An apparatus includes a package and a beam former circuit. The package may be configured to be mounted on an antenna array at a center of four antenna elements. Each antenna element may include a dual-pole antenna having a vertical feed and a horizontal feed. The beam former circuit may be (i) disposed in the package, (ii) have a plurality of pairs of ports, (iii) configured to generate a plurality of radio-frequency signals in the ports while in a transmit mode and (iv) configured to receive the radio-frequency signals at the ports while in a receive mode. Each pair of the ports is configured to be directly connected to a respective one of the antenna elements. All of the ports may be spatially routed into alignment with the vertical feeds and the horizontal feeds in a single conductive plane of the antenna array.

An apparatus includes a package and a beam former circuit. The package may be configured to be mounted on an antenna array at a center of four antenna elements. Each antenna element may include a dual-pole antenna having a vertical feed and a horizontal feed. The beam former circuit may be (i) disposed in the package, (ii) have a plurality of pairs of ports, (iii) configured to generate a plurality of radio-frequency signals in the ports while in a transmit mode and (iv) configured to receive the radio-frequency signals at the ports while in a receive mode. Each pair of the ports is configured to be directly connected to a respective one of the antenna elements. All of the ports may be spatially routed into alignment with the vertical feeds and the horizontal feeds in a single conductive plane of the antenna array.

Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for generating an internal reset signal that is synchronous to a clock signal. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a clock switch circuit and a plurality of serially coupled D flip-flops (DFFs). The clock switch circuit receiving the clock signal can output the clock signal in an on state and block the clock signal in an off state. The plurality of serially coupled DFFs are coupled to the clock switch circuit and driven by the clock signal. If an external reset signal is enabled, the plurality of serially coupled DFFs can enable the internal reset signal. If the external reset signal is disabled, after a predefined number of clock signal cycles, the plurality of serially coupled DFFs can disable the internal reset signal.

Embodiments relate to a clock counter, a method for clock counting, and a storage apparatus. The clock counter includes a clock frequency-dividing circuit, a plurality of counting circuits, and an adding circuit. The clock frequency-dividing circuit receives a clock signal and divide a frequency of the clock signal to output a plurality of frequency-divided clock signals, sum of number of pulses of the plurality of frequency-divided clock signals being equal to number of pulses of the clock signal. The plurality of counting circuits are connected to the clock frequency-dividing circuit, each of the plurality of counting circuits being configured to respectively count pulses for each of the plurality of frequency-divided clock signals and generate an initial count value. The adding circuit is connected to the plurality of counting circuits, and adds up the initial count values of the plurality of counting circuits to generate a target count value.

Embodiments relate to a clock counter, a method for clock counting, and a storage apparatus. The clock counter includes a clock frequency-dividing circuit, a plurality of counting circuits, and an adding circuit. The clock frequency-dividing circuit receives a clock signal and divide a frequency of the clock signal to output a plurality of frequency-divided clock signals, sum of number of pulses of the plurality of frequency-divided clock signals being equal to number of pulses of the clock signal. The plurality of counting circuits are connected to the clock frequency-dividing circuit, each of the plurality of counting circuits being configured to respectively count pulses for each of the plurality of frequency-divided clock signals and generate an initial count value. The adding circuit is connected to the plurality of counting circuits, and adds up the initial count values of the plurality of counting circuits to generate a target count value.

Clock multiplexer circuitry outputs one of a first or second clock signal. First selection circuitry is connected in series with first counter circuitry. The first selection circuitry and the first counter circuitry receive a first clock signal and a first selection signal. A first control signal is generated based on the first clock signal and the first selection signal. Second selection circuitry is connected in series with second counter circuitry. The second selection circuitry and the second counter circuitry receive a second clock signal and a second selection signal. A second control signal is generated based on the second clock signal and the second selection signal. The output circuitry is connected to the first counter circuitry and the second counter circuitry. The output circuitry outputs one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal based on the first control signal and the second control signal.

Clock multiplexer circuitry outputs one of a first or second clock signal. First selection circuitry is connected in series with first counter circuitry. The first selection circuitry and the first counter circuitry receive a first clock signal and a first selection signal. A first control signal is generated based on the first clock signal and the first selection signal. Second selection circuitry is connected in series with second counter circuitry. The second selection circuitry and the second counter circuitry receive a second clock signal and a second selection signal. A second control signal is generated based on the second clock signal and the second selection signal. The output circuitry is connected to the first counter circuitry and the second counter circuitry. The output circuitry outputs one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal based on the first control signal and the second control signal.

The present invention provides a fractional frequency divider, wherein the fractional frequency divider includes a plurality of registers, a counter, a control signal generator and a clock gating circuit. Regarding the plurality of registers, at least a portion of the registers are set to have values The counter is configured to sequentially generate a plurality of counter values, wherein the plurality of counter values correspond to the at least a portion of the registers, respectively, and the plurality of counter values are generated repeatedly The control signal generator is configured to generate a control signal based on the received counter value and the value of the corresponding register. The clock gating circuit is configured to refer to the control signal to mask or not mask an input clock signal to generate an output clock signal.

The present invention provides a fractional frequency divider, wherein the fractional frequency divider includes a plurality of registers, a counter, a control signal generator and a clock gating circuit. Regarding the plurality of registers, at least a portion of the registers are set to have values The counter is configured to sequentially generate a plurality of counter values, wherein the plurality of counter values correspond to the at least a portion of the registers, respectively, and the plurality of counter values are generated repeatedly The control signal generator is configured to generate a control signal based on the received counter value and the value of the corresponding register. The clock gating circuit is configured to refer to the control signal to mask or not mask an input clock signal to generate an output clock signal.

The disclosure provides a clock step control circuit and a method thereof. The clock step control circuit includes a clock divider, a multiplexer, and a controller. The clock divider receives a first clock signal and outputs multiple second clock signals. The multiplexer receives the second clock signals and outputs one of the second clock signals. The controller is coupled to the clock divider and the multiplexer. When the controller receives an interrupt signal, the controller outputs a selection signal to the multiplexer according to the interrupt signal. The multiplexer outputs another one of the second clock signals according to the selection signal. The clock step control circuit and the method thereof in the disclosure can appropriately switch the clock signal to output a clock signal with an appropriate clock frequency.