Abstract: A power detector circuit that rejects the common mode portion of a differential signal is disclosed. The circuit includes a differential input having first and second input nodes. Differential and common mode circuit paths are coupled to the differential input. The common mode circuit path includes first and second capacitors coupled to respective first terminals of first and second input nodes of the differential input. The second terminal of each of the first and second capacitors is coupled to a gate terminal of a first bias transistor. The common mode circuit path is configured to reject a common mode portion of a differential input signal provided to the differential input such that a differential output signal is indicative of an amount of power of a differential portion of the differential input signal.

Abstract: Radio frequency filtering circuitry blocks certain frequencies in an outgoing signal so that the signal may be transmitted over a desired frequency. The radio frequency filtering circuitry includes a first inductor having a first coil and a second inductor coupled to and disposed within the first coil. The second inductor has a second coil and a third coil symmetrical to the second coil. When current is applied to the radio frequency filtering circuitry, the current in the second coil causes a first induced current in the first coil and the current in the third coil causes a second induced current in the first coil, wherein the second induced current is approximately equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the first induced current. As such, the second induced current may compensate for the first induced current.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a transceiver with mixer circuitry that up-converts or down-converts signals based on a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) signal. The transceiver circuitry may include first, second, third, and fourth VCOs. Each VCO may include a VCO core that receives a control voltage and an inductor coupled to the VCO core. Fixed linear capacitors may be coupled between the VCO cores. A switching network may be coupled between the VCOs. Control circuitry may place the VCO circuitry in one of four different operating modes and may switch between the operating modes to selectively control current direction in each of the inductors. The VCO circuitry may generate the VCO signal within a respective frequency range in each of the operating modes. The VCO circuitry may exhibit a relatively wide frequency range across all of the operating modes while introducing minimal phase noise to the system.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a harmonic trap is disclosed. A VCO includes first and second transistors cross-coupled with one another. The VCO further includes a first inductor having first and second loops coupled to one another, wherein the first inductor is arranged such that current flow through first loop is in the opposite direction of current flow in the second loop. The VCO further includes a second inductor that implements a third loop surrounding the first inductor.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a harmonic trap is disclosed. A VCO includes first and second transistors cross-coupled with one another. The VCO further includes a first inductor having first and second loops coupled to one another, wherein the first inductor is arranged such that current flow through first loop is in the opposite direction of current flow in the second loop. The VCO further includes a second inductor that implements a third loop surrounding the first inductor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing transmit signal interference is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a signal and amplifying the received signal. The received signal is then mixed with an intermediate frequency signal to obtain a baseband modulated signal. The baseband modulated signal is first filtered in an RC filter. The resulting signal is then divided by a preselected amount and the first divided portion is sent to a main path of a biquad filter, which produces a first stage biquad filtered signal. The second portion of the divided signal is sent to an auxiliary path of the biquad filter, and produces a second filtered signal. The first and second signals are then recombined and sent to the second stage of the biquad filter, where further filtering takes place.

Abstract: A multi-band amplifier may operate in a first frequency band and a second frequency band. The multi-band amplifier may include a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a coupler. The coupler may couple a signal, such as a communication signal, to a selected amplifier. In some embodiments, the coupler may include one or more inductive elements to couple the signal to the first or the second amplifier. In some embodiments, the inductive elements may include a balun.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide voltage regulating circuits which are power efficient, low noise, and substantially insensitive to changes in process technology, power supply voltage, and temperature. Such circuits may be used to provide the regulated voltage for a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), for example, as found in a radio frequency front end (RFFE). One example voltage regulating circuit generally includes a current source configured to supply or sink a reference current and a current mirror having a bias branch and a main branch, wherein the bias branch is connected with the current source, wherein the main branch includes a source follower to provide the regulated voltage, and wherein the reference current is available at a node for the regulated voltage.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for processing an input signal. One example apparatus is a circuit that generally includes an amplifier, comprising a first transistor and a second transistor connected in cascode with the first transistor; a buffer coupled to an output of the amplifier and configured to provide feedback to the amplifier; and a current source coupled to the second transistor and incorporated into a loop of the feedback to the amplifier.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for processing an input signal. One example apparatus is a circuit that generally includes an amplifier, comprising a first transistor and a second transistor connected in cascode with the first transistor; a buffer coupled to an output of the amplifier and configured to provide feedback to the amplifier; and a current source coupled to the second transistor and incorporated into a loop of the feedback to the amplifier.

Abstract: A multi-band amplifier may operate in a first frequency band and a second frequency band. The multi-band amplifier may include a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a coupler. The coupler may couple a signal, such as a communication signal, to a selected amplifier. In some embodiments, the coupler may include one or more inductive elements to couple the signal to the first or the second amplifier. In some embodiments, the inductive elements may include a balun.

Abstract: A differential crystal oscillator circuit, including: first and second output terminals; a cross-coupled oscillation unit including first and second transistors cross-coupled to the first and second output terminals; first and second metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) diodes, each MOSFET diode including a resistor connected between gate and drain terminals, wherein the first MOSFET diode couples to the first transistor to provide low-impedance load at low frequencies and high-impedance load at higher frequencies to the first transistor, wherein the second MOSFET diode couples to the second transistor to provide low-impedance load at low frequencies and high-impedance load at higher frequencies to the second transistor; and a reference resonator coupled between the first and second output terminals to establish an oscillation frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments of a communication circuit are described. This communication circuit includes an input node to receive a set of data symbols and a partitioner coupled to the input node. This partitioner is to divide the set of data symbols into M irregular subgroups of data symbols, a given one of which includes non-consecutive data symbols in the set of data symbols. Moreover, this given irregular subgroup of data symbols includes at least two pairs of adjacent data symbols having different inter-data-symbol spacings in the set of data symbols. This communication circuit also includes M modulators coupled to the partitioner, where the given irregular subgroup of data symbols is coupled to a given modulator in the M modulators. Furthermore, the communication circuit includes M output nodes, where a given output node in the M output nodes is coupled to the given modulator and is to couple to an antenna element in M antenna elements.

Abstract: A differential crystal oscillator circuit, including: first and second output terminals; a cross-coupled oscillation unit including first and second transistors cross-coupled to the first and second output terminals; first and second metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) diodes, each MOSFET diode including a resistor connected between gate and drain terminals, wherein the first MOSFET diode couples to the first transistor to provide low-impedance load at low frequencies and high-impedance load at higher frequencies to the first transistor, wherein the second MOSFET diode couples to the second transistor to provide low-impedance load at low frequencies and high-impedance load at higher frequencies to the second transistor; and a reference resonator coupled between the first and second output terminals to establish an oscillation frequency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a crystal oscillator are provided. A voltage generating module outputs a ramp voltage signal to a ring oscillator. The ring oscillator generates and outputs a waveform based on the ramp voltage signal. The ramp voltage signal facilitates the ring oscillator to output the waveform at a frequency that varies with time, wherein the varying frequency is within a frequency range of the crystal oscillator. An inverter generates a digital input signal based on the waveform. The digital input signal is sent to an input of the crystal oscillator for charging the crystal oscillator. A feedback module outputs a feedback signal based on the digital input signal, wherein the feedback signal controls the voltage generating module to generate a fixed voltage signal that facilitates the ring oscillator to output the waveform at a frequency that is equal to a resonance frequency of the crystal oscillator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing transmit signal interference is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a signal and amplifying the received signal. The received signal is then mixed with an intermediate frequency signal to obtain a baseband modulated signal. The baseband modulated signal is first filtered in an RC filter. The resulting signal is then divided by a preselected amount and the first divided portion is sent to a main path of a biquad filter, which produces a first stage biquad filtered signal. The second portion of the divided signal is sent to an auxiliary path of the biquad filter, and produces a second filtered signal. The first and second signals are then recombined and sent to the second stage of the biquad filter, where further filtering takes place.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a main amplifier configured to receive an input signal. The main amplifier is also configured to generate an output signal. The apparatus also includes an auxiliary path configured to phase-shift the input signal to generate a cancellation signal to reduce or cancel a blocker component of the output signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for mitigating a frequency spur included with a transmitter output signal from a wireless device. For at least some embodiments, the wireless device may include an auxiliary synthesizer to generate a spur cancellation signal to be summed with the transmitter output signal to cancel or reduce the frequency spur. The auxiliary synthesizer may also generate an auxiliary clock signal to demodulate a received communication signal. In some embodiments, the transmitter output signal may be looped back to a receiver of the wireless device to determine whether the frequency spur is reduced below a threshold. Data from the receiver may be used to modify the spur cancellation signal.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide voltage regulating circuits which are power efficient, low noise, and substantially insensitive to changes in process technology, power supply voltage, and temperature. Such circuits may be used to provide the regulated voltage for a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), for example, as found in a radio frequency front end (RFFE). One example voltage regulating circuit generally includes a current source configured to supply or sink a reference current and a current mirror having a bias branch and a main branch, wherein the bias branch is connected with the current source, wherein the main branch includes a source follower to provide the regulated voltage, and wherein the reference current is available at a node for the regulated voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a main amplifier configured to receive an input signal. The main amplifier is also configured to generate an output signal. The apparatus also includes an auxiliary path configured to phase-shift the input signal to generate a cancellation signal to reduce or cancel a blocker component of the output signal.