Apple Inc.

Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Applie Inc.

Jaime Tolentino

Camille Chen

Michael Jason Giles

Lei Li

Gary S Thomason

Chris Hartman

Arthur Lin

Chris Zimmermann

David A Hardell

Huy Le

Michael A Robinson

Jacques Ah Wong

Hassan Lashkari

David Chiang

Methods and apparatus for reduction of interference between a plurality of wireless interfaces. In one exemplary embodiment, a device having a first (e.g., Wi-Fi) interface and a second (e.g., Bluetooth) interface monitors interference between its interfaces. A reduction in transmit power of the Wi-Fi module causes a disproportionately larger reduction in undesirable interference experienced at the Bluetooth antennas. For example, when the Bluetooth interface detects interference levels above acceptable thresholds, the Wi-Fi interface adjusts operation of one or more of its transmit chains based on various conditions such as duty cycle, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), etc. Various embodiments of the present invention provide simultaneous operation of WLAN and PAN interfaces, without requiring time division coexistence, by reducing power on a subset of interfering antennas.

Methods and apparatus for wireless coexistence based on transceiver chain emphasis

Methods and apparatus for mitigating the effects of interference between multiple air interfaces located on an electronic device. In one embodiment, the air interfaces include a WLAN interface and PAN (e.g., Bluetooth) interface, and information such as Receiver Signal Strength Index (RSSI) as well as system noise level information are used in order to intelligently execute interference mitigation methodologies, including the selective application of modified frequency selection, variation of transmitter power, and/or change of operating mode (e.g., from multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) to single-in, single-out (SISO)) so as to reduce isolation requirements between the interfaces. These methods and apparatus are particularly well suited to use cases where the WLAN interface is operating with high data transmission rates. Business methods associated with the foregoing technology are also described.

Methods and apparatus for enhanced coexistence algorithms in wireless systems

Electronic devices such as portable computers may contain circuits that generate radio-frequency noise. The radio-frequency noise may interfere with the operation of sensitive circuitry such as wireless communications circuitry. The circuits that generate the radio-frequency noise may include differential signal drivers that drive signals onto communications lines such as lines in a bus or output interface. A control circuit may power the drivers at an adjustable driver voltage bias level. The amount of noise that is generated by the drivers may vary as a function of the voltage bias level and may produce different amounts of noise at different wireless frequencies. Computer lid position and other factors may also influence the amount of interference that is generated. The control circuit may determine the current operating state of the device and may make voltage bias level adjustments that minimize interference between the drivers and the wireless circuitry.

Electronic device with dynamic drive strength adjustment to mitigate impact of system noise on wireless performance

Methods and apparatus for enhancing network capacity in a network comprising multiple wireless communication that overlap at least partly in frequency spectrum. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a portable device such as a laptop or smartphone having both a WLAN (e.g., Wi-Fi) interface and a PAN (e.g., Bluetooth) interface which each operate with approximately the same frequency range. One variant places the WLAN interface into a power-saving mode as a default, thereby mitigating interference with the PAN interface in cases where the WLAN interface is not in active use. In another variant, an aggressive PAN management algorithm is used to enforce network policy on the PAN interface, thereby mitigating interference between the PAN interface and the WLAN interfaces of other devices in the network (as well as the parent device). AP-based variants are also described. Methods of operation and doing business utilizing the aforementioned apparatus are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for network capacity enhancement for wireless device coexistence

A spare gate cell on a integrated circuit contains both a configurable logic gate and one or more inverters. Inputs of these circuits have an appearance, accessible by the automatic place-and-route tool, at the topmost metal layer on the integrated circuit, which is metal,or higher. The outputs of the circuit preferably are accessible up to the same metal layer. The combination of the configurable gate circuit and one or more inverters enables any one such cell to selectively implement a wide range of logic functions by making appropriate connections during fib-mill processing of the integrated circuit device. The use of interconnections at the topmost layer facilitates reconfiguring a circuit to implement desired logic and interconnection thereof into the pre-defined logic on the integrated circuit. The inventive spare gate cells provide a high degree of design flexibility, both for circuit debug operations and for implementation of enhanced logic functions.

Efficient use of spare gates for post-silicon debug and enhancements

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Jaime Tolentino