Abstract: An apparatus and method to control signal phase in a radio device includes a phase rotator configured to control a phase of a local oscillator. A phase error determination module is configured to determine phase error information based on received in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) (IQ) signal values. A phase correction module is configured to derive from the received IQ signal values a correction signal and apply the correction signal to the phase rotator in a path of the local oscillator.

Abstract: A sub-harmonic mixer includes a first transistor having a source and a drain and a second transistor having a source connected to the source of the first transistor and a drain connected to the drain of the first transistor. A mixing transistor is configured to be biased in a linear operating region. The mixing transistor includes a drain coupled to the sources of the first transistor and the second transistor. The mixing transistor has its drain driven by a signal at twice a local oscillator (LO) frequency and its gate driven by a radio frequency (RF) signal while the mixing transistor is biased in the linear region such that a process of frequency doubling and mixing are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A differential cross-coupled power combiner in one aspect comprises a plurality of inputs, an output, a plurality of differential transmission lines each coupled between a corresponding one of the inputs and the output, and at least one set of additional differential transmission lines arranged in series between any two of the inputs. First and second ones of the additional differential transmission lines in the set are coupled to one another using a cross-coupling arrangement. Other aspects of the invention provide a differential cross-coupled power divider, communication system receivers and transmitters incorporating respective power combiners and dividers, and integrated circuit implementations of power combiners and dividers.

Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having an input and an output; and at least one transistor comprising at least one terminal and at least one isolated well. The input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one terminal of the transistor; and the output of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one isolated well of the at least one transistor.

Abstract: Radio frequency integrated circuits with on-chip noise source for use in the performance of tests and/or calibrations. A radio frequency integrated circuit includes at least one noise source residing on the radio frequency integrated circuit, the noise source being controllable by a digital input, and a radio frequency circuit residing on the radio frequency integrated circuit and being coupled to the noise source, wherein at least one attribute of the radio frequency circuit is determinable by controlling the noise source via the digital input.

Abstract: Techniques provide improved thermal interface material application in an assembly associated with an integrated circuit package. For example, an apparatus comprises an integrated circuit module, a printed circuit board, and a heat transfer device. The integrated circuit module is mounted on a first surface of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one thermal interface material application via formed therein in alignment with the integrated circuit module. The heat transfer device is mounted on a second surface of the printed circuit board and is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit module. The second surface of the printed circuit board is opposite to the first surface of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An input attenuator may include a first input circuit having an RF_IN+ terminal, a first node, a transmission line, a DC blocking capacitor, a second node, a third node, and an output terminal coupled in series, the first node selectively coupled to ground via a serially coupled capacitor and a first silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor, the second node coupled to ground via a capacitor, and the third node selectively coupled to ground via a DC blocking capacitor, a resistor, and a second silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor coupled in series. The input attenuator may also include a second input circuit parallel to the first input circuit and having structure similar to the first input circuit.

Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having an input and an output; and at least one transistor comprising at least one terminal and at least one isolated well. The input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one terminal of the transistor; and the output of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one isolated well of the at least one transistor.

Abstract: An input attenuator may include a first input circuit having an RF_IN+ terminal, a first node, a transmission line, a DC blocking capacitor, a second node, a third node, and an output terminal coupled in series, the first node selectively coupled to ground via a serially coupled capacitor and a first silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor, the second node coupled to ground via a capacitor, and the third node selectively coupled to ground via a DC blocking capacitor, a resistor, and a second silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor coupled in series. The input attenuator may also include a second input circuit parallel to the first input circuit and having structure similar to the first input circuit.

Abstract: A sub-harmonic mixer includes a first transistor having a source and a drain and a second transistor having a source connected to the source of the first transistor and a drain connected to the drain of the first transistor. A mixing transistor is configured to be biased in a linear operating region. The mixing transistor includes a drain coupled to the sources of the first transistor and the second transistor. The mixing transistor has its drain driven by a signal at twice a local oscillator (LO) frequency and its gate driven by a radio frequency (RF) signal while the mixing transistor is biased in the linear region such that a process of frequency doubling and mixing are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A sub-harmonic mixer includes a first transistor having a source and a drain and a second transistor having a source connected to the source of the first transistor and a drain connected to the drain of the first transistor. A mixing transistor is configured to be biased in a linear operating region. The mixing transistor includes a drain coupled to the sources of the first transistor and the second transistor. The mixing transistor has its drain driven by a signal at twice a local oscillator (LO) frequency and its gate driven by a radio frequency (RF) signal while the mixing transistor is biased in the linear region such that a process of frequency doubling and mixing are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A differential cross-coupled power combiner in one aspect comprises a plurality of inputs, an output, a plurality of differential transmission lines each coupled between a corresponding one of the inputs and the output, and at least one set of additional differential transmission lines arranged in series between any two of the inputs. First and second ones of the additional differential transmission lines in the set are coupled to one another using a cross-coupling arrangement. Other aspects of the invention provide a differential cross-coupled power divider, communication system receivers and transmitters incorporating respective power combiners and dividers, and integrated circuit implementations of power combiners and dividers.

Abstract: A method of generating an output signal from an input signal includes a step of generating a set of n signals, n being an integer greater than or equal to 3, by generating a signal for each integer i such that 0?i?(n?1), each signal within the set having the same frequency and approximately equal amplitude and a phase equal to (360/n)i degrees. The method also includes a step of inputting each of the set of n signals to a gate terminal of a corresponding one of a set of n transistors. Each of the transistors has a source terminal electrically connected to a common voltage drain and each of the transistors has a drain terminal electrically connected to a coupling. The coupling is electrically connected to a common voltage source. The output signal at the coupling has a frequency equal to the frequency of the input signal multiplied by n.

Abstract: A quadrature modulation circuit includes a mixer circuit including an integrated sign modulation control circuit and a plurality of mixer ports. The mixer ports include a first input port, a second input port, an output port and a sign modulation control port. The modulation circuit generates a modulated signal by operation of the mixer circuit multiplying a modulating signal applied to the first input port with a carrier signal applied to the second input port to generate a mixed signal output from the output port, and by operation of the integrated sign modulation control circuit controlling polarity switching of a signal at one of the mixer ports in response to a sign modulation control signal input to the sign modulation control port.

Abstract: Quadrature modulation systems, circuits and methods are provided to support various modulation modes including ASK (amplitude shift key), FSK (frequency shift key) and PSK (phase shift key) modulation at high data rates (e.g., gigabit data rates). For example, a modulation circuit includes a mixer circuit including an integrated sign modulation control circuit and a plurality of mixer ports. The mixer ports include a first input port, a second input port, an output port and a sign modulation control port. The modulation circuit generates a modulated signal by operation of the mixer circuit multiplying a modulating signal applied to the first input port with a carrier signal applied to the second input port to generate a mixed signal output from the output port, and by operation of the integrated sign modulation control circuit controlling polarity switching of a signal at one of the mixer ports in response to a sign modulation control signal input to the sign modulation control port.

Abstract: Spectrum analyzer circuits and methods are provided which implement “zero-IF” (direct conversion) or “near-zero IF” (or very low IF) architectures that enable implementation of integrated (on-chip) spectrum analyzers for measuring the frequency spectrum of internal chip signals. An integrated spectrum analyzer circuit, which comprises a zero IF or near-zero IF framework, enables a low-power compact design with sufficient resolution bandwidth for on-chip implementation and diagnostics of internal chip signals.

Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for building integrated transformer-coupled amplifiers with on-chip transformers that are designed to resonate or otherwise tune parasitic capacitances to achieve frequency tuning of amplifiers at millimeter wave operating frequencies.

Abstract: A variable-gain amplifier includes an intermediate node operative to receive an electric current from a current source. A common-emitter amplifier has a collector electrically connected to the intermediate node. A first common-base amplifier has an emitter electrically connected to the intermediate node and a collector electrically connected to an output node. A base-degenerated amplifier has an emitter electrically connected to the intermediate node and a collector electrically connected to the output node. A second common-base amplifier has an emitter electrically connected to the intermediate node and a collector electrically connected to small-signal ground.

Abstract: Radio frequency integrated circuits with on-chip noise source for use in the performance of tests and/or calibrations. For example, a radio frequency integrated circuit comprises at least one noise source residing on the radio frequency integrated circuit, the noise source being controllable by a digital input, and a radio frequency circuit residing on the radio frequency integrated circuit and being coupled to the noise source, wherein at least one attribute of the radio frequency circuit is determinable by controlling the noise source via the digital input.

Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having an input and an output; and at least one transistor comprising at least one terminal and at least one isolated well. The input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one terminal of the transistor; and the output of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one isolated well of the at least one transistor.