Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensation of noise in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device through modulation of a received signal is described. The method includes determining an amplitude signal proportional to an amplitude of a transmitter signal and associated noise; processing the amplitude signal to derive a correction signal; and modulating a received signal during a receive period with the correction signal to substantially remove the associated noise from the received signal. An RFID device and an RFID transceiver integrated circuit (IC) are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensation of noise in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device through modulation of a received signal is described. The method includes determining an amplitude signal proportional to an amplitude of a transmitter signal and associated noise; processing the amplitude signal to derive a correction signal; and modulating a received signal during a receive period with the correction signal to substantially remove the associated noise from the received signal. An RFID device and an RFID transceiver integrated circuit (IC) are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for single port modulation of a phase locked loop frequency modulator includes a phase locked loop with a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a integer loop for multiplying up the output of the VCO which is divided by a fractional-N modulator and divider in the feedback control. The integer loop enables the use of a high frequency reference oscillator that allows a closed loop response of the phase locked loop having a bandwidth that is wider than the modulation bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for single port modulation of a phase locked loop frequency modulator includes a phase locked loop with a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a integer loop for multiplying up the output of the VCO which is divided by a fractional-N modulator and divider in the feedback control. The integer loop enables the use of a high frequency reference oscillator that allows a closed loop response of the phase locked loop having a bandwidth that is wider than the modulation bandwidth.

Abstract: A post-mixer amplifier device which receives and processes signals for use in a software-defined radio integrated circuit is provided. The post-mixer amplifier device includes but is not limited to a voltage amplifier having first and second inputs and a first output, a positive signal output connected with the first output of the voltage amplifier, and a positive signal input connected with a first bipolar junction transistor along a first pathway. The first bipolar junction transistor includes but is not limited to a first collector connected with a the first input of the voltage amplifier and a first emitter connected with an second output of the push-pull unity gain follower and forming a first current feedback pathway. The first bipolar junction transistor is driven with a passive resistive load.

Abstract: A post-mixer amplifier device which receives and processes signals for use in a software-defined radio integrated circuit is provided. The post-mixer amplifier device includes but is not limited to a voltage amplifier having first and second inputs and a first output, a positive signal output connected with the first output of the voltage amplifier, and a positive signal input connected with a first bipolar junction transistor along a first pathway. The first bipolar junction transistor includes but is not limited to a first collector connected with a the first input of the voltage amplifier and a first emitter connected with an second output of the push-pull unity gain follower and forming a first current feedback pathway. The first bipolar junction transistor is driven with a passive resistive load.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit includes a linearised transmitter having a forward path and a feedback path, respectively comprising at least one up-mixer and down-mixer, and forming two loops in quadrature. A phase training signal is applied to the at least one down-mixer in the feedback path in an open loop mode of operation to identify a loop phase adjustment to be applied. At least one of the two loops is switched to a closed loop mode of operation and the loop phase adjustment is applied to at least one up-mixer located in the forward path.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit includes a frequency generation circuit, and a linearised transmitter operably coupled to the frequency generation circuit and having a forward path for routing a signal to be transmitted; and a feedback path, operably coupled to a power amplifier and the forward path for feeding back a portion of the signal to be transmitted. The feedback path and forward path form two loops in quadrature. The frequency generation circuit includes independent phase shift elements arranged to independently phase shift the two loops in quadrature (‘I’ and ‘Q’).

Abstract: A feedback loop with an adjustable closed loop frequency response. The feedback loop contains adjustable pole (212, 213) and adjustable zero elements (220,221) for changing the pole and/or zero locations in the feedback loop's loop frequency response thereby changing the closed loop frequency response of the feedback loop. In one embodiment, the feedback loop is a Cartesian feedback loop suitable for use in a radio transmitter.

Abstract: A transmitter is provided with a local oscillator (LO) processing unit to maintain stability in the transmitter's feedback loop. The LO processing unit includes at least one delay locked loop (DLL) and a programmable divider to generate phase shifted LO signals for adjusting a loop phase of the feedback loop in the transmitter. The generated phase shifted LO signals are of both a coarse and fine phase shifted nature. The adjustability and control of the coarse and fine phase shifting of the LO signals maintains linearity in the transmitter feedback loop.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer includes: a frequency source generating a reference signal that includes a plurality of pulses having periodicity based on a reference frequency; a feedback loop that includes, a phase detector circuit, a loop filter, a controlled oscillator that generates an output signal at an output, and a loop divide circuit; a non-linear circuit element at an input of the phase detector circuit, which generates intermodulation distortion that causes at least one spurious signal at the output; and a controller controlling the loop divide circuit and the non-linear circuit element. The frequency synthesizer further includes a dither circuit that adjusts the timing of some of the pulses of the reference signal based on a parameter provided by the controller to the non-linear circuit element, thereby, providing a jittered reference signal to the non-linear circuit element for attenuating the at least one spurious signal at the output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing in-band spurs in a fractional-N synthesizer (100) includes generating a compensated current signal by a charge pump (108) coupled to a phase detector (106). The compensated current signal includes in-band spurs having frequencies within a frequency bandwidth associated with a loop filter (110). The method then includes selectively dithering the compensated current signal with a sufficient dither level to spread the frequencies of in-band spurs beyond the frequency bandwidth associated with the loop filter (110). The dithered compensated current signal is then passed through the loop filter (110) for filtering the in-band spurs having frequencies beyond the frequency bandwidth. The method then includes generating a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) signal with reduced in-band spurs proportional to the filtered compensated current signal.

Abstract: A system and method for performing baseband phase shifting in a Cartesian feedback system includes a forward path for receiving an input baseband signal having two components, and performing up-conversion to output a RF signal; a power amplifier for amplifying the RF signal output from the forward path; and a feedback path for down-converting at least a sample of the output from the power amplifier to a feedback baseband signal comprising two components, and providing the feedback baseband signal to the forward path in order to be summed with the input baseband signal at a summing junction and before the loop filter. The forward path includes a baseband phase shifter for adjusting the baseband signal output from the summing junction in order to compensate for any phase shifts induced in the system.

Abstract: A plurality of varactors are coupled via a first electrode to a shared terminal that in turn can operably couple to a source of control voltage. A second electrode for each varactor couples to a corresponding switch, where each switch couples to at least two different voltage levels. So configured, the second electrode of each varactor can be individually connected to either of two voltage levels. This can be leveraged to control, in coarse steps, the overall aggregate effective capacitance presented by these components. At least some of these varactors can have differing corresponding capacitances, the specific values of which can be selected in order to facilitate relatively equal spacing and substantially equal rates of reactance change versus the control voltage value between aggregate-capacitive reactance ranges as correspond to differing settings for the switches at various levels for the control voltage source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing in-band spurs in a fractional-N synthesizer (100) includes generating a compensated current signal by a charge pump (108) coupled to a phase detector (106). The compensated current signal includes in-band spurs having frequencies within a frequency bandwidth associated with a loop filter (110). The method then includes selectively dithering the compensated current signal with a sufficient dither level to spread the frequencies of in-band spurs beyond the frequency bandwidth associated with the loop filter (110). The dithered compensated current signal is then passed through the loop filter (110) for filtering the in-band spurs having frequencies beyond the frequency bandwidth. The method then includes generating a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) signal with reduced in-band spurs proportional to the filtered compensated current signal.

Abstract: A transmitter is provided with a local oscillator (LO) processing unit to maintain stability in the transmitter's feedback loop. The LO processing unit includes at least one delay locked loop (DLL) and a programmable divider to generate phase shifted LO signals for adjusting a loop phase of the feedback loop in the transmitter. The generated phase shifted LO signals are of both a coarse and fine phase shifted nature. The adjustability and control of the coarse and fine phase shifting of the LO signals maintains linearity in the transmitter feedback loop.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer includes: a frequency source generating a reference signal that includes a plurality of pulses having periodicity based on a reference frequency; a feedback loop that includes, a phase detector circuit, a loop filter, a controlled oscillator that generates an output signal at an output, and a loop divide circuit; a non-linear circuit element at an input of the phase detector circuit, which generates intermodulation distortion that causes at least one spurious signal at the output; and a controller controlling the loop divide circuit and the non-linear circuit element. The frequency synthesizer further includes a dither circuit that adjusts the timing of some of the pulses of the reference signal based on a parameter provided by the controller to the non-linear circuit element, thereby, providing a jittered reference signal to the non-linear circuit element for attenuating the at least one spurious signal at the output.

Abstract: A system and method for performing baseband phase shifting in a Cartesian feedback system includes a forward path for receiving an input baseband signal having two components, and performing up-conversion to output a RF signal; a power amplifier for amplifying the RF signal output from the forward path; and a feedback path for down-converting at least a sample of the output from the power amplifier to a feedback baseband signal comprising two components, and providing the feedback baseband signal to the forward path in order to be summed with the input baseband signal at a summing junction and before the loop filter. The forward path includes a baseband phase shifter for adjusting the baseband signal output from the summing junction in order to compensate for any phase shifts induced in the system.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit includes a linearised transmitter having a forward path and a feedback path, respectively comprising at least one up-mixer and down-mixer, and forming two loops in quadrature. A phase training signal is applied to the at least one down-mixer in the feedback path in an open loop mode of operation to identify a loop phase adjustment to be applied. At least one of the two loops is switched to a closed loop mode of operation and the loop phase adjustment is applied to at least one up-mixer located in the forward path.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit includes a frequency generation circuit, and a linearised transmitter operably coupled to the frequency generation circuit and having a forward path for routing a signal to be transmitted; and a feedback path, operably coupled to a power amplifier and the forward path for feeding back a portion of the signal to be transmitted. The feedback path and forward path form two loops in quadrature. The frequency generation circuit includes independent phase shift elements arranged to independently phase shift the two loops in quadrature (‘I’ and ‘Q’).