Abstract: An integrated electronic circuit is provided. The integrated electronic circuit includes a transconductance cell formed from transconductance cell devices. The integrated electronic circuit further includes active and passive decoupling circuits. The integrated electronic circuit also includes an oscillator having a tank that is direct current decoupled from the transconductance cell devices using the active and passive decoupling circuits to increase voltage swing and decrease phase noise of the oscillator.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a method of designing a voltage controlled oscillator, and a design structure comprising a semiconductor substrate including a voltage controlled oscillator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the VCO comprises an LC tank circuit for generating an oscillator output at an oscillator frequency, and an oscillator core including cross-coupled semiconductor devices to provide feedback to the tank circuit. The VCO further comprises a supply node, a tail node, and a noise by-pass circuit connected to the supply and tail nodes, in parallel with the tank circuit and the oscillator core. The by-pass circuit forms a low-impedance path at a frequency approximately twice the oscillator frequency to at least partially immunize the oscillator core from external noise and to reduce noise contribution from the cross-coupled semiconductor devices.

Abstract: An oscillator includes a first output node and a second output node. There is a tank circuit coupled between the first output node and the second output node. There is a first transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to a current source, and a control node coupled to the second output node. There is a second transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to the current source, and a control node coupled to the first output node. There is a first inductor coupled in series between the first node of the first transistor and the first output node. There is a second inductor coupled in series between the first node of the second transistor and the second output node.

Abstract: Variable gain amplifiers and methods of designing the same include a first amplifying transistor configured to receive a first input signal and to provide a first amplified output signal based on the first input signal. A phase compensating resistor is connected to the first amplifying transistor and has a resistance calibrated as: R e = ? b C be , par where ?b is the base transit time of the first amplifying transistor and Cbe,par is the gain-independent part of the base-emitter capacitance of the first amplifying transistor.

Abstract: Variable gain amplifiers and methods of designing the same include a first amplifying transistor configured to receive a first input signal and to provide a first amplified output signal based on the first input signal. A phase compensating resistor is connected to the first amplifying transistor and has a resistance that compensates for a phase dependence of the first amplifying transistor, such that an output phase of the amplified output signal is dependent only on a phase of the input signal and is independent of an amplification of the first amplifying transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding a data modulated signal includes a signal receiver that receives a data modulated signal that is encoded with phase-shift keying (PSK) and provides an amplified signal corresponding to the data modulated signal, a tunable phase shifter that receives a local reference signal and a selected phase shift, applies the selected phase shift to the local reference signal to produce a phase shifted reference signal, a summing unit that sums the amplified signal and the phase shifted reference signal to produce a summed signal, an amplitude detector that determines an amplitude of the summed signal, and a symbol detector that varies the selected phase shift and determines a current symbol within the data modulated signal based on the amplitude of the summed signal as the selected phase shift is varied. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator comprises a negative resistance, a first inductor, a fixed capacitor, and a frequency control component. The frequency control component comprises at least one varactor and at least a second inductor connected in series with the at least one varactor. A magnitude of an inductance of the second inductor is selected such that the frequency control component has an effective capacitance range larger than a capacitance range of the at least one varactor.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating a multi-antenna system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV includes one or more millimeter-wave (mm-wave) single channel radios that can transmit and receive a mm-wave signal to or from a multi-antenna system under test; at least one directional antenna connected to the one or more radios; sensors that determine a position of the UAV; an omni-directional mobile or Wi-Fi transceiver that communicates with an operator; and a digital microprocessor unit connected to the one or more mm-wave single channel radios, the sensors, and the omni-directional mobile or Wi-Fi transceiver. The digital microprocessor unit can control motion of the UAV and analyze signals received from the one or more mm-wave single channel radios and the at least one directional antenna using position information received from the sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a digitally controlled circuit having a variable capacitance and a controller configured to adjust a magnitude of the variable capacitance of the digitally controlled circuit. The digitally controlled circuit comprises a plurality of gain elements, the plurality of gain elements comprising one or more positive voltage-to-frequency gain elements and one or more negative voltage-to-frequency gain elements. The controller is configured to adjust the magnitude of the capacitance by adjusting the gain provided by respective ones of the gain elements in an alternating sequence of the positive voltage-to-frequency gain elements and the negative voltage-to-frequency gain elements.

Abstract: A millimeter-wave (MMW) communication system may include an antenna array structure operating within a MMW band, having both a first antenna coupling point and a second antenna coupling point, whereby the first and the second location of the antenna coupling points are within a coplanar surface on which the antenna array structure is formed. The system may further include a first MMW transmitter that couples a first data modulated MMW signal to the first antenna coupling point and a second MMW transmitter that couples a second data modulated MMW signal to the second antenna coupling point. Coupling the first data modulated MMW signal to the first antenna coupling point generates a first MMW radio signal transmitted at a first propagation direction and coupling the second data modulated MMW signal to the second antenna coupling point generates a second MMW radio signal transmitted at a second propagation direction.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a method of designing a voltage controlled oscillator, and a design structure comprising a semiconductor substrate including a voltage controlled oscillator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the VCO comprises an LC tank circuit for generating an oscillator output at an oscillator frequency, and an oscillator core including cross-coupled semiconductor devices to provide feedback to the tank circuit. The VCO further comprises a supply node, a tail node, and a noise by-pass circuit connected to the supply and tail nodes, in parallel with the tank circuit and the oscillator core. The by-pass circuit forms a low-impedance path at a frequency approximately twice the oscillator frequency to at least partially immunize the oscillator core from external noise and to reduce noise contribution from the cross-coupled semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.

Abstract: A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a method of designing a voltage controlled oscillator, and a design structure comprising a semiconductor substrate including a voltage controlled oscillator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the VCO comprises an LC tank circuit for generating an oscillator output at an oscillator frequency, and an oscillator core including cross-coupled semiconductor devices to provide feedback to the tank circuit. The VCO further comprises a supply node, a tail node, and a noise by-pass circuit connected to the supply and tail nodes, in parallel with the tank circuit and the oscillator core. The by-pass circuit forms a low-impedance path at a frequency approximately twice the oscillator frequency to at least partially immunize the oscillator core from external noise and to reduce noise contribution from the cross-coupled semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Transmit/receive switches and methods for radio control include connecting a first reactive impedance in parallel with a power amplifier on a transmit path during reception to neutralize a reactive impedance of the power amplifier and to prevent received signals from entering the transmit path. The first reactive impedance is disconnected during transmission.

Abstract: A method and system of a configurable phased array transceiver are provided. A first beamforming unit is configured to provide a first beam. A second beamforming unit is configured to provide a second beam. A first bi-directional power controller is configured to combine or to split the first beam and the second beam. Each beamforming unit comprises a plurality of radio frequency (RF) front-ends, each front-end being configured to transmit and receive RF signals. Each beam is independently configurable to operate in a transmit (TX) or a receive (RX) mode.

Abstract: A millimeter-wave (MMW) communication system may include an antenna array structure operating within a MMW band, having both a first antenna coupling point and a second antenna coupling point, whereby the first and the second location of the antenna coupling points are within a coplanar surface on which the antenna array structure is formed. The system may further include a first MMW transmitter that couples a first data modulated MMW signal to the first antenna coupling point and a second MMW transmitter that couples a second data modulated MMW signal to the second antenna coupling point. Coupling the first data modulated MMW signal to the first antenna coupling point generates a first MMW radio signal transmitted at a first propagation direction and coupling the second data modulated MMW signal to the second antenna coupling point generates a second MMW radio signal transmitted at a second propagation direction.

Abstract: A switched capacitor is provided. The switched capacitor includes a pair of parallel component stacks. Each stack is connected to a common top node and a common bottom node. Each stack includes a BJT. Each stack further includes a first resistor in series with the BJT and having a first side connected to a collector of the BJT at an intermediate node in a same one of the stacks and a second side connected to the common top node. Each stack also includes a capacitor having a first side connected to the intermediate node and a second side for providing an impedance. Each stack additionally includes a second resistor having a first side connected to a base of the BJT to prevent base-current surge in the BJT and a second side connected to a switch base control signal that selectively turns the BJT on or off.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a digitally controlled circuit having a variable capacitance and a controller configured to adjust a magnitude of the variable capacitance of the digitally controlled circuit. The digitally controlled circuit comprises a plurality of gain elements, the plurality of gain elements comprising one or more positive voltage-to-frequency gain elements and one or more negative voltage-to-frequency gain elements. The controller is configured to adjust the magnitude of the capacitance by adjusting the gain provided by respective ones of the gain elements in an alternating sequence of the positive voltage-to-frequency gain elements and the negative voltage-to-frequency gain elements.

Abstract: A switched capacitor is provided. The switched capacitor includes a pair of parallel component stacks. Each stack is connected to a common top node and a common bottom node. Each stack includes a BJT. Each stack further includes a first resistor in series with the BJT and having a first side connected to a collector of the BJT at an intermediate node in a same one of the stacks and a second side connected to the common top node. Each stack also includes a capacitor having a first side connected to the intermediate node and a second side for providing an impedance. Each stack additionally includes a second resistor having a first side connected to a base of the BJT to prevent base-current surge in the BJT and a second side connected to a switch base control signal that selectively turns the BJT on or off.