Abstract: A fast mode switching frequency synthesizing apparatus and method for operating in low power consumption. In the frequency synthesizer, according to a mode control signal, an SSB mixer selectively generates and outputs a signal having a frequency which is identical to an input signal RF or outputs a signal having a frequency which is a synthesized frequency of the input signals RF and LO. Frequency synthesized signals having a frequency which is a sum of frequencies of the input signals RF and LO, or a difference of frequencies therebetween, may be generated by changing wiring of a path switch according to a phase control signal.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizing apparatus and method having an injection-locked quadrature VCO in an RF transceiver is provided. In the frequency synthesizer, an I signal following a frequency of a high frequency signal that is input using the injection-locked quadrature VCO and a Q signal thereof are simultaneously generated to have an appropriate driving power. Accordingly, the I signal and the Q signal thereof that are generated in the injection-locked quadrature VCO may be utilized as a local signal for frequency up/down-conversion, without being buffered. An output of an SSB mixer may be directly input into the injection-locked quadrature VCO. Also, high frequency signals that are generated in another circuit such as the SSB mixer, a PLL, or a VCO may be selected to be input into the injection-locked quadrature VCO by a selector.

Abstract: A system and a method for self calibrating a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). In the system, a mode controller generates a control signal for each of an automatic band selection mode, an automatic gain tuning mode, and a phase-locking mode, from a frequency comparison result between a reference clock signal and a divided clock signal which is generated by dividing a frequency of an oscillation signal, and thereby controls the VCO, so that the VCO may generate the oscillation signal which is automatically phase-locked in a target frequency with an optimal state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting a frequency of a high frequency signal received from an antenna in an ultra wide band communication system transmitting and receiving using at least two reference frequencies. The method includes generating generation frequencies having frequencies set to convert the frequency of the high frequency signal and mixing the frequency of the high frequency signal and the generation frequencies in at least two stages.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) for stably adjusting a frequency band of a voltage-controlled oscillator and a phase locking method. In the PLL, a frequency band controller alters the frequency band selection digital value in response to an input clock signal and an oscillation control signal generated from an LPF of a basic PLL circuit, and thus a voltage-controlled oscillator of the basic PLL circuit alters the frequency of an output clock signal in response to the oscillation control signal and the frequency band selection digital value. The output clock signal is rapidly and stably phase-locked at a target frequency depending on the frequency band selection digital value.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include a pair of field effect transistors having shared source terminals, shared drain terminals and shared gate terminals, which may be treated herein as being electrically coupled in parallel. A switch circuit is also provided, which is configured to drive a body terminal of a first one of the pair of field effect transistors with an alternating sequence of first and second unequal body voltages. This alternating sequence is synchronized with a first clock signal. The switch circuit is also configured to drive a body terminal of a second one of the pair of field effect transistors with an alternating sequence of third and fourth unequal body voltages, which is synchronized with a second clock signal. The first and third body voltages may have equivalent magnitudes and the second and fourth body voltages may have equivalent magnitudes. The first and second clock signals may have 50% duty cycles and may be 180 degrees out-of-phase relative to each other.

Abstract: A source coupled differential complementary Colpitts oscillator is described, which enables a differential oscillation and also can improve phase noise performance by source-coupling a complementary Colpitts oscillator using an inductor. A differential complementary Colpitts oscillator includes: a plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators and a source coupler which couples a source node of the plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators, enables the Colpitts oscillators to differentially oscillate.

Abstract: A quadrature signal generator capable of phase-tuning with respect to all of four generated quadrature signals. The quadrature signal generator includes four phase tuning units each having two input terminals, one receiving a differential signal, the other being grounded, and changing a phase of the differential signal to thereby generate quadrature signals. Accordingly, it is possible to tune phases of all the four generated quadrature signals. It is also possible to prevent the amplitude of quadrature signals from being deviated from a reference value.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variable gain differential amplifier, and variable degeneration impedance control device and method for use in the variable gain differential amplifier, which can adjust an amplification gain and ensure linearity. A DC level of a differential signal to be amplified by the amplifier is adjusted according to a control signal to adjust a gain of the amplifier, and the impedance of a variable degeneration impedance part is adjusted according to the differential signal of which the DC level is adjusted. That is, the gain of the differential amplifier is adjusted and the linearity is ensured by varying the impedance of the variable degeneration impedance part using the differential input signal of which the DC level is adjusted.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer for mixing reference frequencies using at least one control signal has a local oscillator, frequency dividers for dividing a frequency generated from the local oscillator and generating at least one control signal, and a single side band (SSB) mixer for mixing the reference frequencies, using the frequency generated from the local oscillator and the control signal. The frequency synthesizer has a simplified structure, and can easily mix reference frequency signals without a need for additional power.

Abstract: A source coupled differential complementary Colpitts oscillator is described, which enables a differential oscillation and also can improve phase noise performance by source-coupling a complementary Colpitts oscillator using an inductor. A differential complementary Colpitts oscillator includes: a plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators and a source coupler which couples a source node of the plurality of complementary Colpitts oscillators, enables the Colpitts oscillators to differentially oscillate.

Abstract: A system and a method for self calibrating a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). In the system, a mode controller generates a control signal for each of an automatic band selection mode, an automatic gain tuning mode, and a phase-locking mode, from a frequency comparison result between a reference clock signal and a divided clock signal which is generated by dividing a frequency of an oscillation signal, and thereby controls the VCO, so that the VCO may generate the oscillation signal which is automatically phase-locked in a target frequency with an optimal state.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizing apparatus and method having an injection-locked quadrature VCO in an RF transceiver is provided. In the frequency synthesizer, an I signal following a frequency of a high frequency signal that is input using the injection-locked quadrature VCO and a Q signal thereof are simultaneously generated to have an appropriate driving power. Accordingly, the I signal and the Q signal thereof that are generated in the injection-locked quadrature VCO may be utilized as a local signal for frequency up/down-conversion, without being buffered. An output of an SSB mixer may be directly input into the injection-locked quadrature VCO. Also, high frequency signals that are generated in another circuit such as the SSB mixer, a PLL, or a VCO may be selected to be input into the injection-locked quadrature VCO by a selector.

Abstract: A stacked CMOS current mirror using metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) having different threshold voltages is disclosed. The stacked CMOS current mirror includes a first MOSFET having a drain and a gate which are connected to an input current terminal, a second MOSFET having a drain connected to a source of the first MOSFET, a gate connected to the drain and the gate of the first MOSFET, and a source connected to ground, a third MOSFET having a drain connected to an output current terminal and a gate connected to the drain and the gate of the first MOSFET and the gate of the second MOSFET, and a fourth MOSFET having a drain connected to a source of the third MOSFET, a gate connected to the drain and the gate of the first MOSFET, the gate of the second MOSFET and the gate of the third MOSFET, and a source connected to the ground.

Abstract: A radio frequency voltage controlled oscillator (RF VCO) includes a differential oscillator including two field effect transistors (FETs) in which an electric current flows laterally to a substrate and a current source including a bipolar transistor in which the electric current flows in a direction either perpendicular or lateral to the substrate from an emitter to a collector via a base. Therefore, 1/f noise is very small. Resultantly, the RF VCO using the bipolar junction transistor as the current source reduces the 1/f noise generated by the current source of a RF CMOS VCO and, ultimately, the phase noise of the VCO.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variable gain differential amplifier, and variable degeneration impedance control device and method for use in the variable gain differential amplifier, which can adjust an amplification gain and ensure linearity. A DC level of a differential signal to be amplified by the amplifier is adjusted according to a control signal to adjust a gain of the amplifier, and the impedance of a variable degeneration impedance part is adjusted according to the differential signal of which the DC level is adjusted. That is, the gain of the differential amplifier is adjusted and the linearity is ensured by varying the impedance of the variable degeneration impedance part using the differential input signal of which the DC level is adjusted.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer for mixing reference frequencies using at least one control signal has a local oscillator, frequency dividers for dividing a frequency generated from the local oscillator and generating at least one control signal, and a single side band (SSB) mixer for mixing the reference frequencies, using the frequency generated from the local oscillator and the control signal. The frequency synthesizer has a simplified structure, and can easily mix reference frequency signals without a need for additional power.

Abstract: A stacked CMOS current mirror using metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) having different threshold voltages is disclosed. The stacked CMOS current mirror includes a first MOSFET having a source and a gate which are connected to a first input current terminal, a second MOSFET having a source connected to a drain of the first MOSFET, a gate connected to the gate of the first MOSFET, and a drain connected to ground, a third MOSFET having a drain connected to a second input current terminal and a gate connected to the source and the gate of the first MOSFET, and a fourth MOSFET having a drain connected to a source of the third MOSFET, a gate connected to the source and the gate of the first MOSFET, and a source connected to the ground.

Abstract: A quadrature signal generator capable of phase-tuning with respect to all of four generated quadrature signals. The quadrature signal generator includes four phase tuning units each having two input terminals, one receiving a differential signal, the other being grounded, and changing a phase of the differential signal to thereby generate quadrature signals. Accordingly, it is possible to tune phases of all the four generated quadrature signals. It is also possible to prevent the amplitude of quadrature signals from being deviated from a reference value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting a frequency of a high frequency signal received from an antenna in an ultra wide band communication system transmitting and receiving using at least two reference frequencies. The method includes generating generation frequencies having frequencies set to convert the frequency of the high frequency signal and mixing the frequency of the high frequency signal and the generation frequencies in at least two stages.