Benjamin J Cook

US Patent:

8086208, Dec 27, 2011

Filed:

Dec 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/329403

Inventors:

Benjamin Walter Cook - Berkeley CA, US
Axel Dominique Berny - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Passif Semiconductor Corp. - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

H04B 1/26

US Classification:

455323, 455293

Abstract:

A passive wireless receiver to receive an input signal and passively process the input signal to generate an output signal. An embodiment of the receiver includes an input circuit, a dynamic switching circuit, and a switch signal generator. The input circuit is configured to receive an input signal and produce a first output signal. The input circuit includes a passive network configured to condition the input signal. The dynamic switching circuit is configured to perform frequency translation on the first output signal. The switch signal generator is configured to drive the dynamic switching circuit to activate and deactivate the dynamic switching circuit at a sampling frequency that is controlled and stabilized by a frequency control circuit.

US Patent:

8432219, Apr 30, 2013

Filed:

Oct 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/267491

Inventors:

Benjamin W. Cook - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Passif Semiconductor Corp. - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

H04B 1/10
H03G 11/00

US Classification:

330135, 455308

Abstract:

An amplitude control system including one or more multi-element array power amplifiers (MEA-PA), each MEA-PA including multiple amplifiers, multiple capacitors, and multiple enable circuits. Each amplifier has an input coupled to a common input node and an output coupled to a corresponding one of multiple intermediate nodes. Each capacitor has a first end coupled to an output node and a second end coupled to a corresponding intermediate node. The enable circuits are collectively controlled by an amplitude control value, and each is operative to enable or disable a corresponding amplifier. The enable circuits may be dynamically controlled to modulate amplitude. A coupling circuit may be provided to couple an intermediate node to a reference node when a corresponding amplifier is disabled to adjust a coupling ratio. Each amplifier, when enabled, may receive one of multiple supply reference voltages. The capacitors may have equal capacitance or may be binary-weighted.

US Patent:

8498605, Jul 30, 2013

Filed:

May 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/102752

Inventors:

Benjamin W. Cook - San Francisco CA, US
Axel D. Berny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Passif Semiconductor Corp. - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

H04B 1/28
H04B 1/26
H04B 1/40

US Classification:

455333, 455325, 455 73

Abstract:

A passive frequency translator with positive conversion voltage gain including at least one input node for receiving an input signal, at least one output node for providing an output signal, and a network coupled to the at least one input node and to the at least one output node, in which the network includes multiple capacitors and switches operatively coupled thereto. The switches are controlled by corresponding clock signals to capture charge of the input signal onto the capacitors and to develop the output signal by performing frequency translation of the input signal by a mixing frequency in such a manner that DC energy of the input signal is substantially blocked from the output signal. The output signal has a net voltage gain relative to the input signal in which energy of the output signal is predominantly derived from energy of the input signal.

US Patent:

8543055, Sep 24, 2013

Filed:

May 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/102784

Inventors:

Benjamin W. Cook - San Francisco CA, US
Axel D. Berny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04B 7/14

US Classification:

455 20, 455323

Abstract:

A passive frequency translator with positive conversion voltage gain including at least one input node for receiving an input signal, at least one output node for providing an output signal, and a network which includes capacitors and switches operatively coupled the capacitors and the one or more input and output nodes. The switches are controlled by corresponding clock signals to capture charge of the input signal onto the capacitors and to develop the output signal by performing frequency translation of the input signal by a mixing frequency. The output signal has a net voltage gain relative to the input signal in which energy of the output signal is predominantly derived from energy of the input signal. Furthermore, each of at least three capacitors are configured to capture charge from the input signal and to add constructively to deliver charge to at least one other capacitor coupled to the output node.

US Patent:

20110260839, Oct 27, 2011

Filed:

Apr 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/092586

Inventors:

Benjamin W. Cook - Berkeley CA, US
Axel D. Berny - Berkeley CA, US
Jason A. Trachewsky - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

PASSIF SEMICONDUCTOR CORP - Oakland CA

International Classification:

H04Q 5/22

US Classification:

340 104

Abstract:

An autonomous battery-free microwave frequency communication device which includes a capacitance, at least one antenna, a microwave energy harvesting system, a microwave frequency transceiver, and a control system. The energy harvesting system is configured to harvest and store microwave energy received via the antenna onto the capacitance. The transceiver is empowered by energy stored on the capacitance, and is configured to autonomously generate a microwave frequency carrier and to autonomously transmit information using the microwave frequency carrier according to a predetermined communications protocol via the antenna. The control system is empowered by energy stored on the capacitance, and is configured to provide information for transmission. Energy may be harvested from various communication forms, such as wireless network protocols or cellular communications. The frequency band from which energy is harvested may differ from the frequency band used for communications. The energy storage enables autonomous communications with external devices according to common or standard wireless communication protocols.

US Patent:

20120058727, Mar 8, 2012

Filed:

Aug 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/220224

Inventors:

Benjamin W. Cook - San Francisco CA, US
Axel D. Berny - San Francisco CA, US
Clarke S. Watson - San Carlos CA, US
Jason A. Trachewsky - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

PASSIF SEMICONDUCTOR CORP. - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

H04B 7/00
H04B 3/00
H04R 5/00

US Classification:

455 413, 381 17, 381 80

Abstract:

A wireless speaker system configured to receive stereo audio information wirelessly transmitted by an audio source including first and second loudspeakers. The first loudspeaker establishes a bidirectional secondary wireless link with the audio source for receiving and acknowledging receipt of the stereo audio information. The first and second loudspeakers communicate with each other via a primary wireless link, and the first and second loudspeakers are configured to extract first and second audio channels, respectively, from the stereo audio information. A wireless audio system including an audio source and first and second loudspeakers, each having a wireless transceiver. The first and second loudspeakers communicate via a primary wireless link. The audio source communicates audio information to the first loudspeaker via a secondary wireless link which is configured according to a standard wireless protocol. The first loudspeaker is configured to acknowledge successful reception of audio information via the secondary wireless link.

US Patent:

20120087503, Apr 12, 2012

Filed:

Oct 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/267557

Inventors:

Clarke S. Watson - San Carlos CA, US
Benjamin W. Cook - San Francisco CA, US
Axel D. Berny - San Francisco CA, US
Jason A. Trachewsky - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Passif Semiconductor Corp. - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

H04R 5/02
H04R 5/00

US Classification:

381 23, 381307

Abstract:

A wireless multi-channel audio system including an audio source with a wireless transceiver configured to communicate according to a standard wireless protocol and an audio controller, which are collectively configured to establish wireless communications with multiple audio sinks via a corresponding wireless link, to assign each audio sink a corresponding audio channel, to synchronize timing with each audio sink, and to transmit audio information for each audio channel to a corresponding audio sink via a corresponding wireless link. The audio source may inquire as to supported audio parameters, such as sample rate and audio codec, and selects a commonly supported configuration. The audio source may separate audio information into queues for each audio channel for each audio sink. The audio source transmits frames with timestamps and a common start time for synchronization, and the audio sinks use this information to synchronize timing and remain virtually synchronized with each other.

US Patent:

20120218053, Aug 30, 2012

Filed:

Jul 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/188453

Inventors:

Benjamin W. Cook - San Francisco CA, US
Axel D. Berny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

PASSIF SEMICONDUCTOR CORP - San Mateo CA

International Classification:

H03H 7/38

US Classification:

333166

Abstract:

A discrete-time analog filter including multiple storage cells each coupled to common input and output ports and each including at least one of capacitor and at least one switch. Each cell periodically samples an input signal and contributes to an output signal. At least two cells sample the input signal at different frequencies. The cells may be grouped together into one or more filter taps, where each filter tap may have a specified timing delay. Timing signals of a given tap may be non-overlapping phases of a given frequency. Cells may have a fixed or programmable capacitance associated with a corresponding weighting coefficient, and different taps may have different weighting coefficients. Taps may be coupled to implement a negative weighting coefficient. Programmable gain may be implemented with switches or by tap output coupling including sub-filter summing arrangements. Self-timed cells based on a master clock are disclosed.