Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a transceiver for nullification of a noise component in a transmitter comprises a noise nullification module loading a selected node in the transmitter. The noise nullification module comprises a mixer that receives inputs from the selected node and a local oscillator, where the mixer is also coupled to a filter such that the noise nullification module presents a low impedance at an approximate frequency of a noise component so as to nullify the noise component. In one embodiment, the noise nullification module results in band-pass filtering of an approximate receive signal frequency so as to nullify a noise component at the receive frequency. In another embodiment, the noise nullification module results in notch filtering of an approximate transmit signal frequency so as to nullify a noise component at a receive signal frequency.

Abstract: A circuit for a low-loss duplexer with noise cancellation in a receive (RX) path of a transceiver includes a duplexer, a balancing network, and a noise cancellation circuit. The duplexer circuit is coupled to an antenna of the transceiver. The balancing network is coupled to the duplexer and provides an impedance matching an impedance associated with the antenna. The noise cancellation circuit senses a noise signal generated by the balancing network and uses the sensed noise signal to improve a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the RX path.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 resistor circuit coupled between the capacitor element and input nodes of the ADC. A desired value RL for a load resistance of the amplifier is provided by selecting suitable initial values for resistances of the resistor circuit. A desired bandwidth for the at least one amplifier is achieved by selecting a value of the capacitance C based on the desired value RL for the load resistance.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 (FCM) associated with the single differential-inductor oscillator is at twice a differential resonance frequency (FD) associated with the single differential-inductor oscillator.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 R1 may be coupled in parallel with the capacitor. A second resistor R2 may be coupled between the first output node of the amplifier and a first input node of the ADC. A third resistor R3 may be coupled between the second output node of the amplifier and a second input node of the ADC. Initial values of the resistances R1, R2, and R3 may be selected to provide a desired value RL for a load resistance of the amplifier. A value of the capacitance C may be selected so that, in combination with the desired value RL, a desired bandwidth for the amplifier is achieved.