US Patent 7877026 Radio frequency transmitter with on-chip photodiode array

A radio transmitter integrated circuit includes a photodiode array circuit, a digital conversion module, a transmit baseband processing module, an analog conversion module, an up-conversion module, and a power amplifier circuit. The photodiode array circuit is coupled to convert received light into electrical image signals. The digital conversion module is coupled to convert the electrical image signals into digital image signals. The transmit baseband processing module is coupled to convert the digital image signals into digital transmit baseband or low IF signals. The analog conversion module, the up-conversion module, and the power amplifier circuit are coupled to convert the digital transmit baseband or low IF signals into transmit radio frequency (RF) signals.