SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

A 2.4 GHz ultra-low power low-IF receiver and MUX-based transmitter for WPAN applications

Jingjing Chen, Weiyang Liu, Xiaodong Liu, Zhao Zhang, Liyuan Liu, Haiyong Wang and Nanjian Wu

+ Author Affiliations

 Corresponding author: Wu Nanjian, Email:nanjian@red.semi.ac.cn

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Abstract: This paper presents a 2.4 GHz CMOS transceiver for the wireless personal area network (WPAN) integrated in 0.18 μm CMOS technology. This transceiver adopts a low-IF receiver, a MUX based transmitter and a fast-setting fractional-N frequency synthesizer. For achieving low cost and low power consumption, an inductor-less receiver front-end, an adaptive analog baseband, a low power MUX and a current-reused phase-locked loop (PLL) have been proposed in this work. Measured results show that the receiver achieves -8 dBm of ⅡP3 and 31 dB of image rejection. The transmitter delivers 0 dBm output power at a data rate of 2 Mbps. The current consumption is 7.2 mA in the receiving mode and 6.9 mA in the transmitting mode, respectively.

Key words: CMOSlow powerlow-IFMUXRF transceiverWPAN



[1]
Retz G, Shanan H, Mulvaney K, et al. A highly integrated low-power 2.4 GHz transceiver using a direct-conversion diversity receiver in 0.18μm CMOS for IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN. IEEE ISSCC Dig Tech papers, 2009:414 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4977484
[2]
Nguyen T K, Kim J, Seong N S, et al. A low power CMOS transceiver for 915 MHz band IEEE 802.15.4b standard. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2007:168 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?reload=true&arnumber=4425757&filter%3DAND%28p_IS_Number%3A4425677%29
[3]
Eol Y S, Yu H J, Song S S, et al. A fully integrated 2.4 GHz low IF CMOS transceiver for 802.15.4 ZigBee applications. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2007:175 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/abstractKeywords.jsp?reload=true&arnumber=4425756&punumber%3D4425676
[4]
Balankutty A, Yu S A, Feng Y, et al. A 0.6-V zero-IF/low-IF receiver with integrated fractional-N synthesizer for 2.4-GHz ISM-band applications. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2010, 34(12):538 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/abstractKeywords.jsp?reload=true&arnumber=5419185&sortType%3Dasc_p_Sequence%26filter%3DAND%28p_Publication_Number%3A4%29%26pageNumber%3D18%26rowsPerPage%3D100
[5]
Tedeschi M, Liscidini A, Castello R. Low-power quadrature receivers for ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) applications. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2010, 45(9):1710 doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2010.2053861
[6]
Zhang Lingwei, Chi Baoyong, Qi Nan, et al. A lower power reconfigurable multi-band transceiver for short-range communication. Journal of Semiconductors, 2013, 34(3):035008 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/34/3/035008
[7]
Feng P, Li Y, Wu N. An ultra low power non-volatile memory in standard CMOS process for passive RFID tags. IEEE Custom Integated Circuits Conference, 2009:713 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=5280734
[8]
Wu J, Jiang P, Chen D, et al. A dual-band GNSS RF front end with a pseudo-differential LNA. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Ⅱ:Exp Briefs, 2011, 58(3):134 doi: 10.1109/TCSII.2011.2106352
[9]
Lee S G, Choi J K. Current-reuse bleeding mixer. Electron Lett, 2000, 36(8):696 doi: 10.1049/el:20000556
[10]
Guthrie B, Hughes J, Sayers T, et al. A CMOS gyrator low-IF filter for a dual-mode Bluetooth/ZigBee transceiver. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2005, 40(9):1872 doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2005.848146
[11]
Liu L, Li D, Chen L, et al. A 1 V 350μW 92 dB SNDR 24 kHz Δ Σ Modulator in 0.18μm CMOS. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2010 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=5716629
[12]
Liu Y H, Li C L, Lin T H. A 200-pJ/b MUX-based RF transmitter for implantable multichannel neural recording. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 2009, 57(10):2533 doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2009.2029955
[13]
Kuang X F, Wu N J. A fast-settling PLL frequency synthesizer with direct frequency presetting. IEEE ISSCC Dig Tech papers, 2006:204 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=1696113
[14]
Kwon Y I, Park S G, Park T J, et al. An ultra low-power CMOS transceiv er using various low-power techniques for LR-WPAN applications. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Ⅰ, 2012, 59(2):324 doi: 10.1109/TCSI.2011.2162463
[15]
Zhang L, Jiang H, Wei J, et al. A reconfigurable sliding-IF transceiver for 400 MHz/2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.6/ZigBee WBAN hubs with only 21% tuning range VCO. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2013, 48(11):2705 doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2013.2274893
[16]
Raja M K, Chen X, Yan D L, et al. A 18 mW Tx, 22 mW Rx transceiver for 2.45 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN in 0.18-μm CMOS. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2010 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=5716552
Fig. 1.  The proposed transceiver architecture.

Fig. 2.  Schematic of the receiver front-end.

Fig. 3.  Schematic of the amplifiers. (a) Pre-amplifier. (b) Postamplifier.

Fig. 4.  Block diagram of the programmable gain amplifier.

Fig. 5.  Schematic of the phase MUX.

Fig. 6.  Schematic of the VGPA.

Fig. 7.  Schematic of the frequency synthesizer.

Fig. 8.  Microphotograph of the chip.

Fig. 9.  Measured input return loss of the receiver.

Fig. 10.  Measured IIP3 of the receiver.

Fig. 11.  Measured gain setting versus control word.

Fig. 12.  Measured output spectrum at 2 Mbps.

Fig. 13.  Measured TX characteristics.

Fig. 14.  Measured phase noise of the PLL.

Table 1.   Performance comparison.

[1]
Retz G, Shanan H, Mulvaney K, et al. A highly integrated low-power 2.4 GHz transceiver using a direct-conversion diversity receiver in 0.18μm CMOS for IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN. IEEE ISSCC Dig Tech papers, 2009:414 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4977484
[2]
Nguyen T K, Kim J, Seong N S, et al. A low power CMOS transceiver for 915 MHz band IEEE 802.15.4b standard. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2007:168 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?reload=true&arnumber=4425757&filter%3DAND%28p_IS_Number%3A4425677%29
[3]
Eol Y S, Yu H J, Song S S, et al. A fully integrated 2.4 GHz low IF CMOS transceiver for 802.15.4 ZigBee applications. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2007:175 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/abstractKeywords.jsp?reload=true&arnumber=4425756&punumber%3D4425676
[4]
Balankutty A, Yu S A, Feng Y, et al. A 0.6-V zero-IF/low-IF receiver with integrated fractional-N synthesizer for 2.4-GHz ISM-band applications. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2010, 34(12):538 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/abstractKeywords.jsp?reload=true&arnumber=5419185&sortType%3Dasc_p_Sequence%26filter%3DAND%28p_Publication_Number%3A4%29%26pageNumber%3D18%26rowsPerPage%3D100
[5]
Tedeschi M, Liscidini A, Castello R. Low-power quadrature receivers for ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) applications. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2010, 45(9):1710 doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2010.2053861
[6]
Zhang Lingwei, Chi Baoyong, Qi Nan, et al. A lower power reconfigurable multi-band transceiver for short-range communication. Journal of Semiconductors, 2013, 34(3):035008 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/34/3/035008
[7]
Feng P, Li Y, Wu N. An ultra low power non-volatile memory in standard CMOS process for passive RFID tags. IEEE Custom Integated Circuits Conference, 2009:713 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=5280734
[8]
Wu J, Jiang P, Chen D, et al. A dual-band GNSS RF front end with a pseudo-differential LNA. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Ⅱ:Exp Briefs, 2011, 58(3):134 doi: 10.1109/TCSII.2011.2106352
[9]
Lee S G, Choi J K. Current-reuse bleeding mixer. Electron Lett, 2000, 36(8):696 doi: 10.1049/el:20000556
[10]
Guthrie B, Hughes J, Sayers T, et al. A CMOS gyrator low-IF filter for a dual-mode Bluetooth/ZigBee transceiver. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2005, 40(9):1872 doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2005.848146
[11]
Liu L, Li D, Chen L, et al. A 1 V 350μW 92 dB SNDR 24 kHz Δ Σ Modulator in 0.18μm CMOS. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2010 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=5716629
[12]
Liu Y H, Li C L, Lin T H. A 200-pJ/b MUX-based RF transmitter for implantable multichannel neural recording. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 2009, 57(10):2533 doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2009.2029955
[13]
Kuang X F, Wu N J. A fast-settling PLL frequency synthesizer with direct frequency presetting. IEEE ISSCC Dig Tech papers, 2006:204 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=1696113
[14]
Kwon Y I, Park S G, Park T J, et al. An ultra low-power CMOS transceiv er using various low-power techniques for LR-WPAN applications. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Ⅰ, 2012, 59(2):324 doi: 10.1109/TCSI.2011.2162463
[15]
Zhang L, Jiang H, Wei J, et al. A reconfigurable sliding-IF transceiver for 400 MHz/2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.6/ZigBee WBAN hubs with only 21% tuning range VCO. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits, 2013, 48(11):2705 doi: 10.1109/JSSC.2013.2274893
[16]
Raja M K, Chen X, Yan D L, et al. A 18 mW Tx, 22 mW Rx transceiver for 2.45 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN in 0.18-μm CMOS. IEEE ASSCC Dig Tech Papers, 2010 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=5716552
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    Received: 16 December 2013 Revised: 06 January 2014 Online: Published: 01 June 2014

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      Jingjing Chen, Weiyang Liu, Xiaodong Liu, Zhao Zhang, Liyuan Liu, Haiyong Wang, Nanjian Wu. A 2.4 GHz ultra-low power low-IF receiver and MUX-based transmitter for WPAN applications[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2014, 35(6): 065001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/6/065001 J J Chen, W Y Liu, X D Liu, Z Zhang, L Y Liu, H Y Wang, N J Wu. A 2.4 GHz ultra-low power low-IF receiver and MUX-based transmitter for WPAN applications[J]. J. Semicond., 2014, 35(6): 065001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/6/065001.Export: BibTex EndNote
      Citation:
      Jingjing Chen, Weiyang Liu, Xiaodong Liu, Zhao Zhang, Liyuan Liu, Haiyong Wang, Nanjian Wu. A 2.4 GHz ultra-low power low-IF receiver and MUX-based transmitter for WPAN applications[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2014, 35(6): 065001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/6/065001

      J J Chen, W Y Liu, X D Liu, Z Zhang, L Y Liu, H Y Wang, N J Wu. A 2.4 GHz ultra-low power low-IF receiver and MUX-based transmitter for WPAN applications[J]. J. Semicond., 2014, 35(6): 065001. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/6/065001.
      Export: BibTex EndNote

      A 2.4 GHz ultra-low power low-IF receiver and MUX-based transmitter for WPAN applications

      doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/6/065001
      Funds:

      the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China 2012BAH20B02

      Project supported by the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2012BAH20B02) and the National Science and Technology Major Projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2012ZX03004007-002)

      the National Science and Technology Major Projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China 2012ZX03004007-002

      More Information
      • Corresponding author: Wu Nanjian, Email:nanjian@red.semi.ac.cn
      • Received Date: 2013-12-16
      • Revised Date: 2014-01-06
      • Published Date: 2014-06-01

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