A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization Method
The linearity of active mixers is usually determined by the input transistors, and many works have been proposed to improve it by modified input stages at the cost of a more complex structure or more power consumption. A new linearization method of active mixers is proposed in this paper; the input...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-05-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/10/3802 |
| _version_ | 1827666602574741504 |
|---|---|
| author | Shenghui Yang Kejie Hu Haipeng Fu Kaixue Ma Min Lu |
| author_facet | Shenghui Yang Kejie Hu Haipeng Fu Kaixue Ma Min Lu |
| author_sort | Shenghui Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The linearity of active mixers is usually determined by the input transistors, and many works have been proposed to improve it by modified input stages at the cost of a more complex structure or more power consumption. A new linearization method of active mixers is proposed in this paper; the input 1 dB compression point (IP1dB) and output 1 dB compression point (OP1dB) are greatly improved by exploiting the “reverse uplift” phenomenon. Compared with other linearization methods, the proposed one is simpler, more efficient, and sacrifices less conversion gain. Using this method, an ultra-high-linearity double-balanced down-conversion mixer with wide IF bandwidth is designed and fabricated in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS process. The proposed mixer includes a Gilbert-cell, a pair of phase-adjusting inductors, and a Marchand-balun-based output network. Under a 1.6 V supply voltage, the measurement results show that the mixer exhibits an excellent IP1dB of +7.2~+10.1 dBm, an average OP1dB of +5.4 dBm, which is the state-of-the-art linearity performance in mixers under a silicon-based process, whether active or passive. Moreover, a wide IF bandwidth of 8 GHz from 3 GHz to 11 GHz was achieved. The circuit consumes 19.8 mW and occupies 0.48 mm<sup>2</sup>, including all pads. The use of the "reverse uplift" allows us to implement high-linearity circuits more efficiently, which is helpful for the design of 5G high-speed communication transceivers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:52:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-751929d567e844a887d95bdcc8b1e192 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:52:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-751929d567e844a887d95bdcc8b1e1922023-11-23T13:01:27ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-05-012210380210.3390/s22103802A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization MethodShenghui Yang0Kejie Hu1Haipeng Fu2Kaixue Ma3Min Lu4School of Microelectronics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mobile Network and Mobile Multimedia Technology, ZTE Corporation, Shenzhen 518000, ChinaThe linearity of active mixers is usually determined by the input transistors, and many works have been proposed to improve it by modified input stages at the cost of a more complex structure or more power consumption. A new linearization method of active mixers is proposed in this paper; the input 1 dB compression point (IP1dB) and output 1 dB compression point (OP1dB) are greatly improved by exploiting the “reverse uplift” phenomenon. Compared with other linearization methods, the proposed one is simpler, more efficient, and sacrifices less conversion gain. Using this method, an ultra-high-linearity double-balanced down-conversion mixer with wide IF bandwidth is designed and fabricated in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS process. The proposed mixer includes a Gilbert-cell, a pair of phase-adjusting inductors, and a Marchand-balun-based output network. Under a 1.6 V supply voltage, the measurement results show that the mixer exhibits an excellent IP1dB of +7.2~+10.1 dBm, an average OP1dB of +5.4 dBm, which is the state-of-the-art linearity performance in mixers under a silicon-based process, whether active or passive. Moreover, a wide IF bandwidth of 8 GHz from 3 GHz to 11 GHz was achieved. The circuit consumes 19.8 mW and occupies 0.48 mm<sup>2</sup>, including all pads. The use of the "reverse uplift" allows us to implement high-linearity circuits more efficiently, which is helpful for the design of 5G high-speed communication transceivers.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/10/38025GSiGe BiCMOSlinearization techniquesmillimeter wavesmixers |
| spellingShingle | Shenghui Yang Kejie Hu Haipeng Fu Kaixue Ma Min Lu A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization Method Sensors 5G SiGe BiCMOS linearization techniques millimeter waves mixers |
| title | A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization Method |
| title_full | A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization Method |
| title_fullStr | A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization Method |
| title_short | A 24-to-30 GHz Ultra-High-Linearity Down-Conversion Mixer for 5G Applications Using a New Linearization Method |
| title_sort | 24 to 30 ghz ultra high linearity down conversion mixer for 5g applications using a new linearization method |
| topic | 5G SiGe BiCMOS linearization techniques millimeter waves mixers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/10/3802 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shenghuiyang a24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT kejiehu a24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT haipengfu a24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT kaixuema a24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT minlu a24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT shenghuiyang 24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT kejiehu 24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT haipengfu 24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT kaixuema 24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod AT minlu 24to30ghzultrahighlinearitydownconversionmixerfor5gapplicationsusinganewlinearizationmethod |