Abstract: A method for calibrating a transceiver includes selecting one of a plurality of available calibration paths on the transceiver to be active. The transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. The selected one of the plurality of available calibration paths couples the transmitter to the receiver through a circuit that is external to the transceiver. A calibration signal may be provided to enable calibration of the transceiver via the selected one of the plurality of available calibration paths. The calibration signal may be received after it has passed through the selected one of the plurality of calibration paths. Characteristics of the transceiver may be measured using the received calibration signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the Plls to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCOMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. Plls may be shared when operating in TOO mode, and used separately operating in FOO mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for AOCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide power-efficient time division duplexing (TDD) mode configurations of frequency division duplexing (FDD) transceivers. Embodiments avoid time slotted operation of the receive and transmit synthesizers, thereby avoiding undesired operation under transient conditions, frequent calibration, and reduced power supply efficiency. In embodiments, a single synthesizer is used to enable TDD operation, thereby reducing power consumption and calibration requirements by approximately 50%. The single synthesizer may be maintained ON at all times, thus allowing the power supply's switching regulator to operate with substantially constant load conditions.

Abstract: A high frequency mixer with a tunable dynamic range is disclosed. One embodiment provides a mixer apparatus including multiple first transistors at an input branch that receive a differential radio frequency (RF) signal, and multiple second transistors at a second branch that receive a differential local oscillator (LO) signal. The second transistors generate an intermediate frequency (IF) differential output signal. The bias current that flows at the input branch and the output branch can be independently adjusted to allow the conversion gain, linearity, or the output noise of the mixer to be controlled.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure include methods in which spurs generated by the drifting of an oscillation frequency of an oscillation signal provided by a free-running oscillator may be minimized and/or eliminated from an output signal of a phase locked loop (PLL). Methods include adjusting the free-running oscillator to prevent the oscillation frequency from drifting so that the spurs are eliminated. Performance data generated when the communications device engages a communications channel that is known not to generate spurs is compared to performance data generated when the communications device engages a desired communications channel. The free-running oscillator is adjusted until the two types of performance data are matched. Other methods include adjusting the dithering module of the PLL to prevent the oscillation frequency from drifting so that the spurs are eliminated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to both reduce the size and cost and improve the performance and power consumption of next generation wireless communication devices. In particular, embodiments enable board and semiconductor substrate area savings by using the fabrication package (which encapsulates the semiconductor substrate) as a design element in the design of next generation wireless communication devices. Specifically, embodiments use the substrate of the fabrication package to integrate into it components of the wireless radio transceiver (which are conventionally integrated into the semiconductor substrate) and other discrete components of the communication device (which are conventionally placed on the board of the device). As such, reduced board and semiconductor area can be realized.

Abstract: Methods and systems for loop-through for multi-band TV tuners and set-top box and/or TV set applications are disclosed and may include generating master and slave output signals from one or more low-noise amplifiers including master and slave stages. The master and slave stages may include parallel-coupled gain paths. Gate terminals and source terminals of input transistors for the master and slave stages may be directly coupled. The input transistors for the master and slave stages may share an inductor coupled to the source terminals and to ground. The master and slave stages may include cascode stages. VHF and UHF signals may be amplified in the multi-band receiver. The generated master output signal may be processed in the multi-band receiver, and may be utilized to generate I and Q output signals. A plurality of the slave output signals may be summed and communicated to a receiver external to the multi-band receiver.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide power-efficient time division duplexing (TDD) mode configurations of frequency division duplexing (FDD) transceivers. Embodiments avoid time slotted operation of the receive and transmit synthesizers, thereby avoiding undesired operation under transient conditions, frequent calibration, and reduced power supply efficiency. In embodiments, a single synthesizer is used to enable TDD operation, thereby reducing power consumption and calibration requirements by approximately 50%. The single synthesizer may be maintained ON at all times, thus allowing the power supply's switching regulator to operate with substantially constant load conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to both reduce the size and cost and improve the performance and power consumption of next generation wireless communication devices. In particular, embodiments enable board and semiconductor substrate area savings by using the fabrication package (which encapsulates the semiconductor substrate) as a design element in the design of next generation wireless communication devices. Specifically, embodiments use the substrate of the fabrication package to integrate into it components of the wireless radio transceiver (which are conventionally integrated into the semiconductor substrate) and other discrete components of the communication device (which are conventionally placed on the board of the device). As such, reduced board and semiconductor area can be realized.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure include methods in which spurs generated by the drifting of an oscillation frequency of an oscillation signal provided by a free-running oscillator may be minimized and/or eliminated from an output signal of a phase locked loop (PLL). Methods include adjusting the free-running oscillator to prevent the oscillation frequency from drifting so that the spurs are eliminated. Performance data generated when the communications device engages a communications channel that is known not to generate spurs is compared to performance data generated when the communications device engages a desired communications channel. The free-running oscillator is adjusted until the two types of performance data are matched. Other methods include adjusting the dithering module of the PLL to prevent the oscillation frequency from drifting so that the spurs are eliminated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the Plls to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCOMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. Plls may be shared when operating in TOO mode, and used separately operating in FOO mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for AOCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for loop-through for multi-band TV tuners and set-top box and/or TV set applications are disclosed and may include generating master and slave output signals from one or more low-noise amplifiers including master and slave stages. The master and slave stages may include parallel-coupled gain paths. Gate terminals and source terminals of input transistors for the master and slave stages may be directly coupled. The input transistors for the master and slave stages may share an inductor coupled to the source terminals and to ground. The master and slave stages may include cascode stages. VHF and UHF signals may be amplified in the multi-band receiver. The generated master output signal may be processed in the multi-band receiver, and may be utilized to generate I and Q output signals. A plurality of the slave output signals may be summed and communicated to a receiver external to the multi-band receiver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the PLLs to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCDMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. PLLs may be shared when operating in TDD mode, and used separately operating in FDD mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for ADCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for loop-through for multi-band TV tuners and set-top box and/or TV set applications are disclosed and may include generating master and slave output signals from one or more low-noise amplifiers including master and slave stages. The master and slave stages may include parallel-coupled gain paths. Gate terminals and source terminals of input transistors for the master and slave stages may be directly coupled. The input transistors for the master and slave stages may share an inductor coupled to the source terminals and to ground. The master and slave stages may include cascode stages. VHF and UHF signals may be amplified in the multi-band receiver. The generated master output signal may be processed in the multi-band receiver, and may be utilized to generate I and Q output signals. A plurality of the slave output signals may be summed and communicated to a receiver external to the multi-band receiver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the PLLs to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCDMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. PLLs may be shared when operating in TDD mode, and used separately operating in FDD mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for ADCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the PLLs to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCDMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. PLLs may be shared when operating in TDD mode, and used separately operating in FDD mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for ADCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for an RF front-end calibration scheme using signals from a fractional-N frequency synthesized and received signal strength indicator (RSSI) are provided. A frequency synthesizer within a wireless receiver may generate a signal for dynamically modifying a gain in an integrated low-noise amplifier (LNA) for each selected receiver channel. The frequency-synthesized signals may be applied to at least one tunable load communicatively coupled to the LNA. The tunable load may be an input load or an output load. The signal generated by the frequency synthesizer may be sequentially applied to the input load and the output load. A logarithmic amplifier may generate an RSSI signal from the LNA output during the calibration process. The RSSI signal may be utilized for controlling a tunable load coupled to the LNA and optimize the tuning of the LNA in a desired channel by adjusting the tunable load.

Abstract: Methods and systems for loop-through for multi-band TV tuners and set-top box and/or TV set applications are disclosed and may include generating master and slave output signals from one or more low-noise amplifiers including master and slave stages. The master and slave stages may include parallel-coupled gain paths. Gate terminals and source terminals of input transistors for the master and slave stages may be directly coupled. The input transistors for the master and slave stages may share an inductor coupled to the source terminals and to ground. The master and slave stages may include cascode stages. VHF and UHF signals may be amplified in the multi-band receiver. The generated master output signal may be processed in the multi-band receiver, and may be utilized to generate I and Q output signals. A plurality of the slave output signals may be summed and communicated to a receiver external to the multi-band receiver.

Abstract: A communication device may include one or more circuits in an integrated transmitter and receiver that includes a transmit path and a receive path. The transmit path may include an I processing baseband transmit path and a Q processing baseband transmit path. The receive path may include an I processing baseband receive path and a Q processing baseband receive path. The one or more circuits may enable sharing a first common filter by the I processing baseband transmit path and the I processing baseband receive path. The one or more circuits may also enable sharing a second common filter by the Q processing baseband transmit path and the Q processing baseband receive path. The first common filter and the second common filter are independently programmable to adjust a phase and/or a gain of the said first common filter, and/or a phase and/or a gain of the second common filter.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a transceiver includes selecting one of a plurality of available calibration paths on the transceiver to be active. The transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. The selected one of the plurality of available calibration paths couples the transmitter to the receiver through a circuit that is external to the transceiver. A calibration signal may be provided to enable calibration of the transceiver via the selected one of the plurality of available calibration paths. The calibration signal may be received after it has passed through the selected one of the plurality of calibration paths. Characteristics of the transceiver may be measured using the received calibration signal.