Fully integrated CMOS transmitter design considerations
Nov 1, 2007
By Louis Fan Fei Traditionally, multiple IC chips are needed to build transmitters (Tx) used in wireless communications. The difficulty with a full Tx integration is that each Tx building block uses different technology. A power-detection circuit will exploit the Schottky diode, while the modulator IC is integrated with BiCMOS or SiGe. Likewise, the digital control loop is implemented in CMOS. Now that direct-conversion Tx uses digital control loop for nonlinearity corrections, CMOS...
Mobile applications continue to spur advances in TV tuners
Apr 1, 2007
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director As digital technology permeates the mobile TV space, designers are combining advances in CMOS and silicon germanium BiCMOS processes with digital architectures and proprietary algorithms to deliver tuners that support multiple bands of frequencies and handle numerous standards with ultralow power consumption....
Benefits of CSS technology in European DBS systems
Mar 1, 2007
By Bill Windsor and Peter Wong This article addresses the system design challenges and performance requirements of European DBS systems using CSS technology....
Leveraging SiGe bipolar to push silicon RFICs into the millimeter-wave spectrum
Mar 1, 2007
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director While the silicon CMOS process has made significant progress in terms of integrating RF functions on-chip and delivering complete system-on-a-chip solutions for cellular handset and Bluetooth applications, the frequency covered is limited to the lower echelon of the microwave spectrum....
Key semiconductor technology trends to watch
Jan 1, 2007
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director To address the demanding requirements of the emerging wireless, mobile and wire-line applications, semiconductor suppliers continue to refine older technologies while developing new technologies. As a result, new trends will emerge in both discrete device and IC technologies....
Slimmer portable electronics spur integrated power management
Nov 1, 2006
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director As the wireless and cellular communications explosion is driving advances in semiconductor processes and RFICs, power management is also reaping the benefits of such progress. ...
Improved InGaP/GaAs HBT technology facilitates high linearity PAs
Oct 1, 2006
By Nan-Lei Larry Wang This article reports on the improvement in a
recently developed InGaP/GaAs HBT for 24 V to 28 V linear PA operation. Key
improvements include adjacent-channel leakage ratio under WCDMA modulation,
ruggedness to sustain high VSWR, and reliability....
Mobile application reference design accelerates development
Oct 1, 2006
By Ron Stieger and David Brooke Market requirements for consumer product categories such as smart phones, portable media devices and personal navigators demand increasing battery lives, shrinking product packages, and decreasing price points. Embedded designers need to seek innovative approaches to meet these requirements....
Silicon timing clocks are getting sophisticated
Oct 1, 2006
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director Whether it is a microprocessor-based control circuitry, RF transceiver for wireless communications, or a linecard for optical networks, clocks are needed as timing circuits to perform functions like synchronization, distribution, control and protection. They are critical components when it comes to overall system performance. Over time, these simple discrete components have become quite sophisticated....
Mitigating interference to maximize spectral efficiency in 3G/4G networks
Sep 1, 2006
By John Thomas This
article describes an interference cancellation technology comprising
an ASIC/core hardware and DSP-based software, which
cancels interference from all traffic channels, and from all interfering sources for 2.5G, 3G and 4G networks....
IEDM maps new course for fusion of technologies
Sep 1, 2006
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director The prophecy of Gordon Moore has been true since the mid-1960s and is expected to continue through the nanometer era....
Low power, giga speed programmable divider in 0.18 m CMOS
Jul 1, 2006
By Girish N. Jadhav This article will focus on the design and simulation of a new programmable divider architecture for use in the 2.412 GHz to 2.484 GHz frequency bands....
