Abstract: An apparatus including: a plurality of amplifiers having a plurality of output ports, respectively, the plurality of amplifiers configured to amplify radio frequency (RF) signals received from at least one antenna; a plurality of demodulators configured to receive the amplified RF signals at a plurality of input ports, respectively, the plurality of demodulators configured to downconvert the received RF signals; and a plurality of switches configured to couple selected output ports of the plurality of amplifiers to selected input ports of the plurality of demodulators, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured such that at least one of the plurality of output ports of the plurality of amplifiers is selectively coupled to any of multiple input ports of the plurality of input ports of the plurality of demodulators.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a plurality of amplifiers having a plurality of output ports, respectively, the plurality of amplifiers configured to amplify radio frequency (RF) signals received from at least one antenna; a plurality of demodulators configured to receive the amplified RF signals at a plurality of input ports, respectively, the plurality of demodulators configured to downconvert the received RF signals; and a plurality of switches configured to couple selected output ports of the plurality of amplifiers to selected input ports of the plurality of demodulators, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured such that at least one of the plurality of output ports of the plurality of amplifiers is selectively coupled to any of multiple input ports of the plurality of input ports of the plurality of demodulators.

Abstract: A dual stage LNA for use in multiband receivers is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of first stage amplifiers having a plurality of first stage output ports, respectively, to output first stage amplified voltage mode signals. The apparatus also includes a plurality of second stage amplifiers having a plurality of second stage input ports, respectively, and second stage output ports to output amplified current mode signals. The apparatus also includes a switch apparatus having input terminals connected to the first stage output ports and output terminals connected to the second stage input ports, the switch apparatus to connect selected second stage input ports to selected first stage output ports.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a harmonic response in an electronic circuit is provided. The apparatus includes an RF input configured to provide a first signal operating at a radio frequency. The apparatus includes a local oscillator configured to produce a second signal operating at a local oscillator (LO) frequency. The apparatus includes a switching mixer configured to mix the first and second signals. The apparatus includes a notch filter comprising an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel. The notch filter is directly coupled to an input of the switching mixer in series. The notch filter is tuned such that its resonant frequency is a harmonic of the LO frequency signal. In an aspect, the apparatus also includes a transformer configured to provide the first signal. In an aspect the apparatus also includes a second notch filter comprising a second inductor and a second capacitor connected in parallel.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a jammer-resistant noise-cancelling receiver front end with band-pass impedance matching and good power efficiency. In an aspect, the center frequency of the band-pass impedance matching advantageously tracks the local oscillator frequency. In an aspect, first and second receive signal paths are provided, with an R-C network coupled to the output of the second receive signal path. The resistance of the R-C network may be selected to provide band-pass impedance matching to the RF input signal. The current outputs of the first and second signal paths are combined using a trans-impedance amplifier (TIA). In an aspect, the TIA may be implemented using a dual input transconductor amplifier to further optimize the noise performance and power efficiency features of the disclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a harmonic response in an electronic circuit is provided. The apparatus includes an RF input configured to provide a first signal operating at a radio frequency. The apparatus includes a local oscillator configured to produce a second signal operating at a local oscillator (LO) frequency. The apparatus includes a switching mixer configured to mix the first and second signals. The apparatus includes a notch filter comprising an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel. The notch filter is directly coupled to an input of the switching mixer in series. The notch filter is tuned such that its resonant frequency is a harmonic of the LO frequency signal. In an aspect, the apparatus also includes a transformer configured to provide the first signal. In an aspect the apparatus also includes a second notch filter comprising a second inductor and a second capacitor connected in parallel.

Abstract: A dual stage LNA for use in multiband receivers is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of first stage amplifiers having a plurality of first stage output ports, respectively, to output first stage amplified voltage mode signals. The apparatus also includes a plurality of second stage amplifiers having a plurality of second stage input ports, respectively, and second stage output ports to output amplified current mode signals. The apparatus also includes a switch apparatus having input terminals connected to the first stage output ports and output terminals connected to the second stage input ports, the switch apparatus to connect selected second stage input ports to selected first stage output ports.

Abstract: Techniques for improving rejection of out-of-band interference in a noise-cancelling receive architecture. In an aspect, capacitors blocking in-band signals and passing through out-of-band signals destructively couple an auxiliary mixer output to a mixer output. In a further aspect, cross-coupling capacitors are provided to couple a first signal path with a second signal path of the noise-cancelling receive signal path. Baseband poly phase cross-coupling blocker filtering is further provided for out-of-band interference cancellation to create notch responses at blocker offset frequencies. The techniques disclosed may readily be adapted for multi-phase local oscillator systems.

Abstract: The transmission path of a communication device includes, in part, N upconverters each of which receives M phases of a signal to be transmitted. Each upconverter further receives one of N sets of phases of a LO signal. Each of the N sets includes M phases of the LO signal. The communication device further includes at least one combiner, and N amplifiers each responsive to a different one of the N upconverters to generate N amplified signals. The combiner combines the N amplified signals to generate an output signal. By selecting the gain of one of the amplifiers to be different than the gain of the remaining amplifiers, the undesired harmonics of the signal to be transmitted, caused by non-linearity of the amplifiers, is reduced. Each upconverter optionally includes a multitude of upconverters whose outputs are combined to further reduce the spurious harmonic upconversion products and the counter-intermodulation distortion (IM3).

Abstract: Techniques for improving rejection of out-of-band interference in a noise-cancelling receive architecture. In an aspect, capacitors blocking in-band signals and passing through out-of-band signals destructively couple an auxiliary mixer output to a mixer output. In a further aspect, cross-coupling capacitors are provided to couple a first signal path with a second signal path of the noise-cancelling receive signal path. Baseband poly phase cross-coupling blocker filtering is further provided for out-of-band interference cancellation to create notch responses at blocker offset frequencies. The techniques disclosed may readily be adapted for multi-phase local oscillator systems.

Abstract: The transmission path of a communication device includes, in part, N upconverters each of which receives M phases of a signal to be transmitted. Each upconverter further receives one of N sets of phases of a LO signal. Each of the N sets includes M phases of the LO signal. The communication device further includes at least one combiner, and N amplifiers each responsive to a different one of the N upconverters to generate N amplified signals. The combiner combines the N amplified signals to generate an output signal. By selecting the gain of one of the amplifiers to be different than the gain of the remaining amplifiers, the undesired harmonics of the signal to be transmitted, caused by non-linearity of the amplifiers, is reduced. Each upconverter optionally includes a multitude of upconverters whose outputs are combined to further reduce the spurious harmonic upconversion products and the counter-intermodulation distortion (IM3).

Abstract: Various embodiments implement apparatuses and methods for conversion of radio frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals. More particularly, some embodiments are directed toward down conversion of RF signals to IF signals in a multi-band radio receiver, such as a satellite receiver, using a single oscillator for different frequency bands. For example, some of the apparatuses and methods presented are suitable for integration into monolithic RF integrated circuits in low-cost satellite receivers for home entertainment use.

Abstract: In-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals are corrected for both amplitude and phase imbalances by passing the I and Q signals successively through a first amplitude correction stage, a sum-difference stage, and a second amplitude correction stage. The first amplitude correction stage balances the signal levels of the I and Q signals. The sum-difference stage produce a sum of the input I and Q signals, and a difference of the input I and Q signals, resulting in ideal quadrature in the outputs produced. The second amplitude correction stage corrects the amplitude differences from the sum-difference stage. Circuit configurations are used that minimize errors produced by the signal processing stages.

Abstract: In-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals are corrected for both amplitude and phase imbalances by passing the I and Q signals successively through a first amplitude correction stage, a sum-difference stage, and a second amplitude correction stage. The first amplitude correction stage balances the signal levels of the I and Q signals. The sum-difference stage produce a sum of the input I and Q signals, and a difference of the input I and Q signals, resulting in ideal quadrature in the outputs produced. The second amplitude correction stage corrects the amplitude differences from the sum-difference stage. Circuit configurations are used that minimize errors produced by the signal processing stages.

Abstract: In-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals are corrected for both amplitude and phase imbalances by passing the I and Q signals successively through a first amplitude correction stage, a sum-difference stage, and a second amplitude correction stage. The first amplitude correction stage balances the signal levels of the I and Q signals. The sum-difference stage produce a sum of the input I and Q signals, and a difference of the input I and Q signals, resulting in ideal quadrature in the outputs produced. The second amplitude correction stage corrects the amplitude differences from the sum-difference stage. Circuit configurations are used that minimize errors produced by the signal processing stages.