A low-power triple-mode sigma-delta DAC for reconfigurable(WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/GSM) transmitters

A sigma-delta (ΣΔ) DAC with channel filtering for multi-standard wireless transmitters used in the software-defined-radio (SDR) system is presented. The conversion frequency, transfer function of the digital filter and the ΣΔ modulator, word-length of the IDAC and cut-off frequency of the analog reconstruction filter can be digitally programmed to satisfy specifications of WCDMA, TD-SCDMA and GSM standards. The ΣΔ DAC fabricated in SMIC 0.13-μm CMOS process occupies a die area of 0.72 mm2, while consuming 5.52/4.82/3.04 mW in WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/GSM mode from a single 1.2-V supply voltage. The measured SFDR is 62.8/60.1/ 75.5 dB for WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/GSM mode, respectively.