Intel Corporation

Infineon Technologies Austria Ag

Giacomo Cascio

Martin Clara

Christian Lindholm

Daniel Gruber

Matteo Camponeschi

Albert Molina

Michael Fulde

Patrizia Greco

Salvatore Angelo Della Fortuna

Harneet Khurana

Giuseppe Bernacchia

Kannan Rajamani

Simone Fabbro

Adriano Sambucco

Marc Jan Georges Tiebout

Emiliano Alejandro Puia

L Mark Elzinga

Erfan Ghaderi

A multi-step analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC includes a sampling circuitry, a comparator, a trimming circuitry, and a DC offset actuator. The sampling circuitry is configured to sample an input analog signal. The comparator is for comparing the input analog signal sample or a residual component of the input analog signal sample to a reference value in each step. The trimming circuitry is configured to receive at least one low-order bit (e.g., a least significant bit and/or a second-least significant bit) of digital binary bits of each input analog signal sample and average the low order bit over a plurality of input analog signal samples and generate a control signal for correcting an input DC offset of the comparator based on an average value of the low-order bits. The DC offset actuator is configured to correct the input DC offset of the comparator based on the control signal.

Method and system for digital background offset correction of a comparator in an analog-to-digital converter

A radio frequency front-end (RF-FE) device with a reconfigurable common-mode feedback control. The device includes a plurality of RF-FE channels and a reconfiguration switch. An RF-FE channel includes a common-mode feedback loop. The common-mode feedback loop is configured to detect a common-mode signal in differential signals in the RF-FE channel and generate a feedback signal to set the common-mode signal. The reconfiguration switch is configured to couple common-mode feedback loops of two or more RF-FE channels based on an operation mode. The reconfiguration switch may be controlled to couple common-mode feedback loops of two or more RF-FE channels if the two or more RF-FE channels receive a same input signal and decouple common-mode feedback loops of two or more RF-FE channels if the two or more RF-FE channels receive different input signals.

Device and method for reconfigurable common-mode feedback control in a receiver front end

A successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a plurality of differential capacitive digital-to-analog converters (C-DACs), comparators, and an SAR controller. Each differential C-DAC comprises a pair of C-DACs for positive and negative polarities and each C-DAC comprises a capacitor array. A capacitor for each bit position may include a pair of equal-sized capacitors. Each outer comparator is coupled to one of the differential C-DACs and the middle comparator is coupled to a differential output node pair of C-DACs from two differential C-DACs. The SAR controller generates a control signal for the differential C-DACs for each conversion step based on outputs of the comparators. The outputs of the comparators are provided to the differential C-DACs as the control signal without encoding. Single-bit/cycle shorting switches for shorting top plates of capacitors of the C-DACs of same polarity may be closed during a single-bit/cycle conversion.

Successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter

An apparatus for analog-to-digital conversion is provided. The apparatus includes a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an input signal and convert the input signal to a sequence of M-bit digital values. The apparatus further includes a second ADC including a plurality of time-interleaved sub-ADCs each being configured to receive the input signal and at least one M-bit digital value of the sequence of M-bit digital values. Further, each of the plurality of time-interleaved sub-ADCs is configured to convert the input signal to a respective sequence of B-bit digital values using the at least one M-bit digital value of the sequence of M-bit digital values. M and B are integers with M<B.

Apparatus for analog-to-digital conversion, systems for analog-to-digital conversion and method for analog-to-digital conversion

A signal envelope detector is provided. The signal envelope detector includes an input node configured to receive an input signal. Further, the signal envelope detector includes a capacitive voltage divider coupled to the input node and configured to generate an attenuated input signal by voltage division of the input signal. The signal envelope detector additionally includes a source follower transistor coupled between a first node configured to receive a first voltage supply signal and a second node configured to receive a second voltage supply signal. A gate terminal of the source follower transistor is coupled to the capacitive voltage divider and configured to receive the attenuated input signal. The signal envelope detector includes a rectifier circuit configured to receive and rectify an output signal of the source follower transistor. In addition, the signal envelope detector includes a low-pass filter coupled to the rectifier circuit and configured to generate an envelope signal indicative of a rectified envelope of the input signal by low-pass filtering of an output signal of the rectifier circuit.

Signal envelope detector, overload detector, receiver, base station and mobile device

A buffer circuit is provided. The buffer circuit includes a Current Differencing Transconductance Amplifier (CDTA) comprising a first input node and a second input node each configured to receive a respective one of a first signal and a second signal. The buffer circuit further includes a first source follower circuit coupled to a first output node of the CDTA and configured to generate a first buffer output signal based on a first output signal of the CDTA. Additionally, the buffer circuit includes a second source follower circuit coupled to a second output node of the CDTA and configured to generate a second buffer output signal based on a second output signal of the CDTA. The buffer circuit further includes a first feedback path comprising at least one of a first resistive element and a first capacitive element. The first feedback path couples an output node of the first source follower circuit to the first input node of the CDTA. In addition, the buffer circuit includes a second feedback path comprising at least one of a second resistive element and a second capacitive element. The second feedback path couples an output node of the second source follower circuit to the second input node of the CDTA.

Buffer circuit, receiver, base station and mobile device

An attenuator circuit is provided. The attenuator circuit includes a first input node and a second input node each configured to receive a respective one of a first input signal and a second input signal forming a differential input signal pair. Further, the attenuator circuit includes a first plurality of resistive elements coupled in series between the first input node and a first output node for outputting a first output signal. The attenuator circuit additionally includes a second plurality of resistive elements coupled in series between the second input node and a second output node for outputting a second output signal. In addition, the attenuator circuit includes a shunt path coupled to a first intermediate node and a second intermediate node. The first intermedia node is arranged between two resistive elements of the first plurality of resistive elements. The second intermedia node is arranged between two resistive elements of the second plurality of resistive elements. The shunt path comprises a switch circuit configured to selectively couple the first intermediate node and the second intermediate node based on one or more control signals.

Attenuator circuit, receiver, base station, mobile device and method for operating an attenuator circuit

A reference buffer circuit for an analog-to-digital converter is provided. The reference buffer circuit includes a first input node configured to receive a first bias signal of a first polarity from a first signal line. Further, the reference buffer circuit includes a second input node configured to receive a second bias signal of a second polarity from a second signal line. Additionally, the reference buffer circuit includes a first output node configured to output a first reference signal of the first polarity. A first buffer amplifier is coupled between the first input node and the first output node. The reference buffer circuit includes in addition a second output node configured to output a second reference signal of the second polarity. A second buffer amplifier is coupled between the second input node and the second output node. Further, the reference buffer circuit includes a first coupling path comprising a first capacitive element. The first coupling path is coupled between the first output node and the second input node. In addition, the reference buffer circuit includes a second coupling path comprising a second capacitive element. The second coupling path is coupled between the second output node and the first input node.

Reference buffer circuit, analog-to-digital converter system, receiver, base station and mobile device

An input buffer circuit for an analog-to-digital converter is provided. The input buffer circuit includes a buffer amplifier. The buffer amplifier includes a first input node and a second input node each configured to receive a respective one of a first input signal and a second input signal forming a differential input signal pair for the analog-to-digital converter. The buffer amplifier further includes a first output node and a second output node each configured to output a respective one of a first buffered signal and a second buffered signal. In addition, the input buffer circuit includes feedback circuitry. The feedback circuitry is configured to generate, based on the first buffered signal and the second buffered signal, a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal for mitigating a respective unwanted signal component at the first input node and the second input node related to a limited reverse isolation of the amplifier buffer. The feedback circuitry is further configured to supply the first feedback signal to the first input node and the second feedback signal to the second input node.

Input buffer circuit, analog-to-digital converter system, receiver, base station, mobile device and method for operating an input buffer circuit

A method and system for controlling an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in an observation path in a transceiver. The transceiver includes a transmit path, a receive path, and an observation path. The observation path includes an analog buffer and an observation ADC. A controller generates a control signal to control sampling events at the observation ADC to activate the observation ADC at combined uniform and non-uniform sampling instants. The controller may also generate a second control signal indicating whether digital data obtained by the observation ADC is valid or not. The digital data generated by the observation ADC at non-uniform sampling instants is indicated as invalid and digital data generated by the observation ADC at uniform sampling instants is indicated as valid. The digital data indicated as invalid may be discarded and the digital data indicated as valid is used for calibration of the transmit path or the receive path.

Transceiver and method and system for controlling an analog-to-digital converter in an observation path in the transceiver

The present disclosure relates to a bootstrapped switch circuit, a track-and-hold circuit, an analog-to-digital converter, a method for operating a track-and-hold circuit, a base station, and a mobile station. The bootstrapped switch circuit comprises an output for an output signal, a first input, a switching element configured to couple the output with a signal from the first input, a bootstrapper capacitor configured to drive the switching element, and a second input coupled to the bootstrapper capacitor.

Bootstrapped switch circuit, a track-and-hold circuit, an analog-to-digital converter, a method for operating a track-and-hold circuit, a base station and a mobile device

Input circuitry for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided. The input circuitry includes a calibration signal source configured to output a calibration signal for the ADC and an analog circuitry configured to receive and process an analog input signal for the ADC. The analog circuitry is further configured to generate a combined signal by combining the analog input signal and the calibration signal. The input circuitry further includes a buffer amplifier coupled to the analog circuitry and configured to supply a buffered signal to the ADC based on the combined signal. Further, the input circuitry includes neutralization circuitry configured to generate, based on the calibration signal, a neutralization signal for mitigating an unwanted signal component related to a limited reverse isolation of the analog circuitry. The neutralization circuitry is further configured to supply the neutralization signal to at least one of an input node and an intermediate node of the analog circuitry.

Input circuitry for an analog-to-digital converter, receiver, base station and method for operating an input circuitry for an analog-to-digital converter

A capacitive-coupled level shifter includes a capacitive divider circuit having a first capacitive divider branch configured to couple a first input terminal to a first comparator terminal and a second capacitive divider branch configured to couple a second input terminal to a second comparator terminal. The first capacitive divider branch and the second capacitive divider branch are symmetric so as to cancel out a common mode voltage of a modulated signal input to the capacitive divider circuit. A level shifter system which includes the capacitive-coupled level shifter is also described.

Level shifter system and capacitive-coupled level shifter

The present disclosure relates to a time-interleaved ADC circuit. The time-interleaved ADC circuit comprises an input for an analog input signal, a first ADC bank comprising a first plurality of parallel time-multiplexed ADCs, wherein the first plurality of parallel time-multiplexed ADCs is configured to subsequently generate a first plurality of samples of the analog input signal during a first time interval, a first buffer amplifier coupled between the input and the first ADC bank. The time-interleaved ADC circuit further comprises a second ADC bank comprising a second plurality of parallel time-multiplexed ADCs, wherein the second plurality of parallel time-multiplexed ADCs is configured to subsequently generate a second plurality of samples of the analog input signal during a second time interval, wherein the first and the second time intervals are subsequent time intervals, a second buffer amplifier coupled between the input and the second ADC bank. The first ADC bank has associated therewith a first dummy sampler, wherein the ADC circuit is configured to activate the first dummy sampler before the start of the first time interval. The second ADC bank has associated therewith a second dummy sampler, wherein the ADC circuit is configured to activate the second dummy sampler before the start of the second time interval.

Apparatus and method for time-interleaved analog-to-digital conversion

A capacitive-coupled level shifter includes: an input having a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, the input configured to receive a modulated signal in a first voltage domain; a comparator circuit configured to shift the modulated signal to a second voltage domain higher than the first voltage domain; and a capacitive divider circuit comprising a first capacitive divider branch coupling the positive input terminal of the input to a positive input terminal of the comparator circuit and a second capacitive divider branch coupling the negative input terminal of the input to a negative input terminal of the comparator circuit. The first capacitive divider branch and the second capacitive divider branch are symmetric so as to cancel out a common mode voltage of the modulated signal. A level shifter system which includes the capacitive-coupled level shifter is also described.

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Villach, Austria

Giacomo Cascio