Transceiver

A method for operating a transceiver, the method comprising:

• coupling bidirectional amplification circuitry including at least one resonant tunnelling diode into a receive signal path of the transceiver to amplify a receive signal during a receive operating mode of the transceiver, wherein the amplification circuitry further comprises an adjustable attenuator, and the control circuitry is configured to set attenuation of the attenuator in dependence upon one or more of:
• network load and converter control;
• and
• coupling the bidirectional amplification circuitry including at least one resonant tunnelling diode into a transmit signal path of the transceiver to amplify a transmit signal during a transmit operating mode of the transceiver, wherein
• the control circuitry is configured to adjust a supply voltage associated with the at least one resonant tunnelling diode of the amplification circuitry depending on an operating mode of the transceiver, and
• when the transceiver is to operate to transmit a signal, the control circuitry is configured to adjust the supply voltage associated with the at least one resonant tunnelling diode to a value such that the resonant tunnelling diode operates in a negative differential conductance region of an N-shaped current-voltage characteristic associated with the at least one resonant tunnelling diode.

A transceiver, comprising:

• a transmit signal path;
• a receive signal path;
• bidirectional amplification circuitry reconfigurable for use in both the transmit signal path or receive signal path;
• said amplification circuitry including at least one resonant tunnelling diode, wherein the amplification circuitry further comprises an adjustable attenuator, and the control circuitry is configured to set attenuation of the attenuator in dependence upon one or more of:
• network load and converter control;
• and
• control circuitry configured to selectively couple the amplification circuitry into the transmit or receive path of the transceiver in dependence upon whether said transceiver is to operate to transmit or receive a signal, wherein
• the control circuitry is configured to adjust a supply voltage associated with the at least one resonant tunnelling diode of the amplification circuitry depending on an operating mode of the transceiver, and
• when the transceiver is to operate to receive a signal, the control circuitry is configured to adjust the supply voltage associated with the at least one resonant tunnelling diode to a value such that the resonant tunnelling diode operates in a region of the peak of an N-shaped current-voltage characteristic associated with the at least one resonant tunnelling diode.