Abstract: Integrated circuit apparatus and processes are presented for controlling a plurality of parallel-connected DC-DC converter phases forming a multiphase DC-DC conversion system in which individual converter phases are successively activated or deactivated for increasing and decreasing load conditions, respectively, according to an ordered phase sequence, and the phase sequence is selectively modified to promote thermal balancing of the DC-DC converter phases.

Abstract: An electronic circuit (300) includes a signal processing circuit (310) including first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3) coupled in cascade, a memory circuit (320) coupled to and adjustable between the first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3), the memory circuit (320) having memory spaces, the memory circuit (320) configurable to establish a trade-off of the memory spaces between the first and second signal processing blocks (310.1, 310.3), and a configuring circuit (330) operable to configure the trade-off of the memory spaces of the memory circuit (320).

Abstract: The present invention provides a synchronizer for use with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transceiver employing multiple individual transceivers. In one embodiment, the synchronizer includes a synthesizing unit coupled to a reference oscillator and configured to generate separately synthesized radio frequency (RF) signals having relative phase differences. Additionally, the synchronizer also includes a synchronizing unit coupled to the synthesizer unit and configured to adjust the relative phase differences of the separately synthesized RF signals to be less than a predetermined difference to provide synchronization of the multiple individual transceivers based on the predetermined difference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a channel estimate enhancer for use with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter employing N transmit antennas, where N is at least two. In one embodiment, the channel estimate enhancer includes a first preamble generator that produces a basic preamble configured to provide gain training and channel estimation sequences to one of the N transmit antennas during initial time intervals. Additionally, the channel estimate enhancer also includes a second preamble generator, coupled to the first preamble generator, that produces supplementary preambles configured to provide a set of gain enhancing channel estimation sequences to each of (N?1) remaining transmit antennas during (N?1) corresponding sets of subsequent time intervals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a packet detector for use with a packet-based wireless receiver employing a receive antenna for P concurrently transmitted streams, where P is at least two. In one embodiment, the packet detector includes a correlation unit coupled to the single receive antenna and configured to provide a correlation function based on P acquisition fields corresponding to the P concurrently transmitted streams. Additionally, the packet detector also includes a pseudo-magnitude calculator coupled to the correlation unit and configured to calculate a packet detection metric based on the correlation function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gain retraining generator for use with a MIMO transmitter employing N transmit antennas, where N is at least two. In one embodiment, the gain retraining generator includes a first sequence encoder configured to provide a gain retraining sequence to one of the N transmit antennas during a non-initial time interval. The gain retraining generator also includes a second sequence encoder coupled to the first sequence encoder and configured to further provide (N-1) alternative gain retraining sequences to (N-1) remaining transmit antennas, respectively, during the non-initial time interval to retrain receive gains for multiple concurrent data transmissions.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for eliminating the relative phase behavior in the transmitter and receiver radios employed in a wireless MIMO communication system. The method employs a single synthesizer and allows multiple transceivers to function with the same RF reference frequency source and/or IF reference frequency source. Since each transceiver has the same RF and/or IF reference frequency, each transceiver experiences the same phase noise. Thus, the phase noise for the MIMO transmitter is now bounded by the single synthesizer. The same relative phase behavior occurs in the receive portion as well.

Abstract: A packet detection system for a packet-based wireless receiver and a method of detecting packets for use with such receiver. In one embodiment, the packet detection system includes: (1) first and second chain-level packet detection circuits and configured to produce corresponding chain-level status signals and (2) a receiver-level packet detection circuit coupled to both the first and second chain-level packet detection circuits and configured to generate receiver-level status signals from the chain-level status signals.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing a wireless receiver is provided. The system includes a first antenna (101a) and a second antenna (101b) to receive wireless signals containing data packets. The system includes one or more analyzer components (156) operable to determine correlation metrics based on at least a portion of the first received signal and a portion of the second received signal. The system further includes a synchronization component (158) operable to use the correlation metrics to determine a preferred correlation metric for synchronization by the wireless receiver of the first and second received signals to decode the data packet. A method for synchronizing a receiver of two wireless signals is also provided.

Abstract: A wireless transceiver 10 is provided that includes a configurable analog component 14 and a controller portion 18. The configurable analog component 14 is operable to receive an input radio frequency signal and to transmit the output radio frequency signal. The controller portion 18 is operable to promote adjustment of a bandwidth of the configurable analog component 14 from at least a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a signal field scaler for use with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter employing N transmit antennas, where N is at least two. In one embodiment, the signal field scaler includes a signal field generator configured to provide a signal field corresponding to a multiple concurrent transmission to each of the N transmit antennas during a time interval. Additionally, the signal field scaler also includes a signal field adapter coupled to the signal field generator and configured to apply a vector of scale factors to the signal field for each of the N transmit antennas during the time interval to allow proper decoding of the signal field by a legacy receiver and a MIMO receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gain training generator for use with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter employing N transmit antennas where N is at least two. In one embodiment, the gain training generator includes a fundamental training encoder configured to provide a basic gain training sequence to one of the N transmit antennas during a time interval to produce a basic gain training waveform having a basic peak-to-average ratio (PAR). Additionally, the gain training generator also includes a supplemental training encoder coupled to the fundamental training encoder and configured to further provide (N?1) supplemental gain training sequences to (N?1) remaining transmit antennas, respectively, during the time interval to produce supplemental gain training waveforms wherein each has a supplemental PAR substantially equal to the basic PAR.

Abstract: The present invention provides a concurrent gain generator for use with a MIMO transmitter having an N of two or more transmit antennas. In one embodiment, the concurrent gain generator includes a first sequence formatter that provides one of the N transmit antennas with a gain training sequence during an initial time interval, and a second sequence formatter that further provides (N?1) remaining transmit antennas with (N?1) additional gain training sequences during the initial time interval to train receive gains. The present invention also provides a non-concurrent gain adjuster for use with a MIMO receiver employing an M of two or more receive antennas. In one embodiment, the non-concurrent gain adjuster includes a gain combiner that computes a common receive gain as a function of M independent receive gains, and a gain applier that applies the common receive gain to receivers associated with the M receive antennas.

Abstract: A preamble frequency switching design technique for frequency switching the training symbols within the preamble associated with a MIMO communication system ensures that data throughput is optimized.