Apparatus and methods for radio transceivers

A transceiver integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

• a first transmitter including at least one mixer and a local oscillator (LO), wherein the first transmitter is configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) transmit signal based on the LO controlling the at least one mixer to provide frequency upconversion;
• and
• an observation receiver configured to receive an observation signal for observing at least the first transmitter, wherein the observation receiver includes an observation data path configured to process the observation signal to detect a transmit power of the first RF transmit signal, and an LO leakage observation circuit configured to generate leakage observation data based on processing data captured from the observation data path,
• wherein the first transmitter is configured to process the leakage observation data to compensate for a leakage of the LO.

A method of compensating for local oscillator (LO) leakage in a transceiver, the method comprising:

• generating a first radio frequency (RF) transmit signal using a first transmitter that includes at least one mixer and a local oscillator (LO) that controls the at least one mixer;
• generating an observation signal based on a loopback path from the first transmitter to an observation receiver through an RF front end;
• processing the observation signal to detect a transmit power of the first RF transmit signal using an observation data path of the observation receiver;
• generating leakage observation data based on processing data captured from the observation data path;
• and
• processing the leakage observation data to compensate for a leakage of the LO.

A radio frequency (RF) communication system comprising:

• an RF front end;
• and
• a transceiver comprising a first transmitter configured to provide a first RF transmit signal to the RF front end, and an observation receiver configured to receive an observation signal by way of a loopback path from the first transmitter to the observation receiver through the RF front end,
• wherein the observation receiver includes an observation data path for processing the observation signal to detect a transmit power of the first RF transmit signal, and a local oscillator (LO) leakage observation circuit configured to generate leakage observation data based on processing data captured from the observation data path,
• wherein the first transmitter processes the leakage observation data to compensate an LO of the first transmitter for leakage.