Estimation of intentional phase shift in a calibration apparatus

1. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver that includes a receiver, a transmitter and a calibration loop back path coupling the transmitter to the receiver, wherein the calibration loop back path has a first state and a second state, wherein no intentional phase shift is introduced to signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path in the first state, and wherein an intentional phase shift is introduced to signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path in the second state; and

a control system coupled to the transceiver, wherein the control system is configured to identify the intentional phase shift by determining a difference between a first phase angle and a second phase angle, wherein the first phase angle is obtained in response to transmitting a first pair of signals from the transmitter to the receiver through the calibration loop back path while the calibration loop back path is configured in the first state, and the second phase angle is obtained in response to transmitting a second pair of signals from the transmitter to the receiver through the calibration loop back path while the calibration loop back path is configured in the second state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system controls whether the calibration loop back path is configured in the first state or the second state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration loop back path is designed to introduce an intentional phase shift of 90 degrees to signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path in the second state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration loop back path is coupled between a first variable gain amplifier in the transmitter and a second variable gain amplifier in the receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration loop back path includes a resistor that introduces the intentional phase shift to signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path in the second state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a coordinate rotation digital computer (CORDIC) configured to receive a quantum of information associated with the first pair of signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path and the second pair of signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path, and determine the first phase angle and the second phase angle in response to the quantum of information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to function in accordance with a Bluetooth protocol.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupling the control system to the transmitter; and

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupling the receiver to the control system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises an in-phase channel (i-channel) transmitter path, and the receiver comprises an i-channel receiver path and a quadrature-channel (q-channel) receiver path, wherein the control system configures the transceiver to transmit the first pair of signals and the second pair of signals through the i-channel transmitter path, to the calibration loop back path, to the i-channel receiver path and the q-channel receiver path.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of signals is identical to the second pair of signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises:

a transmitter pre-distortion unit that provides pre-distortion compensation to signals provided from the control system to the transmitter; and

a calibration unit that determines the pre-distortion compensation in response to the identified intentional phase shift.

12. A method comprising:

configuring a calibration loop back path to have a first state, wherein the calibration loop back path introduces no intentional phase shift in the first state;

transmitting a first signal and a second signal from a transmitter to a receiver through the calibration loop back path while the calibration loop back path is in the first state, thereby providing a first quantum of information at the receiver;

determining a first phase angle in response to the first quantum of information;

configuring the calibration loop back path to have a second state, wherein the calibration loop back path introduces an intentional phase shift in the second state;

transmitting a third signal and a fourth signal from the transmitter to the receiver through the calibration loop back path while the calibration loop back path is in the second state, thereby providing a second quantum of information at the receiver;

determining a second phase angle in response to the second quantum of information; and

identifying the intentional phase shift by determining a difference between the first phase angle and the second phase angle.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting the first, second, third and fourth signals on a single channel within the transmitter.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving the first, second, third and fourth signals on a pair of channels within the receiver.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining a magnitude of an average value of the first, second, third and fourth signals at the receiver;

comparing the magnitude of the average value with a threshold; and

reducing a gain of the receiver if the magnitude of the average value exceeds the threshold.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising implementing a Gaussian frequency shift keying (GFSK) modulation scheme with the transmitter and the receiver.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first signal is identical to the third signal, and the second signal is identical to the fourth signal.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising designing the calibration loop back path to introduce an intentional phase shift of 90 degrees to signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path in the second state.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver that includes a receiver, a transmitter and a calibration loop back path coupling the transmitter to the receiver;

means for configuring the calibration loop back path to have a first state and a second state, wherein no intentional phase shift is introduced to signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path in the first state, and wherein an intentional phase shift is introduced to signals transmitted through the calibration loop back path in the second state;

means for transmitting a first pair of signals from the transmitter to the receiver through the calibration loop back path while the calibration loop back path is in the first state, thereby providing a first quantum of information at the receiver;

means for determining a first phase angle in response to the first quantum of information;

means for transmitting a second pair of signals from the transmitter to the receiver through the calibration loop back path while the calibration loop back path is in the second state, thereby providing a second quantum of information at the receiver;

means for determining a second phase angle in response to the second quantum of information; and

means for identifying the intentional phase shift in response to the first phase angle and the second phase angle.