Semiconductor chip with local oscillator buffer reused for signal transmission and associated transmission method

A semiconductor chip comprising:

• a first wireless communication circuit, comprising a signal path, wherein the signal path comprises a mixer input port and a signal node distinct from the mixer input port;
• a local oscillator (LO) buffer, arranged to receive and buffer an LO signal;
• and
• an auxiliary path, arranged to electrically connect the LO buffer to the signal node of the signal path, wherein the LO buffer is reused for a transmit (TX) function through the auxiliary path;
• wherein the signal path further comprises a balanced-to-unbalanced (balun) circuit, and the signal node is an ungrounded terminal on an unbalanced side of the balun circuit.

A transmission method comprising:

• electrically connecting, by an auxiliary path, a local oscillator (LO) buffer that is arranged to receive and buffer an LO signal to a signal node of a signal path in a wireless communication circuit, wherein the signal path further comprises a mixer input port that is distinct from the signal node;
• reusing the LO buffer for a transmit (TX) function through the auxiliary path;
• and
• in response to the LO buffer being reused for the TX function through the auxiliary path, disabling at least a portion of circuits at the signal path.