A cascadable AGC amplifier in a signal distribution system includes a low noise cascadable amplifier having a through path and a cascadable output. The cascadable amplifier is also configured to provide AGC over a predetermined input power range. The cascadable AGC amplifier can be configured to provide gain or attenuation. When the cascadable AGC amplifier is implemented in a signal distribution system, typically as part of a signal distribution device, an input signal can be gain controlled and supplied to multiple signal paths without distortion due to degradation of signal to noise ratio or distortion due to higher order amplifier products. The distributed signal is not significantly degraded by distortion regardless of the number of cascadable AGC amplifiers connected in series or the position of the cascadable AGC amplifier in the signal distribution system.

Embodiments of power efficient radio mixers are provided. A generalized impedance matched low-voltage active mixer circuit technique, which utilizes a plurality of commutator cells and transformers, is disclosed. The low voltage active mixer function is coupled to an impedance matched amplifier allowing for insertion of image rejection filtering between the amplifier and the mixing function. The commutator cells can be driven in parallel by common local oscillator (LO) and intermediate frequency (IF) ports combined in parallel to yield highly linear mixers. A multi-channel receiver with a common impedance matched radio frequency (RF) amplifier driving a plurality of commutator cells with multiple LOs and IFs is also disclosed.

In certain aspects, an apparatus includes a transformer including an input inductor and an output inductor, wherein the input inductor is magnetically coupled to the output inductor. The apparatus also includes a transconductance driver configured to drive the input inductor based on an input signal. The apparatus further includes a feedback circuit configured to detect an output voltage swing at the output inductor, generate a regulated voltage at the input inductor, and control the regulated voltage based on the detected output voltage swing.

Embodiments of power efficient radio mixers are provided. A generalized impedance matched low-voltage active mixer circuit technique, which utilizes a plurality of commutator cells and transformers, is disclosed. The low voltage active mixer function is coupled to an impedance matched amplifier allowing for insertion of image rejection filtering between the amplifier and the mixing function. The commutator cells can be driven in parallel by common local oscillator (LO) and intermediate frequency (IF) ports combined in parallel to yield highly linear mixers. A multi-channel receiver with a common impedance matched radio frequency (RF) amplifier driving a plurality of commutator cells with multiple LOs and IFs is also disclosed.

In certain aspects, an apparatus includes a transformer including an input inductor and an output inductor, wherein the input inductor is magnetically coupled to the output inductor. The apparatus also includes a transconductance driver configured to drive the input inductor based on an input signal. The apparatus further includes a feedback circuit configured to detect an output voltage swing at the output inductor, generate a regulated voltage at the input inductor, and control the regulated voltage based on the detected output voltage swing.

A down-conversion mixer includes a converting-and-mixing module and a load module. The converting-and-mixing module performs voltage-to-current conversion and mixing with first and second differential oscillatory voltage signal pairs upon a differential input voltage signal pair to generate first and second differential mixed current signal pairs. The load module includes two RL circuits and a negative resistance providing circuit that cooperate to convert the first and second differential mixed current signal pairs into first and second differential mixed voltage signal pairs. Each RL circuit includes two variable resistors, and an inductor connected between the variable resistors.

The disclosure relates to technology for an adjustable gain device that includes differential input terminals, differential output terminals, signal processing circuitry, and first and second cross-coupled segments. The first cross-coupled segment is coupled between differential input terminals of the adjustable gain device and a negative input of the signal processing circuitry. The second cross-coupled segment is coupled between differential input terminals of the adjustable gain device and a positive input of the signal processing circuitry. The adjustable gain device has a gain that is adjustable by adjusting values of the first and second cross-coupled segments, while maintaining a substantially consistent frequency response and a substantially consistent input impedance of the adjustable gain device, so long as a specified relationship between values of the first and second cross-coupled segments is kept substantially constant.

The disclosure relates to technology for a receiver having a receive signal path including a mixer, a differential fixed gain or variable gain amplifier, and a differential filter. The mixer is configured to receive an RF signal, receive an oscillator signal, and output a differential down converted signal at one of a baseband or intermediate frequency (IF). The amplifier is downstream of the mixer and configured to receive the differential down converted signal from the mixer, apply a gain thereto, and output an amplified differential signal. The filter is downstream of the amplifier and configured filter the amplified differential signal received from the amplifier, and output a filtered differential signal. By locating the differential filter downstream of the differential amplifier within the receive signal path, distortion caused by the mixer is mitigated compared to if the filter were located upstream of the filter.

Embodiments of power efficient radio frequency mixers are provided. A generalized impedance matched low-voltage active mixer circuit technique, which utilizes a plurality of commutator cells and transformers, is disclosed. The active mixer techniques are reconfigurable between various operation configurations based, at least in part, on selectively activating at least one of a plurality of commutator cells. The low voltage active mixer function is coupled to an impedance matched amplifier which can be bypassed allowing changes in the gain of the mixer circuit suites while preserving impedance matching.

The disclosure relates to technology for an adjustable gain device that includes differential input terminals, differential output terminals, signal processing circuitry, and first and second cross-coupled segments. The first cross-coupled segment is coupled between differential input terminals of the adjustable gain device and a negative input of the signal processing circuitry. The second cross-coupled segment is coupled between differential input terminals of the adjustable gain device and a positive input of the signal processing circuitry. The adjustable gain device has a gain that is adjustable by adjusting values of the first and second cross-coupled segments, while maintaining a substantially consistent frequency response and a substantially consistent input impedance of the adjustable gain device, so long as a specified relationship between values of the first and second cross-coupled segments is kept substantially constant.