An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver ("Rx") is
disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing
in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or
over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its
operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated
circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with
the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a
thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a
calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated
circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first
measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a
gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the
thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or
impedance.