Scott Andrew Yoder

US Patent:

8571492, Oct 29, 2013

Filed:

Nov 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/289134

Inventors:

Jean-Christophe Berchtold - Carlsbad CA, US
Joseph Hubert Colles - Bonsall CA, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF Micro Devices, Inc. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

H01Q 11/12
H04B 1/04
H04B 1/38
H04M 1/00

US Classification:

455 91, 4551271, 455572, 323262, 323345

Abstract:

A sample-and-hold (SAH) current estimating circuit and a first switching power supply are disclosed. The first switching power supply provides a first switching power supply output signal based on a series switching element and a setpoint. The SAH current estimating circuit samples a voltage across the series switching element of the first switching power supply during an ON state of the series switching element and during a ramping signal peak to provide an SAH output signal based on an estimate of an output current of the first switching power supply output signal. The first switching power supply selects the ON state of the series switching element, such that during the ramping signal peak, the series switching element has a series current having a magnitude, which is about equal to a magnitude of the output current of the first switching power supply output signal.

US Patent:

20120043956, Feb 23, 2012

Filed:

Nov 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/287672

Inventors:

William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
Jean-Christophe Berchtold - Carlsbad CA, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF Micro Devices, Inc. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

G05F 5/00

US Classification:

323318

Abstract:

RF PA circuitry and a DC-DC converter, which includes an RF PA envelope power supply and DC-DC control circuitry, are disclosed. The PA envelope power supply provides an envelope power supply signal to the RF PA circuitry. The DC-DC control circuitry has a DC-DC look-up table (LUT) structure, which has at least a first DC-DC LUT. The DC-DC control circuitry uses DC-DC LUT index information as an index to the DC-DC LUT structure to obtain DC-DC converter operational control parameters. The DC-DC control circuitry then configures the PA envelope power supply using the DC-DC converter operational control parameters. Using the DC-DC LUT structure provides flexibility in configuring the DC-DC converter for different applications, for multiple static operating conditions, for multiple dynamic operating conditions, or any combination thereof.

US Patent:

20120052825, Mar 1, 2012

Filed:

Nov 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/288318

Inventors:

William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Hui Liu - San Diego CA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF MICRO DEVICES, INC. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

H04B 1/04

US Classification:

4551272

Abstract:

Radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) circuitry, which transmits RF signals is disclosed. The RF PA circuitry includes a final stage, a final stage current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC), and a final stage temperature compensation circuit. A final stage current reference circuit may provide an uncompensated final stage reference current to the final stage temperature compensation circuit, which receives and temperature compensates the uncompensated final stage reference current to provide a final stage reference current. The final stage IDAC uses the final stage reference current in a digital-to-analog conversion to provide a final stage bias signal to bias the final stage. The temperature compensation provided by the final stage temperature compensation circuit is selectable.

US Patent:

20120117284, May 10, 2012

Filed:

Nov 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/289302

Inventors:

William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
Christopher Truong Ngo - Queen Creek AZ, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF MICRO DEVICES, INC. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

G06F 13/42

US Classification:

710105

Abstract:

A configurable 2-wire/3-wire serial communications interface (C23SCI), which includes start-of-sequence (SOS) detection circuitry and sequence processing circuitry, is disclosed. When the SOS detection circuitry is coupled to a 2-wire serial communications bus, the SOS detection circuitry detects an SOS of a received sequence based on a serial data signal and a serial clock signal. When the SOS detection circuitry is coupled to a 3-wire serial communications bus, the SOS detection circuitry detects the SOS of the received sequence based on a chip select (CS) signal. In response to detecting the SOS, the SOS detection circuitry provides an SOS detection signal to the sequence processing circuitry, which initiates processing of the received sequence using the serial data signal and the serial clock signal. The received sequence is associated with one of multiple serial communications protocols.

US Patent:

20120161877, Jun 28, 2012

Filed:

Nov 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/288478

Inventors:

William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
Jean-Christophe Berchtold - Carlsbad CA, US
Wonseok Oh - Chandler AZ, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF MICRO DEVICES, INC. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

H03F 3/20

US Classification:

330296

Abstract:

A charge pump of a PA bias power supply, PA bias circuitry, and a process to optimize efficiency of the PA bias power supply are disclosed. The charge pump operates in one of multiple bias supply pump operating modes, which include at least a bias supply pump-up operating mode and a bias supply bypass operating mode. The process prevents selection of the bias supply bypass operating mode unless a DC power supply voltage is adequate to allow the PA bias circuitry to provide minimum output regulation voltage at a specified current. Otherwise, the bias supply pump-up operating mode is selected. The charge pump operates more efficiently in the bias supply bypass operating mode than in the bias supply pump-up operating mode; therefore, selection of the bias supply bypass operating mode, when possible, increases efficiency.

US Patent:

20120280746, Nov 8, 2012

Filed:

Nov 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/287713

Inventors:

Robert Deuchars - Carlsbad CA, US
Jean-Christophe Berchtold - Carlsbad CA, US
Joseph Hubert Colles - Bonsall CA, US
David Zimlich - San Diego CA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF MICRO DEVICES, INC. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

G05F 3/08
H03F 3/68

US Classification:

330124 R, 323311

Abstract:

A direct current (DC)-DC converter having a DC-DC converter semiconductor die and an alpha flying capacitive element is disclosed. The DC-DC converter semiconductor die includes a first series alpha switching element, a second series alpha switching element, a first alpha flying capacitor connection node, which is about over the second series alpha switching element, and a second alpha flying capacitor connection node, which is about over the first series alpha switching element. The alpha flying capacitive element is electrically coupled between the first alpha flying capacitor connection node and the second alpha flying capacitor connection node. By locating the first alpha flying capacitor connection node and the second alpha flying capacitor connection node about over the second series alpha switching element and the first series alpha switching element, respectively, lengths of transient current paths may be minimized, thereby reducing noise and potential interference.

US Patent:

20120280747, Nov 8, 2012

Filed:

Nov 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/287726

Inventors:

David Zimlich - San Diego CA, US
Jean-Christophe Berchtold - Carlsbad CA, US
Joseph Hubert Colles - Bonsall CA, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF MICRO DEVICES, INC. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

H03F 3/68
G05F 3/08

US Classification:

330124 R, 323311

Abstract:

At least a first shunt switching element and switching control circuitry of a first switching power supply are disclosed. At least the first shunt switching element is coupled between a ground and an output inductance node of the first switching power supply. The first switching power supply provides a buck output signal from the output inductance node. The switching control circuitry selects one of an ON state and an OFF state of the first shunt switching element. When the buck output signal is above a first threshold, the switching control circuitry is inhibited from selecting the ON state. The first switching power supply provides a first switching power supply output signal based on the buck output signal. By using feedback based on the buck output signal, the switching control circuitry may refine the timing of switching between series switching elements and shunt switching elements to increase efficiency.

US Patent:

20120282869, Nov 8, 2012

Filed:

Nov 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/288517

Inventors:

William David Southcombe - San Diego CA, US
Chris Levesque - Fountain Valley CA, US
Roman Zbigniew Arkiszewski - Oak Ridge NC, US
David E. Jones - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Scott Yoder - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Terry J. Stockert - Cedar Rapids IA, US

Assignee:

RF MICRO DEVICES, INC. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

H04W 88/00

US Classification:

4551271

Abstract:

A power amplifier (PA) envelope power supply, radio frequency (RF) PA circuitry, and a process to select a converter operating mode of the PA envelope power supply based on linearity requirements of the RF PA circuitry is disclosed. The PA envelope power supply operates in one of a first converter operating mode and a second converter operating mode. The process for selecting the converter operating mode is based on a required degree of linearity of the RF PA circuitry. The PA envelope power supply provides an envelope power supply signal to the RF PA circuitry. Selection of the converter operating mode may provide efficient operation of the PA envelope power supply and the envelope power supply signal needed for proper operation of the RF PA circuitry.