Abstract: Some embodiments relate to power detector including a voltage sensor configured to detect a voltage of a load and a current sensor configured to detect a current of the load. The power detector also includes circuitry configured to introduce a phase delay between the detected voltage of the load and the detected current of the load, thereby producing a voltage measurement and a current measurement. The circuitry is also configured to multiply the voltage measurement and the current measurement.

Abstract: Examples of front-end modules, apparatuses and methods for coupling compensation in a closed-loop digital pre-distortion (DPD) system are described. The closed-loop DPD circuit may include a PA and a loopback path. The PA may receive a PA input signal and amplify the PA input signal to provide a PA output signal proportional to a product of the PA input signal and a gain of the PA. The loopback path may receive the PA output signal to output a loopback signal. A forward coupling and a backward coupling may exist between the PA input signal and an output of the loopback path. The output of the loopback path may be proportional to a product of the PA output signal and a gain of the loopback path. The loopback path may include a coupling cancellation mechanism configured to cancel couplings between the PA input signal and the loopback signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing adaptive biasing to power amplifiers. Adaptive bias circuits are configured to provide sharp turn on and/or current clamping to improve the efficiency of a power amplifier over a wide input signal bandwidth. Sharp turn on may be achieved using a subtraction technique to subtract outputs from multiple detectors. Clamping may be achieved using MOSFET device characteristics to pull the device from the triode region into the saturation, subtraction techniques to subtract the outputs from multiple detectors, and/or by using circuit devices, such as diodes.

Abstract: A method for controlling an antenna network quality factor of an NFC device includes: determining whether a first data rate or a second data rate should be used for data communication during different time intervals, respectively; and when it is determined that the first data rate should be used during a first time interval of the time intervals, controlling a set of internal resistors positioned within a chip of the NFC device to have a first configuration during the first time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor. More particularly, the method further includes: when it is determined that the second data rate should be used during a second time interval of the time intervals, controlling the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: The isolated port of a 0/90 degree coupler is terminated by a novel complex termination impedance circuit having a reactance. The absolute value of the reactance is at least two ohms. The coupler receives a signal on its input port, and outputs a first signal on its first output port and a second signal on its second output port. A first load is coupled to the first output port without an intervening matching network. A substantial impedance mismatch exists between the first output port and the first load. A second load is coupled to the second output port without an intervening matching network. A substantial impedance mismatch exists between the second output port and the second load. Despite the substantial impedance mismatches, the first and second signals have a phase difference in a range of from 88 degrees to 92 degrees while exhibiting an amplitude imbalance less than 2 dB.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing adaptive biasing to power amplifiers. Adaptive bias circuits are configured to provide sharp turn on and/or current clamping to improve the efficiency of a power amplifier over a wide input signal bandwidth. Sharp turn on may be achieved using a subtraction technique to subtract outputs from multiple detectors. Clamping may be achieved using MOSFET device characteristics to pull the device from the triode region into the saturation, subtraction techniques to subtract the outputs from multiple detectors, and/or by using circuit devices, such as diodes.

Abstract: The isolated port of a 0/90 degree coupler is terminated by a novel complex termination impedance circuit having a reactance. The absolute value of the reactance is at least two ohms. The coupler receives a signal on its input port, and outputs a first signal on its first output port and a second signal on its second output port. A first load is coupled to the first output port without an intervening matching network. A substantial impedance mismatch exists between the first output port and the first load. A second load is coupled to the second output port without an intervening matching network. A substantial impedance mismatch exists between the second output port and the second load. Despite the substantial impedance mismatches, the first and second signals have a phase difference in a range of from 88 degrees to 92 degrees while exhibiting an amplitude imbalance less than 2 dB.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to power detector including a voltage sensor configured to detect a voltage of a load and a current sensor configured to detect a current of the load. The power detector also includes circuitry configured to introduce a phase delay between the detected voltage of the load and the detected current of the load, thereby producing a voltage measurement and a current measurement. The circuitry is also configured to multiply the voltage measurement and the current measurement.

Abstract: A method for testing an Integrated Circuit (IC) with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes: utilizing a BB modem of the IC to generate a known data pattern; modulating the known data pattern to generate a modulated data pattern; sending the modulated data pattern on the transmitting path to an NFC antenna of the IC and utilizing the NFC antenna to loop the modulated data pattern back to the receiving path; demodulating the modulated data pattern; and determining if the data pattern on the transmitting path is the same as the data pattern on the receiving path. When the data pattern on the transmitting path is not the same as the data pattern on the receiving path, it is determined that the IC fails.

Abstract: A proximity sensing method employed by a wireless communications device includes the steps of: performing a first predetermined operation to detect a presence of at least a transponder in the proximity of the wireless communications device; when the presence of a transponder in the proximity of the wireless communications device is not detected by the first predetermined operation, performing a second predetermined operation to obtain a first characteristic value and after a period of time, performing the second predetermined operation to obtain a second characteristic value sequentially; checking if the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value satisfy a predetermined criteria; and when the predetermined criterion is satisfied, performing the first predetermined operation again to check the presence of the transponder in the proximity of the wireless communications device.

Abstract: Examples of front-end modules, apparatuses and methods for coupling compensation in a closed-loop digital pre-distortion (DPD) system are described. The closed-loop DPD circuit may include a PA and a loopback path. The PA may receive a PA input signal and amplify the PA input signal to provide a PA output signal proportional to a product of the PA input signal and a gain of the PA. The loopback path may receive the PA output signal to output a loopback signal. A forward coupling and a backward coupling may exist between the PA input signal and an output of the loopback path. The output of the loopback path may be proportional to a product of the PA output signal and a gain of the loopback path. The loopback path may include a coupling cancellation mechanism configured to cancel couplings between the PA input signal and the loopback signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated circuit for communication, e.g., for mobile radio-frequency (RF) telecommunication, including a resonator, a main amplifier, a matching circuit, a blocker detector, a mixer circuit, and a translation filter. The resonator provides conversion from single-end to differential, and filtering function for rejecting blockers at harmonics of local oscillation signal. The blocker detector detects occurrence of blocker; according to whether blocker exists, the main amplifier amplifies differential signal of the resonator by different gains, and the mixer circuit mixes amplified signal with different numbers of mixers. The translation filter contributes to rejection of blockers closed to in-band by providing a first pass band which is translated to a second pass band by the mixer circuit. The matching circuit provides impedance match.

Abstract: A method for controlling a modulation index of a near field communication (NFC) device includes: in a calibration mode of the NFC device, coupling a receiver of the NFC device to a transmitter of the NFC device to form a probing path between the receiver and the transmitter; and in the calibration mode of the NFC device, adjusting at least one portion of a plurality of modulation parameters corresponding to the modulation index according to probed results of outputs of the transmitter, in order to calibrate the modulation index, for use of transmitting through the transmitter in a normal mode of the NFC device. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a modulation index of a near field communication (NFC) device includes: in a calibration mode of the NFC device, coupling a receiver of the NFC device to a transmitter of the NFC device to form a probing path between the receiver and the transmitter; and in the calibration mode of the NFC device, adjusting at least one portion of a plurality of modulation parameters corresponding to the modulation index according to probed results of outputs of the transmitter, in order to calibrate the modulation index, for use of transmitting through the transmitter in a normal mode of the NFC device. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a modulation index of a near field communication (NFC) device includes: in a calibration mode of the NFC device, temporarily coupling a receiver of the NFC device to a transmitter of the NFC device to form a probing path between the receiver and the transmitter; and in the calibration mode of the NFC device, dynamically adjusting at least one portion of a plurality of modulation parameters corresponding to the modulation index according to probed results of outputs of the transmitter, in order to calibrate the modulation index, for use of transmitting through the transmitter in a normal mode of the NFC device. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated circuit for communication, e.g., for mobile radio-frequency (RF) telecommunication, including a resonator, a main amplifier, a matching circuit, a blocker detector, a mixer circuit, and a translation filter. The resonator provides conversion from single-end to differential, and filtering function for rejecting blockers at harmonics of local oscillation signal. The blocker detector detects occurrence of blocker; according to whether blocker exists, the main amplifier amplifies differential signal of the resonator by different gains, and the mixer circuit mixes amplified signal with different numbers of mixers. The translation filter contributes to rejection of blockers closed to in-band by providing a first pass band which is translated to a second pass band by the mixer circuit. The matching circuit provides impedance match.

Abstract: A reconfigurable circuit is disclosed. The reconfigurable circuit comprises a pause detector mechanism, a clock extractor, and a multiplexer. The multiplexer is configured to receive a reference clock and is coupled to the clock extractor to receive a clock extracted from a carrier of a near field communication (NFC) field. The reconfigurable circuit also comprises a phase locked loop (PLL) coupled to the pause detector mechanism and the multiplexer, and the PLL can be configured in a first mode to be locked to the reference clock, in a second mode to be locked to the extracted clock, and in a third mode wherein the PLL can switch between being locked to the reference clock and being locked to the extracted clock.

Abstract: A method for controlling a modulation index of a near field communication (NFC) device includes: in a calibration mode of the NFC device, temporarily coupling a receiver of the NFC device to a transmitter of the NFC device to form a probing path between the receiver and the transmitter; and in the calibration mode of the NFC device, dynamically adjusting at least one portion of a plurality of modulation parameters corresponding to the modulation index according to probed results of outputs of the transmitter, in order to calibrate the modulation index, for use of transmitting through the transmitter in a normal mode of the NFC device. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling an antenna network quality factor of an NFC device includes: determining whether a first data rate or a second data rate should be used for data communication during different time intervals, respectively; and when it is determined that the first data rate should be used during a first time interval of the time intervals, controlling a set of internal resistors positioned within a chip of the NFC device to have a first configuration during the first time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor. More particularly, the method further includes: when it is determined that the second data rate should be used during a second time interval of the time intervals, controlling the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A reconfigurable circuit is disclosed. The reconfigurable circuit comprises a pause detector mechanism, a clock extractor, and a multiplexer. The multiplexer is configured to receive a reference clock and is coupled to the clock extractor to receive a clock extracted from a carrier of a near field communication (NFC) field. The reconfigurable circuit also comprises a phase locked loop (PLL) coupled to the pause detector mechanism and the multiplexer, and the PLL can be configured in a first mode to be locked to the reference clock, in a second mode to be locked to the extracted clock, and in a third mode wherein the PLL can switch between being locked to the reference clock and being locked to the extracted clock.