Patent ID: 7242912

Claim:
A radio-freciuency (RF) apparatus, comprising: a first circuit partition comprising at least one of transmitter circuitry, receiver circuitry, or a combination thereof; a second circuit partition coupled to said first circuit partition, said second circuit partition comprising baseband interface circuitry configured for coupling to baseband processor circuitry; and a third circuit partition coupled to said second circuit partition and comprising frequency modification circuitry comprising at least one variable capacitance device, said frequency modification circuit being configured for coupling to a crystal to form a crystal oscillator circuit that is capable of providing an adjustable reference signal to said second circuit partition, and said at least one variable capacitance device being configured to adjust the frequency of said adjustable reference signal; wherein said second circuit partition is configured to receive said adjustable reference signal and to provide said adjustable reference signal or a signal based on said adjustable reference signal to said first circuit partition; wherein said first circuit partition comprises a first integrated circuit that includes receiver analog circuitry and transmitter circuitry; wherein said second circuit partition comprises a second integrated circuit that includes receiver digital circuitry; and wherein said third circuit partition comprises a third integrated circuit that includes said frequency modification circuitry and local oscillator circuitry; and wherein said third circuit partition is configured for coupling to said baseband processor circuitry; and wherein said at least one variable capacitance device of said frequency modification circuitry is configured to adjust the frequency of said adjustable reference signal based at least in part on one or more frequency control signals received by said frequency modification circuitry, said one or more frequency control signals comprising signals provided by said baseband processor circuitry or comprising signals that are based on signals provided by said baseband processor circuitry.