A low voltage low power up-conversion mixer for WSN application

Chenjian Wu; Zhiqun Li; Ge Sun

doi:10.1088/1674-4926/35/4/045006

J. Semicond. > 2014, Volume 35 > Issue 4 > 045006, doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/35/4/045006

SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

A low voltage low power up-conversion mixer for WSN application

Chenjian Wu^{1, 2, 3}, Zhiqun Li^{1, 2,} and Ge Sun^{1, 2}

+ Author Affiliations

Corresponding author: Li Zhiqun, Email:zhiqunli@seu.edu.cn

Abstract: This paper presents an up-conversion mixer for 2.4-2.4835 GHz wireless sensor networks (WSN) in 0.18 μm RF CMOS technology. It was based on a double-balanced Gilbert cell type, with two Gilbert cells having quadrature modulation applied. Current-reuse and cross positive feedback techniques were applied in the mixer to boost conversion gain; the current source stage was removed from the mixer to improve linearity. Measured results exhibited that under a 1 V power supply, the conversion gain was 5 dB, the input referred 1 dB compression point was -11 dBm and the ⅡP3 was -0.75 dBm, while it only consumed 1.4 mW.

Key words: low voltage, low power, current-reuse, positive feedback, mixer

References

[1]	Ren F Y, Huang H N, Lin C. Wireless sensor networks. Journal of Software, 2003, 14(7):1282
[2]	Chen Liang, Li Zhiqun. Design and optimization of a 0.5 V CMOS LNA for 2.4-GHz WSN application. Journal of Semiconductors, 2012, 33(10):105009 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/33/10/105009
[3]	Li Zhiqun, Wang Zhigong. Radio frequency integrated circuits and system. Beijing:Science, 2008
[4]	Salem R F, Galal S H, Tawfik M S, et al. A new highly linear CMOS mixer suitable for deep submicron technologies. 9th International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2002: 81 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=1045338
[5]	Yeh M L, Kuo S H, Liou W R. A low voltage 5 GHz quadrature up-conversion mixer for wireless transmitter. International Conference on Communications, Circuits and Systems, Guilin, China, 2006: 2618 http://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/Conference/WFHYXW170385
[6]	Kim C W, Lee S S, Park B H, et al. A CMOS direct-conversion I/Q up-mixer block for ultra-wideband system. The 7th International Conference on Advanced Communication Technology, Phoenix Park, Ireland, 2005: 230 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=1461775
[7]	Tsai J H. Design of 1.2-V broadband high data-rate MMW CMOS I/Q modulator and demodulator using modified gilbert-cell mixer. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 2011, 59(5):1350 doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2011.2116035
[8]	Lee S G, Choi J K. Current-reuse bleeding mixer. Electron Lett, 2000, 36(8):696 doi: 10.1049/el:20000556
[9]	Lee S Y, Huang M F, Kuo C J. Analysis and implementation of a CMOS even harmonic mixer with current reuse for heterodyne/direct conversion receivers. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Ⅰ:Regular Papers, 2005, 52(9):1741 doi: 10.1109/TCSI.2005.852487
[10]	Wu C H, Huang W H. A high-linearity up-conversion mixer utilizing negative resister. Proceedings of International Symposium on signals, Systems and Electronics, Birmingham, UK, 2010: 1 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=5607021
[11]	Fan X N, Zhang L. A 2. 4-GHz CMOS up-conversion mixer for WSN SoC applications. 9th International Symposium on Communications and Information Technology, Icheon, Korea, 2009: 683 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=5341158
[12]	Huang C C, Chen W T. Multi-band/multi-mode current folded up-convert mixer design. Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference, Yokohama, Japan, 2006: 759 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4429526
[13]	Wu Chenjian, Li Zhiqun. A low power quadrature up-conversion mixer for WSN application. High Technology Letters, 2013, 19(3):7 http://www.cqvip.com/QK/85378X/201303/47419045.html
[14]	Wu C H, Wu N Y. Design of low power up-conversion self-oscillating mixer. China-Japan Joint Microwave Conference Proceedings, Hangzhou, China, 2011: 1 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=5774022
[15]	Ghahramani J, Rahnama M, Rezakhani S, et al. Design and simulation of 5 GHz up-conversion self-oscillating mixer. IEEE International Conference on System Engineering and Technology, Shah Alam, Malaysia, 2011: 96 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5993428/

Fig. 1. Block diagram of the transceiver.

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Fig. 2. Structure of Gilbert mixer.

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Fig. 3. Proposed mixer.

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Fig. 4. Effect of tail current source.

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Fig. 5. Cross positive feedback.

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Fig. 6. Microphotograph of the proposed mixer.

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Fig. 7. Conversion gain versus baseband input power.

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Fig. 8. Input referred 1 dB compression point.

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Fig. 9. Output spectrum of input two-tone signal.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Table 1. Performance comparison.

[1]	Ren F Y, Huang H N, Lin C. Wireless sensor networks. Journal of Software, 2003, 14(7):1282
[2]	Chen Liang, Li Zhiqun. Design and optimization of a 0.5 V CMOS LNA for 2.4-GHz WSN application. Journal of Semiconductors, 2012, 33(10):105009 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/33/10/105009
[3]	Li Zhiqun, Wang Zhigong. Radio frequency integrated circuits and system. Beijing:Science, 2008
[4]	Salem R F, Galal S H, Tawfik M S, et al. A new highly linear CMOS mixer suitable for deep submicron technologies. 9th International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2002: 81 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=1045338
[5]	Yeh M L, Kuo S H, Liou W R. A low voltage 5 GHz quadrature up-conversion mixer for wireless transmitter. International Conference on Communications, Circuits and Systems, Guilin, China, 2006: 2618 http://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/Conference/WFHYXW170385
[6]	Kim C W, Lee S S, Park B H, et al. A CMOS direct-conversion I/Q up-mixer block for ultra-wideband system. The 7th International Conference on Advanced Communication Technology, Phoenix Park, Ireland, 2005: 230 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=1461775
[7]	Tsai J H. Design of 1.2-V broadband high data-rate MMW CMOS I/Q modulator and demodulator using modified gilbert-cell mixer. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 2011, 59(5):1350 doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2011.2116035
[8]	Lee S G, Choi J K. Current-reuse bleeding mixer. Electron Lett, 2000, 36(8):696 doi: 10.1049/el:20000556
[9]	Lee S Y, Huang M F, Kuo C J. Analysis and implementation of a CMOS even harmonic mixer with current reuse for heterodyne/direct conversion receivers. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Ⅰ:Regular Papers, 2005, 52(9):1741 doi: 10.1109/TCSI.2005.852487
[10]	Wu C H, Huang W H. A high-linearity up-conversion mixer utilizing negative resister. Proceedings of International Symposium on signals, Systems and Electronics, Birmingham, UK, 2010: 1 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=5607021
[11]	Fan X N, Zhang L. A 2. 4-GHz CMOS up-conversion mixer for WSN SoC applications. 9th International Symposium on Communications and Information Technology, Icheon, Korea, 2009: 683 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=5341158
[12]	Huang C C, Chen W T. Multi-band/multi-mode current folded up-convert mixer design. Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference, Yokohama, Japan, 2006: 759 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4429526
[13]	Wu Chenjian, Li Zhiqun. A low power quadrature up-conversion mixer for WSN application. High Technology Letters, 2013, 19(3):7 http://www.cqvip.com/QK/85378X/201303/47419045.html
[14]	Wu C H, Wu N Y. Design of low power up-conversion self-oscillating mixer. China-Japan Joint Microwave Conference Proceedings, Hangzhou, China, 2011: 1 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/icp.jsp?arnumber=5774022
[15]	Ghahramani J, Rahnama M, Rezakhani S, et al. Design and simulation of 5 GHz up-conversion self-oscillating mixer. IEEE International Conference on System Engineering and Technology, Shah Alam, Malaysia, 2011: 96 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5993428/

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Received: 21 September 2013 Revised: 04 November 2013 Online: Published: 01 April 2014

This paper presents an up-conversion mixer for 2.4-2.4835 GHz wireless sensor networks (WSN) in 0.18 μm RF CMOS technology. It was based on a double-balanced Gilbert cell type, with two Gilbert cells having quadrature modulation applied. Current-reuse and cross positive feedback techniques were applied in the mixer to boost conversion gain; the current source stage was removed from the mixer to improve linearity. Measured results exhibited that under a 1 V power supply, the conversion gain was 5 dB, the input referred 1 dB compression point was -11 dBm and the ⅡP3 was -0.75 dBm, while it only consumed 1.4 mW.

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