Multi-band mixer and quadrature signal generator for a multi-mode radio receiver

A communication device for receiving communication signals in a plurality of frequency bands, the communication device comprising:

• antenna circuitry to receive communication signals in a plurality of frequency bands;
• a first signal path coupled to the antenna circuitry to receive communication signals in a first frequency band of said plurality of frequency bands;
• a second signal path coupled to the antenna circuitry to receive communication signals in a second frequency band of said plurality of frequency bands;
• a signal path selection circuit coupled to the first and second signal paths, wherein communication signals detected on either of the first or second signal paths are transferred to an output of the signal path selection circuit;
• a signal generator for generating reference signals;
• and
• a mixer core coupled to the output of the signal path selection circuit to receive transferred communication signals thereon and combine with the reference signals to generate output communication signals.

A method for receiving communication signals in plurality of frequency bands, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving communication signals in any one of a plurality of frequency bands, the communication signal having a bandwidth;
• coupling the communication signals in a first frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands to a first signal path;
• coupling communication signals in a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands to a second signal path;
• coupling asserted communication signals in one of the first signal path or the second signal path to a first input of a mixer;
• coupling local oscillator signals to a second input of the mixer;
• and
• mixing the local oscillator signals with said asserted communication signals in either the first frequency band or the second frequency band to generate an output of the mixer.