ARCHER: an automated RF-IC Rx front-end circuit design tool

This paper presents a tool capable of automatically compiling the circuit of a direct-conversion receiver at the schematics level based on system specifications that include the frequency of operation, gain, noise figure, IIP2 and IIP3 linearity. The front-end of a direct-conversion receiver is built using inductive source degeneration (LSD) LNA and double-balanced source-degenerated Gilbert Cell mixers with charge injection. The tool uses power constrained noise and linearity optimization vector-space algorithms that automatically size the transistors, passive components, and find the optimum biasing points. The solution generated by the tool is automatically read by Agilent ADS where the blocks are easily fine-tuned and validated before layout. Case studies involving WiMAX, UMTS, GSM, Bluetooth and WLAN are presented to reveal the capabilities of the tool in reducing the design time.

[1]  Thomas H. Lee,et al.  The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits: RF CIRCUITS THROUGH THE AGES , 2003 .

[2]  Willy Sansen,et al.  Distortion in elementary transistor circuits , 1999 .

[3]  Danilo Manstretta,et al.  Second-order intermodulation mechanisms in CMOS downconverters , 2003, IEEE J. Solid State Circuits.

[4]  A. A. Abidi,et al.  General relations between IP2, IP3, and offsets in differential circuits and the effects of feedback , 2003 .

[5]  R. Castello,et al.  Wireless multi-standard terminals: system analysis and design of a reconfigurable RF front-end , 2006, IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine.

[6]  F. Svelto,et al.  Toward multistandard mobile terminals - fully integrated receivers requirements and architectures , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[7]  Ralf Seepold.  Special session—virtual socket interface alliance , 1999, DATE '99.

[8]  A.A. Abidi,et al.  Noise in RF-CMOS mixers: a simple physical model , 2000, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[9]  A. Rodríguez-Vázquez,et al.  Generation of Technology-Independent Retargetable Analog Blocks , 2002 .

[10]  Roy Hartono,et al.  Multiple specifications radio-frequency integrated circuit design with automatic template-driven layout retargeting , 2004 .

[11]  A. Rodriguez-Vazquez,et al.  Creating flexible analogue IP blocks , 2001, Proceedings of the 27th European Solid-State Circuits Conference.

[12]  R. Seepold.  Virtual Socket Interface Alliance , 1999, Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference and Exhibition, 1999. Proceedings (Cat. No. PR00078).