Low noise amplifiers (LNAs) with low noise figure are provided. In certain embodiments, an LNA includes a single-ended LNA stage including an input for receiving a single-ended input signal from an antenna and an output for providing a single-ended amplified signal, a balun for converting the single-ended amplified signal to a differential signal, and a variable gain differential amplification stage for amplifying the differential signal from the balun. Implementing the LNA in this manner provides low noise figure, high gain, flexibility in controlling gain, and less sensitivity to ground/supply impedance.

In many examples, a device comprises a transmitter. The transmitter comprises a power amplifier, a first transformer coil coupled to the power amplifier, and a second transformer coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to the first transformer coil. The transmitter also comprises a first bond wire coupled to a first end of the second transformer coil and adapted to be coupled to a first end of an antenna, a capacitor coupled to a second end of the second transformer coil, a switch coupled to the capacitor and configured to engage and disengage the capacitor from the transmitter, and a second bond wire coupled to the switch and adapted to be coupled to a second end of the antenna.

A dual amplifier apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an energy module having a controller and a first and second power amplifier circuit coupled to the controller. The first and second power amplifier circuits are configured to receive and amplify an input signal to generate a first output signal into a load coupled to the output of the first and second power amplifier circuit. A power rating of the first amplifier circuit is different from a power rating of the second amplifier circuit. The controller is configured to select the first or the second power amplifier circuit.

A wide band matching network for power amplifier impedance matching, the wide band matching network comprising: a power amplifier transistor connected to an output network; the output network including: a series capacitor; an on-chip transformer connected to the capacitor in series, wherein the transformer and the capacitor act as a second order filter; and a port connected to the capacitor and a receiver switch.

A semiconductor device and a communication circuit capable of reducing the effect of a noise generated in an inductor are provided. A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a substrate, a first circuit disposed in a first area of the substrate, a second circuit disposed in a second area of the substrate, the second circuit being configured to operate selectively with the first circuit, a first inductor disposed in the second area and connected to the first circuit, and a second inductor disposed in the first area and connected to the second circuit.

Transmitters having increased efficiency, such as may be useful in millimeter-wave devices. A semiconductor device, comprising a transmitter, comprising a modulator configured to receive a differential input signal having a first frequency and provide a differential modulated signal having the first frequency and a first clock phase; a series comprising one or more frequency multipliers, wherein the series of frequency multipliers is configured to receive the differential modulated signal and provide a differential second signal having a second frequency greater than the first frequency and having a second clock phase; and an output transformer configured to receive the differential second signal and transform the differential second signal to a single-ended output signal. Methods of using such transmitters. Systems for manufacturing devices comprising such transmitters.

According to one embodiment, a transformer-based in-phase and quadrature (IQ) includes a differential balun having a first inductor and a second inductor. The first inductor has a first input terminal and a first output terminal. The second inductor has a second input terminal and a second output terminal. Additionally, the IQ generator circuit includes a third inductor magnetically coupled with the first inductor. The third inductor has a first isolation terminal and a third output terminal. The IQ generator circuit also includes a fourth inductor magnetically coupled with the second inductor. The fourth inductor has a second isolation terminal and a fourth output terminal. The IQ generator circuit additionally includes a first transistor coupled to the first input terminal of the first inductor. Further, the generator circuit includes a second transistor coupled to the second input terminal of the second inductor. The first transistor, the second transistor, the first inductor, and the second inductor form a part of a differential amplifier.

A wide band matching network for power amplifier impedance matching, the wide band matching network comprising: a power amplifier transistor connected to an output network; the output network including: a series capacitor; an on-chip transformer connected to the capacitor in series, wherein the transformer and the capacitor act as a second order filter; and a port connected to the capacitor and a receiver switch.

A radio circuit, comprises an antenna; a differential power amplifier, comprising differential transmit inputs and differential transmit outputs, configured to amplify differential transmit signals received via the differential transmit inputs and output the amplified differential transmit signals via the differential transmit outputs; a differential low noise amplifier, comprising differential receive inputs and differential receive outputs, configured to receive differential receive signals via the differential receive inputs and output amplified differential receive signals via the differential receive outputs; and a transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding coupled with the differential transmit outputs of the power amplifier and the differential receive inputs of the low noise amplifier and the secondary winding coupled with the antenna.

An amplifier comprises a common emitter stage coupled to a first and a second input, a common base stage coupled to the common emitter stage and to a first and a second output, and a cancellation path coupled to the common emitter stage and the common base stage and to the first and second outputs. The cancellation path generates a first cancellation signal that is 180 degrees out of phase with a first leakage signal at the first output and a second cancellation signal that is 180 degrees out of phase with a second leakage signal at the second output. The cancellation path comprises a first cancellation transistor coupled to the common emitter stage and the common base stage and to the first output and a second cancellation transistor coupled to the common emitter stage and the common base stage and to the second output.