Abstract: Die-to-die interconnect structures are leveraged to form the inductive component of an LC oscillator, thus yielding an LC tank distributed across multiple IC dies rather than lumped in a single die. By this arrangement, reliance on area/power-consuming on-chip inductors may be reduced or eliminated, and phase-aligned clocks may be extracted from the LC tank within each of the spanned IC dies, obviating multiple oscillator instances or complex phase alignment circuitry.

Abstract: A signal distribution network has segments that each have a buffer circuit, a transmission line coupled to the buffer circuit, an inductor coupled to the buffer circuit through the transmission line, and a variable capacitance circuit coupled to the inductor and coupled to the buffer circuit through the transmission line. A capacitance of the variable capacitance circuit is set to determine a phase and an amplitude of a signal transmitted through the transmission line. A signal distribution network can include a phase detector, a loop filter circuit, and a resonant delay circuit. The phase detector compares a phase of a first periodic signal to a phase of a second periodic signal. The resonant delay circuit has a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies based on changes in an output signal of the loop filter circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of a circuit are described. In this circuit, a modulation circuit provides a first modulated electrical signal and a second modulated electrical signal, where a given modulated electrical signal, which can be either the first modulated electrical signal or the second modulated electrical signal, includes minimum-shift keying (MSK) modulated data. Moreover, a first phase-adjustment element, which is coupled to the modulation circuit, sets a relative phase between the first modulated electrical signal and the second modulated electrical signal based on a phase value of the first phase-adjustment element. Additionally, an output interface, which is coupled to the first phase-adjustment element, is coupled to one or more antenna elements which output signals. These signals include a quadrature phase-shift-keying (QPSK) signal corresponding to the first modulated electrical signal and the second modulated electrical signal.

Abstract: For use in a wireless network, an apparatus for use in a wireless network includes an antenna having (i) a first patch element with two opposite corners truncated and (ii) a first microstrip line connected to a first side of the first patch element and configured to feed the first patch element. The first microstrip line forms an angle of substantially 45° with the first side of the first patch element. The antenna could also include (i) a second patch element with two opposite corners truncated and (ii) a second microstrip line connected to a side of the second patch element. The second microstrip line could form an angle of substantially 45° with the side of the second patch element. The patch elements could be series-coupled and form an antenna array. One patch element could represent a host patch element, and another patch element could represent a parasitic patch element.

Abstract: A transmit resonator includes at least two loop resonators, disposed in such that the magnetic field produced by each in the near-field zone is substantially orthogonal to that produced by the other at a certain or specific portion of the zone, a power divider configured to split a signal into at least two sub-signals with weighting coefficients, a delay array configured to delay the at least one of the sub-signals and feed each of the sub-signals to each of the loop resonators, and a controller to configure the delay array to control the polarization of the near zone magnetic field. A communication module to receive feedback information from a receiver, to determine the phases of at least two sub-signals to generate a near zone magnetic field optimized for the receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an antenna array having multiple antenna elements arranged in multiple sub-arrays. The antenna elements are arranged in at least two different types of sub-arrays. The at least two different types of sub-arrays have substantially orthogonal electric field (E-field) orientations. The antenna elements can be arranged in multiple patch sub-arrays and multiple substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) sub-arrays, and the patch sub-arrays can be interleaved with the SIW sub-arrays. Each patch sub-array can include at least two patch antenna elements coupled in series, and each SIW sub-array can include a conductive plate and multiple slots in the conductive plate. The SIW sub-arrays can resonate at substantially a same frequency as the patch sub-arrays.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer generates a wide range of frequencies from a single oscillator while achieving good noise performance. A cascaded phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit includes a first PLL circuit with an LC voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a second PLL circuit with a ring VCO. A feedforward path from the first PLL circuit to the second PLL circuit provides means and signal path for cancellation of phase noise, thereby reducing or eliminating spur and quantization effects. The frequency synthesizer can directly generate in-phase and quadrature phase output signals. A split-tuned ring-based VCO is controlled via a phase error detection loop to reduce or eliminate phase error between the quadrature signals.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments generally relate to techniques for processing signals received from multiple antennas. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to a system that uses an integrated phase-shifting-and-combining circuit to process signals received from multiple antenna elements. This circuit applies a specified phase shift to the input signals, and combines the phase-shifted input signals to produce an output signal. In some embodiments, the integrated phase-shifting-and-combining circuit uses a current-steering mechanism to perform the phase-shifting-and-combining operations. This current-steering mechanism operates by converting the input signals into associated currents, and then steering each of the associated currents through multiple pathways which have different delays. Next, the currents from the multiple pathways for the associated currents are combined to produce the output signal.

Abstract: Passive signal combiners are employed to transform at least one signal from one domain to another. In some aspects the transformation comprises an FFT, an IFFT, a DFT, or an IDFT. In some implementations the passive signal combiners comprise a set of planar waveguides (e.g., which may be referred to as beamformers or Rotman lenses) that have multiple inputs and outputs and are configured to provide orthogonal output signals. In some implementations an electrical signal (e.g., received via an antenna element) is coupled to passive beamformers that transform the electrical signal from one domain to another domain. Here, a transformation of the electrical signal by a given passive beamformer may have a first resolution, and outputs from the passive beamformers may correspond to orthogonal groups. A combiner circuit may be used to combine the outputs from the passive beamformers and produce a combined output having a second resolution and an associated error.

Abstract: Circuitry capable of performing fractional clock multiplication by using an injection-locked oscillator is described. Some embodiments described herein perform fractional clock multiplication by periodically changing the injection location, from a set of injection locations, where the injection signal is injected and/or by periodically changing a phase, from a set of phases, of the injection signal that is injected into the ILO.

Abstract: A near-field communication (NFC) system supports increased data rates using a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) interface. Multiple receive antennas are positioned within the near field of multiple transmit antennas. The NFC system uses a combination of antenna spacing and polarizations to reduce correlation between channels, and thus improves performance by creating closer to ideal MIMO operation. Such system can also be operated as parallel SISO links with reduced cross-channel interference resulting in low power consumption.

Abstract: In a system that employs multiple air movers (e.g., fans) within an enclosure, the air movers are controlled in an attempt to optimize cooling efficiency of the system. In some aspects, current cooling efficiency is indicated based on one or more characteristics of an acoustic signature in the enclosure. In particular, a reduction in cooling efficiency may be indicated by spreading of an acoustic peak of the acoustic signature. Accordingly, improved cooling efficiency may be achieved by controlling the air movers in a manner that reduces spreading of such an acoustic peak.

Abstract: A phase detector circuit compares the phases of first and second periodic input signals to generate an output signal. The phase detector includes a circuit that makes two different combinations of the first and the second periodic input signals to generate third and fourth periodic signals. This circuit causes the third periodic signal to be based on a first combination of the first periodic signal and the second periodic signal that imparts a first relative phase shift. The circuit causes the fourth periodic signal to be based on a second combination of the first periodic signal and the second periodic signal to provide a different relative phase shift. The phase detector also includes a comparison circuit that compares a measure of the power of the third periodic signal to a measure of the power of the fourth periodic signal to generate the phase comparison output signal.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed comprising a console unit having a processor and transceiver circuitry. The transceiver circuitry couples to the processor and includes respective receiver and transmitter circuits. A first phased array antenna interface is employed to transmit and receive directional signals in response to the processor. The system employs a mobile game controller including a second phased array antenna interface to receive and redirect the directional signals back to the first phased array antenna interface. The processor generates proximity data based at least in part on a parameter associated with the directional signals, the proximity data representing the proximity of the mobile game controller with respect to the game console unit.

Abstract: A phase detection circuit can include two phase detectors that each generate a non-zero output in response to input signals being aligned in phase. The input signals are based on two periodic signals. The phase detection circuit subtracts the output signal of one phase detector from the output signal of the other phase detector to generate a signal having a zero value when the periodic signals are in phase. Alternatively, a phase detector generates a phase comparison signal indicative of a phase difference between periodic signals. The phase comparison signal has a non-zero value in response to input signals to the phase detector being aligned in phase. The input signals are based on the periodic signals. An output circuit receives the phase comparison signal and generates an output having a zero value in response to the periodic signals being aligned in phase.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a linear equalizer that supports low-power, high-speed data transfers. In some embodiments, this linear equalizer contains a passive network that provides selective frequency peaking in a frequency range associated with a falling edge of a frequency response of the channel. It also includes a level shifter coupled between the channel and the passive network, wherein the level shifter is an active component that provides amplification and/or level-shifting. Moreover, the linear equalizer is designed so that power from the level shifter facilitates the selective frequency peaking of the passive network.

Abstract: A signal distribution network has segments that each have a buffer circuit, a transmission line coupled to the buffer circuit, an inductor coupled to the buffer circuit through the transmission line, and a variable capacitance circuit coupled to the inductor and coupled to the buffer circuit through the transmission line. A capacitance of the variable capacitance circuit is set to determine a phase and an amplitude of a signal transmitted through the transmission line. A signal distribution network can include a phase detector, a loop filter circuit, and a resonant delay circuit. The phase detector compares a phase of a first periodic signal to a phase of a second periodic signal. The resonant delay circuit has a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies based on changes in an output signal of the loop filter circuit.

Abstract: The frequency response of a first component signal path of a differential signaling link is adjusted to off-set a notch in the frequency response from a corresponding notch in the frequency response of a second component signal path of the differential signaling link.

Abstract: Passive signal combiners are employed to transform at least one signal from one domain to another. In some aspects the transformation comprises an NFL an IFFT, a DFT, or an IDFT. In some implementations the passive signal combiners comprise a set of planar waveguides (e.g., which may be referred to as beamformers or Rotman lenses) that have multiple inputs and outputs and are configured to provide orthogonal output signals. In some implementations an electrical signal (e.g., received via an antenna element) is coupled to passive beamformers that transform the electrical signal from one domain to another domain. Here, a transformation of the electrical signal by a given passive beamformer may have a first resolution, and outputs from the passive beamformers may correspond to orthogonal groups. A combiner circuit may be used to combine the outputs from the passive beamformers and produce a combined output having a second resolution and an associated error.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing beamforming are provided herein. During operation, a mobile device will notify a base station of the situation in which one or more of its antennas has become unusable. Using this technique, the Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) algorithms employed at the base station will be adjusted accordingly.