IP Library Granted Patent US 12,620,995
Granted Patent B2
US 12,620,995 · App. 18/132,910 · Granted May 5, 2026

HD3 cancellation technique in RF DACs and digital transmitters

Inventors: Mohyee Mikhemar (Aliso Viejo, CA); Alvin Lin Lai (Andover, MA); Arya Behzad (Los Altos, CA); Wei-Hong Chen (Irvine, CA); Ahmed Sayed Hamza (Irvine, CA)
Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
H03M1/0614H04L27/0014H04L2027/0016
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,620,995
App. No.
18/132,910
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transmitter includes a first circuit to generate multiphase pulses, and a second circuit to mix a set of in-phase (I) data and quadrature (Q) data with the multiphase pulses and to generate an output radiofrequency (RF) signal. The multiple pulses include multiple I pulses and multiple Q pulses each comprising a pulse that includes a duty cycle such that a first null appears at a third harmonic frequency in a frequency spectrum of the pulse.

Claims (31)

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

a first circuit configured to generate multiphase pulses; and

a second circuit configured to mix a set of in-phase (I) data and quadrature (Q) data with the multiphase pulses,

wherein:

the multiphase pulses comprise multiple I pulses and multiple Q pulses each comprising a pulse having a duty cycle,

wherein the first circuit is configured to generate the multiphase pulses having the duty cycle such that a first null appears at a third harmonic frequency of the pulse, and

wherein the first circuit comprises a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to selectively produce adjusted duty cycle values of the multiphase pulses to be within 30-35% or within 45-55%.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiphase pulses comprise a set of four-phase LO pulses with the duty cycle within 30-35% such that the first null appears at the third harmonic frequency of the pulse to enable rejection of a third harmonic distortion (HD3).

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiphase pulses comprise a set of four-phase LO pulses with the duty cycle within 45-55%.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second circuit comprises a digital four-phase in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) mixer and is configured to use the set of four-phase LO pulses.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second circuit is further configured to mix the set of I-data and Q-data with the multiphase pulses to generate an output radio frequency (RF) signal.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiphase pulses comprise a set of four-phase LO pulses with a phase difference of 90 degrees.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the set of four-phase LO pulses include a 0-degree-phase I pulse, a 90-degree-phase Q pulse, a 180-degree-phase I pulse, and a 270-degree-phase Q pulse.

8 . An integrated circuit, comprising:

a first circuit configured to generate a set of multiphase pulses with duty cycles; and

a second circuit configured to receive the set of multiphase pulses and reject a third harmonic distortion (HD3) of the set of multiphase pulses, wherein

the multiphase pulses comprise multiple in-phase (I) pulses and multiple quadrature (Q) pulses each comprising a pulse having a duty cycle, and

the first circuit comprises a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to selectively produce adjusted duty cycle values of the multiphase pulses to be within 30-35% or within 45-55% to reject the HD3.

9 . The integrated circuit of claim 8 , wherein:

the set of multiphase pulses include a set of four-phase LO pulses, and wherein

the second circuit comprises a mixer circuit configured to use the set of four-phase LO pulses to reject the HD3 and a third counter intermodulation (CIM3) of the set of multiphase pulses.

10 . The integrated circuit of claim 8 , wherein the set of multiphase pulses comprise a set of four-phase LO pulses with a phase difference of 90 degrees.

11 . The integrated circuit of claim 10 , wherein the set of four-phase LO pulses include a 0-degree-phase I pulse, a 90-degree-phase Q pulse, a 180-degree-phase I pulse, and a 270-degree-phase Q pulse.

12 . A communication device, comprising:

a first circuit configured to generate a set of four-phase LO pulses; and

a second circuit configured to mix in-phase (I) data and quadrature (Q) data with the set of four-phase LO pulses,

wherein the first circuit is further configured to generate the set of four-phase LO pulses with duty cycles such that a first null of a frequency spectrum of a pulse of the set of four-phase LO pulses occurs at a third harmonic frequency,

the four-phase LO pulses comprise multiple I pulses and multiple Q pulses each comprising a pulse having a duty cycle, and

the first circuit comprises a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to selectively produce adjusted duty cycle values of the four-phase LO pulses to be within 30-35% or within 45-55%.

13 . The communication device of claim 12 , wherein the second circuit comprises a digital four-phase in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) mixer circuit and is configured to use the set of four-phase LO pulses to improve a third harmonic distortion (HD3) and a third counter intermodulation (CIM3) of the pulse of the set of four-phase LO pulses.

14 . The communication device of claim 13 , wherein the set of four-phase LO pulses include a 0-degree-phase I pulse, a 90-degree-phase Q pulse, a 180-degree-phase I pulse, and a 270-degree-phase Q pulse.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: MIKHEMAR, MOHYEE; LIN, ALVIN LAI; BEHZAD, ARYA; CHEN, WEI-HONG; SAYED, AHMED HAMZA
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 073368/0509 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240340018A1 · Oct 10, 2024
References Cited (11)
US 10171034B2 · Tseng et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10333763B1 · Jiang · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10630239B1 · Mittal · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20180302111A1 · Chen · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20220191866A1 · Chang · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20240146503A1 · Beikmirza · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20240186948A1 · Myoung · 2024 [cited by examiner]
Chen Yen-Horng et al: 11 9.7 An LTE SAW-less transmitter using 33% duty-cycle LO signals for harmonic suppression, 2015 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference—(ISSCC) Digest of Technical Papers, IEEE, Feb. 2… [cited by applicant]
Foreign Search Report on non-Foley case related to U.S. Appl. No. 18/132,910 DTD Sep. 18, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Jiang Hong et al: “A 660 MHz-5 GHz 6-Phase/3-Phase Transmitter With Cancellation of Counter-Intermodulation Distortion and Improved Image Rejection”, IEEE Transactions On Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, IEEE, US… [cited by applicant]
Tsai Ming-Da et al: 10.6 A 4G/5G Cellular Transmitter in 12nm FinFET with Harmonic Rejection, 2020 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference—(ISSCC), IEEE, Feb. 16, 2020 (Feb. 16, 2020), pp. 182-184, XP03375453… [cited by applicant]