20240088835.Radio-frequency Mixer having Transformer with Passive Termination simplified abstract (apple inc.)

Radio-frequency Mixer having Transformer with Passive Termination

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Omar E. Elaasar of San Diego CA (US)

Radio-frequency Mixer having Transformer with Passive Termination - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240088835 titled 'Radio-frequency Mixer having Transformer with Passive Termination

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an electronic device with wireless circuitry including a radio-frequency mixer with an input stage, an output stage, and a transformer. A harmonic rejection circuit is included to mitigate harmonic signals associated with the oscillating signal.

• The electronic device includes wireless circuitry with a radio-frequency mixer.
• The mixer consists of an input stage, an output stage, and a transformer.
• The input stage comprises input transistors forming a transconductance cell.
• The output stage has two pairs of mixer transistors receiving an oscillating signal.
• The transformer includes a primary coil between the input transistors and a secondary coil between the mixer transistors.
• A harmonic rejection circuit is connected to the center tap of the secondary coil to reduce harmonic signals.
• The harmonic rejection circuit may contain an inductor, optional capacitor, optional current source transistor, or other passive components.

Potential Applications

The technology described in the patent application could be applied in:

• Wireless communication devices
• Radio-frequency transmitters and receivers
• Radar systems

Problems Solved

The innovation addresses the issue of harmonic signals generated in radio-frequency mixers, which can degrade the performance of wireless communication devices.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include:

• Improved signal quality
• Enhanced performance of wireless devices
• Reduction of interference in radio-frequency circuits

Potential Commercial Applications

The technology could find commercial applications in:

• Mobile phones and smartphones
• Satellite communication systems
• IoT devices

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of harmonic rejection circuits in radio-frequency mixers to improve signal quality and reduce interference.

How does the harmonic rejection circuit improve the performance of the radio-frequency mixer?

The harmonic rejection circuit mitigates harmonic signals associated with the oscillating signal, thereby reducing interference and improving the overall signal quality in the mixer.

What are the specific components of the harmonic rejection circuit and how do they work together to suppress harmonic signals?

The harmonic rejection circuit may include an inductor, optional capacitor, optional current source transistor, or other passive components. These components work together to filter out unwanted harmonic signals and ensure a cleaner output signal from the mixer.

Original Abstract Submitted

an electronic device may include wireless circuitry having a radio-frequency mixer. the mixer may include an input stage, an output stage, and a transformer coupled between the input and output stages. the input stage may include input transistors forming a transconductance cell. the output stage may include two pairs of mixer transistors configured to receive an oscillating signal. the transformer may include a primary coil coupled between the input transistors and a secondary coil coupled between the two pairs of mixer transistors. a harmonic rejection circuit may be coupled to a center tap of the secondary coil. the harmonic rejection circuit may be configured to mitigate harmonic signals that are associated with the oscillating signal and that are generated at the inputs of the output stage. the harmonic rejection circuit may include an inductor, an optional capacitor, an optional current source transistor, or other passive component.