Wireless transmitter DC offset recalibration

• US 20060099917A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theta IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Theta Microelectronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Vlassis, Spyridon, Papathanasiou, Konstantinos
• Granted Patent: US 7,499,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/30 for homodyne or synchrodyne receivers demodulator circuits H03D1/22

Abstract

In many circuits, including those operating in radio frequency (RF), there is commonly a need to perform DC offset cancellation. The DC offset is an error in an output signal in respect to the input that may cause a circuit to enter into undesirable or non-tolerable conditions of operation. While in most cases a static solution is provided the use of an analog loop may be inappropriate because of the adverse impact on speed. By adding a fast feedback loop finely impacting the adjustment of an amplifier, both the initial calibration is achieved as well as a recalibration of the system.

Claims

1. A circuit for the recalibration of a DC offset of a system comprising:

circuitry for sensing an initial DC offset correction value for the system;

circuitry for storing the correction value;

circuitry for recalibration of the DC offset of the system using the correction value;

circuitry for comparing the present DC offset of the system to a predetermined value; and

,

circuitry for incrementing and decrementing the content of the circuitry for storing responsive to an output of the circuitry for comparing.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the predetermined value is zero.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the correction value is stored in digital form and incrementing and decrementing comprises increasing and reducing the stored correction value by one, respectively.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the system comprises an amplifier having an amplifier input and an amplifier output, the circuitry for sensing an initial DC offset correction value being coupled to the amplifier output, the circuitry for storing the correction value being coupled to the amplifier to correct the DC offset of the amplifier responsive to the correction value.

5. An amplifier configured to amplify an input signal, the amplifier connected to the circuit of claim 1 for the purpose of DC offset compensation of the amplifier.

6. A wireless transmitter comprising at least the amplifier of claim 5.

7. The wireless transmitter of claim 6 wherein the incrementing and decrementing takes place as a last task prior to the entering of hibernation of the wireless transmitter.

8. The wireless transmitter of claim 7 wherein a single incrementing or decrementing takes place prior to hibernation.

9. The wireless transmitter of claim 7 wherein a limited incrementing or decrementing takes place prior to hibernation.

10. The wireless transmitter of claim 6 wherein the incrementing and decrementing takes place as a last task prior to the entering of hibernation of the wireless transmitter.

11. The wireless transmitter of claim 10 wherein a single incrementing or decrementing takes place prior to hibernation.

12. The wireless transmitter of claim 10 wherein a limited incrementing or decrementing takes place prior to hibernation.

13. A method for the recalibration of a DC offset of a system comprising:

determining an initial DC offset cancellation value for the system;

storing the cancellation value in a register;

recalibrating the DC offset of the system using the correction value;

determining if the system is about to enter a hibernation mode and if not, waiting until the system is about to enter hibernation;

if the system is about to enter the hibernation mode, comparing the present DC offset value to a predetermined value and incrementing or decrementing the stored cancellation value responsive to the comparison.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the system is a wireless transmitter.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the predetermined value if zero.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein incrementing and decrementing comprises increasing and reducing the cancellation value by one, respectively.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the incrementing or decrementing takes place only once prior to each entry into hibernation.

18. The wireless transmitter of claim 16 wherein a limited incrementing or decrementing takes place prior to hibernation.

19. A wireless transmitter capable of recalibration of DC offset, the circuit for recalibration of DC offset comprising:

means for determining an initial DC offset correction value for the transmitter;

means for storing the correction value;

means for recalibrating the DC offset of the transmitter using the correction value;

means for comparing a present DC offset of the transmitter to a predetermined value; and

,

means for incrementing or decrementing the stored cancellation value responsive to the comparison.

20. The wireless transmitter of claim 19 wherein the predetermined value is zero.

21. The wireless transmitter of claim 19 wherein the circuit for recalibration of the DC offset is further capable of receiving an indication of an intent to enter an hibernation state from the wireless transmitter.

22. The wireless transmitter of claim 21 wherein the incrementing and decrementing takes place as a result of the indication of the intent to enter hibernation.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the cancellation value is a digital value and incrementing and decrementing comprises increasing and reducing the cancellation value by one, respectively.

24. The wireless transmitter of claim 23 wherein the incrementing and decrementing takes place as a last task prior to the entering of hibernation of the wireless transmitter.

25. The wireless transmitter of claim 24 wherein a single incrementing or decrementing takes place prior to hibernation.

26. The wireless transmitter of claim 24 wherein a limited incrementing or decrementing takes place prior to hibernation.