Abstract: A radio receiver such as a frequency modulation (FM) receiver, for example, includes a radio frequency (RF) amplifier having an adjustable gain output. The RF amplifier may be configured to receive and amplify an incoming RF signal. The receiver also includes an intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier having an adjustable gain output. The IF amplifier may be configured to receive and amplify an IF signal that corresponds to the RF signal. The receiver also includes a gain control unit that is coupled to the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier. The gain control unit may be configured to independently adjust the gain of each of the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier, dependent upon a peak output level of both the RF amplifier and the IF amplifier.

Abstract: An integrated low-IF (low intermediate frequency) terrestrial broadcast receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous and cost-efficient solution. The integrated receiver includes a mixer, local oscillator generation circuitry, low-IF conversion circuitry, and DSP circuitry. And the integrated receiver is particularly suited for small, portable devices and the reception of terrestrial audio broadcasts, such as FM and AM terrestrial audio broadcast, in such portable devices.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a receiver analog circuitry and a receiver digital circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry resides within a first integrated circuit and the receiver digital circuitry resides within a second integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit couples to the first integrated circuit via a one-bit digital interface. The receiver analog circuitry receives an RF signal and processes the received RF signal to generate a digital signal. The receiver analog circuitry provides the digital signal to the receiver digital circuitry. The receiver digital circuitry includes a digital down-converter circuitry that mixes the digital signal with an intermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a digital down-converted signal. The receiver digital circuitry also includes a digital filter circuitry that filters the digital down-converted signal to generate a filtered digital signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an output node of a source. An input stage coupled to the amplifier input may include one or more components to aid in processing of incoming signals. One such component coupled between the source and the input of the amplifier is a coupling capacitor used to maintain a bias voltage of the amplifier at a different potential than a DC voltage of the output node. In certain applications, the amplifier and the coupling capacitor may be integrated on a single substrate.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes a receiver analog circuitry and a receiver digital circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry resides within a first integrated circuit and the receiver digital circuitry resides within a second integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit couples to the first integrated circuit via a one-bit digital interface. The receiver analog circuitry receives an RF signal and processes the received RF signal to generate a digital signal. The receiver analog circuitry provides the digital signal to the receiver digital circuitry. The receiver digital circuitry includes a digital down-converter circuitry that mixes the digital signal with an intermediate frequency (IF) local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a digital down-converted signal. The receiver digital circuitry also includes a digital filter circuitry that filters the digital down-converted signal to generate a filtered digital signal.

Abstract: A frequency modulation (FM) radio receiver includes a processing unit that may generate a magnitude value corresponding to a signal strength of each of a plurality of digital samples of a received FM signal. The receiver also includes a noise estimation unit that may filter the magnitude values using a high pass filter and may generate a noise value representative of a noise portion of the received FM signal based upon the filtered magnitude values.

Abstract: A technique includes generating an analog voltage to control a frequency for an oscillator. The analog signal is converted into a digital signal, and the frequency is controlled in response to the digital signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an output node of a source. An input stage coupled to the amplifier input may include one or more components to aid in processing of incoming signals. One such component coupled between the source and the input of the amplifier is a coupling capacitor used to maintain a bias voltage of the amplifier at a different potential than a DC voltage of the output node. In certain applications, the amplifier and the coupling capacitor may be integrated on a single substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention includes an apparatus having a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller coupled to the DSP to provide control signals to the DSP, and a one-time programmable (OTP) memory coupled to the DSP and the controller. The OTP memory may include multiple code portions including a first code block to control the DSP and a second code block to control the controller.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention includes an apparatus having a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller coupled to the DSP to provide control signals to the DSP, and a one-time programmable (OTP) memory coupled to the DSP and the controller. The OTP memory may include multiple code portions including a first code block to control the DSP and a second code block to control the controller.

Abstract: Integrated low-IF (low intermediate frequency) data receivers and associated methods are disclosed that provide advantageous and cost-efficient solutions.

Abstract: A technique includes using a first stored energy source to generate a reference signal to circuitry of a supply regulator in response to the regulator being in a startup state. The technique includes using an output signal that is provided by the regulator to generate the reference signal in response to the regulator not being in the startup state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for digitizing a phase noise value indicative of a level of phase noise present in a LO signal and downconverting an RF signal to a second frequency signal using the LO signal. This downconversion can cause the phase noise to be transferred to the second frequency signal. The method may thus further include removing the phase noise from the second frequency signal using the digitized phase noise value.

Abstract: A receiver includes a gain stage, a peak detector and a processor. The gain stage provides an output signal, and the peak detector provides a binary indication of whether the output signal has reached a predetermined threshold. The processor controls the gain stage in response to the binary indication.

Abstract: A technique includes selectively coupling impedances to an oscillator to establish a first frequency of operation of the oscillator. The technique includes repeating the selective coupling in a feedback loop to cause the first frequency to be near a second frequency.

Abstract: A digital tuning error correction system for an integrated receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous solution for combining digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry on the same integrated circuit as mixer and local oscillator (LO) generation circuitry.

Abstract: A ratiometric clock system for an integrated receiver and associated method are disclosed that provide an advantageous solution for combining digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry on the same integrated circuit as mixer and local oscillator (LO) generation circuitry. The generation circuitry generates an oscillation signal that is passed through a first divider to generate mixing signals for the mixer that is passed through a second divider to generate a digital clock signal that is utilized by the DSP circuitry. This digital clock signal can be utilized by integrated analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, as well.

Abstract: Receiver architectures and related methods are disclosed for high definition (HD) and digital radio FM broadcast receivers. The radio receiver architectures are configured to utilize multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to handle the digital radio spectrum and can be configured to modify a target IF frequencies depending upon the mode of operation of the receiver. For example, the receiver can include an analog FM reception mode and a digital FM reception mode for which different down-conversions are used for the same analog-plus-digital audio broadcast channel. If desired, the radio broadcast receivers disclosed can be configured so that they only receive digital FM radio content, for example, if the analog FM broadcast was of no interest and/or if the broadcast was all digital.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a semiconductor package, a radio receiver and a processor. The radio receiver is located in the semiconductor package and includes at least one gain stage. The processor is located in the semiconductor package to execute stored instructions to control the gain stage(s).

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an amplifier having an input to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an output node of a source. An input stage coupled to the amplifier input may include one or more components to aid in processing of incoming signals. One such component coupled between the source and the input of the amplifier is a coupling capacitor used to maintain a bias voltage of the amplifier at a different potential than a DC voltage of the output node. In certain applications, the amplifier and the coupling capacitor may be integrated on a single substrate.