Abstract: A method for inductively coupled communication is described. The method includes determining an operational mode for inductively coupled communication. The method also includes performing the operational mode by combining a transmit power amplifier (PA) output replica and a PA output copy at a signal combining block of a receiver. The PA output replica reflects effects of channel properties. The PA output copy is unaffected by the channel properties.

Abstract: A method for inductively coupled communication is described. The method includes determining an operational mode for inductively coupled communication. The method also includes performing the operational mode by combining a transmit power amplifier (PA) output replica and a PA output copy at a signal combining block of a receiver. The PA output replica reflects effects of channel properties. The PA output copy is unaffected by the channel properties.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for providing an improved linearity Gilbert mixer. The Gilbert mixer of the present invention includes a conventional mixer core coupled to a high linearity, multistage amplifier. The multistage amplifier includes two or more transistor stages connected together in a global feedback arrangement. The global feedback provides a greater loop gain for the amplifier than the local feedback arrangement, thereby increasing the linearity of the amplifier. In addition, having more than one transistor stage in the amplifier serves to increase the isolation of the RF input signal from the LO input signal. Furthermore, by providing parallel output stages in the multistage amplifier, several mixer cores may be driven from the same source while sharing the feedback mechanism.

Abstract: A quadrature switching mixer is provided for mixing a received RF signal and a local oscillator signal, while rejecting an image signal associated with the RF signal. Input signal components in quadrature, that is, I and Q input components derived from the received RF signal, are respectively coupled through first and second input paths to corresponding commuting switches in a configuration of switches. Each of the switches operates to multiply respective quadrature components of RF and local oscillator signals to provide quadrature output signal components. A unidirectional device, such as a buffer amplifier included in a signal splitter, is placed in each input path to prevent any portion of an output signal component from leaking backward through one of the input paths to the other input path, and thus to the other output signal component.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for providing an improved linearity Gilbert mixer. The Gilbert mixer of the present invention includes a conventional mixer core coupled to a high linearity, multistage amplifier. The multistage amplifier includes two or more transistor stages connected together in a global feedback arrangement. The global feedback provides a greater loop gain for the amplifier than the local feedback arrangement, thereby increasing the linearity of the amplifier. In addition, having more than one transistor stage in the amplifier serves to increase the isolation of the RF input signal from the LO input signal. Furthermore, by providing parallel output stages in the multistage amplifier, several mixer cores may be driven from the same source while sharing the feedback mechanism.

Abstract: A quadrature switching mixer is provided for mixing a received RF signal and a local oscillator signal, while rejecting an image signal associated with the RF signal. Input signal components in quadrature, that is, I and Q input components derived from the received RF signal, are respectively coupled through first and second input paths to corresponding commuting switches in a configuration of switches. Each of the switches operates to multiply respective quadrature components of RF and local oscillator signals to provide quadrature output signal components. A unidirectional device, such as a buffer amplifier included in a signal splitter, is placed in each input path to prevent any portion of an output signal component from leaking backward through one of the input paths to the other input path, and thus to the other output signal component.