Abstract:
Described herein are techniques for providing a mixer circuit having a mixer core. The mixer circuit includes a variable current block that is arranged to feed the mixer core with an amplified input signal.
Abstract:
A receiver includes a Gilbert cell mixer comprising an input transconductance stage. The input transconductance stage includes first and second transistors receiving an input signal and providing a first gain characteristic that is substantially non-linear over an operating frequency range of the receiver. Third and fourth transistors receive the input signal and provide a second gain characteristic that is substantially non-linear over the operating range of the receiver. A combined gain characteristic of the input transconductance stage is based on the first and second gain characteristics and is substantially linear over the operating frequency range of the receiver.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and mixing the RF signal with a master clock to obtain a mixed signal, cyclically rotating the mixed signal to each of N gain stages for at least one cycle of the master clock, and summing the outputs of the N gain stages to provide an output signal.
Abstract:
A multiplier is provided, for example, for use as a mixer in a modulator of a radio frequency transmitter. The multiplier multiplies a first alternating signal of constant amplitude by a second signal, for example, in the form of a carrier wave from a local oscillator. The multiplier comprises a transconductance stage for converting the first signal to a differential output current and a current switching stage for switching the differential output current in accordance with the second signal. The transconductance stage comprises a plurality of offset pairs of transistors, whose inputs and outputs are connected in parallel. The switching stage comprises cross-coupled pairs of transistors which, together with the transconductance stage, form a Gilbert cell. The relative gains of the transistors of each offset pair are such that a minimum in the third harmonic distortion characteristic of the multiplier occurs substantially at the amplitude of the first signal.
Abstract:
A heterodyne receiver has a mixer with at least one transistor whose operating point can be varied dynamically. The quality of the output signal from the mixer is assessed in order to control the operating point. The operating point is set such that the collector current is increased when the intermodulation interference is high, thus improving the intermodulation resistance. The collector current is reduced when the intermodulation interference is low, thus reducing the transistor noise. Furthermore, the current drawn is reduced in this situation. The circuit and the method are particularly suitable for RF receivers without tunable input filters, and for receivers in which the power consumption must be low.
Abstract:
A frequency mixing apparatus with improved voltage gain and linearity is provided. The frequency mixing apparatus includes a transconductor, a separator, and a switching unit. A voltage gain of the transconductor is controllable, and the transconductor converts a Radio Frequency (RF) signal into a current signal under control of a self bias. The separator transfers the current signal to the switching unit. The switching unit outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to one of a sum and a difference of a frequency of the RF signal and a frequency of a Local Oscillation (LO) signal by performing a switching operation according to the LO signal.
Abstract:
A differential radio frequency signal transmitter is provided. The differential radio frequency signal transmitter includes an oscillator, a modulator and an amplifier module. The oscillator generates a pair of differential oscillation signals. The modulator generates a pair of differential modulated signals according to an input signal and the pair of differential oscillation signals. The input signal is a digital signal. When the input signal is at a first state, the modulator outputs the pair of differential oscillation signals as the pair of differential modulated signals, and when the input signal is at a second state, the modulator outputs a constant voltage signal as the pair of differential modulated signals. The amplifier module receives and amplifies the pair of differential modulated signals and generates a pair of differential radio frequency signals, accordingly.
Abstract:
A combination mixer arrangement comprising a first mixer and a second mixer coupled in parallel between first and second input ports and an output port. The mixers are arranged to be driven simultaneously by an input signal provided at the second input port. They are de-coupled, so a bias voltage applied at the first input port provides dc bias simultaneously for the mixers to enable gain expansion of the first mixer responsive to an increase in said input signal and thereby an improved linearity for the combination mixer arrangement.
Abstract:
The semiconductor integrated circuit (RF IC) for a mobile telephone capable of transmitting/receiving the signals of plural bands reduces the DC offsets of the amplifiers located in the following stages of the mixers that demodulate or down-convert the reception signals. The invention scrambles the signal lines to transmit the outputs of the plural mixers that demodulate or down-convert the reception signals of different bands, so as to avoid the adjacent signal lines from making the same combination from the starting ends to the finishing ends.
Abstract:
A method and system for increasing the compression point of a receiver by deriving a feedback signal from mixer output signals. The feedback signal prevents the receiver from going into compression on strong out-of-band or blocking signals, while enhancing the receiver gain at the desired frequency. The desired frequency coincides with the local oscillator (LO) signal and is therefore particularly applicable for, but not limited to, homodyne receivers where selectivity can be made quite narrowband. Since the selectivity is coupled to the LO, a tunable receiver may be achieved that enables selectivity over a wide range of input frequencies.