A local oscillator (lo) double edge-tuning iq imbalance calibration technique for modern-day transceivers

A method of negating a hardware mismatch in a Radio Frequency (RF) front-end with an on-chip passive double edge-tuning mechanism, comprising:

• generating a pair of Local Oscillator (LO) signals with a predefined 90° phase difference;
• adjusting, using a passive delay tuning mechanism, a rising edge and a falling edge of one of the pair of LO signals to:
• compensate for a gain mismatch, ε, between the pair of LO signals by symmetrically modifying a pulse width of a first LO signal of the pair of LO signals, and
• compensate for a phase mismatch, θ, between the pair of LO signals by symmetrically delaying or advancing both rising and falling edges of the first LO signal;
• and
• performing the adjusting directly in a RF domain at LO signal generation stage, prior to digitization by an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) in a receiver front-end of the RF front-end, or after Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) in a transmitter front-end of the RF front-end.