Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a combination die embedded in a base. The combination die includes a plurality of functional blocks, where the functional blocks are insulated from one another on the combination die. Each functional block has plural die connectors. The base includes insulating layers conductive layers and vias. Each conductive layer has parts removed to form a pattern. The base is provided with a plurality of external connectors. A conductive path, made from a part of at least one of the conductive layers and at least one of the vias, connects one of the die connectors to a respective one of the external connectors.

Abstract: A modulator, comprising an input unit configured to receive a modulating signal, a control unit configured to provide a control signal on the basis of the modulating signal, an oscillating unit configured to provide a plurality of instances of at least two phase components of a carrier frequency signal, a phase selector configure to select, on the basis of the control signal, a combination of the phase component instances so that an output signal representing the information contents of the modulating signal is obtained, and a combiner configured to combine the selected phase component instances to form a modulated output signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a combination die embedded in a base. The combination die includes a plurality of functional blocks, where the functional blocks are insulated from one another on the combination die. Each functional block has plural die connectors. The base includes insulating layers conductive layers and vias. Each conductive layer has parts removed to form a pattern. The base is provided with a plurality of external connectors. A conductive path, made from a part of at least one of the conductive layers and at least one of the vias, connects one of the die connectors to a respective one of the external connectors.

Abstract: A method for forming a spiral inductor (11) or component of a transformer, compatible with very large scale integrated processing, that achieves a higher Q value without occupying more space by splitting at least one turn (13 51) as two or more crisscrossing or interwoven smaller-width turns (13a 13b 52 53 54 55). The at least one turn (51) may, for example, be split into four turns paired up to provide two pairs of two turns, and the turns of each pair may then be interwoven or crisscrossed, and then the two pairs may also be interwoven or crisscrossed. The splitting of a turn into two or more smaller-width turns results in the current being divided among the smaller-width turns.

Abstract: A resampling technique is used to reduce the noise and improve the signal quality in the output of a prescaler circuit (10). The resampling of the output of a last frequency divider stage is accomplished using at least one flip/flop (FF) (e.g., a D-type FF 18) that is clocked by a signal obtained from the input of the prescaler. This reduces or eliminates the noise caused by edge jitter in the output of the prescaler, as well as the effect of spurious signals generated by the prescaler. These teachings can be used in integer N PLLs and in fractional N PLLs, as well as in single and programmable dual or multi-modulus prescalers. Using this technique the current consumption of the prescaler frequency dividers (12, 14, 16) need not be increased in an effort to reduce the prescaler noise, thereby conserving current in battery powered and other applications.

Abstract: A rail-to-rail linear current mode charge pump is disclosed, wherein current is sourced to an output voltage load through a current mirroring source device when a first switching device operates. Current is sunk from the output voltage node through a current mirroring sink device when a second switching device operates. An internally generated voltage mirrors the voltage at the output node by means of a rail-to-rail feedback network which operates in such a manner that an input source current IREF splits in such a way that the current pulses sourced to or sunk from the output voltage node are reflected to a first current source device and a first current sink device in series forming a node therebetween representative of the internal voltage node.

Abstract: A spiral inductor (11) or component of a transformer, compatible with very large scale integrated processing, that achieves a higher Q value without occupying more space, by splitting each of one or more turns (13) into two or more crisscrossing or interwoven smaller-width turns (13a 13b).

Abstract: A prescaler is used for generating an output frequency from an input frequency by fractional division. It comprises a component signal composer (402) arranged to generate a number of parallel component signals that differ in phase from each other. Additionally it comprises a controllable phase selector (403) arranged to respond to a control signal by either selecting a constant number of unchanged ones of the parallel component signals or to repeatedly change its selection among the parallel component signals. The component signal composer (402) is arranged to generate more than four parallel component signals for the phase selector (403) to choose from.

Abstract: A resampling technique is used to reduce the noise and improve the signal quality in the output of a prescaler circuit (10). The resampling of the output of a last frequency divider stage is accomplished using at least one flip/flop (FF) (e.g., a D-type FF 18) that is clocked by a signal obtained from the input of the prescaler. This reduces or eliminates the noise caused by edge jitter in the output of the prescaler, as well as the effect of spurious signals generated by the prescaler. These teachings can be used in integer N PLLs and in fractional N PLLs, as well as in single and programmable dual or multi-modulus prescalers. Using this technique the current consumption of the prescaler frequency dividers (12, 14, 16) need not be increased in an effort to reduce the prescaler noise., thereby conserving current in battery powered and other applications.