Abstract: A local transmitter power control system for a radio frequency transmitter of a wireless local area network device includes a transmitter that transmits RF signals. A sensor detects at least one of amplitude and power of said RF signals and generates a sensed signal. The gain adjuster includes a comparator that receives an amplitude signal and/or a power signal detected by the sensor. The comparator compares the amplitude and/or power to the threshold signal. The gain of the transmitter is adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a master regulator circuit that receives a reference signal, that generates a master bias signal and that includes a transistor having a first gain. A first slave regulator circuit includes a first transistor having a second gain that is substantially equal to unity gain, a control terminal that receives the master bias signal from the master regulator circuit, a first terminal and a second terminal that outputs a first regulated output signal. A second slave regulator circuit includes a second transistor having a second gain that is substantially equal to unity gain, a control terminal that receives the master bias signal from the master regulator circuit, a first terminal, and a second terminal that outputs a second regulated output signal.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) comprises an amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output. A first transistor has a control input that communicates with said output of said amplifier, a first terminal that generates a LNA output current and a second terminal that communicates with said inverting input. A device communicates with said second terminal of said first transistor, includes an output and has a resistance that is modulated in response to an input voltage to said LNA. The device is a variable resistor.

Abstract: A Gilbert cell mixer for a wireless transceiver includes a first stage that performs voltage to current conversions and that includes first and second transistors that are operated in a saturation region and third and fourth transistors that are operated in a triode region. A second stage communicates with the first stage and that performs frequency conversion. A biasing circuit communicates with the first stage to maintain a substantially constant input linear range over temperature and process variations.

Abstract: A system for communicating information includes a variable gain amplifier (VGA) responsive to an input signal and a gain control signal for controlling a gain of the VGA. The system also includes a power amplifier responsive to the VGA. An output power level of the power amplifier is compared to a predetermined reference value to generate the gain control signal. The gain control signal is offset by a gain offset value. To change the output power level of the power amplifier from a first output power level to a second output power level, a first predetermined reference value and a first gain offset value associated with the first output power level are changed substantially concurrently to a second predetermined reference value and a second gain offset value, respectively, associated with the second output power level.

Abstract: A single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a differential input circuit having a single-ended input. The differential input circuit is responsive to a single-ended input signal to generate first and second signals. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a passive tank circuit in communication between a reference voltage and the differential input circuit. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a mixer circuit in communication with the differential input circuit and responsive to the first and second signals and a second input signal to generate a differential mixer output signal.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) comprises an input stage to amplify an input signal, the input stage having a transconductance that has reduced gain variations in response to changes in process and environmental conditions. The input stage includes a first transistor. A second transistor communicates with the first transistor. A bias circuit biases the first transistor in a triode region and the second transistor in a saturation region, wherein an input of the LNA communicates with a control terminal of the first transistor.

Abstract: A charge pump comprising a charge pump core including output switches. The charge pump core, in response to a drive signal, to generate a charge pump output. A limit swing generator, in response to an input signal, to generate the drive signal to control the charge pump core. The drive signal having voltage levels including a high level and a low level. The limit swing generator including at least one voltage generator to control the voltage levels of the drive signal such that the drive signal tracks a process variable of the output switches. The at least one voltage generator including at least one diode or diode connected device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a serial data transfer method for exchanging data between two electronic bus stations. The bus connection consists of two lines, the first line being dedicated to data/control signals and the second line being dedicated to a power supply voltage. Data transfer is started by pulling the first line to an activated potential for a first period of time, and then leaving the first line inactive for a second period of time. Data transmission commences via the first and second lines after the second period of time has elapsed. Preferably, data is transferred in a number of blocks in the data frame.

Abstract: A circuit that eliminates an off-chip inductive component connected between an integrated circuit (IC) arranged on a package and an external load comprises a package and an IC that is arranged on the package. A first bondwire arranged on the package has one end that communicates with the external load and an opposite end that communicates with the IC. A second bondwire located on the package has one end that communicates with the external load and an opposite end that communicates with the IC.

Abstract: A packet-based wireless transceiver that transmits and receives data packets includes a transceiver component having an adjustable performance parameter. A calibration circuit adjusts the performance parameter of the transceiver component at times synchronized with the data packets. A calibration signal generator generates calibration signals based on the performance parameter and outputs the calibration signals to the transceiver component. A comparator receives the outputs of the transceiver component and generates a difference signal. A calibration adjustment circuit communicates with the calibration signal generator and the comparator and adjusts the performance parameter to reduce the difference signal. Alternately, a reference signal generator generates a reference signal. A comparator receives the reference signal and a second signal from the transceiver component and generates a difference signal.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is provided for protecting transistors of an integrated circuit (IC) from ESD. The ESD protection circuit includes n transistors with n gates and less than n drains where n is an integer greater than 1. At least m resistors have first ends that communicate with at least one of the transistors of the IC, a blocking capacitor of the IC, an input pad of the IC, and an output pad of the IC, and second ends that connect to corresponding drain terminals of said drains where m is an integer greater than or equal to n/2.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit is provided for an IC arranged on a package that matches an impedance of an external load. The circuit includes a package, an IC that is arranged on the package, and an impedance matching circuit. The impedance matching circuit includes a first bondwire arranged on the package that has one end that communicates with the external load and an opposite end that communicates with said IC, a capacitance element arranged on the IC, and a second bondwire arranged on the package that has one end that communicates with the external load and an opposite end that communicates with one end of said capacitance element.

Abstract: A gain calibration circuit for a radio frequency mixer in a wireless transceiver includes a reference signal generator that generates a reference signal. A comparator receives the reference signal and a second signal that is proportional to current flowing through the transmitter mixer and generates a difference signal. An adjustment circuit adjusts a transconductance gain of the mixer based on the difference signal. The adjustment circuit includes a plurality of binary weighted transconductance cells. The transconductance gain is calibrated during idle time between data packets or after power on, hardware reset, or software reset.

Abstract: An LNA comprising an input stage to amplify an input signal. The input stage has a high linear transconductance that has reduced gain variations in response to changes in process and environmental conditions.

Abstract: An input circuit for an integrated circuit (IC), which is mounted on a package having an input pin, rejects signal energy at a first frequency. A first bondwire arranged on the package has one end that communicates with the pin and an opposite end that communicates with components of the IC. A second bondwire located on the package has one end that communicates with the pin and an opposite end that communicates with a capacitance. The capacitance and an inductance of the first and second bondwires resonate at the first frequency to reject signal energy at the first frequency. Bondwires are also used to eliminate external components such as resonant components and impedance matching circuits to reduce cost.

Abstract: An input circuit for an integrated circuit (IC), which is mounted on a package having an input pin, rejects signal energy at a first frequency. A first bondwire arranged on the package has one end that communicates with the pin and an opposite end that communicates with components of the IC. A second bondwire located on the package has one end that communicates with the pin and an opposite end that communicates with a capacitance. The capacitance and an inductance of the first and second bondwires resonate at the first frequency to reject signal energy at the first frequency. Bondwires are also used to eliminate external components such as resonant components and impedance matching circuits to reduce cost.

Abstract: An amplifier comprises a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) that amplifies a Radio Frequency (RF) signal that includes a transconductance, a gain and an input stage that receives the RF signal. A bias assembly includes a bias circuit with a bias resistance and generates a bias current for the input stage of the LNA, which is related to the bias resistance. A shunt feedback stage amplifies an output of the input stage, generates an RF output and includes a shunt resistance. Changes in the bias resistance due to changes in conditions are substantially offset by changes in the shunt resistance due to the changes in conditions, which reduces variation of the gain of the LNA based on the changes in conditions.

Abstract: A protection circuit for a power amplifier of a radio frequency transmitter includes a sensing circuit that generates a sensed signal based on an output of the power amplifier. A reference signal generator generates a reference signal. A comparator communicates with the sensing circuit and the reference signal generator and outputs a first state when the reference signal exceeds the sensed signal and a second state when the sensed signal exceeds the reference signal. A turn off circuit turns off the power amplifier when the comparator is in the second state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a simple serial data transfer method for the exchange of data between two electronic bus stations. The bus connection consists of two lines wherein the first line is dedicated to data/control signals and a second line is dedicated to a power supply voltage. A data transfer from the transmitting station to the receiving station is started by pulling the first line to an activated potential for a first period of time. After elapse of the first period of time the transmitting station leaves said first line inactive for a second period of time. The transmitting station commences data transmission via said first and second line after elapse of said second period of time. Preferably, data is transferred in a number of blocks in the data frame. The first block concerns a synchronization block and the last block is a checksum block.