Scalable dual-polarization mm-wave multi-band 5G phased array with a multi-multipliers LO generator

A radio frequency (RF) frontend integrated circuit (IC) device, the RF frontend IC device comprising:

• a first RF transceiver to transmit and receive RF signals within a first frequency band;
• a second RF transceiver to transmit and receive RF signals within a second frequency band that is different than the first frequency band;
• a converter comprising a down-converter and an up-converter coupled to the first and second RF transceivers;
• and
• a multi-band local oscillator (LO) generator coupled to the converter to provide LO signals to the converter, the multi-band LO generator including:
• a phase-lock loop (PLL) circuit operating at a PLL operating frequency, wherein the PLL operating frequency is outside of the first frequency band and the second frequency band,
• a first frequency multiplier coupled to the PLL circuit to upscale the PLL operating frequency and to generate a first LO signal having a first LO frequency within a first predetermined proximity from the first frequency band, and
• a second frequency multiplier coupled to the PLL circuit to upscale the PLL operating frequency and to generate a second LO signal having a second LO frequency within a second predetermined proximity from the second frequency band, wherein the first and second RF transceivers, the converter, and the multi-band LO generator are embedded within a single IC chip,
• wherein the PLL circuit comprises:
• a charge pump;
• a loop filter coupled to the charge pump;
• a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) coupled to the loop filter for providing the PLL operating frequency;
• and
• a programmable divider with a phase shift (PS) counter providing a feedback loop from the VCO to the charge pump.

A mobile device, comprising:

• a baseband processor;
• and
• a radio frequency (RF) frontend device coupled to the baseband processor, wherein the RF frontend device includes:
• a first RF transceiver to transmit and receive RF signals within a first frequency band;
• a second RF transceiver to transmit and receive RF signals within a second frequency band that is different than the first frequency band;
• a converter comprising a down-converter and an up-converter coupled to the first and second RF transceivers;
• and
• a multi-band local oscillator (LO) generator coupled to the converter to provide LO signals to the converter, the multi-band LO generator including:
• a phase-lock loop (PLL) circuit operating at a PLL operating frequency, wherein the PLL operating frequency is outside of and less than the first frequency band and the second frequency band,
• a first frequency multiplier coupled to the PLL circuit to upscale the PLL operating frequency and to generate a first LO signal having a first LO frequency within a first predetermined proximity from the first frequency band, and
• a second frequency multiplier coupled to the PLL circuit to upscale the PLL operating frequency and to generate a second LO signal having a second LO frequency within a second predetermined proximity from the second frequency band, wherein the first and second RF transceivers, the converter, and the multi-band LO generator are embedded within a single IC chip.