Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a repeater are described. In various embodiments the repeater determines uplink/downlink timing information either from information broadcast from a base station or from monitoring received signals and/or gaps between received signals. In various embodiments while the repeater may decode control information to determine uplink/downlink time periods, user data is not decoded and re-encoded. In various embodiments interference between uplink and downlink circuitry is reduced or minimized by controlling gains, combining weights and/or power to amplifiers in the repeater based on the mode of operation. A stored information can include sets of different weights and/or parameters for the mode of operation and/or beam forming antenna pattern in use at a given time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam for communicating with one or more devices are described. The beam mode selection may be and sometimes is between a broad beam mode of operation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to a particular device. Communication with one or more device may happen at a given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for an individual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beam choice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g., because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multiple devices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferred beam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individual device was used. The beam mode and/or beam selected for traffic data communication sometimes is different from the beam mode and/or beam used for communicating control channel information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a power efficient amplifier device through the use of a main (primary) and auxiliary (secondary) power amplifier are described. The primary and secondary amplifiers operate as current sources providing current to the load. Capacitance coupling is used to couple the primary and secondary amplifier outputs. In some embodiments the combination of primary and secondary amplifiers achieve high average efficiency over the operating range of the device in which the primary and secondary amplifiers are used in combination as an amplifier device. The amplifier device is well suited for implementation using CMOS technology, e.g., N-MOSFETs, and can be implemented in an integrated circuit space efficient manner that is well suited for supporting RF transmissions in the GHz frequency range, e.g., 30 GHz frequency range. The primary amplifier in some embodiments is a CLASS-AB or B amplifier and the secondary amplifier is a CLASS-C amplifier.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing passive wideband phase shifters are described. The phase shifters exhibit good linearity over a wide range of frequencies. Furthermore at least some features are directed to allowing the phase shifters to be implemented in some embodiments in a relatively compact manner making such embodiments well suited for supporting arrays and/or other implementations where a large number of phase shifters are to be implemented in a relatively small chip area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating signal processing chains using cross coupling between polarizations are described. Various exemplary methods and apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, are well suited for use in communications devices using beamforming and including arrays of TX/RX front ends, e.g., a first plurality of horizontal polarization front ends and a second plurality of vertical polarization front ends.

Abstract: A controllable reflection type phase shifter that includes an adjustable hybrid coupler and controllable adjustable reflection load circuit is described and used in some embodiments to implemented a communication system. In some embodiments the communication system supports beam forming through the use of a plurality of TX/RX signal processing chains (SPCs), each SPC including at least one reflection type phase shifter, e.g., a controllable reflection type phase shifter. The controllable reflection type phase shifters in different SPCs of the array are configured, e.g., differently, based on the particular beam pattern being used to transmit or receive signals at a given time. Control information, e.g., control values, are stored in memory with the control values corresponding to an antenna pattern to be used at a given time being retrieved from memory and to control the circuits, e.g., controllable reflection type phase shifters, in the system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a repeater are described. In various embodiments the repeater determines uplink/downlink timing information either from information broadcast from a base station or from monitoring received signals and/or gaps between received signals. In various embodiments while the repeater may decode control information to determine uplink/downlink time periods, user data is not decoded and re-encoded. In various embodiments interference between uplink and downlink circuitry is reduced or minimized by controlling gains, combining weights and/or power to amplifiers in the repeater based on the mode of operation. A stored information can include sets of different weights and/or parameters for the mode of operation and/or beam forming antenna pattern in use at a given time.

Abstract: Devices in an array of devices, coupled to a common SPI bus, are automatically assigned identifiers by an enumeration process. In some embodiments, the devices are coupled together in an enumeration daisy chain. The enumeration function is initiated, e.g., by a controller, with a single SPI transaction.

Abstract: A communications apparatus which supports beamforming is described. The communications apparatus includes an array of N beam forming circuits, each of the N beamforming circuits including an RF signal input coupled to a phase shifter, an attenuator and a power amplifier. The communications apparatus further includes an array of antenna elements, each one of the N beamforming circuits including an output coupled to a different one of the antenna elements in the array of antenna elements; and a set of beam tables including control values used to selectively control elements of the beamforming circuits. The beam tables include sets of control values which are accessed and used to control components of the beamforming circuits depending on the beam angle to be used during a given time period. A feedback circuit generate EVM control information based on output signals from the beam forming circuits.

Abstract: A communications device including an array antenna assembly including a plurality of transmit chains, each with a transmit power amplifier, synchronously captures transmit power measurements for each power amplifier. A baseband transmitter in the communications device determines when a predetermined symbol in a protocol, e.g. a PSS SSB symbol, is to be transmitted and sends, e.g. via a SPI, a capture command to command each of the ADCs corresponding to the power amplifiers to synchronously capture a power measurement. Power measurements are captured at the boundary of the predetermined symbol, and the power measurements represent average transmit power levels corresponding to the symbol. The power measurements are communicated to the baseband transmitter which processes the data using calibration tables and taper information. Processed power measurements are compared to desired transmitter target levels and errors are determined. Based on the errors the gains of one or more TX chains are adjusted.

Abstract: Controllable radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs), e.g., in a Hybrid-MIMO array, which are being driven at lower power levels, are operated at conditions such that their inherent EVM and ACLR are intentionally further increased. This increase of inherent EVM and ACLR is done in a precise manner, and the increased inherent EVM and ACLR are cancelled or reduced by the EVM and ACLR of the input Array DPD signal. The net result is improved EVM and ACLR performance over a broader range of angles. Exemplary methods and apparatus for increasing distortion include individual or combinations of: i) changing the DC bias a RFPA based on average operating power level; ii) changing supply voltage, e.g. Vcc, of a RFPA based on average operating power level, iii) adding a controllable non-linear element, such as a diode or varactor, at the input of the RFPA, based on the average operating power.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam for communicating with one or more devices are described. The beam mode selection maybe and sometimes is between a broad beam mode of operation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to a particular device. Communication with one or more device may happen at a given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for an individual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beam choice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g., because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multiple devices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferred beam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individual device was used. The beam mode and/or beam selected for traffic data communication sometimes is different from the beam mode and/or beam used for communicating control channel information.