High-performance RF mixer and operational amplifier BiCMOS circuits using parasitic vertical bipolar transistor in CMOS technology

The electrical characteristics of the parasitic vertical NPN (V-NPN) BJT available in deep n-well 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS technology are presented. It has about 20 of current gain, 7 V of collector-emitter breakdown voltage, 20 V of collector-base breakdown voltage, 40 V of Early voltage, about 2 GHz of cutoff frequency, and about 4 GHz of maximum oscillation frequency at room temperature. The corner frequency of 1/f noise is lower than 4 kHz at 0.5 mA of collector current. The double-balanced RF mixer using V-NPN shows almost free 1/f noise as well as an order of magnitude smaller dc offset compared with CMOS circuit and 12 dB flat gain almost up to the cutoff frequency. The V-NPN operational amplifier for baseband analog circuits has higher voltage gain and better input noise and input offset performance than the CMOS ones at the identical current. These circuits using V-NPN provide the possibility of high-performance direct conversion receiver implementation in CMOS technology.     

CMOS wireless transceivers: the new wave

A new generation of wireless transceivers is being intergrated into CMOS IC technology, which so far has been used mainly to realize digital and mixed analog-digital baseband circuits. This article reviews some of the RF CMOS circuit design techniques, and shows how an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of these circuits influences choice of radio architecture. The CMOS approach to radio design calls for the elimination of discrete components in favor of high levels of on-chip integration which freely use translators and mix analog and digital functionality; in these respects, it departs from traditional RF circuit practices. Successful wireless devices of the future will require that radio system design evolve around these new trends in RF integration     

Device and technology evolution for Si-based RF integrated circuits

The relationships between device feature size and device performance figures of merit (FoMs) are more complex for radio frequency (RF) applications than for digital applications. Using the devices in the key circuit blocks for typical RF transceivers, we review and give trends for the FoMs that characterize active and passive RF devices. These FoMs include transit frequency at unity current gain f/sub T/, maximum frequency of oscillation f/sub MAX/ at unit power gain, noise, breakdown voltage, capacitor density, varactor and inductor quality, and the like. We use the specifications for wireless communications systems to show how different Si-based devices may achieve acceptable FoMs. We focus on Si complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), Si Bipolar CMOS, and Si bipolar devices, including SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors, RF devices, and integrated circuits (ICs). We analyze trends in the FoMs for Si-based RF devices and ICs and show how these trends relate to the technology nodes of the 2003 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. We also compare FoMs for the best reported performance of research devices and for the performance of devices manufactured in high volumes, typically more than 10 000 devices. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this article to specify adequately the experimental or theoretical procedures. Such identification does not imply recommendation by any of the host institutions of the authors, nor does it imply that the equipment or materials are necessarily the best available for the intended purpose.     

CMOS射频集成电路的研究进展

近年来，射频集成电路(RFIC)的应用和研究得到了飞速的发展，CMOS射频IC的研究更是成为该领域的研究重点和热点。文章对CMOS技术在射频和微波领域的应用进行了详细的探讨，着重介绍了当前射频通讯中常用的收发机结构及其存在的问题和解决方案；分析了射频收发机前端关键电路模块低噪声放大器(LNA)、混频器(Mixer)、压控振荡器(VCO)、功率放大器(PA)和射频关键无源元件的最新研究进展；展望了CMOS技术在射频领域的发展前景。     

CMOS RF amplifier and mixer circuits utilizing complementary Characteristics of parallel combined NMOS and PMOS devices

Design and chip fabrication results for complementary RF circuit topologies that utilize the complementary RF characteristics of both NMOS and PMOS field-effect-transistor devices combined in parallel way are reported, which can inherently provide single-ended differential signal-processing capability, requiring neither baluns, nor differential signal generating/combining circuits. The proposed complementary CMOS parallel push-pull (CCPP) amplifier gives an order of magnitude improvement in IP/sub 2/ than an NMOS common-source amplifier and single-balanced CCPP resistive mixer, which functions effectively as a double-balanced one, provides more than an order of magnitude better linearity in IP/sub 2/, and similar order of magnitude better local oscillator (LO)-IF and LO-RF isolations than NMOS counterparts.     

CMOS射频集成电路的现状与进展

随着低功耗、可移动个人无线通信的发展和CMOS工艺性能的提高,用CMOS工艺实现无线通信系统的射频前端不仅必要而且可能.本文讨论了用CMOS工艺实现射频集成电路的特殊问题.首先介绍各种收发器的体系结构,对它们的优缺点进行比较,指出在设计中要考虑的一些问题.其次讨论CMOS射频前端的重要功能单元,包括低噪声放大器、混频器、频率综合器和功率放大器.对各单元模块在设计中的技术指标,可能采用的电路结构以及应该注意的问题进行了讨论.此外,论文还讨论了射频频段电感、电容等无源器件集成的可能性以及方法.最后对CMOS射频集成电路的发展方向提出了一些看法.     

RF CMOS on high-resistivity substrates for system-on-chip applications

The use of a high-resistivity substrate extends the capability of standard digital CMOS technology to enable the integration of high-performance RF passive components. The impact of substrate resistivity on the key components of RF CMOS for system-on-chip (SoC) applications is discussed. The comparison includes the transistor, transmission line, inductor, capacitor and varactor, as well as the noise isolation. We also discuss the integration issues including latch-up and well-well isolation in a 0.35-/spl mu/m Cu metal pitch, 0.1-/spl mu/m-gate-length RF CMOS technology.     

A New Automatic Compensation Network for System‐on‐Chip Transceivers

This paper proposes a new automatic compensation network (ACN) for a system‐on‐chip (SoC) transceiver. We built a 5 GHz low noise amplifier (LNA) with an on‐chip ACN using 0.18 µm SiGe technology. This network is extremely useful for today's radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit devices in a complete RF transceiver environment. The network comprises an RF design‐for‐testability (DFT) circuit, capacitor mirror banks, and a digital signal processor. The RF DFT circuit consists of a test amplifier and RF peak detectors. The RF DFT circuit helps the network to provide DC output voltages, which makes the compensation network automatic. The proposed technique utilizes output DC voltage measurements and these measured values are translated into the LNA specifications such as input impedance, gain, and noise figure using the developed mathematical equations. The ACN automatically adjusts the performance of the 5 GHz LNA with the processor in the SoC transceiver when the LNA goes out of the normal range of operation. The ACN compensates abnormal operation due to unusual thermal variation or unusual process variation. The ACN is simple, inexpensive and suitable for a complete RF transceiver environment.     

SOI在射频电路中的应用

随着射频电路(RF)工作频率和集成度的提高,衬底材料对电路性能的影响越来越大.SOI(Silicon-on-Insulator)结构以其良好的电学性能,为系统设计提供了灵活性.与CMOS工艺的兼容使它能将数字电路与模拟电路混合,在射频电路应用方面显示巨大优势.文章分析了RF电路发展中遇到的挑战和SOI在RF电路中的应用优势,综述了SOI RF电路的最新进展.     

Impact of intrinsic channel resistance on noise performance of CMOSLNA

Channel resistance cannot be neglected for CMOS circuits that operate at radio frequency (RF), especially for a low noise amplifier (LNA), which is a very important block in CMOS RF transceivers. The impact of channel resistance on the noise performance of an LNA is thoroughly studied and analyzed and new formulas are proposed systematically in this work. Furthermore, a revised noise figure optimization technique is discussed. Simulation results are also proposed. All of this work will be very instructive for the design of high-performance LNA     

W-Band Sb-Diode Detector MMICs for Passive Millimeter Wave Imaging

A W-band monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC), including an Sb-heterostructure diode on a GaAs substrate, has been demonstrated. The MMIC also includes the RF choke and output shorting capacitor essential to detector circuits. Additional input matching has yielded peak sensitivities on the order of 10 000 V/W and equivalent bandwidths of 40 GHz. Using these circuits in conjunction with current W-band low-noise amplifier technology can achieve the sub-1degK noise equivalent temperature difference necessary for producing discernible images with W-band passive imaging cameras.     

Investigation of a multigigahertz MOSFET amplifier with an on-chipinductor fabricated on a SIMOX wafer

This paper describes a technology that can be used to integrate multigigahertz RF circuits into large-scale digital circuits. Spiral inductors and a MOSFET amplifier with an inductive load were fabricated on a SIMOX wafer in order to demonstrate the feasibility of SOI technology. With a 1-V supply voltage, peaking of the amplifier gain was observed, as expected from circuit simulations, at 1-4 GHz. These results show that RF circuits with inductors can be implemented on a SIMOX wafer by using the conventional digital CMOS LSI process     

CMOS technology for MS/RF SoC

Accelerated scaling of CMOS technology has contributed to remove otherwise fundamental barriers preempting its widespread application to mixed-signal/radio-frequency (MS/RF) segments. Improvements in device speed, matching, and minimum noise figure are all consistent with fundamental scaling trends. Other figures-of-merit such as linearity and 1/f noise do not scale favorably but are not considered to be roadblocks when viewed from a circuit design perspective. Furthermore, interconnect architectural scaling trends in logic technology have facilitated improvements in passive-component performance metrics. These improvements compounded with innovations in circuit design have made CMOS technology the primary choice for cost driven MS/RF applications. This paper reviews active and passive elements of CMOS MS/RF system-on-chip (SoC) technology from a scaling perspective. The paper also discusses the implications that physical phenomena such as mechanical stress and gate leakage as well as gate patterning have on technology definition and characterization.     

Design and Implementation of Active Decoupling Capacitor Circuits for Power Supply Regulation in Digital ICs

Control of on-chip power supply noise has become a major challenge for continuous scaling of CMOS technology. Conventional passive decoupling capacitors (decaps) exhibit significant area and leakage penalties. To improve the efficiency of power supply regulation, this paper proposes a distributed active decap circuit for use in digital integrated circuits (ICs). The proposed design uses an operational amplifier to boost the performance of conventional decaps. Simulations proved its enhanced decoupling effect in comparison with passive decaps. The proposed active decap also shows advantages in providing additional damping to the on-chip resonant noise. To verify the performance from the proposed circuit, a 0.18-$mu$ m test chip with on-chip noise generators and sensors has been fabricated. Measurements show a 4-11$times$ boost in decap value over conventional passive decaps for frequencies up to 1 GHz with a total area saving of 40%. Local supply noise distribution and decap gating capability were also examined from the test chip.      

CMOS technology characterization for analog and RF design

The design of analog and radio-frequency (RF) circuits in CMOS technology becomes increasingly more difficult as device modeling faces new challenges in deep submicrometer processes and emerging circuit applications. The sophisticated set of characteristics used to represent today's “digital” technologies often proves inadequate for analog and RF design, mandating many additional measurements and iterations to arrive at an acceptable solution. This paper describes a set of characterization vehicles that can be employed to quantify the analog behaviour of active and passive devices in CMOS processes, in particular, properties that are not modeled accurately by SPICE parameters. Test structures and circuits are introduced for measuring speed, noise, linearity, loss, matching, and dc characteristics     

ESD–RF co-design methodology for the state of the art RF-CMOS blocks

This paper describes an approach to design ESD protection for integrated low noise amplifier (LNA) circuits used in narrowband transceiver front-ends. The RF constraints on the implementation of ESD protection devices are relaxed by co-designing the RF and the ESD blocks, considering them as one single circuit to optimise. The method is applied for the design of 0.25 μm CMOS LNA. Circuit protection levels higher than 3 kV HBM stress are achieved using conventional highly capacitive ggNMOS snapback devices. The methodology can be extended to other RF-CMOS circuits requiring ESD protection by merging the ESD devices in the functionality of the corresponding matching blocks.     

A Wideband ΔΣ Digital-RF Modulator for High Data Rate Transmitters

A wideband software-defined digital-RF modulator targeting Gb/s data rates is presented. The modulator consists of a 2.625-GS/s digital DeltaSigma modulator, a 5.25-GHz direct digital-RF converter, and a fourth-order auto-tuned passive LC RF bandpass filter. The architecture removes high dynamic range analog circuits from the baseband signal path, replacing them with high-speed digital circuits to take advantage of digital CMOS scaling. The integration of the digital-RF converter with an RF bandpass reconstruction filter eliminates spurious signals and noise associated with direct digital-RF conversion. An efficient passgate adder circuit lowers the power consumption of the high-speed digital processing and a quadrature digital-IF approach is employed to reduce LO feedthrough and image spurs. The digital-RF modulator is software programmable to support variable bandwidths, adaptive modulation schemes, and multi-channel operation within a frequency band. A prototype IC built in 0.13-mum CMOS demonstrates a data rate of 1.2 Gb/s using OFDM modulation in a bandwidth of 200 MHz centered at 5.25 GHz. In-band LO and image spurs are less than -59 dBc without requiring calibration. The modulator consumes 187 mW and occupies a die area of 0.72 mm².     

A 10 b, 20 Msample/s, 35 mW pipeline A/D converter

This paper describes a 10 b, 20 Msample/s pipeline A/D converter implemented in 1.2 μm CMOS technology which achieves a power dissipation of 35 mW at full speed operation. Circuit techniques used to achieve this level of power dissipation include digital correction to allow the use of dynamic comparators, and optimum scaling of capacitor values through the pipeline. Also, to be compatible with low voltage mixed-signal system environments, a switched capacitor (SC) circuit in each pipeline stage is implemented and operated at 3.3 V with a new high-speed, low-voltage operational amplifier and charge pump circuits. Measured performance includes 0.6 LSB of INL, 59.1 dB of SNDR (Signal-to-Noise-plus-Distortion-Ratio) for 100 kHz input at 20 Msample/s. At Nyquist sampling (10 MHz input) SNDR is 55.0 dB. Differential input range is ±1 V, and measured input referred RMS noise is 220 μV. The power dissipation at 1 MS/s is below 3 mW with 58 dB of SNDR     

CMOS RF integrated circuits at 5 GHz and beyond

A strong demand for wireless products, an insatiable thirst for spectrum that pushes carrier frequencies ever upward, and the constant quest for higher performance at lower power and cost, have recently driven the development of radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) technology in unprecedented ways. These pressures are stimulating novel solutions that allow RFICs to enjoy more of the benefits of Moore's law than has been the case in the past. In addition to regular raw transistor speed increases, the growing number of interconnect layers allows the realization of improved inductors, capacitors, and transmission lines. A deeper understanding of noise at both the device and circuit level has improved the performance of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and oscillators. Finally, an appropriate raiding of circuit ideas dating back to the vacuum tube era enables excellent performance, even when working close to the limits of a technology. This paper surveys some of these developments in the context of low-power RF CMOS technology, with a focus on an illustrative implementation of a low-power 5-GHz wireless LAN receiver in 0.25-μm CMOS. Thanks to these recent advances in passive components and active circuits, the blocks comprising the receiver consume a total of approximately 37 mW. These blocks include an image-reject LNA, image-reject downconverter, and a complete frequency synthesizer. The overall noise figure is 5 dB, and the input-referred third-order intercept (IIP3) is -2 dBm. To underscore that 5 GHz does not represent an upper bound by any means, this paper concludes with a look at active circuits that function beyond 15-20 GHz, and a characterization of on-chip transmission lines up to 50 GHz, all in the context of how scaling is expected to shape future developments     

Wireless switch for implantable medical devices based on passive RF receiver

A wireless switch designated for battery-supplied implantable medical devices is designed and verified based on a passive RF receiver. The switch employs wireless energy recovery and wireless identification, and consumes zero standby power. Unlike the commonly used dry reed switch, the proposed switch features high tolerance to noise and disturbance, as well as compatibility with integrated circuits. The proposed wireless switch circuit has been implemented using 0.18 mm CMOS technology, and verified in a wireless capsule endoscope prototype system.