Abstract: A VCO control circuit includes a variable delay block, a delay counter, and a tuning range selector coupled to one or more tuning circuits, e.g. one or more VCOs, an arrangement of capacitors, varactor diodes, or inductors. The variable delay block receives a reference signal and a delay signal for setting the delay amount applied to the reference signal, and in response outputs a delayed reference signal, whereby two or more different delays may be applied to the reference signal. The delay counter receives the delayed reference signal and an outputs a delay counter output signal in response. The tuning range selector receives the delay counter output signal, and changes the tuning range of the one or more connected tuning circuits in response.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a tank circuit, first and second oscillator transistors, and a gain-cell tuning inductor. The tank circuit includes first and second ports, and is configured to resonate at one or more predefined frequencies. The first oscillator transistor includes first port, a second port coupled to the first port of the tank circuit, and a third port. The second oscillator transistor includes a first port, a second port coupled to the second port of the tank circuit, and a third port. The gain-cell tuning inductor is coupled between the third ports of the first and second oscillator transistors and is operable to conduct a biasing signal supplied thereto to the third ports of the first and second oscillator transistors.

Abstract: Multiple input signal sources in predetermined frequency bands are each applied to block frequency converters. Each block frequency converter frequency converts an input signal to one of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands. A crosspoint switch is configured to route the frequency converted input signals at one of the plurality of predetermined frequency bands to any one of a plurality of available band translation devices. Each of the band translation devices is configured to frequency convert the signal from a first predetermined frequency band to a second predetermined frequency band. Output signals from one or more band translation devices can be combined into a composite signal.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a tank circuit, first and second oscillator transistors, and a gain-cell tuning inductor. The tank circuit includes first and second ports, and is configured to resonate at one or more predefined frequencies. The first oscillator transistor includes first port, a second port coupled to the first port of the tank circuit, and a third port. The second oscillator transistor includes a first port, a second port coupled to the second port of the tank circuit, and a third port. The gain-cell tuning inductor is coupled between the third ports of the first and second oscillator transistors and is operable to conduct a biasing signal supplied thereto to the third ports of the first and second oscillator transistors.

Abstract: A conversion integrated circuit (IC) for RF signals has a first interface for transmitting or receiving a first number of distinct RF frequency bands in a broadband spectrum, a plurality of circuit elements coupled to the first interface, one for each of the frequency bands, for up-conversion or down-conversion of the frequency bands to and from an intermediate frequency (IF), a second interface coupled to said circuit elements for receiving and transmitting at the intermediate frequency (IF), and a second number of on-chip voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to the circuit elements for generating local-oscillator (LO) signals to the circuit elements for conversion between the IF frequency and the receive or transmit frequency for each band. The IC is characterized in that the second number is smaller than the first number.

Abstract: A conversion integrated circuit (IC) for RF signals has a first interface for transmitting or receiving a first number of distinct RF frequency bands in a broadband spectrum, a plurality of circuit elements coupled to the first interface, one for each of the frequency bands, for up-conversion or down-conversion of the frequency bands to and from an intermediate frequency (IF), a second interface coupled to said circuit elements for receiving and transmitting at the intermediate frequency (IF), and a second number of on-chip voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to the circuit elements for generating local-oscillator (LO) signals to the circuit elements for conversion between the IF frequency and the receive or transmit frequency for each band. The IC is characterized in that the second number is smaller than the first number.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit including a novel degeneration input stage that permits a low Noise Figure and superior linearity to be achieved in combination. The amplifier is suitable for use in fully integrated direct-conversion tuner circuits, and provides continuously variable gain functionality implemented by steering current away from an output load of the amplifier through differential transistor pairs located in the current signal paths of an input stage. Voltage headroom problems are avoided by placing the attenuation resistors of the degenerated input stage in the signal path, such that there is little or no DC voltage drop across the resistors. Further, this arrangement permits very accurate on-chip matching to an off-chip signal source. The distribution of IP3 values over the gain range of the amplifier, as well as gain and NF characteristics, are dependent on resistor ratios rather than absolute values. These amplifier characteristics are thus largely temperature and process independent.