Abstract: A transmitter includes driver slices coupled to its output. Each driver slice includes a first differential predriver that is selectively enabled and disabled by a first switch based on a control code configuration. A second differential predriver provides a first differential buffered data signal to a first group of driver slices when the second differential predriver is enabled. A second switch enables the second differential predriver when the control code is configured to enable the first differential predriver in at least one driver slice in the first group of driver slices. A third differential predriver provides a second differential buffered data signal to a second group of driver slices when the third differential predriver is enabled. A third switch enables the third differential predriver when the control code is configured to enable the first differential predriver in at least one driver slice in the second group of driver slices.

Abstract: A transmitter includes driver slices coupled to its output. Each driver slice includes a first differential predriver that is selectively enabled and disabled by a first switch based on a control code configuration. A second differential predriver provides a first differential buffered data signal to a first group of driver slices when the second differential predriver is enabled. A second switch enables the second differential predriver when the control code is configured to enable the first differential predriver in at least one driver slice in the first group of driver slices. A third differential predriver provides a second differential buffered data signal to a second group of driver slices when the third differential predriver is enabled. A third switch enables the third differential predriver when the control code is configured to enable the first differential predriver in at least one driver slice in the second group of driver slices.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit implemented with a dynamic stacked transistor architecture. The DAC circuit generally includes a first current-steering transistor and a second current-steering transistor. The DAC circuit may also include: a first stacked transistor coupled between the first current-steering transistor and a first output of the DAC circuit; a first switch coupled between a gate of the first stacked transistor and a bias voltage node; a second switch coupled between the gate of the first stacked transistor and a voltage rail; a second stacked transistor coupled between the second current-steering transistor and a second output of the DAC circuit; a third switch coupled between a gate of the second stacked transistor and the bias voltage node; and a fourth switch coupled between the gate of the second stacked transistor and the voltage rail.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filtering a signal using a current-mode filter circuit implementing source degeneration. An example filter circuit generally includes an input node; an output node; a power supply node; a first transistor comprising a drain coupled to the input node; a second transistor comprising a drain coupled to the output node and comprising a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor; a capacitive element coupled between the drain of the first transistor and the power supply node; a first resistive element coupled between the drain and the gate of the first transistor; a first source degeneration element coupled between a source of the first transistor and the power supply node; and a second source degeneration element coupled between a source of the second transistor and the power supply node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for common-mode current removal in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). An example DAC circuit generally includes a plurality of current-steering cells, a resistor ladder circuit coupled to the plurality of current-steering cells and having a plurality of shunt branches, and an adjustable resistance circuit coupled between middle nodes of the plurality of shunt branches and a reference potential node for the DAC circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adaptively adjusting a resistance of a resistor network in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), such as a current-steering DAC for a transmit chain. An example DAC generally includes a plurality of DAC cells. One or more of the DAC cells generally includes a current source and a resistor network. The resistor network includes a plurality of resistive elements, has an adjustable resistance, and is coupled between a power supply rail and the current source. In this manner, the DAC may support a wide range of full-scale currents, while maintaining a higher degeneration voltage and reduced noise and mismatch for a given headroom. For certain aspects, the one or more of the DAC cells further include a plurality of switches (e.g., implemented with PFETs) coupled to one or more of the resistive elements and configured to adjust the resistance of the resistor network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sharing digital-to-analog (DAC) converters in a reconfigurable DAC circuit to support two or more transmit chains of a wireless transmitter configured for different radio access technologies (RATs) and/or different transmitter architectures. One example DAC circuit generally includes at least four DACs and a plurality of switches coupled to outputs of the at least four DACs such that the DAC circuit is configured as a multi-channel DAC circuit with at least four channels for a first set of one or more frequency bands and as an interleaved DAC circuit with at least two channels for a second set of one or more frequency bands different from the first set of frequency bands.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filtering a signal using a current-mode filter circuit implementing source degeneration. An example filter circuit generally includes an input node; an output node; a power supply node; a first transistor comprising a drain coupled to the input node; a second transistor comprising a drain coupled to the output node and comprising a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor; a capacitive element coupled between the drain of the first transistor and the power supply node; a first resistive element coupled between the drain and the gate of the first transistor; a first source degeneration element coupled between a source of the first transistor and the power supply node; and a second source degeneration element coupled between a source of the second transistor and the power supply node.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a method for providing a first drive clock signal and a second drive clock signal to a first sub-digital-to-analog converter (sub-DAC) and a second sub-DAC includes receiving an input clock signal, and dividing the input clock signal to generate a first divided clock signal and a second divided clock signal. The method also includes gating the input clock signal using the first divided clock signal to generate the first drive clock signal, and inputting the first drive clock signal to a clock input of the first sub-DAC. The method further includes gating the input clock signal using the second divided clock signal to generate the second drive clock signal, and inputting the second drive clock signal to a clock input of the second sub-DAC.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for common-mode current removal in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). An example DAC circuit generally includes a plurality of current-steering cells, a resistor ladder circuit coupled to the plurality of current-steering cells and having a plurality of shunt branches, and an adjustable resistance circuit coupled between middle nodes of the plurality of shunt branches and a reference potential node for the DAC circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adaptively adjusting a resistance of a resistor network in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), such as a current-steering DAC for a transmit chain. An example DAC generally includes a plurality of DAC cells. One or more of the DAC cells generally includes a current source and a resistor network. The resistor network includes a plurality of resistive elements, has an adjustable resistance, and is coupled between a power supply rail and the current source. In this manner, the DAC may support a wide range of full-scale currents, while maintaining a higher degeneration voltage and reduced noise and mismatch for a given headroom. For certain aspects, the one or more of the DAC cells further include a plurality of switches (e.g., implemented with PFETs) coupled to one or more of the resistive elements and configured to adjust the resistance of the resistor network.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a method for providing a first drive clock signal and a second drive clock signal to a first sub-digital-to-analog converter (sub-DAC) and a second sub-DAC includes receiving an input clock signal, and dividing the input clock signal to generate a first divided clock signal and a second divided clock signal. The method also includes gating the input clock signal using the first divided clock signal to generate the first drive clock signal, and inputting the first drive clock signal to a clock input of the first sub-DAC. The method further includes gating the input clock signal using the second divided clock signal to generate the second drive clock signal, and inputting the second drive clock signal to a clock input of the second sub-DAC.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adaptively generating a reference voltage (VREF) for biasing a switch driver and corresponding switch in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The adaptive biasing scheme may be capable of tracking process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) of the DAC. An example DAC generally includes a plurality of DAC cells, each DAC cell comprising a current source, a switch coupled in series with the current source, and a switch driver coupled to a control input of the switch, the switch driver being configured to receive power from a first power supply rail referenced to a reference potential node; a regulation circuit comprising a first transistor coupled between the reference potential node for the DAC and the switch driver in at least one of the plurality of DAC cells; and a VREF generation circuit coupled to the regulation circuit and configured to adaptively generate a VREF for the regulation circuit.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to circuitry and techniques for digital-to-analog conversion. One example device for digital-to-analog conversion generally includes: a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) having an input coupled to an input node of the device; a first return-to-zero (RZ) DAC having an input coupled to an input node of the device; and a combiner, wherein an output of the first DAC is coupled to a first input of the combiner, and wherein an output of the first RZ DAC is coupled to a second input of the combiner.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to circuitry and techniques for digital-to-analog conversion. One example device for digital-to-analog conversion generally includes: a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) having an input coupled to an input node of the device; a first return-to-zero (RZ) DAC having an input coupled to an input node of the device; and a combiner, wherein an output of the first DAC is coupled to a first input of the combiner, and wherein an output of the first RZ DAC is coupled to a second input of the combiner.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a digital-to-analog conversion circuit. The digital-to-analog conversion circuit generally includes a detection circuit configured to detect digital transitions in a digital input signal. The digital-to-analog conversion circuit also includes a clock-gating circuit having an input coupled to an output of the detection circuit. The clock-gating circuit is configured to gate a clock signal for the digital-to-analog conversion circuit based on an output signal from the detection circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adaptively generating a reference voltage (VREF) for biasing a switch driver and corresponding switch in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The adaptive biasing scheme may be capable of tracking process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) of the DAC. An example DAC generally includes a plurality of DAC cells, each DAC cell comprising a current source, a switch coupled in series with the current source, and a switch driver coupled to a control input of the switch, the switch driver being configured to receive power from a first power supply rail referenced to a reference potential node; a regulation circuit comprising a first transistor coupled between the reference potential node for the DAC and the switch driver in at least one of the plurality of DAC cells; and a VREF generation circuit coupled to the regulation circuit and configured to adaptively generate a VREF for the regulation circuit.

Abstract: A current digital-to-analog converter includes a binary current-generating section configured to generate a binary-weighted current based on a first set of control signals; a unary current-generating section configured to generate a unary-weighted current based on a second set of control signals; and a current combining circuit configured to add or subtract a reference current and a current generated by a current source of the unary current-generating section using the binary-weighted current.

Abstract: An RF-DAC transmitter is provided that includes an in-phase channel, a quadrature-phase channel, a first intermediate-phase channel, and a second intermediate-phase channel. Each channel includes a pair of interleaved RF-DACs for producing a pair of interleaved RF signals and a subtractor.

Abstract: A current digital-to-analog converter includes a binary current-generating section configured to generate a binary-weighted current based on a first set of control signals; a unary current-generating section configured to generate a unary-weighted current based on a second set of control signals; and a current combining circuit configured to add or subtract a reference current and a current generated by a current source of the unary current-generating section using the binary-weighted current.