Abstract: Transceiver integrated circuit suitable for distributed placement across an active antenna unit. ICs with two serial data ports configured to transmit and receive aggregated signal-port IQ data packets with adjacent ICs within a subarray of ICs, or to a beamformer processor. A packet header inspection circuit may identify aggregated signal-port IQ data packets for local processing, and identify received aggregated signal-port IQ data packets for processing by another device.

Abstract: Transceiver integrated circuit suitable for distributed placement across an active antenna unit. ICs with two serial data ports configured to transmit and receive aggregated signal-port IQ data packets with adjacent ICs within a subarray of ICs, or to a beamformer processor. A packet header inspection circuit may identify aggregated signal-port IQ data packets for local processing, and identify received aggregated signal-port IQ data packets for processing by another device.

Abstract: Transceiver integrated circuit suitable for distributed placement across an active antenna unit. ICs with two serial data ports configured to transmit and receive aggregated signal-port IQ data packets with adjacent ICs within a subarray of ICs, or to a beamformer processor. A packet header inspection circuit may identify aggregated signal-port IQ data packets for local processing, and identify received aggregated signal-port IQ data packets for processing by another device.

Abstract: An example process includes reducing a quality factor of a first tunable bandpass filter, used, for example, in a low-noise amplifier stage of a polar receiver. A first wideband test signal centered at a desired center frequency of a second tunable bandpass filter is received. A frequency response of the second tunable bandpass filter to the first wideband test signal is estimated using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) signal processor. At least a resonant frequency or a quality factor of the second tunable bandpass filter are calibrated based at least in part on a portion of the estimated frequency response of the second tunable bandpass filter obtained from the FFT signal processor. Frequency response characteristics of the first tunable bandpass filter may be similarly tuned in accordance with the example process.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining a phase measurement difference between a received modulated signal and a local clock signal. An adjusted local clock phase measurement may be determined by subtracting, from the phase measurement difference, a phase correction that is based on the frequency difference between the modulator signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. A phase modulation value may be generated by scaling the adjusted local clock phase measurement. The scaling may be based on a ratio of the modulated signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. The phase correction may be based on (i) a count of periods of the modulated signal occurring between each corrected phase measurement and (ii) a difference between the carrier frequency and the local clock frequency.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier includes at least two variable gain amplifier stages, each variable gain amplifier configured to accept an input signal and to provide a load driving signal; a tunable bandpass filter connected as a load to each variable gain amplifier stage, wherein each bandpass filter includes a resonant tank, each resonant tank including an inductor, wherein each inductor of each resonant tank is oriented in orthogonal relation with respect to each respective longitudinal axis of each next inductor, the orthogonal relation of the respective longitudinal axes configured to reduce mutual coupling between the tunable bandpass filters; a cross-coupled transistor pair, and at least one cross-coupled compensation transistor pair biased in a subthreshold region configured to add a transconductance component as a function of a load driving signal; and, a controller circuit configured to tune each tunable bandpass filter.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier includes at least two variable gain amplifier stages, each variable gain amplifier configured to accept an input signal and to provide a load driving signal; a tunable bandpass filter connected as a load to each variable gain amplifier stage, wherein each bandpass filter includes a resonant tank, each resonant tank including an inductor, wherein each inductor of each resonant tank is oriented in orthogonal relation with respect to each respective longitudinal axis of each next inductor, the orthogonal relation of the respective longitudinal axes configured to reduce mutual coupling between the tunable bandpass filters; a cross-coupled transistor pair, and at least one cross-coupled compensation transistor pair biased in a subthreshold region configured to add a transconductance component as a function of a load driving signal; and, a controller circuit configured to tune each tunable bandpass filter.

Abstract: An example process includes reducing a quality factor of a first tunable bandpass filter, used, for example, in a low-noise amplifier stage of a polar receiver. A first wideband test signal centered at a desired center frequency of a second tunable bandpass filter is received. A frequency response of the second tunable bandpass filter to the first wideband test signal is estimated using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) signal processor. At least a resonant frequency or a quality factor of the second tunable bandpass filter are calibrated based at least in part on a portion of the estimated frequency response of the second tunable bandpass filter obtained from the FFT signal processor. Frequency response characteristics of the first tunable bandpass filter may be similarly tuned in accordance with the example process.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier includes at least two variable gain amplifier stages, each variable gain amplifier configured to accept an input signal and to provide a load driving signal; a tunable bandpass filter connected as a load to each variable gain amplifier stage, wherein each bandpass filter includes a resonant tank, each resonant tank including an inductor, wherein each inductor of each resonant tank is oriented in orthogonal relation with respect to each respective longitudinal axis of each next inductor, the orthogonal relation of the respective longitudinal axes configured to reduce mutual coupling between the tunable bandpass filters; a cross-coupled transistor pair, and at least one cross-coupled compensation transistor pair biased in a subthreshold region configured to add a transconductance component as a function of a load driving signal; and, a controller circuit configured to tune each tunable bandpass filter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining a phase measurement difference between a received modulated signal and a local clock signal. An adjusted local clock phase measurement may be determined by subtracting, from the phase measurement difference, a phase correction that is based on the frequency difference between the modulator signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. A phase modulation value may be generated by scaling the adjusted local clock phase measurement. The scaling may be based on a ratio of the modulated signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. The phase correction may be based on (i) a count of periods of the modulated signal occurring between each corrected phase measurement and (ii) a difference between the carrier frequency and the local clock frequency.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier includes at least two variable gain amplifier stages, each variable gain amplifier configured to accept an input signal and to provide a load driving signal; a tunable bandpass filter connected as a load to each variable gain amplifier stage, wherein each bandpass filter includes a resonant tank, each resonant tank including an inductor, wherein each inductor of each resonant tank is oriented in orthogonal relation with respect to each respective longitudinal axis of each next inductor, the orthogonal relation of the respective longitudinal axes configured to reduce mutual coupling between the tunable bandpass filters; a cross-coupled transistor pair, and at least one cross-coupled compensation transistor pair biased in a subthreshold region configured to add a transconductance component as a function of a load driving signal; and, a controller circuit configured to tune each tunable bandpass filter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining a phase measurement difference between a received modulated signal and a local clock signal. An adjusted local clock phase measurement may be determined by subtracting, from the phase measurement difference, a phase correction that is based on the frequency difference between the modulator signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. A phase modulation value may be generated by scaling the adjusted local clock phase measurement. The scaling may be based on a ratio of the modulated signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. The phase correction may be based on (i) a count of periods of the modulated signal occurring between each corrected phase measurement and (ii) a difference between the carrier frequency and the local clock frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining a phase measurement difference between a received modulated signal and a local clock signal. An adjusted local clock phase measurement may be determined by subtracting, from the phase measurement difference, a phase correction that is based on the frequency difference between the modulator signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. A phase modulation value may be generated by scaling the adjusted local clock phase measurement. The scaling may be based on a ratio of the modulated signal's carrier frequency and the local clock's frequency. The phase correction may be based on (i) a count of periods of the modulated signal occurring between each corrected phase measurement and (ii) a difference between the carrier frequency and the local clock frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting time measurements to digital value representing phase. Such systems and methods use a ring oscillator to create a coarse measurement of the time difference between first and second rising edges of a modulated signal. A two-dimensional Vernier structure is used to create a fine resolution measurement of the error in the coarse measurement. The coarse and fine measurements are combined to calculate a digital time measurement. A digital time output is calculated as the difference in successive digital time measurements. An offset digital time output is calculated as a difference in a digital time output in relation to a carrier period offset. The offset digital time output is scaled and accumulated to calculate the integrated time signal. The integrated time signals are synchronized to the carrier frequency to output a series of final phase measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting time measurements to digital value representing phase. Such systems and methods use a ring oscillator to create a coarse measurement of the time difference between first and second rising edges of a modulated signal. A two-dimensional Vernier structure is used to create a fine resolution measurement of the error in the coarse measurement. The coarse and fine measurements are combined to calculate a digital time measurement. A digital time output is calculated as the difference in successive digital time measurements. An offset digital time output is calculated as a difference in a digital time output in relation to a carrier period offset. The offset digital time output is scaled and accumulated to calculate the integrated time signal. The integrated time signals are synchronized to the carrier frequency to output a series of final phase measurements.

Abstract: An inductor isolation apparatus and method to reduce interaction between inductors on an integrated circuit.

Abstract: Determining a speed and a range of an object by generating at least a first, second, and third interval-specific tone phase signals associated with at least three successive time intervals, wherein at least two of the generated and transmitted tones are different frequencies; determining at least a first, second and third interval-specific average phase value from the respective interval-specific tone phase signals; and then determining a range estimate of the object and determining a speed estimate of the object using at least two phase differences between the at least first, second and third interval-specific average phase values.

Abstract: An inductor isolation apparatus and method to reduce interaction between inductors on an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A radio-frequency peak amplitude detection circuit includes a load capacitor, a current source that charges the load capacitor and set the bias current for the field effect transistors, and a pair of field effect transistors. The gates of the field effect transistors are biased at a level below the threshold voltage of the transistors. The transistors are arranged in parallel with the capacitor and are operable to drain the capacitor at a rate determined by a differential input at the gates of the transistors. The voltage across the load capacitor is low-pass filtered and has a voltage level representative of the amplitude of the differential input signal.

Abstract: A radio-frequency peak amplitude detection circuit includes a load capacitor, a current source that charges the load capacitor and set the bias current for the field effect transistors, and a pair of field effect transistors. The gates of the field effect transistors are biased at a level below the threshold voltage of the transistors. The transistors are arranged in parallel with the capacitor and are operable to drain the capacitor at a rate determined by a differential input at the gates of the transistors. The voltage across the load capacitor is low-pass filtered and has a voltage level representative of the amplitude of the differential input signal.