Partitioning of radio-frequency apparatus

A radio-frequency (RF) apparatus, comprising:

• a first circuit partition comprising at least one of transmitter circuitry, receiver circuitry, or a combination thereof;
• a second circuit partition coupled to said first circuit partition, said second circuit partition comprising baseband interface circuitry configured for coupling to baseband processor circuitry;
• and
• a third circuit partition coupled to said second circuit partition and comprising:
• frequency modification circuitry comprising at least one variable capacitance device, said frequency modification circuit being configured for coupling to a crystal to form a crystal oscillator circuit that is capable of providing an adjustable reference signal to said second circuit partition, and said at least one variable capacitance device being configured to adjust the frequency of said adjustable reference signal based at least in part on one or more analog frequency control signals received by said frequency modification circuitry, and
• digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) circuitry coupled to said frequency modification circuit, said DAC circuitry being configured to receive one or more digital frequency control signals and to generate and provide at least a portion of said one or more analog frequency control signals to said frequency modification circuit based on said one or more digital frequency control signals;
• wherein said second circuit partition is configured to receive said adjustable reference signal and to provide said adjustable reference signal or a signal based on said adjustable reference signal to said first circuit partition.

A radio-frequency (RF) apparatus comprising a first circuit partition, said first circuit partition comprising:

• at least one of transmitter circuitry, receiver circuitry, or a combination thereof;
• frequency modification circuitry coupled to said transmitter circuitry, receiver circuitry, or a combination thereof, said frequency modification circuitry comprising at least one variable capacitance device, said frequency modification circuit being configured for coupling to a crystal to form a crystal oscillator circuit that is capable of generating an adjustable reference signal and of providing said adjustable reference signal to said transmitter circuitry, receiver circuitry, or a combination thereof, said at least one variable capacitance device configured to adjust the frequency of said adjustable reference signal based at least in part on one or more analog frequency control signals received by said frequency modification circuitry;
• and
• wherein said first circuit partition is configured for coupling to baseband processor circuitry.