Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for building integrated transformer-coupled amplifiers with on-chip transformers that are designed to resonate or otherwise tune parasitic capacitances to achieve frequency tuning of amplifiers at millimeter wave operating frequencies.

Abstract: An ultra-broadband balun is provided. The balun comprises: a first unbalanced transmission line comprising a first ground trace and a signal trace; and a balanced transmission line comprising a first and second signal trace, wherein the first signal trace of the balanced transmission line is connected to the first ground trace of the first unbalanced transmission line and the second signal trace of the balanced transmission line is connected to the signal trace of the first unbalanced transmission line, wherein a first capacitor is disposed in series with one of the first ground trace of the first unbalanced transmission line and the first signal trace of the balanced transmission line.

Abstract: A direct current (DC) isolated phase inverter and a ring hybrid coupler including the DC isolated phase inverter is provided. The ring hybrid coupler including the DC isolated phase inverter comprising: a first, second, third and fourth transmission line arm; a first port connected to the first arm, second port connected to the second arm, third port connected to the third arm and fourth port connected to the fourth arm; and a DC phase inverter inserted within one of the first, second, third and fourth arms, wherein the DC phase inverter comprises: a transmission line comprising a plurality of signal and ground traces, wherein the plurality of signal and ground traces are interchanged; and a plurality of capacitors disposed in series with the ground traces, wherein the plurality of capacitors isolate the DC phase inverter from a device connected to the transmission line.

Abstract: Shielded circuit pad is provided where the parasitic capacitance is tuned out by the inclusion of a shunt transmission line stub which reduces the substrate induced loss in millimeter-wave applications. The circuit pad is located on the substrate, with a shield located beneath the circuit pad, and the shunt transmission line stub attached to the circuit pad. Accordingly, controlled impedance is obtained for millimeter-wave applications. The spacing between the circuit pad and the shield may then be minimized.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching power regulator uses a function of two voltages to dynamically adjust the regulator's duty cycle. The first voltage VFB corresponds to the output current of the regulator. The second voltage is an independently generated modulated reference voltage VREF. A clock signal causes the regulator to enter a charging phase. That phase is maintained until VREF no longer exceeds VFB. At that point, a discharge phase is initiated. Selecting an appropriate waveform for VREF yields a regulator with a well behaved output without the need for inner and outer control loops. This enhances transient response and low power efficiency.

Abstract: Containers for containing a laundry product, having a helical grip translating down the container.

Abstract: Principles of the present invention provide improved amplifiers such as low-noise amplifiers. While such amplifiers may be suitable in many applications, such amplifiers may provide improved noise, gain and stability performance at millimeter-wave frequencies. In a first aspect of the invention, an amplifier includes a first amplifying stage including a common-base transistor, and a second amplifying stage, coupled to the first amplifying stage, including a cascode transistor pair. The amplifier may be implemented in accordance with a silicon-based technology (e.g., silicon germanium) and may employ microstrip shunt-stub transmission lines as matching networks.

Abstract: A bypass switch topology for a low-noise amplifier is provided. In one aspect of the invention, an amplifier includes at least one signal amplifying transistor, coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal associated with the amplifier, for amplifying a received input signal. The amplifier also includes a bypass switch, coupled to the at least one signal amplifying transistor, for providing a gain (e.g., high-gain) mode operation and a bypass mode operation, the bypass switch including two transistors. In the gain mode operation, the two transistors of the bypass switch are off and the at least one signal amplifying transistor amplifies the received input signal and passes the amplified signal to the output terminal. In the bypass mode operation, the two transistors of the bypass switch are on, the at least one signal amplifying transistor is turned off, and the received input signal is passed directly from the input terminal to the output terminal.

Abstract: An off-chip signal is provided to a differential branch-line directional coupler implemented entirely on-chip. The coupler produces differential quadrature signals, which are then buffered and applied to a quadrature mixer. The coupler is implemented entirely on-chip using microstrip transmission lines. The coupler is made up of a plurality of rings and a plurality of underpasses connecting ports of the rings, wherein each of the plurality of rings is made up of four branch lines, and each branch line having an electrical length of one-quarter wavelength at the center design frequency. Coupling between the plurality of branch lines of the rings may be varied.