Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for digitizing a phase noise value indicative of a level of phase noise present in a LO signal and downconverting an RF signal to a second frequency signal using the LO signal. This downconversion can cause the phase noise to be transferred to the second frequency signal. The method may thus further include removing the phase noise from the second frequency signal using the digitized phase noise value.

Abstract: An integrated low-IF (low intermediate frequency) terrestrial broadcast receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous and cost-efficient solution. The integrated receiver includes a mixer, local oscillator generation circuitry, low-IF conversion circuitry, and DSP circuitry. And the integrated receiver is particularly suited for small, portable devices and the reception of terrestrial audio broadcasts, such as FM and AM terrestrial audio broadcast, in such portable devices.

Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) apparatus includes receiver analog circuitry that receives an RF signal and provides at least one digital signal to receiver digital circuitry that functions in cooperation with the receiver analog circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry are partitioned so that interference effects between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry tend to be reduced.

Abstract: Receiver architectures and related methods are disclosed for high definition (HD) and digital radio FM broadcast receivers. The radio receiver architectures are configured to utilize multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to handle the digital radio spectrum and can be configured to modify a target IF frequencies depending upon the mode of operation of the receiver. For example, the receiver can include an analog FM reception mode and a digital FM reception mode for which different down-conversions are used for the same analog-plus-digital audio broadcast channel. If desired, the radio broadcast receivers disclosed can be configured so that they only receive digital FM radio content, for example, if the analog FM broadcast was of no interest and/or if the broadcast was all digital.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a mixer circuit to receive and generate a mixed signal from a radio frequency (RF) signal and a master clock signal, a switch stage coupled to an output of the mixer circuit to rotatingly switch the mixed signal to multiple gain stages coupled to the switch stage, and a combiner to combine an output of the gain stages.

Abstract: A low-noise amplifier includes a first resistor that receives a first signal of a differential input signal, and a second resistor that receives a second signal of the differential input signal. The amplifier includes a first transconductance device coupled to the first resistor that provides a first signal of a differential output signal, and a second transconductance device coupled to the second resistor, that provides a second signal of the differential output signal. The receiver also includes a first capacitor coupled between the first resistor input and a control electrode on the second transconductance device, and a second capacitor coupled between the second resistor input and a control electrode on the first transconductance device. The low-noise amplifier can include additional gain stages.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a tuner circuit includes an inter-chip receiver circuit configurable to couple to a first inter-chip communication link to receive a first data stream and includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert a radio frequency signal into a digital version of the radio frequency signal. The tuner circuit further includes a digital signal processor coupled to the inter-chip receiver circuit and the analog-to-digital converter. The digital signal processor is configurable to generate an output signal related to at least one of the first data stream and the digital version of the radio frequency signal based on a selected operating mode.

Abstract: Receiver architectures and related methods are disclosed for high definition (HD) and digital radio FM broadcast receivers. The radio receiver architectures are configured to utilize multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to handle the digital radio spectrum and can be configured to modify a target IF frequencies depending upon the mode of operation of the receiver. For example, the receiver can include an analog FM reception mode and a digital FM reception mode for which different down-conversions are used for the same analog-plus-digital audio broadcast channel. If desired, the radio broadcast receivers disclosed can be configured so that they only receive digital FM radio content, for example, if the analog FM broadcast was of no interest and/or if the broadcast was all digital.

Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) apparatus includes receiver analog circuitry that receives an RF signal and provides at least one digital signal to receiver digital circuitry that functions in cooperation with the receiver analog circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry are partitioned so that interference effects between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry tend to be reduced.

Abstract: A radio receiver such as a frequency modulation (FM) receiver, for example, includes a radio frequency (RF) amplifier having an adjustable gain output. The RF amplifier may be configured to receive and amplify an incoming RF signal. The receiver also includes an intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier having an adjustable gain output. The IF amplifier may be configured to receive and amplify an IF signal that corresponds to the RF signal. The receiver also includes a gain control unit that is coupled to the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier. The gain control unit may be configured to independently adjust the gain of each of the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier, dependent upon a peak output level of both the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier.

Abstract: An integrated low-IF (low intermediate frequency) terrestrial broadcast receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous and cost-efficient solution. The integrated receiver includes a mixer, local oscillator generation circuitry, low-IF conversion circuitry, and DSP circuitry. And the integrated receiver is particularly suited for small, portable devices and the reception of terrestrial audio broadcasts, such as FM and AM terrestrial audio broadcast, in such portable devices.

Abstract: A low-noise amplifier includes a first resistor that receives a first signal of a differential input signal, and a second resistor that receives a second signal of the differential input signal. The amplifier includes a first transconductance device coupled to the first resistor that provides a first signal of a differential output signal, and a second transconductance device coupled to the second resistor, that provides a second signal of the differential output signal. The receiver also includes a first capacitor coupled between the first resistor input and a control electrode on the second transconductance device, and a second capacitor coupled between the second resistor input and a control electrode on the first transconductance device. The low-noise amplifier can include additional gain stages.

Abstract: Low-IF terrestrial data receivers and related communication systems and methods are disclosed that provide efficient solutions for reception of data services in FM broadcast channels. In particular, systems and methods are provided for data service information modulated on a 67.65 kHz sub-carrier, for example, using QPSK modulation. Intermediate data service information is output by the data receiver, and this intermediate data service information takes the form of demodulated digital I/Q signals provided through a digital interface of the data receiver. As such, partial digital signal processing is provided by the data receiver and the remaining digital processing is provided by a host processor.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a receiver analog circuitry and a receiver digital circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry resides within a first integrated circuit and the receiver digital circuitry resides within a second integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit couples to the first integrated circuit via a one-bit digital interface. The receiver analog circuitry receives an RF signal and processes the received RF signal to generate a digital signal. The receiver analog circuitry provides the digital signal to the receiver digital circuitry. The receiver digital circuitry includes a digital down-converter circuitry that mixes the digital signal with an intermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a digital down-converted signal. The receiver digital circuitry also includes a digital filter circuitry that filters the digital down-converted signal to generate a filtered digital signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an output node of a source. An input stage coupled to the amplifier input may include one or more components to aid in processing of incoming signals. One such component coupled between the source and the input of the amplifier is a coupling capacitor used to maintain a bias voltage of the amplifier at a different potential than a DC voltage of the output node. In certain applications, the amplifier and the coupling capacitor may be integrated on a single substrate.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a receiver analog circuitry and a receiver digital circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry resides within a first integrated circuit and the receiver digital circuitry resides within a second integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit couples to the first integrated circuit via a one-bit digital interface. The receiver analog circuitry receives an RF signal and processes the received RF signal to generate a digital signal. The receiver analog circuitry provides the digital signal to the receiver digital circuitry. The receiver digital circuitry includes a digital down-converter circuitry that mixes the digital signal with an intermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a digital down-converted signal. The receiver digital circuitry also includes a digital filter circuitry that filters the digital down-converted signal to generate a filtered digital signal.

Abstract: A frequency modulation (FM) radio receiver includes a processing unit that may generate a magnitude value corresponding to a signal strength of each of a plurality of digital samples of a received FM signal. The receiver also includes a noise estimation unit that may filter the magnitude values using a high pass filter and may generate a noise value representative of a noise portion of the received FM signal based upon the filtered magnitude values.

Abstract: A technique includes generating an analog voltage to control a frequency for an oscillator. The analog signal is converted into a digital signal, and the frequency is controlled in response to the digital signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an output node of a source. An input stage coupled to the amplifier input may include one or more components to aid in processing of incoming signals. One such component coupled between the source and the input of the amplifier is a coupling capacitor used to maintain a bias voltage of the amplifier at a different potential than a DC voltage of the output node. In certain applications, the amplifier and the coupling capacitor may be integrated on a single substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention includes an apparatus having a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller coupled to the DSP to provide control signals to the DSP, and a one-time programmable (OTP) memory coupled to the DSP and the controller. The OTP memory may include multiple code portions including a first code block to control the DSP and a second code block to control the controller.