Abstract: An embodiment of a variable-gain mixer for down-converting a modulated input signal into a modulated output signal in a wireless receiver is proposed. The mixer includes means for selecting a mixer gain according to a power level of the input signal, amplifying means for amplifying the input signal into a modulated intermediate current (IRF+,IRF?) in response to a control signal indicative of the selected mixer gain, the intermediate current having an intermediate component, consisting of a direct current, varying according to the selected mixer gain, means for generating the output signal from the intermediate current, the output signal having an output component, consisting of a direct current or voltage, depending on the intermediate component; in an embodiment, the mixer further includes means for setting a compensation current in response to the control signal for compensating the variation of the intermediate component, and means for adding the compensation current to the intermediate current.

Abstract: An embodiment of a receiver is proposed. The receiver includes a buffer element for receiving an input signal continuously, synchronization means for synchronizing the input signal by monitoring a buffer signal corresponding to the input signal within the buffer element at a corresponding monitoring time for determining a complete reception of at least one preamble signal within the buffer signal at a reception time, and by synchronizing the input signal according to the detection of the complete reception of the at least one preamble signal, and extraction means including at least one operative block configurable in an extraction phase for extracting a data signal associated with the at least one preamble signal from the input signal. In an embodiment, the synchronization means shares said at least one operative block with the extraction means; said at least one operative block is configurable in a synchronization phase for synchronizing the input signal.

Abstract: An embodiment of an amplifier circuit is proposed. The amplifier circuit includes an amplifier stage having at least one input terminal for receiving an input signal and at least one output terminal for providing an output signal being amplified with respect to the input signal. The amplifier circuit further includes a load stage of the amplifier stage, the load stage including at least one load node each one coupled with a corresponding one of the at least one output terminal. The amplifier circuit further includes a control block for providing a control signal to the load stage according to the output signal for regulating the output signal in feedback, and first biasing means for providing a first bias current to each load node through the amplifier stage. The load stage includes second biasing means for providing at least one second bias current to each load node and regulation means for providing a regulation current to each load node according to the control signal.

Abstract: An embodiment of a variable-gain mixer for down-converting a modulated input signal into a modulated output signal in a wireless receiver is proposed. The mixer includes means for selecting a mixer gain according to a power level of the input signal, amplifying means for amplifying the input signal into a modulated intermediate current (IRF+,IRF?) in response to a control signal indicative of the selected mixer gain, the intermediate current having an intermediate component, consisting of a direct current, varying according to the selected mixer gain, means for generating the output signal from the intermediate current, the output signal having an output component, consisting of a direct current or voltage, depending on the intermediate component; in an embodiment, the mixer further includes means for setting a compensation current in response to the control signal for compensating the variation of the intermediate component, and means for adding the compensation current to the intermediate current.

Abstract: An up-sampled data stream, upsampled times a factor P, is generated by the input block providing signal samples having a frequency rate, while an intermediate data stream is generated by a Rate Adapting Stage providing signal samples adapted to an intermediate frequency rate. An output data stream is delivered by a final low pass filter, and includes M signal samples having a desired output sample frequency rate (fOUT=M/Ts). The method provides generation of a provisional stream in the Rate Adapting Stage, wherein this provisional stream is affected by aliases falling within the output Nyquist band [?fOUT/2, fOUT/2], although being adapted to the output frequency rate by a direct insertion of zero samples into the processed stream when L<M, or by a direct cancellation of samples when L>M. Then these aliases are suppressed in the Rate Adapting Stage by weighting the provisional stream via a set of weights.

Abstract: The method is based on a controlled, direct insertion/cancellation of samples in a processed data stream. An up-sampled data stream is generated by the input block providing signal samples having a frequency rate. An intermediate data stream generated by a Rate Adapting Stage providing signal samples adapted to an intermediate frequency rate. An output data stream is delivered by a final low pass filter, including M signal samples having a desired output sample frequency rate. The method provides a generation of an up-sampled weighted stream in the Rate Adapting Stage by weighting the signal samples of the up-sampled data stream via a set of weight. Then, the input frequency rate is adapted to the output frequency rate in Rate Adapting Stage by a direct insertion of zero samples into the processed stream when L<M, or by a direct cancellation of samples when L>M.