Shared phase shifter radio architecture

A method for phase shifting signals, comprising:

• providing radio frequency (RF) receive signals to an in phase variable gain amplifier (I VGA) and to a quadrature variable gain amplifier (Q VGA);
• steering current through the I VGA and the Q VGA to generate in phase and quadrature signals;
• combining the in phase and quadrature signals from the I VGA and the Q VGA to generate a single-ended combined signal at a desired phase;
• steering current through a first I VGA and steering current through a second I VGA;
• and
• steering current through a first Q VGA and steering current through a second Q VGA.

A device for signal phase shifting, comprising:

• means for providing radio frequency (RF) receive signals to an in phase variable gain amplifier (I VGA) and to a quadrature variable gain amplifier (Q VGA);
• means for steering current through the I VGA and the Q VGA to generate in phase and quadrature signals;
• means for combining the in phase and quadrature signals from the I VGA and the Q VGA to generate a single-ended combined signal at a desired phase;
• means for steering current through a first I VGA and steering current through a second I VGA;
• and
• means for steering current through a first Q VGA and steering current through a second Q VGA.

A communication system having a phase shifter, comprising:

• a plurality of communication paths configured to carry a corresponding plurality of radio frequency (RF) communication signals;
• a first of the plurality of communication paths having a first in phase variable gain amplifier (I VGA) and a first quadrature VGA (Q VGA);
• a second of the plurality of communication paths having a second I VGA and a second Q VGA;
• the first I VGA and the second I VGA coupled to a primary side of a first electromagnetic (EM) element, the first EM element configured to provide a single-ended I output;
• the first Q VGA and the second Q VGA coupled to a primary side of a second EM element, the second EM element configured to provide a single-ended Q output;
• and
• a hybrid quadrature generator (HQG) configured to receive the single-ended I output of the first EM element and the single-ended Q output of the second EM element, the HQG configured to provide a combined signal.