in a TWACS transponder (T) installed in an electric meter (M). The transponder generates inbound signals (IB) transmitted from the location of the electric meter to a central location (R). Firmware (F) within the transponder controls the flow of current for each pulse through the circuit by triggering a semi-conductor device such as a SCR (X1) or TRIAC (X2). The resulting current flow through the inductor for a subsequent pulse, regardless of the pulse's polarity, will be in the opposite direction to that of the previous pulse. The result is to maintain a constant level of magnetization of the inductor core which does not have to be overcome by energy in the subsequent pulse resulting in amplitude of all the pulses imposed on an AC waveform being substantially the same. Full Article
o Electrical components and method of manufacture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT An electrical component provides a ceramic element located on or in a dielectric substrate between and in contact with a pair of electrical conductors, wherein the ceramic element includes one or more metal oxides having fluctuations in metal-oxide compositional uniformity less than or equal to 1.5 mol % throughout the ceramic element. A method of fabricating an electrical component, provides or forming a ceramic element between and in contact with a pair of electrical conductors on a substrate including depositing a mixture of metalorganic precursors and causing simultaneous decomposition of the metal oxide precursors to form the ceramic element including one or more metal oxides. Full Article
o Stopper structure for rotary operation member, electronic device, and channel stopper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A stopper structure includes a wall defining an opening. A rotary electronic component has a rotational shaft extending through the opening. A channel stopper has a tubular body and an engagement projection. The tubular body is detachably mounted onto the rotational shaft and is inhibited from rotating relative thereto. The engagement projection extends from an end of the tubular body in an axial direction and a radial direction with respect to the rotational shaft. A rotary operation member is detachably mounted onto the rotational shaft and the tubular body and is inhibited from rotating relative thereto. The rotary operation member has an axial hole in which at least portions of the rotational shaft and the tubular body fit. A limiting portion provided on the wall is engageable with the engagement projection for limiting a range of rotation of the rotational shaft. Full Article
o Trimming circuit for clock source By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor trimming circuit includes parallel coupled PMOS devices coupled in parallel with parallel coupled NMOS devices and an additional pair of dummy NMOS devices. The dummy NMOS devices are coupled in parallel with the NMOS devices. A trimming circuit for an internal clock source may be formed with an array of such switches for selecting one or more trimming capacitors of the trimming circuit. Such an array has a low leakage current and permits good trimming linearity. Full Article
o Tuner module and a receiving apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT Provided are a tuner module and a receiving apparatus capable of providing great degrees of variation and freedom to a layout in a main board, improving a degree of freedom of design, and achieving low cost. A tuner module includes a tuner module board on which a tuner functional unit is formed, a main board on which the tuner module board is surface-mounted, and a shield casing including at least one antenna connector, arranged to cover the surface-mounted tuner module board, and fixed to the main board. In the shield casing, a length of a longest long-side is a length equal to or less than ¼ of a wavelength of a highest received frequency in the air. Full Article
o Tuner module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A tuner module is characterized by: a chassis formed with lateral surfaces wrapping four corners to open both sides; an upper cover covering one opened side of the chassis to be provided with an elastic fixation end that is fixed at the lateral surface; and a lower cover applying pressure to an external surface of the elastic fixation end to cover the other opened side of the chassis whereby another elastic hitching end that is fixed at the lateral surface is provided. Full Article
o Tuner module and receiving device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A tuner module includes a tuner module substrate having a tuner function part formed thereon, a case body having a shielding function of holding and incorporating at least the tuner module substrate, a circuit board on which the tuner module substrate is mounted, and at least one antenna connector to be fixed to the case body and having a core wire connected to the tuner module substrate incorporated in the case body. A part of the circuit board is contained inside the case body. Full Article
o Device having inductor and memcapacitor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT Methods and means related to an electronic circuit having an inductor and a memcapacitor are provided. Circuitry is formed upon a substrate such that an inductor and non-volatile memory capacitor are formed. Additional circuitry can be optionally formed on the substrate as well. The capacitive value of the memcapacitor is adjustable within a range by way of an applied programming voltage. The capacitive value of the memcapacitor is maintained until reprogrammed at some later time. Oscillators, phase-locked loops and other circuits can be configured using embodiments of the present teachings. Full Article
o IC package with embedded transformer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Aspects of a method and system for configuring a transformer embedded in a multi-layer integrated circuit package are provided. In this regard, a windings ratio of a transformer embedded in a multi-layer IC package bonded to an IC may be configured, via logic, circuitry, and/or code in the IC, based on signal levels at one or more terminals of the transformer. The transformer may comprise a plurality of inductive loops fabricated in transmission line media. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package. The IC may comprise a signal strength indicator enabled to measure signal levels input to or output by the transformer. The windings ratio may be configured via one or more switches in the IC and/or in the multi-layer package. The IC and/or the multi-layer package may comprise ferromagnetic material which may improve magnetic coupling of the transformer. Full Article
o Mechanically controlled variable capacitors for impedance tuners By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An improved grounding technique for mechanically adjustable rotary capacitors uses a directly grounded bronze sliding contact to effectively and continuously ground the rotating comb-like blades of the capacitor. RF measurements of the continuity and repeatability of the capacitance settings prove the suitability of the modified capacitors for using in pre-calibrated multi-capacitor MHz range impedance tuners. Full Article
o Complex tuner module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST There is provided a complex tuner module including a plurality of tuner chips through which users may simultaneously view and record a plurality of channels. The complex tuner module includes: a module substrate having a plurality of tuner chips mounted thereon; and a chassis part connected to the module substrate and having a plurality of blocking sidewalls disposed in spaces between the tuner chips to thereby block interference between the tuner chips. Full Article
o Method and apparatus for use in digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for use in a digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device is described. A Digitally Tuned Capacitor DTC is described which facilitates digitally controlling capacitance applied between a first and second terminal. In some embodiments, the first terminal comprises an RF+ terminal and the second terminal comprises an RF− terminal. In accordance with some embodiments, the DTCs comprise a plurality of sub-circuits ordered in significance from least significant bit (LSB) to most significant bit (MSB) sub-circuits, wherein the plurality of significant bit sub-circuits are coupled together in parallel, and wherein each sub-circuit has a first node coupled to the first RF terminal, and a second node coupled to the second RF terminal. The DTCs further include an input means for receiving a digital control word, wherein the digital control word comprises bits that are similarly ordered in significance from an LSB to an MSB. Full Article
o Aqueous ink, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, recording unit and ink jet recording apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides an aqueous ink comprising a polymer having hydroxyl groups and a pigment, which can provide images excellent in scratch resistance and highlighter resistance and can inhibit the seeping out phenomenon of the polymer and the deterioration of storage stability and ejection characteristics even when it is stored for a long period of time. The aqueous ink comprises a polymer having hydroxyl groups and a pigment, wherein a proportion of a content of a polymer that is not adsorbed on the pigment out of the polymer having hydroxyl groups to the content of the pigment in the ink is 2.0 mass % or more, and a content (mass %) of the polymer that is not adsorbed on the pigment out of the polymer having hydroxyl groups is 0.20 mass % or less based on the total mass of the ink. Full Article
o Recording apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT A recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes a U-turn conveying path and a redirecting conveying path. The U-turn conveying path reverses the front and back of the recording medium and conveys the recording medium to a conveying roller. The redirecting conveying path reverses a conveying direction of the recording medium, fed from the front side of a main body of the apparatus, at an upstream side of the conveying roller in the conveying direction, and conveys the recording medium to the conveying roller. Then, a first recording medium is conveyed along the U-turn conveying path, and a second recording medium is conveyed along the redirecting conveying path. Full Article
o Pattern printing system and data processing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT A pattern printing system and data processing method thereof are disclosed, which are suitable for printing patterns on printed circuit boards or data format rearrangement printing used in displays. The pattern printing method includes a process for interpreting scription data into matrix data, a procedure for modulating the print head resolution and the printing resolution, a procedure for interpreting and transmitting data commands, a procedure for rearranging memory data, and a procedure for firing data synchronously so as to achieve high-resolution printing and to continuously modulate any print data. Full Article
o Handy printer and mobile phone provided with the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT A handy printer and a mobile phone based on the use of the same are provided, wherein the printing can be performed on recording paper sheets having various sizes. The handy printer comprises a cover member which is movable between an exposure position at which an ink discharge surface of an ink discharge head is exposable to the outside and a cover position at which the discharge surface is hidden from the outside. When the cover member is positioned at the cover position, the recording is permitted on a recording paper sheet accommodated in a recording paper-accommodating mechanism. When the cover member is positioned at the exposure position, the recording is permitted on a recording medium disposed outside a handy-printer body casing. Full Article
o Optical beam scanning apparatus and digital writing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT An optical beam scanning apparatus is disclosed, including: a laser source that emits an optical beam, a deflection part that deflects the optical beam, a light receiving part that receives a returning light of the optical beam which is deflected toward the laser source by the deflection part, a signal generation part that generates a synchronization detection signal, and an optical source drive part that conducts a lighting control of the laser source. The light receiving part is arranged in vicinity to the laser source. The signal generation part detects a timing at which the light receiving part receives the returning light, by an output signal from the light receiving part to generate the synchronization detection signal. The optical source drive part conducts the lighting control of the laser source in response to the synchronization detection signal as a reference. Full Article
o Print apparatus and control method for the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT One of mark sensors is automatically selected in accordance with specifications of a thermal sheet. A cutting position on the thermal sheet is decided on the basis of an output of the selected one mark sensor. Full Article