How Wireless Radios Automatically Adjust to Avoid Signal Overload
A method for wireless devices to automatically rearrange their internal signal-processing components when incoming radio signals are too strong and threaten to overwhelm the hardware.
Original patent title: “Interrupt driven reconfiguration of configurable receiver front end module”
A method for wireless devices to automatically rearrange their internal signal-processing components when incoming radio signals are too strong and threaten to overwhelm the hardware. Granted to Silicon Laboratories Inc in 2025 with 22 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system that monitors the strength of incoming radio frequency (RF) signals to prevent hardware damage or data corruption. When a signal is too powerful, it triggers an interrupt—a signal to the device's controller—indicating that either the Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) or the internal passive network is being overloaded. In response, the system dynamically reconfigures the signal path by changing the order of components or bypassing the LNA entirely. For example, if a signal is too strong for the LNA, the device might switch from a 'rural mode' (direct antenna connection) to an 'urban mode' (routing the signal through an RF filter first) to attenuate the power before it hits sensitive components.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover manual configuration of radio front ends by a user.
- Does not cover signal processing techniques that rely solely on software-based filtering without hardware reconfiguration.
- Does not cover systems that lack an interrupt-driven feedback mechanism for detecting signal overload.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Instead of just turning the gain down, the system physically changes the signal path topology—reordering the components—based on which specific part of the chip is reporting an overload.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Smartphones switching between signal processing modes in dense urban environments
IoT sensors maintaining connectivity near high-power radio transmitters
Software-defined radio front-end modules
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As wireless devices like smartphones and IoT sensors operate in increasingly crowded radio environments, they frequently encounter high-power interference. This patent provides a standardized way for hardware to 'self-protect' without dropping the connection, which is essential for maintaining reliable communication in dense urban areas or near transmission towers.
Filed
August 29, 2022
Granted
March 18, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Silicon Laboratories Inc. is the primary assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → and a major player in high-performance analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. They continue to focus on low-power wireless connectivity solutions for the IoT market, where this type of adaptive hardware is increasingly critical.
Market impact
This technology enables more robust wireless performance in challenging RF environments, effectively allowing hardware to be more resilient to signal interference. It helps manufacturers reduce the need for expensive, bulky external shielding by handling signal overload through intelligent, real-time hardware reconfiguration.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system that monitors the strength of incoming radio frequency (RF) signals to prevent hardware damage or data corruption. When a signal is too powerful, it triggers an interrupt—a signal to the device's controller—indicating that either the Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) or the internal passive network is being overloaded. In response, the system dynamically reconfigures the signal path by changing the order of components or bypassing the LNA entirely. For example, if a signal is too strong for the LNA, the device might switch from a 'rural mode' (direct antenna connection) to an 'urban mode' (routing the signal through an RF filter first) to attenuate the power before it hits sensitive components.
The clever bit
Instead of just turning the gain down, the system physically changes the signal path topology—reordering the components—based on which specific part of the chip is reporting an overload.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover manual configuration of radio front ends by a user.
- Does not cover signal processing techniques that rely solely on software-based filtering without hardware reconfiguration.
- Does not cover systems that lack an interrupt-driven feedback mechanism for detecting signal overload.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$41K – $131K
Midpoint $82K · 16.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Ruijter, H. D., Voor, T. E., & Sonntag, J. L. (2025). How Wireless Radios Automatically Adjust to Avoid Signal Overload (U.S. Patent No. 12,255,678). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12255678/falcon-1
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Wireless Radios Automatically Adjust to Avoid Signal Overload cover?
A method for wireless devices to automatically rearrange their internal signal-processing components when incoming radio signals are too strong and threaten to overwhelm the hardware.
Who owns patent US 12255678?
Silicon Laboratories Inc owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 18, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
As wireless devices like smartphones and IoT sensors operate in increasingly crowded radio environments, they frequently encounter high-power interference. This patent provides a standardized way for hardware to 'self-protect' without dropping the connection, which is essential for maintaining reliable communication in dense urban areas or near transmission towers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover manual configuration of radio front ends by a user.
Patent monitoring