Abstract: Embodiments enable a multi-band transmitter with significantly reduced architecture area by allowing maximum reuse of transmitter stages across supported frequency bands and signal standards. Further, embodiments allow a monolithic transmitter implementation by providing an integration-friendly differential to single-ended conversion stage. According to embodiments, the differential to single-ended conversion stage is readily configurable according to the frequency band and signal standard of operation of the transmitter.

Abstract: A system for saturation detection, correction and recovery in a power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to develop a power control signal (VPC), and power control circuitry configured to reduce the power control signal if the power amplifier is operating in a saturation mode.

Abstract: A closed loop power control system for a radio frequency (RF) transmitter comprises a first variable gain element located in a power control loop and configured to receive a power level signal and an inverse representation of a power control signal, a second variable gain element located in the power control loop and configured to receive an error signal and the power control signal, and a third variable gain element configured to receive an amplitude modulated (AM) signal and the power control signal, the third variable gain element having a gain characteristic configured to operate to reduce the gain applied to the AM signal when the power control signal falls below a minimum predetermined value, and to provide the AM signal as a reference signal.

Abstract: A supply voltage controlled power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to generate a power control signal, and a voltage regulator coupled to the power control loop, the voltage regulator including a first regulator stage, a second regulator stage, and a peak detector, wherein an output of the second regulator stage is applied as a feedback signal to the first regulator stage and wherein an output of the first regulator stage is decreased to a level consistent with an output of the power amplifier and an additional operating buffer amount.

Abstract: A system for saturation detection, correction and recovery in a power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to develop a power control signal (VPC), and power control circuitry configured to reduce the power control signal if the power amplifier is operating in a saturation mode.

Abstract: A differential radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a fully differential direct conversion receive chain, a subharmonic mixer in the receive chain, the subharmonic mixer configured to receive a differential radio frequency (RF) input signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal that is phase-shifted by a nominal 45 degrees, and a synthesizer having a voltage controlled oscillator and having at least one frequency divider to generate desired receive LO signals.

Abstract: A system for saturation detection, correction and recovery in a power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to develop a power control signal (VPC), and power control circuitry configured to reduce the power control signal if the power amplifier is operating in a saturation mode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer are provided. One embodiment is a system for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer. One such system comprises a local oscillator, a divide-by-N frequency divider, a divide-by-three frequency divider, and a harmonic rejection mixer. The local oscillator is configured to provide a reference frequency signal. The divide-by-N frequency divider is configured to divide the reference frequency signal by a value N and provide an output signal. The divide-by-three frequency divider is configured to receive the output signal of the divide-by-N frequency divider and divide the output signal into three phase-offset signals. The harmonic rejection mixer is configured to receive the three phase-offset signals and eliminate third frequency harmonics.

Abstract: A system for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a quadrature mixer includes an oscillator configured to provide a reference frequency signal, at least one frequency divider configured to divide the reference frequency signal into three offset phase signals, a first summing circuit configured to generate two nominal 90 degree offset phase signals from the three offset phase signals, and a second summing circuit configured to generate at least two amplitude-corrected 90 degree offset-phase quadrature signals.

Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving data is provided. The system includes a direct-conversion receiver that receives a signal modulated on a carrier frequency signal. The direct-conversion receiver includes one or more subharmonic local oscillator mixers. A local oscillator is connected to the direct conversion receiver, and generates a signal having a frequency equal to a subharmonic of the carrier frequency signal. A transmitter is connected to the local oscillator, which uses the local oscillator signal to transmit outgoing data.

Abstract: A system for compensating gain control variations in a power amplifier comprises a power control element configured to receive a power control signal and an instantaneous envelope power reference signal, an adder configured to combine the power control signal and the instantaneous envelope power reference signal to obtain a modified power level signal, and a mapping function configured to receive the modified power level signal and configured to alter a control input to a variable gain amplifier, the variable gain amplifier controlling an adjustable input to the power amplifier.

Abstract: A variable gain frequency multiplier comprises a multiplier circuit and a control circuit configured to receive a power control signal, the power control signal being proportional to a power output signal.

Abstract: A supply voltage controlled power amplifier that comprises a power amplifier, a closed power control feedback loop configured to generate a power control signal, and a dual voltage regulator coupled to the power control feedback loop, the dual voltage regulator comprising a first regulator stage and a second regulator stage, wherein the closed power control loop minimizes noise generated by the first regulator stage.

Abstract: A single chip GSM/EDGE transceiver comprises a fully differential receive chain, a subharmonic mixer in the receive chain, the subharmonic mixer configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal that is phase-shifted by a nominal 45 degrees, and a synthesizer having a voltage controlled oscillator and having at least one frequency divider to generate desired transmit and receive LO signals. The transceiver also comprises a transmitter having a closed power control loop, and a harmonic rejection modulator, the use thereof made possible by a frequency plan designed to allow the synthesizer to develop the transmit and receive LO signals without a frequency multiplier.

Abstract: A controller enables the integration of a DC-DC converter in an amplitude modulation power control loop in a mobile handset. The controller includes an input conditioner and an event sensor. The input conditioner uses a peak detector to track the output of a regulator and responds to available baseband input signals. The event sensor controls a switch that connects the DC-DC converter to a battery in response to a bypass event. The controller bypasses the DC-DC-converter when a transmitter is not enabled. The DC-DC converter is enabled prior to a transmission burst. A target voltage is determined from a series of detected peak voltages from the output of the regulator. The controller commands the DC-DC converter to transition to the target voltage until the end of a transmission burst.

Abstract: A low noise mixer comprises a first mixer core configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal having an RF frequency, and a first local oscillator signal, wherein the first local oscillator signal is at a frequency that is nominally twice the frequency of the RF frequency, the first mixer core configured to switch the RF input signal to at least one secondary mixer core at a frequency that coincides with the frequency of the first local oscillator signal, the at least one secondary mixer core configured to receive the switched RF input signal and a second local oscillator signal, where the second local oscillator signal is at the same nominal frequency as the RF input signal, and wherein switching the RF input signal at the frequency of the first local oscillator signal substantially eliminates flicker noise associated with the down-conversion process.

Abstract: A software defined transmit architecture includes a plurality of individually selectable components that can be selectively enabled to transmit a data signal that complies with any of a plurality of transmission standards. The software defined transmit architecture comprises components that can be enabled by associated logic to transmit, for example, communications signals that comply with the global system for mobile communications (GSM), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), which employs TDMA, and wide band code division multiple access (WCDMA) transmission standards. A single transmit architecture supports multiple transmission standards, thus minimizing the number of components in a multi-band, multi-mode portable transceiver, while reducing the number of active components.

Abstract: A method for a closed power control feedback loop allows a single portable transceiver architecture to be used for systems in which a transmit signal including both a phase modulated (PM) component and an amplitude modulated (AM) component are supplied to a power amplifier and in systems in which the transmit signal has only a PM component supplied to a power amplifier. By injecting the inverse of the AM portion of the desired transmit signal into the closed power control feedback loop, the feedback loop will not cancel the AM portion of the signal, thus allowing a system where both a PM component and an AM component of the transmit signal are present at the output of the power amplifier to function using a closed power control feedback loop.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a closed power control loop includes an adder configured to inject a test signal into an adjustable element, a first peak detector configured to determine an amplitude of the injected test signal, a second peak detector configured to determine an amplitude of a return test signal, a comparator configured to determine the difference between the injected test signal and the return test signal, and a calibration engine configured to adjust the adjustable element so that the return test signal is offset from the injected test signal by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A supply voltage controlled power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to generate a power control signal, and a voltage regulator coupled to the power control loop, the voltage regulator including a first regulator stage, a second regulator stage, and a peak detector, wherein an output of the second regulator stage is applied as a feedback signal to the first regulator stage and wherein an output of the first regulator stage is decreased to a level consistent with an output of the power amplifier and an additional operating buffer amount.