Programmable mixer and radio applications thereof

A transmitter comprises:

• first programmable mixer operably coupled to produce a first mixed signal from an I component of a low intermediate frequency (IF) signal and an I component of a differential local oscillation;
• second programmable mixer operably coupled to produce a second mixed signal from a Q component of the low IF signal and a Q component of the differential local oscillation;
• summing module operably coupled to sum the first and second mixed signals to produce a radio frequency (RF) signal;
• and
• amplifier operably coupled to produce an outbound RF signal by amplifying the RF signal, wherein each of the first and second programmable mixers includes:
• first mixing stage operably coupled to mix a first leg of an input signal with the differential local oscillation to produce a first leg of a mixed output;
• second mixing stage operably coupled to mix a second leg of the input signal with the differential local oscillation to produce a second leg of the mixed output;
• coupling element operably coupled to the first and second mixing stages;
• and
• compensation module operably coupled to at least one of the first and second mixing stages, wherein the compensation module modifies operational characteristics of at least one of the first and second mixing stages based on a control signal such that the operational characteristics of the first mixing stage more closely matches the operational characteristics of the second mixing stage.

A receiver comprises:

• low noise amplifier operably coupled to produce a radio frequency (RF) signal by amplifying an inbound RF signal;
• first programmable mixer operably coupled to produce a first mixed signal from an I component of the RF signal and an I component of a differential local oscillation;
• second programmable mixer operably coupled to produce a second mixed signal from a Q component of the RF signal and a Q component of the differential local oscillation;
• and
• filtering module operably coupled to filter the first and second mixed signals to produce a low intermediate frequency (IF) signal, wherein each of the first and second programmable mixers includes:
• first mixing stage operably coupled to mix a first leg of an input signal with the differential local oscillation to produce a first leg of a mixed output;
• second mixing stage operably coupled to mix a second leg of the input signal with the differential local oscillation to produce a second leg of the mixed output;
• coupling element operably coupled to the first and second mixing stages;
• and
• compensation module operably coupled to at least one of the first and second mixing stages, wherein the compensation module modifies operational characteristics of at least one of the first and second mixing stages based on a control signal such that the operational characteristics of the first mixing stage more closely matches the operational characteristics of the second mixing stage.