Patent ID: 8583049

Claim:
An on-chip method for self-optimization of an RF converter having a mixer and an output, comprising: in an autonomous self-optimization mode of the RF converter wherein no antenna signals are present in the RF converter, injecting a test signal into an on-chip up-converter which in-turn injects an up-converted test signal into the RF converter, wherein the up-converted test signal is in-band, and wherein dynamic range of the up-converter is relaxed compared to dynamic range of the RF converter and the up-converter is switchable between a low-noise mode where a degeneration impedance associated with up-conversion mixer is set to a to value or bypassed for noise figure measurements, and a high-linearity mode where the degeneration impedance is set to a relatively higher value for linearity measurements; in the self-optimization mode, autonomously measuring, with an on-chip sensor, the output of the RF converter to determine if linearity of the RF converter is satisfactory, using selective spectrum analysis, wherein measuring the output of the RF converter to determine if linearity is satisfactory includes determining if the magnitude of a third-order or higher intermodulation distortion tone is within a given threshold; in the self-optimization mode, autonomously adjusting, with an on-chip actuator operatively coupled to the RF converter, a bias signal of the mixer to improve linearity, wherein the bias signal is in addition to signals to be mixed by the mixer; in response to linearity being unacceptable, autonomously repeating the steps of injecting, measuring, and adjusting; and in response to linearity being acceptable, storing bias settings associated with that acceptable linearity in a memory associated with the RF converter.