Intel Corporation

Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited

Motorola Corporation

Apple Inc.

Intel IP Corporation

Omid Oliaei

David A Newman

Matthew Richard Miller

Patrick Lee Rakers

Mark Alan Kirschenmann

Patrick Rakers

Mahibur Rahman

Brandt Braswell

Chuanzhao Yu

Amit D Bavisi

Jorge Ivonnet

Benjamin Gilsdorf

Anthony G Dunne

Michael L Gomez

Kurt Hausmann

Berengere Le Men

Julian Aschieri

Cristiano Benevento

Stephen Rector

Alan Bannon

Daniel J O'Hare

David Newman

Mark Kirschenmann

A method is provided for reducing non-linear effects in an electronic circuit including an amplifier. The method may include receiving a modulated signal at an input of the amplifier, the modulated signal comprising a baseband signal modulated by an oscillator frequency. The method may further include substantially attenuating counter-intermodulation in the modulated signal caused by harmonics of the oscillator frequency and the baseband signal by a resonant circuit. In some embodiments, the resonant circuit may include at least one inductive element and one capacitive element coupled to the at least one inductive element, the at least one inductive element and the at least one capacitive element configured to substantially attenuate counter-intermodulation in the modulated signal.

Radio-frequency transmitter and amplifier

A method may include: determining a signal strength of a signal in a receive path of a wireless communication element, the receive path configured to receive a wireless communication signal and convert the wireless communication signal into a digital signal based at least on an oscillator signal; selecting a current mode from at least one of a first current mode and a second current mode for the wireless communication element based at least on the signal strength; communicating a control signal to the receive path indicative of the current mode; modifying one or more operational parameters of the receive path such that the receive path consumes a different amount of current in each of the current modes.

System and method for controlling current to certain components of a wireless communication device

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a receiver may include a downconverter configured to demodulate a modulated wireless signal to produce a current-mode baseband signal and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to convert the current-mode baseband signal into a digital output signal. The downconverter may be coupled to the ADC without an intervening filter element.

Receiver with feedback continuous-time delta-sigma modulator with current-mode input

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a continuous-time incremental analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may include a plurality of resettable integrators and a feed-in gain element. Each integrator may be configured to convert a sum of signals received at its input to a signal indicative of an integral over time of the sum of signals. The plurality of integrators may include a first-stage integrator configured to receive at its input the baseband signal and a final-stage integrator configured to produce at its output a final-stage analog signal. The plurality of integrators may be arranged in a cascade configuration such that an output of each of the plurality of integrators other than the final-stage integrator is coupled to the input of a subsequent integrator. The feed-in gain element may be coupled between the input of the first-stage integrator and the input of another integrator of the plurality of integrators.

Continuous-time incremental analog-to-digital converter

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a circuit comprises a balun configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal at a first input port and a second input port of an input coil. The balun is further configured to output the RF signal at an output coil communicatively coupled to the input coil. The circuit also comprises a supply voltage selector circuit coupled to the input coil and configured to adjust a bias voltage at the input coil according to a power level of the RF signal received at the input coil.

System and method for improving power efficiency of a transmitter

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a merged filter-transconductor-upconverter for use in a wireless communication device is provided.

Merged filter-transconductor-upconverter

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a transmitting path comprises a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to receive digital data signals and convert the digital data signals into analog data signals. The transmitting path further comprises a first transmission protocol path and a second transmission protocol path configured to receive a first data signal and second data signal, respectively, from the DAC. The first data signal is associated with a first transmission protocol and the second data signal is associated with the second transmission protocol. The transmitting path additionally comprises a mixer coupled to the first and second transmission protocol paths and configured to receive at least one of the first data signal and the second data signal and modulate at least one of the first data signal and the second data signal onto a carrier signal to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal.

System and method for a dual-path transmitter

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include generating a first current equal to a bandgap voltage divided by a resistance selected to approximately match a process resistance integral to a receiver. The method may further include generating a second current equal to temperature-dependent current multiplied by a predetermined scaling factor. The method may also include subtracting the second current from the first current to generate a bias current. The method may additionally include providing the bias current to the receiver.

System and method for reducing or eliminating temperature dependence of a coherent receiver in a wireless communication device

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a circuit comprises an input node configured to receive a current-mode input signal and an input stage that includes an input device communicatively coupled to the input node. The input device is configured to receive the input signal at the input node. The circuit additionally comprises bias circuitry communicatively coupled to the input stage and configured to provide a bias current for the input device. The bias circuitry is also configured to remove at least a portion of the bias current from the input signal through a feedback loop associated with the input node such that the input signal is received by the input device with at least a portion of the bias current removed. The circuit further comprises an output stage communicatively coupled to the input stage and configured to output a current-mode output signal based on the input signal.

System and method for preserving input impedance of a current-mode circuit

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a circuit may include a transmission switch and a dummy switch coupled at its output to the output of the transmission switch. The transmission switch may be configured to be selectively enabled and disabled based on a control signal received at a gate of the transmission switch. The transmission switch may be further configured to receive a first polarity of a differential signal at its input and pass the first polarity of the differential signal to its output when enabled. The dummy switch may be configured to be disabled and to receive a second polarity of the differential signal at its input, the second polarity of opposite polarity of the first polarity.

System and method for switch leakage cancellation

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure an attenuating circuit comprises a balun configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal at first and second input ports and configured to output the RF signal. The circuit further comprises an attenuator coupled in parallel with the first and second input ports. A power level of the RF signal output by the balun is based at least partially on an impedance of the attenuator. The attenuator comprises a resistor ladder configured to receive at least a portion of the RF signal and a plurality of switches coupled to the resistor ladder. The plurality of switches are configured to open and close such that the impedance of the attenuator is a function of which switches are open and closed. Therefore, the power of the RF signal is controlled based at least on the opening and closing of the switches.

Digital voltage-controlled attenuator

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a multi-band transmitter comprises a plurality of band paths with each band path configured for a different frequency range. Each band path comprises a modulator configured to modulate a data signal onto a carrier signal associated with the frequency range of the band path to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with the band path and frequency range of the band path. Each band path also comprises a step-down balun that includes an input coil configured to receive the RF signal from the modulator. Each band path further comprises a tuner configured to tune the input coil to the frequency range of the band path. The tuner is also configured to compensate for off-state conduction of switches of the tuner to reduce non-linear tuning effects of the balun associated with the off-state conduction.

System and method for a multi-band transmitter

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a multi-tap integrated transformer may include one or more windings, wherein each of the one or more windings include at least one pair of primary taps for receiving at least one differential input signal, a first pair of secondary taps for outputting a first output signal, and a second pair of secondary taps for outputting a second output signal. The first and second output signals may be based on the at least one differential input signal and a mutual inductance between portions of the one or more windings associated with the at least one pair of primary taps, the first pair of secondary taps, and the second pair of secondary taps.

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Tempe, AZ, United States of America

Omid Oliaei