Abstract: A disclosed structure includes a power amplifier and circuitry for implementing a biasing scheme that enables high power operation. The power amplifier includes parallel transistor chains connected to input and output transformers. Each chain includes series-connected first, second, and third n-type field effect transistors (NFETs) having front and back gates. The output transformer receives a variable positive power supply voltage generated using average power tracking. Front and back gates of each third NFET receive a positive bias voltage greater than or equal to the variable positive power supply voltage and a negative bias voltage, respectively. By negative back biasing the third NFETs, threshold voltages thereof are raised so a high positive bias voltage can be applied to the front gates to increase power output without violating reliability specifications. Optionally, by making the negative bias voltage temperature dependent, voltages at source regions of the third NFETs are held constant.

Abstract: A differential power amplifier circuit, including: a first differential power amplifier including first and second cross-coupled neutralization capacitors; and a second differential power amplifier, coupled in parallel with the first differential power amplifier, including a plurality of multi-gate transistors.

Abstract: A variable low intermediate frequency (VLIF), millimeter wave (mmW) communication system including a millimeter-wave (mmW) integrated circuit (mmw-IC) having a receive section having a receive radio frequency (RF) conversion stage and a receive variable intermediate frequency (IF) conversion stage, the receive RF conversion stage configured to convert a receive communication signal between RF and a first receive IF; the receive variable IF conversion stage configured to convert the first receive IF signal to a first variable low IF signal, and a transmit section having a transmit variable IF conversion stage and a transmit RF conversion stage, the transmit variable IF conversion stage configured to convert a second variable low IF signal to a second IF signal, the transmit RF conversion stage configured to convert the second IF signal to an RF signal for transmission.

Abstract: A phase shifter for a millimeter wave (mmW) communication system including an in phase variable gain amplifier (I VGA) and a quadrature VGA (Q VGA) configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals, the I VGA and the Q VGA configured to provide a selectable output to primary sides of first and second electromagnetic (EM) elements, respectively, the first EM element configured to provide a single-ended I output and the second EM element configured to provide a single-ended Q output, and a hybrid quadrature generator (HQG) configured to receive the single-ended I output of the first EM element and the single-ended Q output of the second EM element, the HQG configured to provide a combined signal at a desired phase.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a method is provided for measuring power using a resistive element coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna. The method includes squaring a voltage from a first terminal of the resistive element to obtain a first signal, squaring a voltage from a second terminal of the resistive element to obtain a second signal, and generating a measurement signal based on a difference between the first signal and the second signal. In some implementations, the resistive element is implemented with a power switch.

Abstract: In certain aspects, an apparatus includes a first amplifier having a first output and a second output, and a transformer. The transformer includes a first switchable inductor coupled between the first output and the second output, a first capacitor coupled in parallel with the first switchable inductor, a second switchable inductor magnetically coupled to the first switchable inductor, a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the second switchable inductor, a third switchable inductor magnetically coupled to the first switchable inductor, and a third capacitor coupled in parallel with the third switchable inductor.

Abstract: A radio system architecture includes a receiver having multiple sub arrays in a phased array, the multiple sub arrays configured to perform carrier aggregation (CA) and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) signal processing, and provide independent beam management for multiple radio frequency (RF) signals received at each of the multiple sub arrays, and a data processor configured to receive signals from the receiver and extract information regarding wireless communications.

Abstract: A transmit (TX) local oscillator (LO) leakage calibration circuit including a transceiver having a transmit portion and a receive portion, an interface circuit connected to the transmit portion and the receive portion, an impedance control circuit connected to a low noise amplifier (LNA) in the receive portion, the impedance control circuit configured to adjust an input impedance for the LNA, a power detector coupled to an output of the LNA, and a local oscillator cancellation element connected to the power detector, the local oscillator cancellation element configured to adjust an input to the transmit portion based on TX LO leakage detected by the power detector.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for reducing parasitic capacitance. In an example aspect, an apparatus includes an amplifier having a differential cascode configuration. Each stack of the amplifier includes a first transistor configured to operate as an input stage and a second transistor configured to operate as a cascode stage. The first and second transistors each include two channel terminal regions having a doping type that is uniform across the two channel terminal regions. Surfaces of first channel terminal regions of the first and second transistors abut a first and second quantity of electrical contacts, respectively. Second channel terminal regions of the first and second transistors form a floating region at a floating node. Each of the first quantity of electrical contacts and the second quantity of electrical contacts is greater than a third quantity of electrical contacts abutting a surface of the floating region.

Abstract: We disclose multiband receivers for millimeter-wave devices, which may have reduced size and/or reduced power consumption. One multiband receiver comprises a first band path comprising a first passive mixer configured to receive a first input RF signal having a first frequency and to be driven by a first local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the first frequency; a second band path comprising a second passive mixer configured to receive a second input RF signal having a second frequency and to be driven by a second local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the second frequency; and a base band path comprising a third passive mixer configured to receive intermediate RF signals during a duty cycle and to be driven by a third local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the first frequency or about ? the second frequency during the duty cycle.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a method is provided for measuring power using a resistive element coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna. The method includes squaring a voltage from a first terminal of the resistive element to obtain a first signal, squaring a voltage from a second terminal of the resistive element to obtain a second signal, and generating a measurement signal based on a difference between the first signal and the second signal. In some implementations, the resistive element is implemented with a power switch.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a method is provided for measuring power using a resistive element coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna. The method includes squaring a voltage from a first terminal of the resistive element to obtain a first signal, squaring a voltage from a second terminal of the resistive element to obtain a second signal, and generating a measurement signal based on a difference between the first signal and the second signal. In some implementations, the resistive element is implemented with a power switch.

Abstract: A transceiver interface for a phased array element includes a first magnetic circuit having a primary coil and a secondary coil, a second magnetic circuit having a primary coil, a secondary coil and a tertiary coil, a main amplifier path and an auxiliary amplifier path, the main amplifier path coupled to the primary coil of the second magnetic circuit and configured to receive a quadrature signal, the main amplifier path configured to provide a quadrature output signal, the auxiliary amplifier path coupled to the primary coil of the first magnetic circuit and configured to receive an in-phase signal, the auxiliary amplifier path configured to provide an in-phase output signal, a selectable output circuit configured to selectively combine the in-phase output signal and the quadrature output signal, and a low noise amplifier (LNA) coupled to the tertiary coil of the second magnetic circuit.

Abstract: In certain aspects, an apparatus includes a first amplifier having a first output and a second output, and a transformer. The transformer includes a first switchable inductor coupled between the first output and the second output, a first capacitor coupled in parallel with the first switchable inductor, a second switchable inductor magnetically coupled to the first switchable inductor, a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the second switchable inductor, a third switchable inductor magnetically coupled to the first switchable inductor, and a third capacitor coupled in parallel with the third switchable inductor.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a transceiver front-end configured for a reduced noise figure (NF). Each of the embodiments includes an antenna, a transmitter branch and a receiver branch all connected to an input/output pad. The transmitter branch is coupled to the input/output pad (and thereby the antenna) by an impedance transformer. Only the receiver branch is selectively electrically connected to the input/output pad (and thereby the antenna) by a switch. A common matching network between the input/output pad and the switch provides both impedance matching and electrostatic discharge protection for the switch and the low noise amplifier, thereby reducing NF. Specific embodiments are disclosed for integration into specific technologies (e.g., fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) technology and fin-type field effect transistor (finFET) technology).

Abstract: In some aspects, an apparatus includes a transformer including a first inductor, a second inductor, and a third inductor. The apparatus also includes a power amplifier coupled to the first inductor, a first antenna coupled to a first terminal of the second inductor, a second antenna coupled to a second terminal of the second inductor, a first switch coupled between the first terminal of the second inductor and a ground, a second switch coupled between the second terminal of the second inductor and the ground, and a low-noise amplifier coupled to the third inductor.

Abstract: We disclose multiband receivers for millimeter-wave devices, which may have reduced size and/or reduced power consumption. One multiband receiver comprises a first band path comprising a first passive mixer configured to receive a first input RF signal having a first frequency and to be driven by a first local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the first frequency; a second band path comprising a second passive mixer configured to receive a second input RF signal having a second frequency and to be driven by a second local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the second frequency; and a base band path comprising a third passive mixer configured to receive intermediate RF signals during a duty cycle and to be driven by a third local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the first frequency or about ? the second frequency during the duty cycle.

Abstract: In some aspects, an apparatus includes a transformer including a first inductor, a second inductor, and a third inductor. The apparatus also includes a power amplifier coupled to the first inductor, a first antenna coupled to a first terminal of the second inductor, a second antenna coupled to a second terminal of the second inductor, a first switch coupled between the first terminal of the second inductor and a ground, a second switch coupled between the second terminal of the second inductor and the ground, and a low-noise amplifier coupled to the third inductor.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a method is provided for measuring power using a resistive element coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna. The method includes squaring a voltage from a first terminal of the resistive element to obtain a first signal, squaring a voltage from a second terminal of the resistive element to obtain a second signal, and generating a measurement signal based on a difference between the first signal and the second signal. In some implementations, the resistive element is implemented with a power switch.

Abstract: We disclose multiband receivers for millimeter-wave devices, which may have reduced size and/or reduced power consumption. One multiband receiver comprises a first band path comprising a first passive mixer configured to receive a first input RF signal having a first frequency and to be driven by a first local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the first frequency; a second band path comprising a second passive mixer configured to receive a second input RF signal having a second frequency and to be driven by a second local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the second frequency; and a base band path comprising a third passive mixer configured to receive intermediate RF signals during a duty cycle and to be driven by a third local oscillator signal having a frequency about ? the first frequency or about ? the second frequency during the duty cycle.