Abstract: An integrated circuit implements a wireless remote sensor. The wireless remote sensor includes an antenna coupled to an energy distribution unit to allow passive collection of electrical charge. A signal processing unit couples to the energy distribution unit and modulates transmission by the antenna according to a binary code.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an RFID reader and active tag (RAT) includes: a first beam forming means for interrogating a plurality of RFID tags using at least a first set of two antennas coupled to a first fixed phase feed network, the beam forming means being configured to adjust gains in the first fixed phase feed network to scan with respect to the plurality of RFID tags; and a second beam forming means for uploading RFID data from the interrogated plurality of RFID tags to an external access point using at least a second set of two antennas coupled to a second fixed phase feed network, the beam forming means being configured to adjust gains in the second fixed phase feed network to direct its RF beam at the external access point.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a low-voltage substrate; a high-voltage substrate; a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) integrated with the low-voltage substrate, the DAC being operable to receive a digital command and convert it into an analog voltage; a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) integrated with the low-voltage substrate, the VCO providing an RF signal having an output frequency responsive to the analog voltage; a plurality of switching power amplifiers integrated with the high-voltage substrate, each switching power amplifier receiving an RF signal from the low-voltage substrate and providing an amplified RF output signal; and a plurality of antennas adjacent the high-power substrate, each antenna associating with a corresponding one of the switching power amplifier so as to transmit the amplified RF output signal from the corresponding switching power amplifier.

Abstract: A beam-forming antenna system includes an array of integrated antenna circuits. Each integrated antenna circuit includes an oscillator coupled to an antenna. A network couples to the integrated antenna units to provide phasing information to the oscillators. A controller controls the phasing information provided by the network to the oscillators. In an alternative embodiment, the phasing to each antenna element is controlled through a fixed corporate feed network. The relative gains of the antenna signals received or transmitted through the fixed corporate feed may be adjusted with respect to each other to provide a beam steering capability.

Abstract: An integrated circuit implements a wireless remote sensor. The wireless remote sensor includes an antenna coupled to an energy distribution unit to allow passive collection of electrical charge. A signal processing unit couples to the energy distribution unit and modulates transmission by the antenna according to a binary code.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a first substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the first substrate; an RF network adjacent the first substrate, and a plurality of distributed amplifiers integrated with the first substrate and coupled to the RF network, each distributed amplifier including a varactor configured to load the RF network with a variable capacitance responsive to a control signal, wherein the RF network and the distributed plurality of amplifiers are configured to form a resonant network such that if a timing signal is injected into an input port of the RF network, the resonant network oscillates to provide a globally synchronized RF signal to each of the antennas, and wherein a resonant oscillation of the resonant network is tunable responsive to the control signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a low-voltage substrate; a high-voltage substrate; a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) integrated with the low-voltage substrate, the DAC being operable to receive a digital command and convert it into an analog voltage; a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) integrated with the low-voltage substrate, the VCO providing an RF signal having an output frequency responsive to the analog voltage; a plurality of switching power amplifiers integrated with the high-voltage substrate, each switching power amplifier receiving an RF signal from the low-voltage substrate and providing an amplified RF output signal; and a plurality of antennas adjacent the high-power substrate, each antenna associating with a corresponding one of the switching power amplifier so as to transmit the amplified RF output signal from the corresponding switching power amplifier.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a low voltage substrate supporting an RF transmission network, and a high voltage substrate bonded to the low voltage substrate, the high voltage substrate supporting a plurality of antennas coupled to the RF transmission network through power amplifiers integrated into a surface of the high voltage substrate.

Abstract: A beam-forming antenna system include a substrate; a plurality of mixers formed in the substrate; a phase generator formed in the substrate; and a plurality of antennas formed adjacent the substrate, wherein each mixer is coupled to a corresponding at least one of the antennas, and wherein the phase generator is operable to provide a plurality of uniquely-phased LO signals, each mixer being coupled to the phase generator to receive a different one of uniquely-phased LO signals such that an RF signal received by the antennas is phase-shifted through the mixers according to the unique phases of the LO signal to form a plurality of phase-shifted IF signals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the substrate; and an RF feed network adjacent the substrate for transmitting RF signals to the plurality of antennas and for receiving RF signals from the plurality of antennas, the RF feed network coupling to a distributed plurality of phase shifters integrated with the substrate for phase-shifting the RF signals propagated through the RF feed network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wafer scale antenna array is provided that includes: a substrate, a first plurality of antennas adjacent to the substrate; and a driving network adjacent the substrate for transmitting RF signals to the plurality of antennas and for receiving RF signals from the plurality of antennas, the driving network coupling to a distributed plurality of driving amplifiers and corresponding matching amplifiers integrated with the substrate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit horn array is provided that includes: a first substrate including a plurality of horn antennas, the horn antennas being isolated by cavities in the first substrate between the horn antennas. A second substrate supports an RF feed network that either resonantly or linearly excites the horn antennas.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated phase shifter includes: a plurality of stages, wherein each stage comprises: a transistor amplifier configured to amplify a voltage signal received at an input node into an amplified voltage signal at an output node according to a gain, wherein the transistor amplifier is configured such that the gain is proportional to a bias signal; an integrated inductor loading the output node, wherein the gain of the transistor amplifier is also proportional to an inductance of the integrated inductor; and a varactor diode loading the output node, wherein the varactor diode has a variable capacitance responsive to a control voltage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an impulse radio is provided that includes: a signal source operable to provide a sinusoidal source signal; a pulse shaping circuit having a plurality of selectable delay paths, the pulse shaping circuit being configured to rectify and level shift the sinusoidal source signal through selected ones of the selectable delay paths to provide an impulse signal output; a substrate; a plurality of antennas adjacent the substrate; an RF feed network adjacent the substrate and coupled to the pulse shaping circuit, the RF feed network being configured to transmit the impulse signal output to the plurality of antennas, and a distributed plurality of amplifiers integrated with the substrate and operable to amplify the impulse signal output propagated through RF feed network.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an integrated circuit is provided that includes a substrate, a plurality of dipoles adjacent the substrate; an RF feed network adjacent the substrate and coupled to drive a plurality of output nodes with an RF signal; and a plurality of tuning circuits corresponding to the plurality of dipoles, each tuning circuit configured to load an RF signal from a corresponding one of the output nodes with a variable capacitance responsive to a control signal, the loaded RF signal driving the dipole antenna corresponding to the tuning circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array includes: a substrate, a plurality of first antennas adjacent the a first side of the substrate; and an RF network adjacent a second side of the substrate, the RF feed network coupling to a distributed plurality of amplifiers integrated with the substrate and to a distributed plurality of phase-shifters also integrated with the substrate, each phase shifter being associated with a receptor to receive a beam-forming command, wherein each receptor is configured to receive the beam-forming command through either a near-field coupling or a far-field coupling.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array includes: a substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the substrate; and an RF network adjacent the substrate, the RF feed network coupling to a distributed plurality of amplifiers integrated with the substrate, wherein the RF feed network and the distributed plurality of amplifiers are configured to form a resonant network such that if a timing signal is injected into an input port of the RF network, the resonant network oscillates to provide a globally synchronized RF signal to each of the antennas.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the substrate; and an RF feed network adjacent the substrate for transmitting RF signals to the plurality of antennas and for receiving RF signals from the plurality of antennas, the RF feed network coupling to a distributed plurality of phase shifters integrated with the substrate for phase-shifting the RF signals propagated through the RF feed network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an RFID reader and active tag (RAT) includes: a first beam forming means for interrogating a plurality of RFID tags using at least a first set of two antennas coupled to a first fixed phase feed network, the beam forming means being configured to adjust gains in the first fixed phase feed network to scan with respect to the plurality of RFID tags; and a second beam forming means for uploading RFID data from the interrogated plurality of RFID tags to an external access point using at least a second set of two antennas coupled to a second fixed phase feed network, the beam forming means being configured to adjust gains in the second fixed phase feed network to direct its RF beam at the external access point.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an antenna array is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a plurality of heavily-doped contact regions extending from the first surface to the second surface; a plurality of antennas formed on an insulating layer adjacent the first surface, each antenna being coupled to corresponding ones of the contact regions by vias; driving circuitry formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the driving circuitry is configured such that each antenna corresponds to an RF beam forming interface circuit adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating an RF signal according to a transmit beam forming command to form an RF driving signal for driving the corresponding antenna, the RF beam forming interface circuit also adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating a received RF signal from the corresponding antenna according to a receive beam forming command, and a waveguide network formed in a