A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-End
A wideband and low-power RF-to-baseband (BB) current-reuse receiver (CRR) front-end is proposed, and its performance is verified using two matching networks, one with an LC balun and on-chip biasing inductor, CRR1, and another with a differential balun and without on-chip biasing inductor, CRR2, req...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
Series: | Electronics |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/11/21/3527 |
_version_ | 1797468516543102976 |
---|---|
author | Arash Abbasi Frederic Nabki |
author_facet | Arash Abbasi Frederic Nabki |
author_sort | Arash Abbasi |
collection | DOAJ |
description | A wideband and low-power RF-to-baseband (BB) current-reuse receiver (CRR) front-end is proposed, and its performance is verified using two matching networks, one with an LC balun and on-chip biasing inductor, CRR1, and another with a differential balun and without on-chip biasing inductor, CRR2, requiring less area. The transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and low-noise transconductance amplifier (LNTA) share the bias current from a single supply to reduce power consumption. It employs both an active-inductor (AI) and a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>/</mo><mi>f</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> noise-cancellation technique to improve the NF and RF bandwidth performance. A passive mixer is utilized for RF to BB conversion, which does not require any DC power and voltage headroom. Both CRR1 and CRR2 are fabricated in TSMC <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>130</mn><mo> </mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi></mrow></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> CMOS technology on a single die and packaged using a QFN48. CRR1 occupies an active area of 0.54 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi>mm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>. From 1 to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.7</mn><mo> </mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, it achieves a conversion gain of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>41.5</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, a double-sideband (DSB) NF of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>6.5</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">S</mi><mn>11</mn></msub><mo><</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>10</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and an IIP3 of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>28.2</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Bm</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, while the local-oscillator (LO) frequency is at <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.3</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>. CRR2 occupies an active area of 0.025 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi>mm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>. From 0.2 to 1 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, it achieves an average conversion gain of 37 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, an average DSB NF of 8 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and an IIP3 of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>21.5</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Bm</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> while the LO frequency is at <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>0.7</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Both CRR1 and CRR2 consume <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.66</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">A</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> from a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.2</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> supply voltage. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:08:31Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-95c462bb2cb943928758df1d73b5632a |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2079-9292 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:08:31Z |
publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Electronics |
spelling | doaj.art-95c462bb2cb943928758df1d73b5632a2023-11-24T04:25:22ZengMDPI AGElectronics2079-92922022-10-011121352710.3390/electronics11213527A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-EndArash Abbasi0Frederic Nabki1École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), Montreal, QC H3C1K3, CanadaÉcole de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), Montreal, QC H3C1K3, CanadaA wideband and low-power RF-to-baseband (BB) current-reuse receiver (CRR) front-end is proposed, and its performance is verified using two matching networks, one with an LC balun and on-chip biasing inductor, CRR1, and another with a differential balun and without on-chip biasing inductor, CRR2, requiring less area. The transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and low-noise transconductance amplifier (LNTA) share the bias current from a single supply to reduce power consumption. It employs both an active-inductor (AI) and a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>/</mo><mi>f</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> noise-cancellation technique to improve the NF and RF bandwidth performance. A passive mixer is utilized for RF to BB conversion, which does not require any DC power and voltage headroom. Both CRR1 and CRR2 are fabricated in TSMC <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>130</mn><mo> </mo><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi></mrow></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> CMOS technology on a single die and packaged using a QFN48. CRR1 occupies an active area of 0.54 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi>mm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>. From 1 to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.7</mn><mo> </mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, it achieves a conversion gain of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>41.5</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, a double-sideband (DSB) NF of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>6.5</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">S</mi><mn>11</mn></msub><mo><</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>10</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and an IIP3 of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>28.2</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Bm</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, while the local-oscillator (LO) frequency is at <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.3</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>. CRR2 occupies an active area of 0.025 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi>mm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>. From 0.2 to 1 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, it achieves an average conversion gain of 37 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, an average DSB NF of 8 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">B</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and an IIP3 of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>21.5</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Bm</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> while the LO frequency is at <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>0.7</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">G</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>Hz</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Both CRR1 and CRR2 consume <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.66</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">A</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> from a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.2</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="normal">V</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> supply voltage.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/11/21/3527LC balundifferential baluncurrent-reuse receiver (CRR)cross-coupled common-gate (CCCG) low-noise transconductance amplifier (LNTA)widebandlow-power |
spellingShingle | Arash Abbasi Frederic Nabki A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-End Electronics LC balun differential balun current-reuse receiver (CRR) cross-coupled common-gate (CCCG) low-noise transconductance amplifier (LNTA) wideband low-power |
title | A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-End |
title_full | A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-End |
title_fullStr | A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-End |
title_full_unstemmed | A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-End |
title_short | A Comparison of Off-Chip Differential and LC Input Matching Baluns in a Wideband and Low-Power RF-to-BB Current-Reuse Receiver Front-End |
title_sort | comparison of off chip differential and lc input matching baluns in a wideband and low power rf to bb current reuse receiver front end |
topic | LC balun differential balun current-reuse receiver (CRR) cross-coupled common-gate (CCCG) low-noise transconductance amplifier (LNTA) wideband low-power |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/11/21/3527 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT arashabbasi acomparisonofoffchipdifferentialandlcinputmatchingbalunsinawidebandandlowpowerrftobbcurrentreusereceiverfrontend AT fredericnabki acomparisonofoffchipdifferentialandlcinputmatchingbalunsinawidebandandlowpowerrftobbcurrentreusereceiverfrontend AT arashabbasi comparisonofoffchipdifferentialandlcinputmatchingbalunsinawidebandandlowpowerrftobbcurrentreusereceiverfrontend AT fredericnabki comparisonofoffchipdifferentialandlcinputmatchingbalunsinawidebandandlowpowerrftobbcurrentreusereceiverfrontend |