Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100203848 | FIXED BANDWIDTH LO-GEN - A local oscillation generator (LO-GEN) maintains a fixed bandwidth using a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) calibration module and gain calibration module that together compensate for variations in the VCO gain based on the oscillation frequency. During an open loop calibration of the LO-GEN, the VCO calibration module programs the VCO gain to an initial coarse value based on the oscillation frequency and then the gain calibration module adjusts the charge pump current to compensate for VCO gain changes. | 08-12-2010 |
20100240328 | RF TRANSMITTER FRONT-END AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A radio frequency (RF) transmitter front-end includes a digital to analog conversion module and a power amplifier module. The digital to analog conversion module is coupled to convert amplitude information into analog amplitude adjust signals when a first mode is active and is coupled to convert power level information into analog power level signals when a second mode is active. The power amplifier module is coupled to amplify first phase modulated RF signals in accordance with the analog amplitude adjust signals to produce first outbound RF signals when the first mode is active and is coupled to amplify second phase modulated RF signals in accordance with the analog power level signals to produce second outbound RF signals when the second mode is active. | 09-23-2010 |
20100290562 | Digital Compensation for Nonlinearities in a Polar Transmitter - A polar transmitter includes a digital processor coupled to receive a complex modulated digital signal and a feedback signal produced from the complex modulated digital signal and that is operable to compare the complex modulated digital signal to the feedback signal to determine an error signal indicative of a difference between the complex modulated digital signal and the feedback signal. The digital processor is further operable to produce a correction signal from the error signal and to add the correction signal to the complex modulated digital signal to produce a corrected complex modulated digital signal. | 11-18-2010 |
20100310010 | RADIO FREQUENCY INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING FREQUENCY DEPENDENT NOISE MITIGATION WITH SPECTRUM SPREADING - A plurality of baseband clock signals by detecting an interference condition associated with at least one of the plurality of baseband clock signals and by spreading the spectrum of the at least one of the plurality of baseband clock signals when the interference condition is detected. | 12-09-2010 |
20110039505 | INTEGRATED MULTIMODE RADIO TRANSMITTER AND COMPONENTS THEREOF - An integrated multi-mode radio transmitter includes a multiplexor and a shared front-end. The is operable to select an IF signal of a plurality of IF signals based upon a selection signal that is indicative of a particular operational mode of the one of the plurality of IF signals. The shared front-end is coupled to receive the selected IF signal, wherein the shared front-end converts the selected IF signal into a radio frequency (RF) signal that is modulated in accordance with the particular operational mode of the one of the plurality of IF stages. | 02-17-2011 |
20110057731 | Feedback-Based Linearization of Voltage Controlled Oscillator - Embodiments of the present invention enable a feedback-based VCO linearization technique. Embodiments include a frequency locked loop formed by feeding back a VCO's output into the VCO's input in negative phase by means of a frequency-to-voltage (F/V) converter. Embodiments enable constant VCO gain over a wide input tuning range and across PVT variations. Further, embodiments can be nested within a PLL, for example, with negligible area and power consumption overhead. | 03-10-2011 |
20110064004 | RF Front-End With On-Chip Transmitter/Receiver Isolation and Noise-Matched LNA - Embodiments of an RF front-end are presented herein. In an embodiment, the RF front end comprises a power amplifier (PA), a noise-matched low-noise amplifier (LNA), a balance network, and a four-port isolation module. A first port of the isolation module is coupled to an antenna. The second port of the isolation module is coupled to the balancing network. The third port is coupled an output of the PA. The fourth port is coupled to a differential input of the noise-matched LNA. The isolation module effectively isolates the third port from the fourth port to prevent strong outbound signals received at the third port from saturating the LNA coupled to the fourth port. Isolation is achieved via electrical balance. In an embodiment, the signal path coupling the antenna at the first port to the differential input of the LNA at the fourth port is shorter than a wavelength of the inbound signal received by the antenna. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064005 | RF Front-End with Wideband Transmitter/Receiver Isolation - Embodiments of a four-port isolation module are presented herein. In an embodiment, the isolation module includes a step-up autotransformer comprising a first and second winding that are electrically coupled in series at a center node. The first port of the isolation module is configured to couple an antenna to a first end node of the series coupled windings. The second port of the isolation module is configured to couple a balancing network to a second end node of the series coupled windings. The third port is configured to couple a transmit path to the center node. The fourth port is configured to couple a differential receive path across the first end node and the second end node. The isolation module effectively isolates the third port from the fourth port to prevent strong outbound signals received at the third port from saturating an LNA coupled to the fourth port. | 03-17-2011 |
20110143822 | FULLY INTEGRATED COMPACT CROSS-COUPLED LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER - Fully integrated compact cross-coupled low noise amplifier. A circuitry implementation that includes two pairs of metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) (either N-type of P-type) operates as an LNA, which can be used within any of a wide variety of communication devices. A majority of the elements are integrated within the design and need not be implemented off-chip, and this can provide for a reduction in area required by the circuitry. A differential 100Ω input impedance is provided by this design. A higher than typical power supply voltage can be employed (if desired) to accommodate one possible implementation that includes two parallel implemented resistors to ground. | 06-16-2011 |
20110158134 | RF Front-End with On-Chip Transmitter/Receiver Isolation Using A Gyrator - An RF front-end with on-chip transmitter/receiver isolation using a gyrator is presented herein. The RF front end is configured to support full-duplex communication and includes a gyrator and a transformer. The gyrator includes two transistors that are configured to isolate the input of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) from the output of a power amplifier (PA). The gyrator is further configured to isolate the output of the PA from the input of the LNA. The gyrator is at least partially or fully capable of being integrated on silicon-based substrate. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158135 | RF Front-End with On-Chip Transmitter/Receiver Isolation Using the Hall Effect - An RF front-end with on-chip transmitter/receiver isolation using a gyrator is presented herein. The RF front end is configured to support full-duplex communication and includes a gyrator and a transformer. The gyrator includes a metal plate and an inductor that are configured to isolate the input of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) from the output of a power amplifier (PA) using the Hall effect. The gyrator is further configured to isolate the output of the PA from the input of the LNA. The gyrator is at least partially or fully capable of being integrated on silicon-based substrate. | 06-30-2011 |
20110165842 | MULTI-MODE CELLULAR IC FOR MULTI-MODE COMMUNICATIONS - An RFIC includes an RF section, a memory interface, a display interface, an audio codec, a bus matrix, and a processing unit. The RF section converts a first inbound RF signal into a first inbound symbol stream and converts a second inbound RF signal into a second inbound symbol stream. The memory interface is operably coupled to retrieve a video file from memory and the display interface is operable to provide video data to a display. The audio codec converts an output digital signal into an output voice signal. The processing unit converts the first inbound symbol stream into streaming video data; converts the second inbound symbol stream into the output digital signal; and facilitates providing, via the bus matrix, at least one of: the video file to the display interface as the video data; the streaming video data to the display interface as the video data; and the digital output signal to the audio codec. | 07-07-2011 |
20110299431 | FRONT END MODULE WITH A TUNABLE BALANCING NETWORK - A radio front module includes a power amplifier, a duplexer, and a tunable balancing network. The power amplifier is operably coupled to amplify an up-converted signal into an outbound wireless signal. The duplexer is operably coupled to an antenna and operable to provide electrical isolation between the outbound wireless signal and an inbound wireless signal. The tunable balancing network is operable to establish an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of the antenna. The tunable balancing network includes a plurality of capacitive elements, a plurality of resistive elements, and a plurality of low-voltage switching elements operable to, and in accordance with a tuning signal, couple one or more of the plurality of capacitive elements and one or more of the plurality of resistive elements to the duplexer as an impedance balancing load. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299433 | RF FRONT-END MODULE - A front-end module (FEM) includes first and second frequency band power amplifiers (PA), first and second frequency band receiver-transmitter (RX-TX) isolation modules, and an antenna interface unit. The PAs are operable to amplify first and second frequency band outbound RF signals, respectively. The RX-TX isolation modules are operable to isolate first and second frequency band inbound RF signals from first and second frequency band outbound RF signals in accordance with first and second frequency band isolation tuning signal, respectively. The antenna interface unit is operably tuned in accordance with an antenna interface tuning signal to output at least one of the first frequency band outbound RF signal and the second frequency band outbound RF signal and to receive at least one of the first frequency band inbound RF signal and the second frequency band inbound RF signal. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299435 | FRONT END MODULE WITH ACTIVE TUNING OF A BALANCING NETWORK - A radio front end includes a duplexer, a tunable balancing network, a detector module, and a processing module. The duplexer is operably coupled to an antenna and is operable to provide electrical isolation between an outbound wireless signal and an inbound wireless signal. The tunable balancing network is operably coupled to the duplexer and operable to establish an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of the antenna based on a tuning signal. The detector module is operable to generate an error signal based on an electrical performance characteristic of the duplexer. The processing module is operable to generate the tuning signal based on the error signal. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299436 | FRONT END MODULE WITH SCALABLE IMPEDANCE BALANCING - A radio front end includes a power amplifier, a duplexer, a detection module, a processing module, and a tunable balancing network. The duplexer is operable to provide electrical isolation between the outbound wireless signal and an inbound wireless signal. The detection module is operable to detect non-linear function of the power amplifier to produce a detected non-linearity and to detect transmit leakage of the duplexer to produce detected transmit leakage. The processing module is operable to generate a coarse tuning signal based on the detected non-linearity and to generate a fine tuning signal based on the detected transmit leakage. The tunable balancing network is operably coupled to the duplexer and operable to establish an impedance based on the coarse and fine tuning signals. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299437 | FRONT END MODULE WITH COMPENSATING DUPLEXER - A front end module includes a duplexer and a balancing network. The duplexer includes a compensation circuit and a transformer three windings having five nodes. The first node for operably coupling an antenna to the first winding; the second node operable to receive an outbound wireless signal and operably couples the first winding to the second winding; the third node operably couples the second winding to a balancing network; the fourth node operably coupled to output a first signal component corresponding to an inbound wireless signal from the third winding; and the fifth node operably coupled to output a second signal component corresponding to an inbound wireless signal from the third winding. The duplexer provides electrical isolation between the first and second signal components and the outbound wireless signal. The compensation module is operable to compensate the electrical isolation between the first and second signals and the outbound wireless signal. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299438 | FRONT END MODULE WITH AN ANTENNA TUNING UNIT - A radio front end includes an antenna tuning unit, a duplexer, a balancing network, and a processing module. The antenna tuning unit is operably coupled to an antenna and operable to tune an operational characteristic of the antenna based on an antenna tuning signal. The duplexer is operably coupled to the antenna tuning unit and operable to provide electrical isolation between an outbound wireless signal and an inbound wireless signal. The balancing network is operably coupled to the duplexer and operable to establish an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of the antenna. The processing module is operable to estimate the impedance of the antenna to produce an estimated antenna impedance and to generate the antenna tuning signal based on the estimated antenna impedance. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299459 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER WITH OFFSET RF FREQUENCY TRANSLATED BPF - A SAW-less receiver includes a front end module (FEM) interface module, an RF to IF section, and an IF to baseband section. The RF to IF section includes a frequency translated bandpass filter (FTBPF), an LNA, and a mixing section. The FTBPF includes a switching network and a complex baseband filter having an offset baseband filter response. The switching network is operable to frequency translate the offset baseband filter response to an RF frequency response such that the FTBPF filters the inbound RF signal by passing, substantially unattenuated, a desired RF signal component and by attenuating an image signal component and/or an undesired signal component. The LNA amplifies the filtered inbound RF signal and the mixing section mixes the amplified inbound RF signal with a local oscillation to produce an inbound IF signal. The IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into an inbound symbol stream(s). | 12-08-2011 |
20110299574 | PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE WITH A SAW-LESS TRANSCEIVER - A portable computing device includes an FEM, a SAW-less receiver, a SAW-less transmitter, and a baseband processing unit. The FEM isolates one or more outbound RF signals from one or more inbound RF signals. The SAW-less receiver converts the one or more inbound RF signals into one or more inbound intermediate frequency (IF) signals by frequency translating a baseband filter response to an IF filter response and/or an RF filter response. The SAW-less receiver filters the inbound RF signal(s) in accordance with the RF filter response and/or filters the inbound IF signal(s) in accordance with the IF filter response. The SAW-less receiver then converts the inbound IF signal(s) into inbound symbol stream(s). The SAW-less transmitter converts outbound symbol stream(s) into the outbound RF signal(s). The baseband processing unit converts outbound data into the outbound symbol stream(s) and convert the inbound symbol stream(s) into inbound data. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299576 | POLAR-BASED RF RECEIVER - A receiver includes a frequency translation bandpass filter (FTBPF) and an RF receiver section. The RF receiver section includes an amplifier section, a phase information detection module, an amplitude information detection module, and analog to digital conversion (ADC) modules. The FTBPF is operable to filter an inbound radio frequency (RF) signal to produce a filtered inbound RF signal. The amplifier section is operable to amplify the filtered inbound RF signal to produce an amplified inbound RF signal. The phase information detection module, when enabled, is operable to determine phase information from the amplified inbound RF signal. The amplitude information detection module, when enabled, is operable to determine amplitude information from the amplified inbound RF signal. A first one of the ADCs is operable to convert the phase information into digital phase information and a second one of the ADCs is operable to convert the amplitude information into digital amplitude information. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299631 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER INCLUDING TRANSIMPEDANCE AMPLIFIERS - A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes inverter based LNA modules, a mixing module, and transimpedance amplifier modules. The inverter based LNA modules amplify inbound RF signal to produce a positive leg current RF signal and a negative leg current RF signal. The mixing module converts the positive and negative leg current RF signals into an in-phase (I) mixed current signal and a quadrature (Q) mixed current signal. The transimpedance amplifier modules convert the I mixed current signal into an I mixed voltage signal and the Q mixed current signal into a Q mixed voltage signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the I and Q mixed voltage signals into one or more inbound symbol streams. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299632 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER WITH RF FREQUENCY TRANSLATED BPF - A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes a frequency translated bandpass filter (FTBPF), an LNA, and a mixing section. The FTBPF includes a switching network and a plurality of baseband impedances. The switching network is operable to couple the plurality of baseband impedances to the FEM interface in accordance with a plurality of phase-offset RF clock signals to RF bandpass filter the inbound RF signal. The LNA amplifies the filtered inbound RF signal and the mixing section mixes the amplified inbound RF signal with a local oscillation to produce an inbound IF signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into one or more inbound symbol streams. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299633 | MULTIPLE BAND SAW-LESS RECEIVER INCLUDING A FREQUENCY TRANSLATED BPF - A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes a frequency translated bandpass filter (FTBPF), an LNA, and a mixing section. The FTBPF includes a switching network and baseband impedances. The switching network is operable to frequency translate a baseband filter response to a first RF band frequency response and/or to a second RF frequency band response. The FTBPF filters the inbound RF signal to pass, substantially unattenuated, the first and/or second RF band signal components. The LNA amplifies the first and/or second filtered inbound RF signals and the mixing section mixes the first and/or second amplified inbound RF signals with a corresponding first and/or second local oscillation. The IF to baseband section converts the first and/or second inbound IF signals into first inbound symbol stream(s) and/or second inbound symbol stream(s). | 12-08-2011 |
20110299634 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER WITH A FREQUENCY TRANSLATED BPF HAVING A NEGATIVE RESISTANCE - A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes an RF frequency translated bandpass filter (FTBPF), an LNA, and a mixing section. The RF FTBPF frequency translates a baseband filter response to an RF filter response and filters an inbound RF signal in accordance with the RF filter response, wherein the inbound RF signal includes a loss error due to switching loss and/or inductor loss. The RF FTBPF also compensates the loss error based on a negative resistance. The LNA amplifies the compensated inbound RF signal and the mixing section mixes the amplified inbound RF signal with a local oscillation to produce an inbound IF signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into one or more inbound symbol streams. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299635 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER INCLUDING AN IF FREQUENCY TRANSLATED BPF - A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes a mixing module, a mixed buffer section, and a frequency translated BPF (FTBPF) circuit module. The mixing module converts an inbound RF signal into an in-phase (I) mixed signal and a quadrature (Q) mixed signal. The mixed buffer section filters and buffers the I mixed signal and filter and buffer the Q mixed signal. The FTBPF circuit module frequency translates a baseband filter response to an IF filter response such that the FTBPF circuit module filters undesired signal components of the IF I signal and the IF Q signal to produce an inbound IF signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into one or more inbound symbol streams. | 12-08-2011 |
20110300810 | TRANSCEIVER INCLUDING A WEAVED CONNECTION - A transceiver includes a local oscillation module, a transmitter section, and a receiver section. The local oscillation module is operable to generate a transmit local oscillation and a receive oscillation. The transmitter section includes a transmit mixing module and a transmit weaved connection that is operable to high frequency filter the transmit location oscillation. The transmit mixing module mixes the filtered transmit location oscillation with a transmit signal to produce an up-converted signal. The receiver section includes a receive mixing module and a receive weaved connection that is operable to high frequency filter the receive location oscillation. The receive mixing module mixes the filtered receive location oscillation with an RF received signal to produce a down-converted signal. | 12-08-2011 |
20110300814 | FRONT END MODULE WITH TONE INJECTION - A radio front end includes a power amplifier, a tone injection module, a duplexer, a balancing network, and a processing module. The tone injection module is operable, in a first mode, to produce a tone having a carrier frequency that is substantially similar to a carrier frequency of an inbound wireless signal. The duplexer is operable, in the first mode, to provide electrical isolation between the outbound wireless signal and a combination signal of the tone and inbound wireless signal and is operable, in a second mode, to provide electrical isolation between the outbound wireless signal and the inbound wireless signal. The processing module is operable to determine an amplitude of a tone component of the combination signal; correlate the amplitude of the tone component to an inbound frequency band isolation; and adjust baseband processing of a down converted representation of the combination signal based on the inbound frequency band isolation. | 12-08-2011 |
20110300818 | SAW-LESS TRANSMITTER - A SAW-less transmitter includes an up-conversion mixing module, a frequency translated BPF (FTBPF), an output module, and a power amplifier driver. The up-conversion mixing module converts an outbound symbol stream into an up-converted signal. The FTBPF frequency translates a baseband filter response to an RF bandpass filter response and filter the up-converted signal in accordance with the RF bandpass filter response to produce a filtered up-converted signal. The output module conditions the filtered up-converted signal to produce a conditioned up-converted signal. The power amplifier driver amplifies the conditioned up-converted signal to produce an outbound RF signal. | 12-08-2011 |
20110300853 | FRONT-END MODULE NETWORK FOR FEMTOCELL APPLICATIONS - A wireless communication device includes a front-end module (FEM) network, an RF connection, and a system on a chip (SOC). A first set of FEMs is operable to output, via an antenna, a first outbound RF signal to a first wireless communication device and receive a first inbound RF signal via an antenna. A second set of FEMs is operable to output, via an antenna, a second outbound RF signal to a second wireless communication device, wherein the second outbound RF signal is representative of the first inbound RF signal, and receive a second inbound RF signal via an antenna, wherein the first outbound RF signal is representative of the second inbound RF signal. The SOC is operable to activate the first and second sets of FEMs, facilitate the first outbound RF signal representing the second inbound RF signal, and facilitate the second outbound RF signal representing the first inbound RF signal. | 12-08-2011 |
20110300885 | FRONT-END MODULE NETWORK - A wireless communication device includes a front-end module (FEM) network coupled to a system on a chip (SOC) via an RF connection. The FEM network includes a plurality of FEMs, wherein, when activated, one or more of the plurality of FEMs is operable to: output an outbound RF signal to one or more antennas; receive an inbound RF signal from the one or more antennas; and isolate the inbound RF signal from the outbound RF signal. The SOC is operable to activate the one or more of the plurality of FEMs; convert outbound data into the outbound RF signal; and convert the inbound RF signal into inbound data. | 12-08-2011 |
20110305265 | MULTI-MODE IC WITH MULTIPLE PROCESSING CORES - An integrated circuit (IC) includes an RF section, a DSP, and a plurality of processors. The RF section and the DSP process an inbound RF signal to produce inbound data and process outbound data to produce an outbound RF signal. In addition, the DSP converts an outbound analog audio signal into an outbound digital audio signal and converts an inbound digital audio signal into an inbound analog audio signal. A first processor converts the inbound data into the inbound digital audio signal and converts the outbound digital audio signal into the outbound data. A second processor performs a user application that includes at least one of generation of the inbound analog audio signal and generation of the outbound analog audio signal and performs an operating system algorithm to coordinate operation of the user application. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306311 | Adaptively powered local oscillator generator circuit and related method - According to one embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a local oscillator generator (LOGEN) circuit configured to receive an adaptive supply voltage. The LOGEN circuit is coupled to a variable power supply for providing the adaptive supply voltage. A process monitor for the LOGEN circuit is in communication with the variable power supply through a power supply programming module. As a result, the adaptive supply voltage can be adjusted according to data supplied by the process monitor. A method for adaptively powering a LOGEN circuit comprises providing power to an RF device, monitoring a process corner of said LOGEN circuit, determining a supply voltage corresponding to the process corner, and adjusting the supply voltage to adaptively power the LOGEN circuit. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306391 | Transmitter architecture enabling efficient preamplification gain control and related method - According to one embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a transmitter enabling efficient preamplification gain control. The RF transceiver comprises a receiver and a power amplifier (PA) for amplifying a transmit signal of the transmitter. The transmitter is configured to provide pre-PA gain control for preamplifying the transmit signal before amplification by the PA, wherein substantially all of the pre-PA gain control is provided when the transmit signal is at a transmit frequency of the transmitter. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a PA driver comprising in combination: a transconductance amplifier, a current steering block, and an output transformer. Each of the transconductance amplifier, current steering block, and output transformer is configured to contribute a respective variable gain control to the pre-PA gain control provided by the PA driver. | 12-15-2011 |
20120014423 | Peak detector having extended dynamic range - According to one embodiment, a peak detector having extended dynamic range comprises a first differential output coupled to a supply voltage of the peak detector by a first load and coupled to ground by first and second switching devices, and a second differential output coupled to the supply voltage by a second load and coupled to ground by third and fourth switching devices. The control terminals of the first, second, third, and fourth switching devices receive a common bias voltage, and the respective first and second control terminals are configured as differential inputs of the peak detector. In some embodiments, corresponding first power terminals of the first and second switching devices share a first common node further shared by the first differential output, and corresponding first power terminals of the third and fourth switching devices share a second common node further shared by the second differential output. | 01-19-2012 |
20120020389 | Distortion cancellation in radio receivers using I/Q correction - A technique to remove second order and third order nonlinearity distortions caused by a blocker signal at an input of a radio receiver. An envelope detector is utilized at an input of the RF front-end of the receiver to obtain a magnitude of the overall signal. The output of the envelope detector is then processed at baseband to estimate coefficients that relate to the distortion. Once the coefficients are obtained, the coefficients are applied at an I/Q imbalance correction stage to also correct for the distortion by cancelling the distortion from the received signal. | 01-26-2012 |
20120021699 | Compact low-power receiver architecture and related method - According to one embodiment, a compact low-power receiver comprises a front-end producing a front-end gain and a back-end producing a back-end gain. The front-end includes a transconductance amplifier providing digital gain control and outputting an amplified receive signal, a mixer for generating a down-converted signal from the amplified receive signal, and a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) including a current mode buffer. The TIA provides gain control for amplifying the down-converted signal to produce a front-end output signal. In one embodiment, the back end includes a second-order low-pass filter to produce a filtered signal from the front-end output signal and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), wherein the filtered signal is fed directly to the ADC without direct-current (DC) offset cancellation being performed. In various embodiments, the front-end gain is substantially greater than the back-end gain. | 01-26-2012 |
20120021712 | Compact low-power receiver including transimpedance amplifier, digitally controlled interface circuit, and low pass filter - According to one embodiment, a compact low-power receiver comprises first and second analog circuits connected by a digitally controlled interface circuit. The first analog circuit has a first direct-current (DC) offset and a first common mode voltage at an output, and the second analog circuit has a second DC offset and a second common mode voltage at an input. The digitally controlled interface circuit connects the output to the input, and is configured to match the first and second DC offsets and to match the first and second common mode voltages. In one embodiment, the first analog circuit is a variable gain control transimpedance amplifier (TIA) implemented using a current mode buffer, the second analog circuit is a second-order adjustable low-pass filter, whereby a three-pole adjustable low-pass filter in the compact low-power receiver is effectively produced. | 01-26-2012 |
20120021713 | Concurrent impedance and noise matching transconductance amplifier and receiver implementing same - According to one embodiment, a concurrent impedance and noise matching transconductance amplifier designed for implementation in a receiver comprises an input device configured to couple to a matching network of the receiver, and a boost capacitor connected to the input device to increase an input capacitance of the transconductance amplifier. The boost capacitor is selected to substantially minimize the receiver noise and to enable the concurrent impedance and noise matching of the receiver and the matching network. In one embodiment, the receiver comprises the transconductance amplifier to provide an amplified receive signal, and a mixer to produce a down-converted signal corresponding to the amplified receive signal, wherein the mixer is coupled to the transconductance amplifier by a blocking capacitor. The blocking capacitor is selected to substantially increase an amplitude ratio of the down-converted signal to the amplified receive signal to substantially increase the front-end gain of the receiver. | 01-26-2012 |
20120040632 | Receive band selection and electrostatic discharge protection in a transceiver - According to one embodiment, an input control unit to provide isolation and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for a circuit in an RF transceiver comprises a switching device coupled between an input of the circuit and ground. The switching device is configured to provide ESD protection while the circuit is activated. The switching device is further configured to ground the input while the circuit is non-activated, thereby concurrently isolating the input and providing ESD protection. A method for providing isolation and ESD protection for a circuit in an RF transceiver comprises activating the circuit, providing ESD protection while the circuit is activated, deactivating the circuit, and coupling an input of the circuit to ground, thereby concurrently isolating the input and providing ESD protection while the circuit is non-activated. The method and switching device can be used to provide isolation and ESD protection to receive bands in the RF transceiver. | 02-16-2012 |
20120046004 | High performance transmitter preamplification chain with calibration feedback - According to one embodiment, an improved preamplification chain for implementation in a transmitter comprises a frequency conversion stage for up-converting a baseband signal to a transmit signal, a variable gain control power amplifier driver for preamplifying the transmit signal, and a differential feedback calibration stage receiving first and second differential outputs of a current steering unit of the power amplifier driver and providing calibration feedback to a baseband signal generator of the transmitter. In one embodiment, the frequency conversion stage includes an adjustable low-pass filter for filtering the baseband signal, a passive mixer for up-converting the baseband signal to the transmit signal, and a clock conversion unit configured to convert a fifty percent (50%) duty cycle clock input to a twenty-five percent (25%) duty cycle clock output for driving the passive mixer. | 02-23-2012 |
20120064939 | RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) HAVING POWER ISLAND(S) - A radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC) operable to support wireless communications is provided. The RF IC includes a plurality of processing modules wherein each processing module is operable to support one or more functions of the RF IC, and a plurality of power islands. Each power island is associated with one or more functions of the RF IC. Each of the power islands, through the function association, is operable to supply power for the processing modules accordingly. Power consumption by the RF IC may be reduced or secured when the one or more functions associated with the power island is not required. | 03-15-2012 |
20120068743 | Feedback-Based Linearization of Voltage Controlled Oscillator - Embodiments of the present invention enable a feedback-based VCO linearization technique. Embodiments include a frequency locked loop formed by feeding back a VCO's output into the VCO's input in negative phase by means of a frequency-to-voltage (F/V) converter. Embodiments enable constant VCO gain over a wide input tuning range and across PVT variations. Further, embodiments can be nested within a PLL, for example, with negligible area and power consumption overhead. | 03-22-2012 |
20120077446 | Self-testing transceiver architecture and related method - A self-testing transceiver comprises a receiver, and a transmitter including a power amplifier (PA) and a plurality of transmitter pre-PA stages. The plurality of transmitter pre-PA stages are configured to generate a communication signal at a receive frequency of the transceiver and the receiver is configured to process another communication signal at a transmit frequency of the transceiver, thereby enabling transceiver self-testing. A method for use by a transceiver for self-testing comprises generating a first communication signal at a transmit frequency of the transceiver by a transmitter of the transceiver, processing the first communication signal by a receiver of the transceiver, generating a second communication signal at a receive frequency of the transceiver by the transmitter, and processing the second communication signal by the receiver. The described generating and processing of the first and second communication signals resulting in self-testing by the transceiver. | 03-29-2012 |
20120091799 | PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE WITH WIRELESS POWER DISTRIBUTION - A core module for a portable computing device includes a wireless power receiver module, a battery power module, a power supply module, a processing module, and an RF link interface. The wireless power receiver module, when operable, receives a wireless power transmit signal and converts it into a supply voltage. The battery power module, when operable, outputs a battery voltage. The power supply module, when operable, converts the supply voltage or the battery voltage into one or more power supply voltages. The processing module is operable to select one of the battery voltage, the supply voltage, and one of the one or more power supply voltages to produce a selected voltage. The RF link interface outputs the selected voltage on to an RF link of the portable computing device for providing power to one or more multi mode RF units within the portable computing device. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092284 | PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE INCLUDING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL TOUCH SCREEN - A portable computing device includes a three-dimensional (3D) touch screen and a core module. The 3D touch screen includes a two-dimensional (2D) touch screen section and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) radar modules. The core module is operable to determine whether the 3D touch screen is in a 3D mode or a 2D mode. When the 3D touch screen is in the 3D mode, the core module is further operable to receive one or more radar signals via one or more of the plurality of RF radar modules and interpret the one or more radar signals to produce a 3D input signal. | 04-19-2012 |
20120093039 | PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE HAVING AN RF BASED ARCHITECTURE - A portable computing device includes a radio frequency (RF) wired link, a data wired link, a core module, a plurality of multi-mode RF units, and a plurality of data modules. The core module is operable to communicate control information with one or more of the plurality of multi-mode RF units in a first frequency band via the RF wired link. The core module is further operable to communicate data of a wireless communication with one or more of the plurality of multi-mode RF units in a second frequency band via the RF wired link. The core module is further operable to communicate clock information to the plurality of multi-mode RF units in a third frequency band via the RF wired link. | 04-19-2012 |
20120094594 | PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE WITH HIGH-SPEED DATA COMMUNICATION - A portable computing device includes a radio frequency (RF) wired link, a core module, and a plurality of multi-mode RF units. When one or more of the multi-mode RF units are supporting a high-speed data communication, the core module is operable to detect a blocker that is adversely affecting the high-speed data communication. The core module is further operable to determine whether a radiation pattern alternative for the high-speed data communication will reduce the adverse affects on the high-speed data communication. When the radiation pattern alternative for the high-speed data communication will reduce the adverse affects on the high-speed data communication, the core module is further operable to enable the radiation pattern alternative. The one or more multi-mode RF units are operable to adjust at least one of transmission and reception of the high-speed data communication in accordance with the radiation pattern alternative. | 04-19-2012 |
20120238232 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOW-NOISE, HIGHLY-LINEAR RECEIVER FRONT-END - Aspects of a method and system for a low-noise, highly-linear receiver front-end are provided. In this regard, a received signal may be processed via one or more transconductances, one or more transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), and one or more mixers to generate a first baseband signal corresponding to a voltage at a node of the receiver, and a second baseband signal corresponding to a current at the node of the receiver. The first signal and the second signal may be processed to recover information from the received signal. The first signal may be generated via a first one or more signal paths of the receiver and the second signal may be generated via a second one or more signal paths of the receiver. | 09-20-2012 |
20120326754 | High Performance Pre-Mixer Buffer in Wireless Communications Systems - According to one embodiment, a high performance buffer for use in a communications system includes first and second differential blocks. Each of the first and second differential blocks comprise one or more driving transistors for generating a driving current for a load of the high performance buffer, and a feedback path for adjusting the operation of the one or more driving transistors. The feedback path includes a feedback transistor for receiving a common mode bias voltage, wherein the common mode bias voltage depends at least in part on a threshold voltage of the feedback transistor. The feedback path includes a programmable resistor and capacitor to reduce out of band loop gain and the noise. The high performance buffer is configured to achieve a high linearity, low output impedance, and low noise, and is suitable for use as a pre-mixer buffer in a wireless communications system. | 12-27-2012 |
20120326797 | VCO UTILIZING AN AUXILIARY VARACTOR WITH TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT BIAS - A technique to use an auxiliary varactor coupled to a tuning varactor, in which a temperature compensated bias signal adjusts a bias on the auxiliary varactor to maintain a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) from drifting in frequency as operating temperature for the VCO changes. | 12-27-2012 |
20120329417 | Low Noise Amplifier Protection Using A Peak Detector - Embodiments of a radio frequency (RF) receiver implementing one or more forms of protection to protect devices of the RF receiver from in-band interferers is provided. The RF receiver includes an integrated circuit terminal configured to couple a RF signal received at an antenna to a RF signal path, and a low noise amplifier (LNA) coupled to the RF signal path and configured to amplify the RF signal to provide an amplified RF signal. To protect the LNA from in-band interferers, the RF receiver can further include one or more clamping circuits and/or an over-voltage detector to determine if a peak of the RF signal exceeds an acceptable level. | 12-27-2012 |
20120329418 | LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER PROTECTION USING A CLAMPING DEVICE - Embodiments of a radio frequency (RF) receiver implementing one or more forms of protection to protect devices of the RF receiver from in-band interferers is provided. The RF receiver includes an integrated circuit terminal configured to couple a RF signal received at an antenna to a RF signal path, and a low noise amplifier (LNA) coupled to the RF signal path and configured to amplify the RF signal to provide an amplified RF signal. To protect the LNA from in-band interferers, the RF receiver can further include one or more clamping circuits and/or an over-voltage detector to determine if a peak of the RF signal exceeds an acceptable level. | 12-27-2012 |
20130002349 | Bypass Power Amplifier For Improving Efficiency At Low Power - Embodiments of a two-stage bypass power amplifier are provided. In general, the two-stage bypass power amplifier is configured to receive a RF signal that is to be transmitted to a remote device and provide gain to the RF signal prior to the RF signal being transmitted to the remote device. The two-stage bypass power amplifier is configured to operate efficiently (in terms of power) at two different gain or output power levels and can be extended to operate efficiently at additional gain or output power levels. | 01-03-2013 |
20130003794 | MULTI-MODE IC WITH MULTIPLE PROCESSING CORES - An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first processing module that converts inbound data into an inbound digital audio signal and converts an outbound digital audio signal into outbound data. A second processing module performs a user application that includes at least one of generating of an inbound analog audio signal and generating an outbound analog audio signal. A third processing module performs an operating system algorithm to coordinate operation of at least one user application. | 01-03-2013 |
20130003796 | IC WITH MIXED MODE RF-TO-BASEBAND INTERFACE - An integrated circuit (IC) includes at least one baseband section, at least one radio frequency (RF) section, and an interface module. The interface module is configured to couple the at least one baseband section to the at least one RF section, wherein the interface module includes an analog interface module and a digital interface module. | 01-03-2013 |
20130028302 | DISCRETE DIGITAL TRANSCEIVER - A discrete digital transceiver includes a receiver sample and hold module, a discrete digital receiver conversion module, a transmitter sample and hold module, a discrete digital transmitter conversion module, clock generation module, and a processing module. The receiver sample and hold module samples and holds an inbound wireless signal in accordance with a receiver S&H clock signal. The discrete digital receiver conversion module converts the receiver frequency domain sample pulse train into an inbound baseband signal. The transmitter sample and hold module samples and holds an outbound signal to produce a transmitter frequency domain sample pulse train. The discrete digital transmitter conversion module converts a transmitter frequency domain sample pulse train into the outbound wireless signal. The clock generation module generates S&H clock signals in accordance with a control signal. The processing module generates the control signal such that the S&H clock signals are shifted. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028303 | DISCRETE DIGITAL RECEIVER WITH FTBPF - A receiver includes an antenna interface, a frequency translation bandpass filter (FTBPF), a sample and hold module, and a down conversion module. The antenna interface is operable to receive a received wireless signal from an antenna structure and to isolate the received wireless signal from another wireless signal. The FTBPF is operable to filter the received wireless signal to produce an inbound wireless signal. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold the inbound wireless signal in accordance with an S&H clock signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The down conversion module is operable to convert the frequency domain sample pulse train into an inbound baseband signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028348 | DISCRETE DIGITAL TRANSMITTER - A transmitter includes a conversion module, a sample and hold module, and a discrete time bandpass filter module. The conversion module is operable to convert an outbound baseband signal into outbound frequency domain pulse signal. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold the outbound frequency domain pulse signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train, wherein the sample and hold module is clocked at a rate corresponding to a frequency component of an outbound wireless signal. The discrete time bandpass filter module is operable to bandpass filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce the outbound wireless signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028349 | MULTIPLE OUTPUT DISCRETE DIGITAL TRANSMITTER - A transmitter includes a conversion module, a sample and hold module, and a discrete time bandpass filter module. The conversion module is operable to convert a first outbound baseband signal into a first outbound frequency domain pulse signal and to convert a second outbound baseband signal into a second outbound frequency domain pulse signal. The sample and hold module operable to sample and hold the first outbound frequency domain pulse signal and the second outbound frequency domain pulse signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The discrete time bandpass filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a first outbound wireless corresponding to the first baseband signal and to produce a second outbound wireless signal corresponding to the second inbound baseband signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028351 | DISCRETE DIGITAL RECEIVER WITH SAMPLE MEMORY - A receiver includes a sample and hold module, sample memory, a discrete time filter module, and a conversion module. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold an inbound wireless signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The sample memory is operable to store sample pulses of the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a stored sample pulse train. The discrete time filter module is operable to filter the stored sample pulse train to produce a filtered sample pulse. The conversion module is operable to convert the filtered sample pulse into an inbound baseband signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028359 | PROGRAMMABLE DISCRETE DIGITAL RECEIVER COMPONENTS - A receiver includes a sample and hold module, a discrete time filter module, and a conversion module. The sample and hold module includes a sample switching module, an impedance module, and a hold switching module. The sample switching module outputs samples of an inbound wireless signal in accordance with a sampling clock signal. The impedance module temporarily stores the samples. The hold switching module outputs a filtered representation of the samples in accordance with a hold clock signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train, wherein a filter response of the sample and hold module is in accordance with a ratio between the sampling clock signal and the hold clock signal. The discrete time filter module, which may be programmable, filters the frequency domain sample pulse train. The conversion module, which may be programmable, converts the filtered sample pulse into an inbound baseband signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028360 | WIDE BANDWIDTH DISCRETE DIGITAL RECEIVER - A receiver includes a sample and hold module, a discrete time filter module, and a wireless frequency to baseband conversion module. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold an inbound wireless signal at a rate corresponding to a multiple of a carrier frequency of the inbound wireless signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The discrete time filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a wireless frequency pulse. The wireless frequency to baseband conversion module is operable to convert the wireless frequency pulse to a baseband digital signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028361 | DISCRETE DIGITAL RECEIVER WITH BLOCKER CIRCUIT - A receiver includes a bandpass filter module, a sample and hold module, a discrete time bandpass filter module, a discrete time notch filter module, a combining module, and a conversion module. The bandpass filter module filters an inbound wireless that includes a desired signal component and an undesired signal component. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold the filtered inbound wireless signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The discrete time bandpass filter module bandpass filters the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a bandpass filtered sample pulse. The discrete time notch filter module notch filters the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a notched filtered sample pulse. The combining module combines the bandpass filtered sample pulse and the notched filtered sample pulse to produce a filtered inbound signal. The conversion module converts the filtered inbound signal into an inbound baseband signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028362 | MULTIPLE PATH DISCRETE DIGITAL RECEIVER - A receiver includes a bandpass filter module, a sample and hold module, first and second discrete time filter modules, and first and second conversion modules. The bandpass filter module is operable to filter an inbound wireless signal. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold the filtered inbound wireless signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The first discrete time filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a first filtered sample pulse. The second discrete time filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a second filtered sample pulse. The first conversion module is operable to convert the first filtered sample pulse into a first inbound baseband signal. The second conversion module is operable to convert the second filtered sample pulse into a second inbound baseband signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028363 | MULTIPLE INPUT DISCRETE DIGITAL RECEIVER - A receiver includes a sample and hold module, a discrete time filter module, and a conversion module. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold a first inbound wireless signal and a second inbound wireless signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The discrete time filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a first filtered sample pulse corresponding to the first inbound wireless signal and to produce a second filtered sample pulse corresponding to the second inbound wireless signal. The conversion module is operable to convert the first filtered sample pulse into a first inbound baseband signal and to convert the second filtered sample pulse into a second inbound baseband signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130102360 | VOICE/DATA/RF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A Voice-Data-RF IC includes a baseband processing module, an RF section, and an interface module. The baseband processing module converts an outbound voice signal into an outbound voice symbol stream, converts an inbound voice symbol stream into an inbound voice signal, converts outbound data into an outbound data symbol stream, and converts an inbound data symbol stream into inbound data. The interface module provides selective coupling between the baseband processing module, the RF section, and with off-chip circuits. | 04-25-2013 |
20130241654 | GAIN CONTROL SYSTEM - A gain control system may include an input terminal that receives an input signal. The gain control system may include a first transistor having a source connected with the input terminal and a drain connected with an output terminal. The gain control system may include a second transistor having a gate connected with the input terminal and the source of the first transistor. The second transistor may have a drain connected with the output terminal. The second transistor may generate a reduction signal. The output terminal may output an output signal based on the input signal and the reduction signal. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241669 | ADJUSTABLE DUPLEXER SYSTEM - A duplexing system may be used with an electronic device. The duplexing system may include a duplexer connected with an antenna. The duplexing system may include a balancing network. The balancing network may be connected with the duplexer, have an adjustable network impedance, and include an active component. The balancing network may be configured to adjust the network impedance to match an antenna impedance of the antenna. | 09-19-2013 |
20130259163 | Low Power Receiver - According to one embodiment, a compact low-power receiver comprises first and second analog circuits connected by a digitally controlled interface circuit. The first analog circuit has a first direct-current (DC) offset and a first common mode voltage at an s output, and the second analog circuit has a second DC offset and a second common mode voltage at an input. The digitally controlled interface circuit connects the output to the input, and is configured to match the first and second DC offsets and to match the first and second common mode voltages. In one embodiment, the first analog circuit is a variable gain control transimpedance amplifier (TTA) implemented using a current mode to buffer, the second analog circuit is a second-order adjustable low-pass filter, whereby a three-pole adjustable low-pass filter in the compact low-power receiver is effectively produced. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259172 | Receiver with Variable Gain Control Transimpedance Amplifier - According to one embodiment, a compact low-power receiver comprises first and second analog circuits connected by a digitally controlled interface circuit. The first analog circuit has a first direct-current (DC) offset and a first common mode voltage at an output, and the second analog circuit has a second DC offset and a second common mode voltage at an input. The digitally controlled interface circuit connects the output to the input, and is configured to match the first and second DC offsets and to match the first and second common mode voltages. In one embodiment, the first analog circuit is a variable gain control transimpedance amplifier (TIA) implemented using a current mode buffer, the second analog circuit is a second-order adjustable low-pass filter, whereby a three-pole adjustable low-pass filter in the compact low-power receiver is effectively produced. | 10-03-2013 |
20130267183 | Low-Power Receiver - According to one embodiment, a compact low-power receiver comprises a front-end producing a front-end gain and a back-end producing a back-end gain. The front-end includes a transconductance amplifier providing digital gain control and outputting an amplified receive signal, a mixer for generating a down-converted signal from the amplified receive signal, and a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) including a current mode buffer. The TIA provides gain control for amplifying the down-converted signal to produce a front-end output signal. In one embodiment, the back end includes a second-order low-pass filter to produce a filtered signal from the front-end output signal and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), wherein the filtered signal is fed directly to the ADC without direct-current (DC) offset cancellation being performed. In various embodiments, the front-end gain is substantially greater than the back-end gain. | 10-10-2013 |
20130270674 | ON-CHIP CAPACITOR STRUCTURE - At least a first capacitor is formed on a substrate and connected to a first differential node of a differential circuit, and the first capacitor may be variable in capacitance. A second capacitor is formed on the substrate and connected to a second differential node of the differential circuit, and the second capacitor also may be variable. A third capacitor is connected between the first differential node and the second differential node, and is formed at least partially above the first capacitor. In this way, a size of the first capacitor and/or the second capacitor may be reduced on the substrate, and capacitances of the first and/or second capacitor(s) may be adjusted in response to a variable characteristic of one or more circuit components of the differential circuit. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272349 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER WITH NOTCH AT TRANSMITTER FREQUENCY - A circuit includes a local oscillator of a transmitter, the local oscillator to generate a transmitter local oscillator signal. A switch controlled by the transmitter local oscillator signal connects with a baseband impedance element to generate a notch frequency signal. The notch frequency signal is added to a transmitter leakage signal to attenuate the transmitter leakage signal prior to demodulation of a desired receiver signal by a receiver. | 10-17-2013 |
20130281024 | PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE WITH HIGH-SPEED DATA COMMUNICATION - A portable computing device includes a radio frequency (RF) wired link, a core module, and a plurality of multi-mode RF units. When one or more of the multi-mode RF units are supporting a high-speed data communication, the core module is operable to detect a blocker that is adversely affecting the high-speed data communication. The core module is further operable to determine whether a radiation pattern alternative for the high-speed data communication will reduce the adverse affects on the high-speed data communication. When the radiation pattern alternative for the high-speed data communication will reduce the adverse affects on the high-speed data communication, the core module is further operable to enable the radiation pattern alternative. The one or more multi-mode RF units are operable to adjust at least one of transmission and reception of the high-speed data communication in accordance with the radiation pattern alternative. | 10-24-2013 |
20130285764 | RF FRONT-END WITH ON-CHIP TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER ISOLATION USING A GYRATOR - An RF front-end with on-chip transmitter/receiver isolation using a gyrator is presented herein. The RF front end is configured to support full-duplex communication and includes a gyrator and a transformer. The gyrator includes two transistors that are configured to isolate the input of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) from the output of a power amplifier (PA). The gyrator is further configured to isolate the output of the PA from the input of the LNA. The gyrator is at least partially or fully capable of being integrated on silicon-based substrate. | 10-31-2013 |
20130303103 | Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Cancellation of Distortion and Phase Noise - An adaptive cancellation circuit and method are provided. The circuit includes a main path and an auxiliary path. The main path includes a first amplifier configured to output a first amplified signal to a first mixer. The main path is configured to output a first signal comprising a wanted signal component and a distortion component. The auxiliary path includes a second amplifier configured to output a second amplified signal to a second mixer. The second mixer is connected to a filter configured to remove the wanted signal component. The auxiliary path is configured to output a second signal including the distortion component. | 11-14-2013 |
20130316760 | FRONT-END MODULE NETWORK FOR FEMTOCELL APPLICATIONS - A wireless communication device includes a front-end module (FEM) network, an RF connection, and a system on a chip (SOC). A first set of FEMs is operable to output, via an antenna, a first outbound RF signal to a first wireless communication device and receive a first inbound RF signal via an antenna. A second set of FEMs is operable to output, via an antenna, a second outbound RF signal to a second wireless communication device, wherein the second outbound RF signal is representative of the first inbound RF signal, and receive a second inbound RF signal via an antenna, wherein the first outbound RF signal is representative of the second inbound RF signal. The SOC is operable to activate the first and second sets of FEMs, facilitate the first outbound RF signal representing the second inbound RF signal, and facilitate the second outbound RF signal representing the first inbound RF signal. | 11-28-2013 |
20130331049 | Low Power Multi-Band, Multi-Mode Transmitter - A transmitter includes a power amplifier driver connected with a first transformer and a second transformer. The first transformer is configured for a first band mode and the second transformer is configured for a second band mode. The power amplifier driver drives both the first transformer and the second transformer. | 12-12-2013 |
20130343237 | Front End Module With Tone Injection - A radio front end includes a power amplifier, a tone injection module, a duplexer, a balancing network, and a processor. The tone injection module is operable, in a first mode, to produce a tone having a carrier frequency that is substantially similar to a carrier frequency of an inbound wireless signal. The duplexer is operable, in the first mode, to provide electrical isolation between the outbound wireless signal and a combination signal of the tone and inbound wireless signal and is operable, in a second mode, to provide electrical isolation between the outbound wireless signal and the inbound wireless signal. The processor is operable to determine an amplitude of a tone component of the combination signal; correlate the amplitude of the tone component to an inbound frequency band isolation; and adjust baseband processing of a down converted representation of the combination signal based on the inbound frequency band isolation. | 12-26-2013 |
20140016729 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER INCLUDING AN IF FREQUENCY TRANSLATED BPF - A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes a mixing module, a mixed buffer section, and a frequency translated BPF (FTBPF) circuit module. The mixing module converts an inbound RF signal into an in-phase (I) mixed signal and a quadrature (Q) mixed signal. The mixed buffer section filters and buffers the I mixed signal and filter and buffer the Q mixed signal. The FTBPF circuit module frequency translates a baseband filter response to an IF filter response such that the FTBPF circuit module filters undesired signal components of the IF I signal and the IF Q signal to produce an inbound IF signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into one or more inbound symbol streams. | 01-16-2014 |
20140045443 | Blocker-Tolerant Wideband Noise-Canceling Receivers - Because of associated disadvantages of narrow-band off-chip radio-frequency (RF) filtering, a mixer-first receiver front-end designed to tolerate blockers with minimal gain compression and noise factor degradation is disclosed. The mixer-first receiver front-end includes two separate down-conversion paths that help to minimize added noise and voltage gain prior to baseband filtering, which are critical factors in eliminating narrow-band off-chip RF filtering. | 02-13-2014 |
20140057584 | Method and System for Low-Noise, Highly-Linear Receiver Front-End - Aspects of a method and system for a low-noise, highly-linear receiver front-end are provided. In this regard, a received signal may be processed via one or more transconductances, one or more transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), and one or more mixers to generate a first baseband signal corresponding to a voltage at a node of the receiver, and a second baseband signal corresponding to a current at the node of the receiver. The first signal and the second signal may be processed to recover information from the received signal. The first signal may be generated via a first one or more signal paths of the receiver and the second signal may be generated via a second one or more signal paths of the receiver. | 02-27-2014 |
20140073280 | RECIPROCAL MIXING NOISE CANCELLATION SYSTEM - A system for cancellation of a reciprocal-mixing noise may comprise a down-converter mixer that may be configured to down convert a radio-frequency (RF) signal and to generate a baseband signal. The RF signal may include a desired signal and a blocker signal. A first signal path may be configured to receive the baseband signal and to generate a first signal. A second signal path may be configured to receive the baseband signal and to generate a second signal. A subtraction module may be configured to subtract the second signal from the first signal and to generate an output signal. The second signal may comprise the reciprocal-mixing noise, and the output signal may comprise the desired signal substantially free from the reciprocal-mixing noise. | 03-13-2014 |
20140128014 | Power Reduction and Linearizing Techniques of Transmitters - A transmitter includes a power amplifier driver to amplify a communication signal and a mixer connected with the power amplifier driver, the mixer to output the communication signal to the power amplifier driver. A capacitor and an inductor connect with the mixer and the power amplifier driver. The capacitor and the inductor create a resonant frequency to attenuate frequency components around a determined order of a local oscillator signal. | 05-08-2014 |
20140140455 | SAW-LESS RECEIVER WITH RF FREQUENCY TRANSLATED BPF - A SAW-less receiver includes an interface, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes a frequency translated bandpass filter (FTBPF), a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), and a mixing section. The FTBPF includes a switching network and a plurality of baseband impedances. The switching network is operable to couple the plurality of baseband impedances to the interface in accordance with a plurality of phase-offset RF clock signals to RF bandpass filter the inbound RF signal. The LNA amplifies the filtered inbound RF signal and the mixing section mixes the amplified inbound RF signal with a local oscillation to produce an inbound IF signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into one or more inbound symbol streams. Filtering may be prior or after amplification by the LNA. | 05-22-2014 |
20140141739 | PHASE-NOISE REDUCTION TECHNIQUE USING FREQUENCY-TO-CURRENT CONVERSION WITH BASEBAND INTEGRATION - A circuit for measurement of a phase noise of an oscillator may include the oscillator to generate a first signal having the same oscillation frequency as an instantaneous oscillation frequency of the oscillator. The circuit may include a first circuit that is configured to generate a second signal from the first signal. An instantaneous amplitude of the second signal may be related to the oscillation frequency of the first signal. A second circuit may be configured to integrate the second signal to generate a third signal. The third signal can be a measure of the phase noise of the oscillator. The third signal can be used to cancel some or all of the phase noise of the oscillator. | 05-22-2014 |
20140141740 | USING DIRECT PHASE NOISE MEASUREMENT AND BLOCKER RECOVERY TO CANCEL RECIPROCAL MIXING NOISE - A method for reciprocal-mixing noise cancellation may include receiving a baseband signal down-converted to baseband using a local oscillator (LO). The baseband signal may comprise a wanted signal and a reciprocal mixing noise, which at least partially overlaps the wanted signal and is due to mixing of a blocker signal with a phase noise of the LO. Blocker recovery may be performed on the baseband signal and a blocker estimate signal may be generated from the baseband signal. The phase noise of the LO may be measured and used in generating a phase noise measurement signal. The blocker estimate signal and the phase noise measurement signal may be processed to generate a reconstructed noise signal that may comprise the overlapping reciprocal mixing noise. The reconstructed noise signal may be subtracted from the baseband signal to provide the wanted signal free from to the reciprocal mixing noise. | 05-22-2014 |
20140141741 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECIPROCAL MIXING CANCELLATION OF WIDEBAND MODULATED BLOCKERS - A method for reciprocal-mixing noise cancellation may include receiving, from a first mixer, a first signal comprising a wanted signal at a first frequency and a modulated signal at a second frequency. The modulated signal may be a product of a reciprocal-mixing of an unwanted signal with a phase noise. The second frequency may be greater than the first frequency, and at least a portion of the modulated signal may overlap the wanted signal, adding a reciprocal-mixing noise to the wanted signal. Using the first signal, a narrow second signal may be generated at a third frequency, twice the second frequency. At a second mixer, the second signal may be mixed with the first signal to generate a third signal. The third signal may be subtracted from the first signal to remove a reciprocal-mixing noise and to generate the wanted signal at the first frequency without the reciprocal-mixing noise. | 05-22-2014 |
20140146717 | LOW-LOSS LARGE-SIGNAL ELECTRICAL BALANCE DUPLEXER - A circuit for a large-signal electrical balance duplexer (EBD) may include a circulator that can be configured to couple an output node of a transmit (TX) path to an antenna. An EBD circuit may be coupled to the circulator, at a first port of the EBD circuit. The EBD circuit may be configured to isolate the circulator from one or more input nodes of a receive (RX) path. An attenuator may be coupled between the output node of the TX path and a second port of the EBD circuit. The attenuator may be configured to provide an attenuated signal to the EBD circuit. | 05-29-2014 |
20140146718 | ELECTRICAL BALANCE DUPLEXER FOR CO-EXISTENCE AND CONCURRENT OPERATION OF MORE THAN ONE WIRELESS TRANSCEIVERS - A circuit for a common electrical balance duplexer (EBD) of a multi-path transceiver may include an EBD circuit. The EBD circuit may be coupled to output nodes of two or more transmit (TX) paths, one or more antennas, and input nodes of two or more receive (RX) paths. The EBD circuit may be configured to isolate the TX paths from the RX paths, and to provide low-loss signal paths between the output nodes of the transmit (TX) paths and one or more antennas. One or more balancing networks may be coupled to the EBD circuit to provide one or more impedances, each matching a corresponding impedance associated with one of the antennas. The output nodes of the transmit (TX) paths may include output nodes of a first and a second power amplifier (PA). The first and the second PA may share a matching transformer that is merged with the EBD circuit. | 05-29-2014 |
20140155013 | BASEBAND HARMONIC REJECTION CIRCUIT - A circuit for baseband harmonic rejection includes multiple transconductance cells coupled to one another at outputs of the transconductance cells and configured to receive down-converted signals that vary from one another to produce a weighted current signal proportional to a voltage corresponding to a respective down-converted signal. The circuit also includes a feedback impedance coupled between an input of one of the transconductance cells and the outputs of the transconductance cells. Each of the transconductance cells has an effective transconductance of a first magnitude for frequency components of the down-converted signal arising from a first harmonic and an effective transconductance of a second magnitude less than the first magnitude for frequency components of the down-converted signal arising from harmonics at integer multiples of the first harmonic. | 06-05-2014 |
20140169231 | LOW-LOSS TX-TO-RX ISOLATION USING ELECTRICAL BALANCE DUPLEXER WITH NOISE CANCELLATION - A circuit for a low-loss electrical balance duplexer (EBD) with noise cancellation may include an EBD circuit. The EBD circuit may be coupled to one or more output nodes of a transmit (TX) path, an antenna, and a one or more input nodes of a receive (RX) path. The EBD circuit may be configured to isolate the TX path from the RX path, and to provide low-loss signal paths between the one or more output nodes of the TX path and the antenna. A balancing network may be coupled to the EBD circuit and configured to provide an impedance that matches an impedance associated with the antenna. A noise cancellation circuit may be configured to sense a noise signal generated by the balancing network, and to use the sensed noise signal to improve a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the RX path. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169235 | WIDE BAND ELECTRICAL BALANCE DUPLEXER WITH BALANCED BRIDGE CIRCUIT - A circuit for a wideband electrical balance duplexer (EBD) may include a first impedance element and a second impedance coupled between a first and a second node and a second and a third node of the bridge circuit, respectively. An antenna may be coupled between the first and a fourth node of the bridge circuit to receive and transmit RF signals. A balancing network may provide an impedance substantially matching an impedance of the antenna. The balancing network may be coupled between the third and the fourth node of the bridge circuit. The first or the second impedance elements may facilitate balancing the bridge circuit. One or more output nodes of a transmit path may be coupled to an input node of the bridge circuit. One or more input nodes of a receive path may be coupled between the second and the fourth node of the bridge circuit. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169510 | RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE WITH RECONFIGURABLE ON-CHIP MATCHING FOR WIDEBAND OPERATION AND OFF-CHIP MATCHING FOR LOW-POWER OPERATION - A circuit for a receiver with reconfigurable low-power or wideband operation may comprise one or more main signal paths each coupled to a first port and including a low-noise amplifier (LNA) configured to provide a radio frequency (RF) signal to a main mixer circuit. An auxiliary signal path may be coupled to a second port. The auxiliary signal path may include an auxiliary mixer configured to provide an on-chip matching input impedance that may match an impedance of the antenna. The first port may be coupled to an RF antenna through an off-chip matching circuit, when a low-power operation is desired. The first port may be coupled to the second port and to the RF antenna, when a wideband operation is desired. | 06-19-2014 |
20140171003 | RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE WITH COMPLEMENTARY PASSIVE MIXER AND COMPLEMENTARY COMMON-GATE TIA WITH LOW-NOISE GAIN CONTROL - A circuit for a low-power and blocker-tolerant mixer-amplifier stage may include a complementary mixer formed by transmission gates having complementary structures. The complementary mixer may be configured to receive one or more radio-frequency (RF) signals and to convert the one or more RF signals to intermediate frequency (IF) current signals. A complementary TIA may be coupled to the complementary mixer and may be configured to receive the IF current signals and provide IF voltage signals. The complementary TIA may be formed by coupling an NMOS-TIA and a PMOS-TIA to a common load. A first portion of the complementary mixer may be coupled to the NMOS-TIA and a second portion of the complementary mixer may be coupled to the PMOS-TIA. | 06-19-2014 |
20140171005 | LOW-NOISE TIA-TO-ADC INTERFACE WITH A WIDE-RANGE OF PASSIVE GAIN CONTROL - A circuit for a low-noise interface between an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may comprise a capacitor element having a capacitance of C coupled between a first and second output node of the amplifier. A first resistor R | 06-19-2014 |
20140171006 | WIDEBAND RECEIVER ROBUST TO RADIO FREQUENCY HARMONICS - A radio frequency (RF) noise-cancelling receiver includes first transconductance cells configured to produce respective weighted current signals proportional to an input voltage signal. The RF receiver includes frequency conversion cells coupled to the first transconductance cells and configured to mix the weighted current signals with a plurality of non-overlapping local oscillator (LO) signals to produce downconverted current signals. The RF receiver includes transimpedance amplifiers coupled to the frequency conversion cells and configured to produce output voltage signals proportional to the downconverted current signals. The transimpedance amplifiers include second transconductance cells. Each of the first and second transconductance cells has an effective transconductance of a first magnitude for frequency components of the input voltage signal arising from a first harmonic and an effective transconductance of a second magnitude less than the first magnitude for frequency components of the input voltage signal arising from harmonics at integer multiples of the first harmonic. | 06-19-2014 |
20140191782 | ON-CHIP R AND C CALIBRATION USING ON-BOARD SUPPLY BYPASS CAPACITANCE - A technique for calibration of on-chip resistance (R) and capacitance (C) values using an on-board bypass capacitor may include configuring an on-chip switch to selectively couple an on-chip calibration circuit to an on-chip port. The on-chip calibration circuit may include an RC oscillator having an RC time constant (RCTC). The on-board bypass capacitor may be coupled to the on-chip calibration circuit, by using the on-chip port. The on-chip R and C values may be calibrated using the on-chip calibration circuit and the on-board bypass capacitor. | 07-10-2014 |
20140191811 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH CALIBRATED PULLING EFFECT CORRECTION - A calibration circuit includes a combinational gate configured to receive a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) output signal and a selected reference signal to detect a phase difference between the VCO output signal and the selected reference signal and generate an output binary signal, in which the VCO output signal has one or more unwanted frequency components. The calibration circuit also includes a loop filter configured to filter the output binary signal and generate a filtered calibration signal. The calibration circuit also includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the filtered calibration signal from the analog domain to the digital domain and generate a converted calibration signal. The calibration circuit also includes a processor configured to compute the converted calibration signal and determine components of a baseband signal that cancels the one or more unwanted frequency components of the VCO output signal. | 07-10-2014 |
20140191812 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH CALIBRATED PULLING EFFECT CORRECTION - A frequency-control circuit includes a phase frequency detector configured to receive a reference frequency signal and generate an output detection signal. The phase frequency detector can be configured to detect a difference in phase and frequency between the reference frequency signal and a feedback of the output frequency signal. The frequency-control circuit also includes a current source applied to the output detection signal to form a correction voltage that is a function of a pulling signal having one or more unwanted frequency components. The frequency-control circuit also includes a loop filter configured to filter the output detection signal including the correction voltage and generate a control voltage signal. The frequency-control circuit also includes a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to receive the control voltage signal and generate an output frequency signal. | 07-10-2014 |
20140191815 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH CALIBRATED PULLING EFFECT CORRECTION - A frequency-control circuit includes a phase frequency detector configured to receive a reference frequency signal and generate an output detection signal. The phase frequency detector can be configured to detect a difference in phase and frequency between the reference frequency signal and a feedback of the output frequency signal. The frequency-control circuit also includes a frequency divider that is configured to apply a correction voltage to a feedback of the output frequency signal, the correction voltage being a function of a pulling signal having one or more unwanted frequency components. The frequency-control circuit also includes a loop filter configured to filter the output detection signal including the correction voltage and generate a control voltage signal. The frequency-control circuit also includes a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to receive the control voltage signal and generate an output frequency signal. | 07-10-2014 |
20140235191 | RECIPROCAL MIXING NOISE CANCELLATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A MODULATED BLOCKER - A method for reciprocal-mixing noise cancellation may include receiving, from a first mixer, a first signal comprising a wanted signal at a first frequency and a modulated signal at a second frequency. The modulated signal may be a product of a reciprocal-mixing of an unwanted signal with a phase noise. One or more portions of the modulated signal may overlap the wanted signal, adding a reciprocal-mixing noise to the wanted signal. A second signal may be generated by mixing, at a second mixer, the first signal with a third signal, which is at a third frequency related to a blocker offset frequency. A gain may be applied to the second signal to generate an amplified second signal that may be subtracted from the first signal to generate a fourth signal. The fourth signal may be filtered to generate the wanted signal at the first frequency without the reciprocal-mixing noise. | 08-21-2014 |
20150031313 | SINGLE DIFFERENTIAL-INDUCTOR VCO WITH IMPLICIT COMMON-MODE RESONANCE - A circuit for a single differential-inductor oscillator with common-mode resonance may include a tank circuit formed by coupling a first inductor with a pair of first capacitors; a cross-coupled transistor pair coupled to the tank circuit; and one or more second capacitors coupled to the tank circuit and the cross-coupled transistors. The single differential-inductor oscillator may be configured such that a common mode (CM) resonance frequency (F | 01-29-2015 |
20150071132 | RF FRONT-END WITH WIDEBAND TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER ISOLATION - Embodiments of a four-port isolation module are presented herein. In an embodiment, the isolation module includes a step-up autotransformer comprising a first and second winding that are electrically coupled in series at a center node. The first port of the isolation module is configured to couple an antenna to a first end node of the series coupled windings. The second port of the isolation module is configured to couple a balancing network to a second end node of the series coupled windings. The third port is configured to couple a transmit path to the center node. The fourth port is configured to couple a differential receive path across the first end node and the second end node. The isolation module effectively isolates the third port from the fourth port to prevent strong outbound signals received at the third port from saturating an LNA coupled to the fourth port. | 03-12-2015 |