Broadcom Corporation

Razieh Roufoogaran

Qiang Li

Arya Behzad

Jesus Alfonso Castaneda

Hung-Ming Chien

Dandan Li

Iqbal Bhatti

Shahla Khorram

Thomas Francis Baker

Keith Andrews Carter

Hung Yu Yang

Bojko Frederik Marholev

Fazal Haq

Systems and apparatuses are provided for negating the degradation effects of fundamental coupling between at least two near field communication (NFC) enabled devices, at least one of which can receive frequency modulation (FM) signals. Due to the fundamental coupling, strong NFC signals can mix with blocking signals associated with a desired/tuned-to FM frequency causing degradation in FM receiver performance. By utilizing a notch filter at the front end of the FM receiver, the degradation in FM receiver performance caused by the fundamental coupling phenomenon can be avoided.

Reducing receiver performance degradation due to frequency coexistence

Certain aspects of a method and system for a compact and power efficient local oscillator generation architecture in multi-standard systems may include selection of an input frequency range of operation at a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) based on a particular wireless band of operation. An image rejection mixer may be enabled to mix a plurality of generated local oscillator signals. An inductive buffer may be enabled to generate an output signal by buffering the mixed plurality of generated local oscillator signals in a single backend stage. An in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component of the generated output signal may be generated by utilizing an RC-CR quadrature network.

Method and system for a compact and power efficient local oscillator generation architecture

Certain aspects of a method and system for mitigating effects of pulling in multiple phase locked loops in multi-standard systems may include selecting an input frequency range of operation at a voltage controlled oscillator based on a particular wireless band of operation in a system that handles a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol. An image rejection mixer may be enabled to generate an output signal for the particular wireless band of operation based on mixing a plurality of received signals within a selected frequency range. An in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component of the generated output signal may be generated by utilizing a RC-CR quadrature network.

Method and system for mitigating the effects of pulling in multiple phase locked loops in multi-standard systems

Methods and systems for a configurable front end are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a transceiver on a single chip that may comprise a power amplifier (PA) and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The PA may amplify signals to be transmitted over a range of output transmit power. An upper limit for a power range may of substantially 12 dBm. The LNA may be tolerant to PA signals by, for example, being configured to follow signal voltages generated from an output of the power amplifier. For example, each input transistor of the LNA may be isolated from other transistors in the LNA. Accordingly, the input transistors may float since they may not be tied to a voltage level via other transistors. This may allow the input transistors to avoid damage. The transceiver may also be configured for differential RF input, differential RF output, single-ended RF input, and/or single-ended RF output. In some configurations, the transceiver may also support use of a power amplifier external to the transceiver to amplify RF signals communicated by the transceiver.

Method and system for a configurable front end

A radio front end includes a transformer and an adjustable load. The transformer includes a first winding and a second winding, wherein the first winding is operably coupled to an antenna and the second winding coupled to at least one of a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier. The adjustable load is operably coupled to the second winding, wherein the adjustable load provides a first impedance based on a first impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a transmit mode and provides a second impedance based on a second impedance selection signal when the radio front end is in a receive module such that impedance at the first winding is substantially similar in the transmit mode and in the receive mode.

Radio front end and applications thereof

A method and system for calibrating a plurality of modules in a communication system is provided. The method may include selecting a plurality of modules with at least one output signal and calibrating an amplitude of each selected module to be within a specified range if the amplitude is out of the specified range via a gain control processing circuit of the selected module, wherein the plurality of modules may be calibrated in an order starting with a first module located at an input of a signal path and ending with a module located at an output of the signal path. The DC component and amplitude of the envelope of the output signal may be detected by circuitry within the selected module. Muxes may be utilized to route the DC component and amplitude of the envelope to a feedback control processing circuit.

Method and system for calibrating a plurality of modules in a communication system

Certain aspects of a method and system for RC-CR quadrature generation with wideband coverage and process compensation may include determining an amplitude mismatch between an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component of a signal generated in a radio frequency (RF) transmitter or receiver. A variation in resistance of a quadrature network associated with the I component and Q component may be determined. The determined amplitude mismatch and the determined variation in the resistance of the quadrature network may be compensated by adjusting a resistance of a portion of the quadrature network associated with the I component and a resistance of a portion of the quadrature network associated with the Q component.

Method and system for RC-CR quadrature generation with wideband coverage and process compensation

Certain aspects of a method and system for independent in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) loop amplitude control for quadrature generators may include determining an amplitude voltage associated with an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component of a generated signal. A DC reference voltage associated with the I component and the Q component may be determined. The determined amplitude voltage may be compared with the determined reference voltage to generate a control signal. The amplitude mismatch between the I component and the Q component may be compensated by controlling a biasing current of one or more programmable buffers associated with one or both of the I component and the Q component, based on the generated control signal.

Method and system for independent I and Q loop amplitude control for quadrature generators

Methods and systems for a flip chip configurable RF front end with an off-chip balun may include bonding a balun package to a single integrated circuit (IC) comprising an integrated transmitter and a receiver. The balun package may comprise one or more layers and may be electrically coupled to the IC. The balun package may comprise various devices such as, for example, inductors, capacitors, resistors, and/or switches, which may be on an exterior surface and/or inner layers of the balun package. Accordingly, the balun package and/or the IC may be configured for receiving RF signals and/or transmitting RF signals. The balun package and/or the IC may also be configured for single-ended RF input, single-ended RF output, differential RF input, and/or differential RF output. An off-chip amplifier may be used to amplify signals on the single transmit line in the single-ended RF output mode of operation.

Method and system for flip chip configurable RF front end with an off-chip balun

According to one exemplary embodiment, an amplitude compensation circuit includes a first composite programmable buffer for receiving a first input signal with a first input amplitude. The amplitude compensation circuit further includes a second composite programmable buffer for receiving a second input signal with a second input amplitude. The amplitude compensation circuit also includes a feedback circuit coupled to respective outputs of the first and second composite programmable buffers. According to this embodiment, the feedback circuit compares a first output amplitude of the first composite programmable buffer with a reference voltage and a second output amplitude of the second composite programmable buffer with the reference voltage and provides first and second control signals for adjusting the respective gains of the first and second composite programmable buffers so as to reduce respective differences between the first and second output amplitudes and the reference voltage.

Programmable amplitude compensation circuit

Methods and systems for a low noise amplifier with tolerance to large inputs are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include providing an individual current source for each input transistor to a low noise amplifier (LNA), wherein the individual current sources may be isolated from each other when the LNA is turned off. The individual current sources may also form a common current source for the input transistors when the LNA is turned on. Accordingly, the input transistors to the LNA may float when the LNA is turned off, thereby coupling the input signal voltage to the source and drain terminals. The individual current sources may be isolated from each other by a coupling transistor that is turned off. When the LNA is turned on, the coupling transistor may be turned on to couple the individual current sources to each other to form the common current source for the input transistors.

Method and system for a low noise amplifier with tolerance to large inputs

Amplitude compensation circuit with programmable buffers

An integrated RF front-end architecture is disclosed. Such an integrated RF front-end architecture includes a multi-tap balun, a low noise amplifier and a power amplifier core. The multi-tap balun includes a single-ended primary winding and a symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding, wherein the single-ended primary winding is operably coupled to an antenna. The low noise amplifier is coupled to a first set of taps of the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding. The power amplifier core is coupled to a second set of taps of the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding and can be a two stage amplifier having a driver stage and an output stage. The multi-tap balun, low noise amplifier and power amplifier core can be on-chip components or can be fabricated to be discrete components on a printed circuit board.

Growing community of inventors

Venice, CA, United States of America

Razieh Roufoogaran