Integrated circuit radio front-end architecture and applications thereof

A radio frequency (RF) front-end comprises:

• a multi-tap balun having a single-ended primary winding and a symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding, wherein the single-ended primary winding is operably coupled to a transmit and receive antenna and to function as a transmit/receive switch for the transmit and receive antenna;
• a low noise amplifier having an input impedance substantially the same in both the low noise amplifier on state and the low noise amplifier off state, the low noise amplifier to be in the on state to receive an inbound signal from the antenna when in a receive mode of operation;
• and
• a power amplifier core having an output impedance substantially the same in both the power amplifier core on state and the power amplifier off state, the power amplifier core to be in the on state to transmit an outbound signal to the antenna when in a transmit mode of operation.

A radio comprising:

• a transmitter section operably coupled to convert outbound data into outbound differential radio frequency (RE) signals based on a transmitter local oscillation;
• a receiver section operably coupled to convert inbound differential RF signals into inbound data based on a receiver local oscillation;
• and
• an RF front-end, operably coupled to convert the outbound differential RF signals into outbound single-ended RF signals and to convert inbound single-ended RF signals into the inbound differential RF signals, wherein the RF front-end comprises:
• a multi-tap balun having a single-ended primary winding and a symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding, wherein the single-ended primary winding is operably coupled to a transmit and receive antenna and the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding is to provide differential taps for the balun, in which the multi-tap balun is to function as a transmit/receive switch for the transmit and receive antenna;
• a low noise amplifier coupled to a first set of taps of the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding, the low noise amplifier to be active when in a receive mode of operation to receive the inbound differential RF signals from the first set of taps;
• and
• a power amplifier core coupled to a second set of taps of the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding, the power amplifier core to be active when in a transmit mode of operation to transmit the outbound differential RF signals to the second set of taps.

A radio comprising:

• a transmitter section operably coupled to convert outbound data into outbound differential radio frequency (RF) signals based on a transmitter local oscillation;
• a receiver section operably coupled to convert inbound differential RF signals into inbound data based on a receiver local oscillation;
• and
• an RF front-end, operably coupled to convert the outbound differential RF signals into outbound single-ended RF signals and to convert inbound single-ended RF signals into the inbound differential RF signals, wherein the RF front-end comprises:
• a multi-tap balun having a single-ended primary winding and a symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding, wherein the single-ended primary winding is operably coupled to a transmit and receive antenna and the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding is to provide differential taps for the balun, in which the multi-tap balun is to function as a transmit/receive switch for the transmit and receive antenna;
• a low noise amplifier having an input impedance substantially the same in both the low noise amplifier on state and the low noise amplifier off state, the low noise amplifier to be in the on state to receive the inbound differential RF signals from a first set of taps of the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding when in a receive mode of operation;
• and
• a power amplifier core having an output impedance substantially the same in both the power amplifier core on state and the power amplifier off state, the power amplifier core to be in the on state to transmit the outbound differential RF signals to a second set of taps of the symmetrical multi-tap secondary winding when in a transmit mode of operation.