Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency, a local oscillator (LO) divider ratio, and/or a receive path when adding or discontinuing reception of a component carrier (CC) in a carrier aggregation (CA) scheme. This dynamic adjustment is utilized to avoid (or at least reduce) VCO, LO, and transmit signal coupling issues with multiple component carriers, with minimal (or at least reduced) current consumption by the VCO and the LO divider.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first signal based on a difference between a first frequency of a first voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a second frequency of a second VCO. The method further includes determining a gain of the first VCO at least partially based on the first signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus including: setting up a plurality of configurations for a plurality of local oscillator (LO) paths of a carrier aggregation (CA) transceiver operating with a plurality of bands; calculating and comparing frequencies for each LO path of the plurality of LO paths and at least one divider ratio of LO dividers for each band of the plurality of bands to identify frequency conflicts; and reconfiguring the LO dividers for the plurality of LO paths and the plurality of bands when the frequency conflicts are identified.

Abstract: Omni-band amplifiers support multiple band groups. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device, an integrated circuit, etc.) includes at least one gain transistor and a plurality of cascode transistors for a plurality of band groups. Each band group covers a plurality of bands. The gain transistor(s) receive an input radio frequency (RF) signal. The cascode transistors are coupled to the gain transistor(s) and provide an output RF signal for one of the plurality of band groups. In an exemplary design, the gain transistor(s) include a plurality of gain transistors for the plurality of band groups. One gain transistor and one cascode transistor are enabled to amplify the input RF signal and provide the output RF signal for the selected band group. The gain transistors may be coupled to different taps of a single source degeneration inductor or to different source degeneration inductors.

Abstract: Reconfiguring a transceiver design using a plurality of frequency synthesizers and a plurality of carrier aggregation (CA) receiver (Rx) and transmitter (Tx) chains, the method including: connecting a first frequency synthesizer to a first CA Tx chain; connecting the plurality of frequency synthesizers to the plurality of CA Rx chains, wherein a second frequency synthesizer of the plurality of frequency synthesizers is connected as a shared synthesizer to a first CA Rx chain and a second CA Tx chain.

Abstract: An amplifier module with an output coupler is disclosed. The amplifier module may include a plurality of input terminals and two or more output terminals. Each input terminal may be coupled to an input of an independent amplifier. Outputs from the independent amplifiers may be coupled to the two or more output terminals. The amplifier module may include an output coupler to couple the two or more output terminals together. A signal may be received by a first output terminal and be coupled by the output coupler to a second output terminal. In some embodiments, when the two or more output terminals are coupled together, the independent amplifiers may be made inactive or operated in a minimum gain configuration.

Abstract: An amplifier module with an output coupler is disclosed. The amplifier module may include a plurality of input terminals and two or more output terminals. Each input terminal may be coupled to an input of an independent amplifier. Outputs from the independent amplifiers may be coupled to the two or more output terminals. The amplifier module may include an output coupler to couple the two or more output terminals together. A signal may be received by a first output terminal and be coupled by the output coupler to a second output terminal. In some embodiments, when the two or more output terminals are coupled together, the independent amplifiers may be made inactive or operated in a minimum gain configuration.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) front end having multiple low noise amplifiers modules is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one first stage amplifier configured to amplify received carrier signals to generate at least one first stage carrier group. Each first stage carrier group includes a respective portion of the carrier signals. The apparatus also includes second stage amplifiers configured to amplify the first stage carrier groups. Each second stage amplifier configured to amplify a respective first stage carrier group to generate two second stage output signals that may be output to different demodulation stages where each demodulation stage demodulates a selected carrier signal.

Abstract: Aspects of a wireless apparatus for configuring a plurality of VCOs are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE receives a configuration for a plurality of carriers. Each carrier corresponds to a different LO frequency. In addition, the UE determines a VCO frequency for generating each LO frequency. Further, the UE assigns each determined VCO frequency to each of a plurality of VCO modules based on a distance between the VCO modules and each of the determined VCO frequencies. The plurality of VCO modules are of a set of VCO modules including at least three VCO modules.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting and correcting phase discontinuity of a local oscillator (LO) signal are disclosed. In one design, a wireless device includes an LO generator and a phase detector. The LO generator generates an LO signal used for frequency conversion and is periodically powered on and off. The phase detector detects the phase of the LO signal when the LO generator is powered on. The detected phase of the LO signal is used to identify phase discontinuity of the LO signal. The wireless device may further include (i) a single-tone generator that generates a single-tone signal used to detect the phase of the LO signal, (ii) a downconverter that downconverts the single-tone signal with the LO signal and provides a downconverted signal used by the phase detector to detect the phase of LO signal, and (iii) phase corrector that corrects phase discontinuity of the LO signal in the analog domain or digital domain.

Abstract: A transceiver for multi-standard operation (usable, for example, to communicate signals both of a first wireless communication standard and of a second wireless communication standard) has a mixer that receives a local oscillator signal generated by a local oscillator. A PLL of the local oscillator involves a VCO, a digitally programmable analog loop filter, a digitally programmable VCO supply voltage circuit, and a digitally programmable VCO varactor bias control circuit. In one aspect, the bandwidth of the analog loop filter is adjusted depending on the communication standard of the signal being communicated. In other aspects, the VCO supply voltage circuit and/or the varactor bias control circuit are configured in different ways to optimize PLL performance depending on the communication standard of the signal being communicated.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an oscillating output signal includes an inductive-capacitive (LC) circuit and a current tuning circuit. The LC circuit includes a primary inductor and a varactor coupled to the primary inductor. A capacitance of the varactor is responsive to a voltage at a control input of the varactor. The current tuning circuit includes a secondary inductor and a current driving circuit coupled to the secondary inductor. The current driving circuit is responsive to a current at a control input of the current driving circuit. An effective inductance of the primary inductor is adjustable via magnetic coupling to the secondary inductor, and a frequency of the oscillating output signal is responsive to the effective inductance of the primary inductor and to the capacitance of the varactor.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a local oscillator (LO) signal are disclosed. In one design, an apparatus includes an oscillator, a divider, and a phase locked loop (PLL). The oscillator receives a control signal and provides an oscillator signal having a frequency determined by the control signal. The divider receives the oscillator signal and generates multiple divided signals of different phases. The PLL receives a reference signal and a selected divided signal and generates the control signal for the oscillator. The divider is powered on and off periodically and wakes up in one of multiple possible states, with each state being associated with a different phase of the selected divided signal. Phase continuity of the selected divided signal is ensured by using the divider in a feedback loop with the PLL. The PLL locks the selected divided signal to the reference signal, and the selected divided signal has continuous phase due to the reference signal having continuous phase.

Abstract: Locking multiple VCOs to generate a plurality of LO frequencies, including: receiving a plurality of divided VCO feedback signals from a plurality of VCOs; receiving a reference signal multiplied by a predetermined number of the plurality of VCOs; generating and processing the predetermined number of phase differences between the multiplied reference signal and the plurality of divided VCO feedback signals in a single PLL circuit including a digital loop filter to receive and process the phase differences and generate (produce) a filter output, wherein the digital loop filter includes a plurality of delay cells equal to the predetermined number; and generating and outputting (delayed) control voltages for the plurality of VCOs based on the filter output.

Abstract: A wireless device supporting concurrent communication with multiple wireless systems of different radio access technologies (RATs) are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes first and second receivers supporting concurrent signal reception from wireless systems of different RATs. The first receiver receives a first downlink signal from a first wireless system of a first RAT. The second receiver receives a second downlink signal from a second wireless system of a second RAT, which is different from the first RAT. The first and second receivers may operate concurrently. The second receiver may be broadband and/or may support carrier aggregation. The apparatus may further include first and second local oscillator (LO) generators to generate LO signals for the first and second receivers, respectively, based on different divider ratios in order to mitigate voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) pulling.

Abstract: A carrier aggregation diversity antenna module with integrated low noise amplifier banks is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one switch configured to establish a transmit signal path to transmit an uplink signal from at least one diversity antenna and to establish a receive signal path to receive downlink diversity signals from the at least one diversity antenna. The apparatus also includes band selection filters configured to filter the downlink diversity signals to generate at least three diversity band signals. The apparatus also includes a multiplexing amplifier configured to amplify the diversity band signals to generate at least three amplified diversity band signals that are output to a transceiver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first filter tuned to a sub-band of a frequency band and a second filter tuned to the frequency band. The first filter is configured to be coupled to a receiver based on a first mode. The second filter is configured to be coupled to the receiver based on a second mode.

Abstract: Reconfiguring a transceiver design using a plurality of frequency synthesizers and a plurality of carrier aggregation (CA) receiver (Rx) and transmitter (Tx) chains, the method including: connecting a first frequency synthesizer to a first CA Tx chain; connecting the plurality of frequency synthesizers to the plurality of CA Rx chains, wherein a second frequency synthesizer of the plurality of frequency synthesizers is connected as a shared synthesizer to a first CA Rx chain and a second CA Tx chain.

Abstract: Multiplex modules for use in carrier aggregation receivers are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes an LNA multiplexer configured to receive a plurality of RF signals at a plurality of input terminals and to combine the RF signals into a combined RF signal that is output from an output terminal The apparatus also includes an LNA demultiplexer configured to receive the combined RF signal at an input port that is connected to the output terminal and to distribute the combined RF signal to a plurality of output ports.

Abstract: Aspects of a wireless apparatus for configuring a plurality of VCOs are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE receives a configuration for a plurality of carriers. Each carrier corresponds to a different LO frequency. In addition, the UE determines a VCO frequency for generating each LO frequency. Further, the UE assigns each determined VCO frequency to each of a plurality of VCO modules based on a distance between the VCO modules and each of the determined VCO frequencies. The plurality of VCO modules are of a set of VCO modules including at least three VCO modules.