The present invention relates to a stepped micro electromechanical structure (MEMS) capacitor that is actuated by a plurality of MEMS switches. The MEMS switches may be within the stepped capacitor circuit, or they may be actuated by an independent circuit. The stepped capacitor may also be varied with intermediate steps of capacitance by providing at least one variable capacitor in the stepped MEMS capacitor structure.

A method and system for tuning a tunable bandpass filter includes a bandpass filter having a passband which is dependant on the value of a tuning signal. A data signal having a dominant frequency component is applied to the filter and the power of the signal passed by the filter is determined. The tuning signal is adjusted until the passed power is maximized, indicating that the filter is tuned to the dominant frequency. The tuning signal can then be applied to other tunable circuits, including an oscillator having an output used as a clock signal to extract data from the data signal applied to the filter.

The invention relates to a matching circuit for adapting an amplifier to load impedance at various output power levels of the amplifier, and a method for adapting the amplifier to load impedance at various output power levels of the amplifier. The matching circuit comprises an LC circuit, i.e. an electric circuit switching consisting of at least one coil and at least one capacitor for tuning harmonic signals resulting from amplifier non-linearities. At least one capacitor of the LC circuit (600, 602, 604, 606) is an adjustable microelectromechanical (MEMS) capacitor (602, 606). The LC circuit comprises an interface for receiving control signals (220) adjusting capacitance of the microelectromechanical (MEMS) capacitor. The control signals (220) adjust the capacitance of the microelectromechanical (MEMS) capacitor (602, 606) such that the LC circuit (600, 602, 604, 606) resonates at the frequency of the harmonic signal to be tuned.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

A signal equalizer that employs micro-electromechanical machine devices for the tap weight controllers. The equalizer includes a substrate on which is formed a forward transmission line rail and a return transmission line rail. A cantilever stanchion is also formed on the substrate that runs parallel with the transmission line rails. A series of spaced apart cantilevers are pivotally mounted to the cantilever stanchion, and extend over the transmission line rails to define a gap therebetween. A weight tap line is coupled to each cantilever, and is responsive to a DC weight signal that controls the position of the cantilever to set the gap between the cantilever and the transmission line rails. A distorted signal is coupled from the forward transmission line rail to the return transmission line rail through the cantilevers.