Test signal generation and application in receivers

A circuit, comprising:

• a single sideband (SSB) signal generator having a digital clock input configured to receive a low frequency digital clock signal, wherein the SSB signal generator is configured to generate in-phase and quadrature phase signal components of a baseband IQ signal, comprising a sequence of constellation points, from the low frequency digital clock signal;
• first and second magnitude setting blocks located downstream of the SSB signal generator and respectively configured to selectively vary a magnitude of the in-phase signal component based upon a first amplitude setting word and to vary a magnitude of the quadrature phase signal component based upon a second amplitude setting word;
• an IQ modulator configured to modulate the baseband IQ signal onto a local oscillator signal to generate a single sideband (SSB) test signal;
• one or more reception paths coupled to an antenna and respectively configured to receive one or more RF signals;
• one or more couplers in direct communication with the one or more reception paths and configured to provide the SSB test signal to the one or more reception paths;
• and
• one or more mixers respectively disposed within the one or more reception paths at a location downstream of the one or more couplers, the one or more mixers configured to mix the SSB test signal with the local oscillator signal to generate one or more output signals indicative of an error in the reception paths.

A method for testing one or more reception paths of a receiver circuit, comprising:

• generating a single sideband (SSB) test signal independent from an RF signal received by the receiver circuit, wherein generating the SSB test signal comprises:
• generating an IQ baseband signal having an in-phase component and a quadrature phase component;
• selectively adjusting an amplitude of the IQ baseband signal, prior to modulation onto a local oscillator signal, by adjusting an amplitude of the in-phase component or the quadrature phase component using one or more amplitude setting words;
• and
• modulating the IQ baseband signal onto the local oscillator signal to generate the SSB test signal,
• injecting the SSB test signal into a reception path configured to receive the RF signal;
• and
• down-converting the SSB test signal using the local oscillator signal to generate an output signal indicative of an error in the one or more reception paths.