Optimizing Mixer Noise Performance: a 2.4 GHz Gilbert Downconversion Mixer for W-CDMA Application

Abstract

A downconversion mixer for wideband CDMA application is designed and fabricated in a 0.5 p.m CMOS technology. The mixer operates at 2.4 GHz frequency with a 3 V power supply and consumes only 4.5 mW power. Targeting in designing high performance mixers of high yield within short design cyde, this paper addresses RF mixer design issues from an optimization and statistical point of view, and derived the noise equation based on a simple noise model of the Gilbert-cell mixer. The mixer achieved a conversion gain of 14.3 dB, a SSB noise figure of 10.4 dB, and an IIP3 of -8 dBm.

RF CMOS circuit optimizing procedure and synthesis tool

“…Optimal solutions for an individual performance parameter in general yield to worst-case scenarios for whole systems. On the other hand, optimal solutions involving several design constraints are hard to achieve, and currently much of the effort is based on experience [6]. Also, as the design solution space increases exponentially with the size of the circuit and design parameters, the circuits become hard to be analyzed in a closed analytical form.…”

“…RF experts are still designing radio frequency electronics. High quality RF devices under existing technologies are designed by try-and-error procedures [6]. Therefore, it is clear that CAD tools for synthesis of RF circuitry must be developed to deal with the complexity of RF electronics and with the requirement for rapid design times.…”