Abstract: Polarimetric transceiver front-ends and polarimetric phased array transceivers include two receive paths configured to receive signals from an antenna, each including a respective variable phase shifter. A first transmit path is connected to the variable phase shifter of one of the two receive paths and is configured to send signals to the antenna. A transmit/receive switch is configured to select between the first transmit path and the two receive paths for signals. The transmit/receive switch has an element that adds a high impedance to the transmit path when the transmit/receive switch is in a receiving state.

Abstract: Polarimetric transceiver front-ends and polarimetric phased array transceivers include two receive paths configured to receive signals from an antenna, each including a respective variable phase shifter. A first transmit path is connected to the variable phase shifter of one of the two receive paths and is configured to send signals to the antenna. A transmit/receive switch is configured to select between the first transmit path and the two receive paths for signals. The transmit/receive switch has an element that adds a high impedance to the transmit path when the transmit/receive switch is in a receiving state.

Abstract: An oscillator includes a first output node and a second output node. There is a tank circuit coupled between the first output node and the second output node. There is a first transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to a current source, and a control node coupled to the second output node. There is a second transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to the current source, and a control node coupled to the first output node. There is a first inductor coupled in series between the first node of the first transistor and the first output node. There is a second inductor coupled in series between the first node of the second transistor and the second output node.

Abstract: A capacitance of a digitally controlled circuit coupled to a first multiplexer (MUX) having a first switch coupled between a first input and a first output, a first pullup device coupled between VDD and the first output, and a first pulldown device coupled between the first output and VSS is controlled. For falling slope of the first output, in a first phase, which is before the falling slope of the first output, turning ON the first switch, and turning OFF the first pullup device. In a second phase, which is during the falling slope of the first output, the first input is coupled to an output of a digital to analog converter coupled to the MUX. In a third phase, which is after the falling slope of the first output, the first switch is turned OFF and the first pulldown device is turned ON.

Abstract: A capacitance of a digitally controlled circuit coupled to a first multiplexer (MUX) having a first switch coupled between a first input and a first output, a first pullup device coupled between VDD and the first output, and a first pulldown device coupled between the first output and VSS is controlled. For falling slope of the first output, in a first phase, which is before the falling slope of the first output, turning ON the first switch, and turning OFF the first pullup device. In a second phase, which is during the falling slope of the first output, the first input is coupled to an output of a digital to analog converter coupled to the MUX. In a third phase, which is after the falling slope of the first output, the first switch is turned OFF and the first pulldown device is turned ON.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate reconfigurable transmission of a radar frequency signal are provided. In one example, a system includes a signal generator and a power modulator. The signal generator provides a radar waveform signal from a set of radar waveform signals. The power modulator divides a local oscillator signal associated with a first frequency and a first amplitude into a first local oscillator signal and a second local oscillator signal. The power modulator also generates a radio frequency signal associated with a second frequency and a second amplitude based on the radar waveform signal, the first local oscillator signal and the second local oscillator signal.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate reconfigurable transmission of a radar frequency signal are provided. In one example, a system includes a signal generator and a power modulator. The signal generator provides a radar waveform signal from a set of radar waveform signals. The power modulator divides a local oscillator signal associated with a first frequency and a first amplitude into a first local oscillator signal and a second local oscillator signal. The power modulator also generates a radio frequency signal associated with a second frequency and a second amplitude based on the radar waveform signal, the first local oscillator signal and the second local oscillator signal.

Abstract: A polarimetric transceiver front-end includes two receive paths configured to receive signals from an antenna, each receive path corresponding to a respective polarization. Each front-end includes a variable amplifier and a variable phase shifter; a first transmit path configured to send signals to the antenna, where the transmit path is connected to the variable phase shifter of one of the two receive paths and includes a variable amplifier; and a transmit/receive switch configured to select between the first transmit path and the two receive paths for signals, where the transmit/receive switch includes a quarter-wavelength transmission line that adds a high impedance to the transmit path when the transmit/receive switch is in a receiving state.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit includes an oscillator, a frequency control device, the frequency control device generating a frequency control signal that controls a frequency of the oscillator, and a bias optimizer that monitors the frequency control device and generates a bias voltage for the oscillator, the oscillator includes a transfer function from bias voltage to frequency that is proportional to a transfer function from a low frequency noise component to frequency, the transfer function from bias voltage to frequency having a convex shape with a local minimum at which a sensitivity of the frequency to changes in the bias voltage is zero, and the bias voltage from the bias optimizer is set to the local minimum.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit includes an oscillator, a frequency control device, the frequency control device generating a frequency control signal that controls a frequency of the oscillator, and a bias optimizer that monitors the frequency control device and generates a bias voltage for the oscillator, the oscillator includes a transfer function from bias voltage to frequency that is proportional to a transfer function from a low frequency noise component to frequency, the transfer function from bias voltage to frequency having a convex shape with a local minimum at which a sensitivity of the frequency to changes in the bias voltage is zero, and the bias voltage from the bias optimizer is set to the local minimum.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator comprises a negative resistance, a first inductor, a fixed capacitor, and a frequency control component. The frequency control component comprises at least one varactor and at least a second inductor connected in series with the at least one varactor. A magnitude of an inductance of the second inductor is selected such that the frequency control component has an effective capacitance range larger than a capacitance range of the at least one varactor.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate reconfigurable transmission of a radar frequency signal are provided. In one example, a system includes a signal generator and a power modulator. The signal generator provides a radar waveform signal from a set of radar waveform signals. The power modulator divides a local oscillator signal associated with a first frequency and a first amplitude into a first local oscillator signal and a second local oscillator signal. The power modulator also generates a radio frequency signal associated with a second frequency and a second amplitude based on the radar waveform signal, the first local oscillator signal and the second local oscillator signal.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate reconfigurable transmission of a radar frequency signal are provided. In one example, a system includes a signal generator and a power modulator. The signal generator provides a radar waveform signal from a set of radar waveform signals. The power modulator divides a local oscillator signal associated with a first frequency and a first amplitude into a first local oscillator signal and a second local oscillator signal. The power modulator also generates a radio frequency signal associated with a second frequency and a second amplitude based on the radar waveform signal, the first local oscillator signal and the second local oscillator signal.

Abstract: An oscillator includes a first output node and a second output node. There is a tank circuit coupled between the first output node and the second output node. There is a first transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to a current source, and a control node coupled to the second output node. There is a second transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to the current source, and a control node coupled to the first output node. There is a first inductor coupled in series between the first node of the first transistor and the first output node. There is a second inductor coupled in series between the first node of the second transistor and the second output node.

Abstract: An integrated electronic circuit is provided. The integrated electronic circuit includes a transconductance cell formed from transconductance cell devices. The integrated electronic circuit further includes active and passive decoupling circuits. The integrated electronic circuit also includes an oscillator having a tank that is direct current decoupled from the transconductance cell devices using the active and passive decoupling circuits to increase voltage swing and decrease phase noise of the oscillator.

Abstract: An oscillator includes a first output node and a second output node. There is a tank circuit coupled between the first output node and the second output node. There is a first transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to a current source, and a control node coupled to the second output node. There is a second transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to the current source, and a control node coupled to the first output node. There is a first inductor coupled in series between the first node of the first transistor and the first output node. There is a second inductor coupled in series between the first node of the second transistor and the second output node.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator comprises a negative resistance, a first inductor, a fixed capacitor, and a frequency control component. The frequency control component comprises at least one varactor and at least a second inductor connected in series with the at least one varactor. A magnitude of an inductance of the second inductor is selected such that the frequency control component has an effective capacitance range larger than a capacitance range of the at least one varactor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a digitally controlled circuit having a variable capacitance and a controller configured to adjust a magnitude of the variable capacitance of the digitally controlled circuit. The digitally controlled circuit comprises a plurality of gain elements, the plurality of gain elements comprising one or more positive voltage-to-frequency gain elements and one or more negative voltage-to-frequency gain elements. The controller is configured to adjust the magnitude of the capacitance by adjusting the gain provided by respective ones of the gain elements in an alternating sequence of the positive voltage-to-frequency gain elements and the negative voltage-to-frequency gain elements.

Abstract: A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.

Abstract: A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.