1

HF mixer, switch & modulator design

HF mixer, switch & modulator design
2
Outline
Outline
Mixer fundamentals & topologies Mixer fundamentals & topologies
Mixer design methodology Mixer design methodology
Example of up- and down-convert mixers Example of up- and down-convert mixers
Switches Switches
Phase shifters Phase shifters
Modulators Modulators
3
Mixer fundamentals (i)
Mixer fundamentals (i)
he mixer is a multiplier used as a fre!uency he mixer is a multiplier used as a fre!uency
translation device" translation device"
up-converter from #$ to %$ up-converter from #$ to %$
down-converter from %$ to #$ down-converter from %$ to #$
wo input signals and one output signal wo input signals and one output signal
#mage fre!uency &undesired' #mage fre!uency &undesired'

3
Acos(o
1
t ) Bcos(o
2
t )=
AB
2
|cos(o
1
o
2
) t +cos(o
1
+o
2
) t
(
Mixer fundamentals (ii)
Mixer fundamentals (ii)
%e!uires non-linear device"
diode)
*+)
M,S$E
or time varying device &switch'
to generate -mixing- terms at sum
and difference fre!uencies
%e!uires filtering at %$) .,
and #$ to select desired signal
fre!uency
I (V)=I
S
|
exp
(
qV
nKT
)
1

i
DS
=

2
| v
GS
(t )V
T

2
RF
IF
LO
V
BIAS
L
choke
/
How do we get a non-linear device
How do we get a non-linear device
0 1S#1S-222/ Primer 1ourse3
4
Mixer fundamentals (iii)
Mixer fundamentals (iii)
Single-) two-port or three-port implementation
Present #1 mixers use 5il6ert-cell multiplication

1
7
% $
)
2
=
. ,
and
1
-
2
=
# $

1
=
$
)
2
=
. ,
and
1
+
2
=
% $
(8coso
1
t )(+coso
2
t )=
8+
2
|cos(o
1
o
2
) t +cos(o
1
+o
2
)t
V
DD
LO+RF
IF
V
DD
LO
RF
IF
V
DD
LO+
LO-
RF+
RF-
IF+
IF-
A
C
Q
1
Q
2
R
L
Q
TAIL
R
L
Q
3
I
TAIL
I
TAIL
2
+i
RF
I
TAIL
2
i
RF
Q'
1
Q'
2
Q'
3
U
V
9
From CSICS-2005
Primer Course
:
Mixer topology !il"ert (multiplier) cell
Mixer topology !il"ert (multiplier) cell
A#=#
;2
#
;3
=#
;1
t anh(</ 2=

)
V
DD
LO+
LO-
RF+
RF-
IF+
IF-
A
C
Q
1
Q
2
R
L
Q
TAIL
R
L
Q
3
I
TAIL
I
TAIL
2
+i
RF
I
TAIL
2
i
RF
Q'
1
Q'
2
Q'
3
U
V
V
DD
LO+
LO-
RF+
RF-
IF+
IF-
A
C
Q
1
Q
2
R
L
Q
TAIL
R
L
Q
3
I
TAIL
I
TAIL
2
+i
RF
I
TAIL
2
i
RF
Q'
1
Q'
2
Q'
3
U
V
>
Mixer specification
Mixer specification
%$) .,) #$ fre!uencies
1onversion &power' gain
.inearity
?oise $igure &receive mixers only'
#solation
12
#onversion gain
#onversion gain
1onversion &power' gain &depends on ., power and
mixing !uad device type'"
%$ to #$ in down-converters
#$ to %$ in up-converters
11
!il"ert-cell mixer conversion gain
!il"ert-cell mixer conversion gain
,utput &#$' voltage in +@ mixer
=oltage conversion gain for large s!uare wave ., signal is
&valid for *+ & M,S$E'"

v
#$
=2 %
.
#
6i as
t anh
(
v
%$
2 =

)
t anh
(
v
.,
2 =

)
v
#$
v
%$
=
2
n
g
m
%
.
t anh
(
V
LO
cos(o
LO
t )
)
=
4
n
cos(o
LO
t )+
4
3 n
cos(3 o
LO
t )+
4
5 n
cos(5 o
LO
t )+. .
12
$inearity
$inearity
.inearity" A depends on transconductor &input amplifier'
linearity and =
BS
C=
1E
of mixing !uad transistorsD
he 1 d+ compression point" P
1d+
hird-order intercept point" ##P3) ,#P3
Second-order intercept point" ##P2) ,#P2
.inearity in a cascade of stages"
1
##P3
=
1
##P3
1
+
5
1
##P3
2
+
5
1
5
2
##P3
3
+DDD+
5
1
5
2
DDD 5
n1
##P3
n
13
!il"ert cell with degeneration
!il"ert cell with degeneration
#mproves linearity
#nductive degeneration does not degrade noise figure
V
DD
LO+
LO-
RF+
RF-
IF+
IF-
A
Q
1
Q
2
R
L
Q
TAIL
R
L
Q
3
I
TAIL
Q'
1
Q'
2
Q'
3
R
E
R
E
C
V
DD
LO+
LO-
RF+ RF-
IF+
IF-
A
C
Q
1
Q
2
R
L
Q
TAIL
L
E
L
E
R
L
1(
%oise Figure
%oise Figure
Bou6le-side6and noise figure
?$
BS+
7 ?$
SS+
-3d+ &if no image reEection'
Single-side6and noise figure &temperature'
?$
BS+
7 ?$
SS+
&if image reEection '
$
BS+
=1+

v
nout
2

F(5
1
+5
2
)
$
SS+
=1+

v
nout
2

F5
1
+
T
SSB
T
S
T
S
T
OUT
IM
RF
IF
G
1
G
2
T
DSB
T
S
T
S
T
OUT
+
T
DSB
IM
RF
IF
G
1
G
2
+
IM
RF
IF
G
1
G
2
1/
%oise Figure (cont)
%oise Figure (cont)
Mixer shot noise sources
G B1
G harmonics of ., &currents at ., harmonics
compara6le to B1 currents'D
0
3f
osc
L
O

C
u
r
r
e
n
t

Freq
f
osc
2f
osc
i
n
2
=2!
|
#
B1

#
.,

#
2.,
#
.,
#
B1

#
.,
#
2.,
#
.,
#
B1

|
f
.,#$
f
#$
f
.,+#$

14
%oise Figure (cont&)
%oise Figure (cont&)
$re!uency translation of noise sources
.arge signals at harmonics of .,)
Small signals on either side of ., harmonics)
*ence noise from nf
.,
HC- f
#$
translates to #$ and to
the output
0
3f
LO
Freq
2f
LO
f
LO
IF
19
'solation
'solation
Iant it as high as possi6le
#mplemented through choice of topology andCor
filtering"
., to #$
., to %$
#$ to .,
#n 5il6ert-cell mixer isolation is 6uilt-in
g
mLOIF
=
(I
Q1
I
Q' 1
)
2V
T
se!
2
(
"
2V
T
)
#
1:
(ransmit (up-converter) mixer topology
(ransmit (up-converter) mixer topology
Bou6ly 6alanced
M,S) +@ and +i1M,S
#$ linear input amplifier H mixing !uad
#$ signal applied to 6ottom pair
., signal applied to mixing !uad
%$ +P$ &tuned' output at top
#mage reEection must 6e placed after mixing !uad or
6uilt into the topology
1>
)eceive (down-converter) mixer topology
)eceive (down-converter) mixer topology
Bou6ly 6alanced
5ood for M,S) +@ and +i1M,S
%$ &low-noise' linear input amplifier H mixing !uad
%$ signal applied to 6ottom pair
., signal applied to mixing !uad
#$ .P$ output
., and or %$ trap at #$ output
22
)eceive (down-converter) mixer topology
)eceive (down-converter) mixer topology
#mage reEection must 6e placed 6efore mixing !uad or
6uilt into the topologyD
21
'mproved-mixer topologies
'mproved-mixer topologies
5il6ert cell with transformer coupling of %$ and #$ signals"
lower supply voltage 6ut higher noise and conversion loss
$olded cascode 5il6ert cell &lower supply voltage'
+i1M,S 5il6ert cell with M,S input and *+ !uad &6etter
linearity) lower ., swing'
V
DD
LO
RF
IF
V
DD
V
RF
L
D
C
D
L
S
L
D
Q
1
Q
2
L
G
L
S
L
G
C
D
L
SS
C
SS
R
L
R
L
V
LO
Q
3
Q
4
Q
5
Q

V
IF
22
mm-*ave image re+ect mixer topologies
mm-*ave image re+ect mixer topologies
<se >2
o
and 1:2
o
hy6rid couplersD
>2
o
coupler" .ange or 6ranchline
1:2
o
coupler" ratrace &Marchand' 6alun
#n-phase IilFinson power splitter
!
!
"!
!
I#
I
Q
!
!
"!
!
I#
$
!
+
I
Q
!
!
"!
!
I#
$
!
|S=
1
.
2
|
# $ 1 #
$ # # 1
1 # # $
# 1 $ #

23
From CSICS-2005
Primer Course
2(
,-
,-
- -
and ./-
and ./-
- h - h
y"rid couplers ("road"and)
y"rid couplers ("road"and)
Lange Coupler
180
o
Ratrace Coupler
2/
,-
,-
- -
phase shifter (lumped)
phase shifter (lumped)
|
V
OI %& '
V
OQ%& '

=V
i n

|
!s
2
+2
o
#
Q
so
#
2
s
2
+2
o
#
Q
s+o
#
2
s
2
2
o
#
Q
so
#
2
s
2
+2
o
#
Q
s+o
#
2

Q=
.
L
(
R
)n* o
#
=
1
.L(
C
C
L
2R
2R
L
V
%&+
V
%&-
V
OI+
V
OI-
V
OQ-
V
OQ+
L'1(414
k'!()!)
C
M
'1 C
M
'1
C
G
'!(414
C
G
'!(414
C
G
'!(414
o
#
=
1
.L( (1 +
2
)
( =(
,
+(
G
&
(
,
(
=+
-
#
=
.
L
(
V
I#
V
C*L
V
T+RU
V
ISO
24
$ow noise mixer design methodology
$ow noise mixer design methodology
(as for $%0)
(as for $%0) (1& 2oinigescu & M&Maliepaard, '11##-.,,3) (1& 2oinigescu & M&Maliepaard, '11##-.,,3)
+ias G minimum ?$ current density &if power gain is still
ade!uate at f
osc
D
SiJe transistor for optimal noise resistance - active matching
-Source- impedance is the .?8 output impedance
8dd inductive emitter degeneration .
E
to meet linearity target
&more important than noise and conversion gain'D M,S$E
input is more linearD
29
$ow noise mixer design methodology ('')
$ow noise mixer design methodology ('')
#f mixer is designed for noise matching to impedance K
o

then linearity is given 6y"
., swing must 6e large enough to fully switch the
mixing !uad) yet not too large to cause transistor
saturationD M,S$E !uad is inferior to *+ !uad due
to larger ., swing re!uirementD
##P
3

og
m
K
2
2nf

L where .
E
=
K
2
2nf

2:
4-!H5 single-chip 1i!e radio
4-!H5 single-chip 1i!e radio
(1&2oinigescu et al& '666 M((-1 .,,,) (1&2oinigescu et al& '666 M((-1 .,,,)
2>
4-!H5 single-chip 1i!e radio
4-!H5 single-chip 1i!e radio
32
4-!H5 1i!e )adio )x and (7 linearity
4-!H5 1i!e )adio )x and (7 linearity
31
mm-*ave !il"ert cell mixer examples
mm-*ave !il"ert cell mixer examples
3FM
/2M
42nN(:N1u
:/nN122N1u :/nN2N1u
1p$
#$
,<
=
1S
/2M
122p*
32p* 32p*
=
+#8S
42nN2(N1u
1(2p* 1(2p*
42nN2(N1u
1(2M 1(2M
(FM
(FM
2FM
/2p*
/2p*
(/p*
(/p*
=
BB
%$
#?
.,
#?
71-95 GHz
.8--!H5 9own-#onversion Mixer
.8--!H5 9own-#onversion Mixer
O #onsumes .: m0 from .&:2 (.8&8 m*) #onsumes .: m0 from .&:2 (.8&8 m*)
[S. Nicolson RFIC-08]
33
122-5*J #; Bown-1onversion Mixer
122-5*J #; Bown-1onversion Mixer
'F;< 'F;' $O;< $O;'
)F
24mA, 29mW
[M. Khanpour,
M.A.Sc. Thesis 2008
IEEE Trans. MTT,
Dec. 2009]
3(
1witches
1witches
P#? and SchottFy diodes) $Es
#deally"
%
on
72) %
off
7 ) 172
*igh isolation when off
low insertion loss when on
opologies"
Shunt) series) series-shunt
<sed as antenna switches
V
C#TR
V
C#TR
3/
1witches
1witches
V
C#TR
V
C#TR
IL=2#log
1#
(
1+
R
S.
2-
#
)
I=2#log
1#
(
2R
S.
2R
S.
+-
#
)
I=1#log
1#
|1+( 4n/ (
S.
-
#
)
2

IL=1#log
1#
|1+(n/ (
S.
-
#
)
2

34
#MO1 mm-wave switch examples
#MO1 mm-wave switch examples
O,-1
O,-2
O,-#
I&
V
C1
V
C1
V
C2
V
C2
V
C#
V
C#
O,-1
O,-2
O,-#
I
&
V
C1
V
C1
V
C2
V
C2
V
C#
V
C#
O,-1
O,-2
O,-#
I&
V
C#TR
V
C#TR
V
C#TR
V
C#TR
=inary-*eighted !eometry
=inary-*eighted !eometry
#dea" #dea" Shared source and drain) segmented gates Shared source and drain) segmented gates
O varactor) P8 varactor) P8 &%D+D StasJewsFi) 2224' &%D+D StasJewsFi) 2224'
O transistor" digitally-controlled attenuator transistor" digitally-controlled attenuator
O
5il6ert-cell 6iased at constant @ 5il6ert-cell 6iased at constant @
BS BS
A digitally-controlled gain cells
A digitally-controlled phase shifters
A mm-Iave #; B81s
S
0<V
G
<1
b
0
, b
1
, .. b
n
=0 or 1
b0 b1
D
S
G
0.2mA/m
D
bn
J
opt
0/J
opt
=inary-*eighted 0tten&>1witch
=inary-*eighted 0tten&>1witch
3:
1 1
,$$ ,$$
7 1f$C 7 1f$C

m) (2 m) (2

m m
%
S*<?
=
%
unit
(
6
2
+6
1
2+6
2
2
2
+DDD+6
n1
2
n1
)
#.=22log
(
1+
K
2
2%
SI
)
=22log
|
1+
2/
%
unit
(
6
2
+6
1
2+6
2
2
2
+DD+6
n1
2
n1
)

?0& (om@ins et al& #1'#1--/A

.! .1
.5
11/ 21/ 321/
.! .1
.5
11/ 21/
321/
L
3>
#.P2 d+) #S,.Q22d+ up to >( 5*J
P
1 d +
QH12d+m
Measurement )esults
Measurement )esults
(2
'mproving the #MO1 switch
'mproving the #MO1 switch
O <se deep ?-well to reduce <se deep ?-well to reduce
capacitance capacitance
O <se large resistor is series <se large resistor is series
with gate) su6strate and n- with gate) su6strate and n-
well to reduce loss and well to reduce loss and
improve linearity improve linearity
O StacF transistors for StacF transistors for
improved linearity improved linearity
V
C#TR
R
B
R
#01ELL
Dee2
#-1ELL
R
G
G#D
I# OUT
2-3e44 2-SUB
V
C#TR
R
B
R
#01ELL
Dee2
#-1ELL
R
G
I# OUT
2-3e44
V
C#TR
R
B
R
#01ELL
R
G
G#D
2-3e44
(1
Bhase shifters
Bhase shifters
Each cell can 6e
implemented as"
Switched line
*y6rid-coupled
.oaded line
*igh-pass low-pass
1an have analog or digital
control
180
0
90
0
45
0
22.5
0
.
o
'5!617 .
1
'5!617 .
2
'5!617 .
3
'5!617
V
%&
V
o,-
'V
%&
e
-8
=0
#
22. 5
#
+0
1
45
#
+0
2
1#
#
+0
3
12#
#
!
!
"!
!
492
492
4
!
4
!
+ 4
*o:-1
*o:-2
*o:-1
*o:-2
*o:-2 *o:-1
-8B 8B -8B 8B
=4
=4
=
2n
\
=
2n
\
B
#
'B$
!
94
A=2t)n
1
(
B
3
1#.5 B
3
2
)
8;
8;
-8;
-8;
8B
-8B
*o:-1
*o:-2
4
3
=t)n
(
A
2
)
4
3
=
4
-
#
43=
4
-#
B
3
=sin
(
A
2
)
|S
5S
=
|
# e
$
e
$
#

(2
#artesian and 2!0-"ased phase shifters
#artesian and 2!0-"ased phase shifters
!
!
"!
!
+
V
CA
V
CB
B
A
I
Q
OUT
I#
$
!
+
V
CA
V
CB
B
A
OUT
I#

+
V
CA
V
CB
B
A
OUT
I#

I
Q

O"T=I+$Q=O"Te
$
O"T=
.
I
2
+Q
2
=t an
1
(
Q
I
)
(3
Modulators
Modulators
%e!uire" phase shifters) hy6rid couplers or isolators or a 5il6ert
cell
!-"!
!
/o<
!-1=!
!
/o<
!
!
"!
!
!
!
"!
!
!-"!
!
/o<
!-1=!
!
/o<
!-1=!
!
/o<
!-1=!
!
/o<
"!
!
!
!
"!
!
!-1=!
!
/o<
!-1=!
!
/o<
>7 .7
I#
OUT
I#
OUT
OUT
I#
I#
OUT
.!
.!
.!
.!
.1
.1
.1
.1
44
(ransformer-#oupled !il"ert #ell
(ransformer-#oupled !il"ert #ell
=B1C Modulator =B1C Modulator Mixer Mixer
08DomFins 1#11-2:3 08DomFins 1#11-2:3
Nfmr coupling favoured over
capacitor coupling
(/
<B1C, m-ary <0M modulators
<B1C, m-ary <0M modulators
V
DD
OUT
Q
I
Data
BIT1
Data
BIT2
"! <e?:ee
2h>@e @h%A-e:
IN
.!
.1
I
Q

(
1
.2
&
1
.2
)
(
1
.2
&
1
.2
)
(
1
.2
&
1
.2
)
(
1
.2
&
1
.2
)
>
Q
'I
T
5Q7
>
I
'I
T
5I7
=inary-weighted 90#>2!0
=inary-weighted 90#>2!0
V
DD
LO
.
%
I
B
LO
.
%
#A
!
'1
#A
1
'2
#A
2
'4
#A
&-1
'2
&-1
%'!((&-1
&
& & & &
OUT
Q1 Q2
Q3,4 Q5,6
. =.
/
(2
n
1 )
O
+inary-weighted or +inary-weighted or
segmented +PSR modsD segmented +PSR modsD
in parallel in parallel
O
; ;
3-4 3-4
6inary-weighted gate 6inary-weighted gate
fingers fingers
O
; ;
1)2 1)2
6iased at 6iased at 2D3 m8C 2D3 m8C m m
O
; ;
3-4 3-4
switch from 2 to switch from 2 to
2D3m8C 2D3m8C m m
O
.oad current) impedance .oad current) impedance
remain constant remain constant
V
OUT
=g'
m
W
f
Z
L
V
LO

i =0
n1
(1)
b
i
2
i
= f (V
LO
)g
w
mm-*ave '< 90#>Bhase )otator
mm-*ave '< 90#>Bhase )otator
V
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0Eloranta et al) @SS1-293
0SD =oinigescu #MS-2: IorFshop3
(:
1ummary
1ummary
O Mixer performs the fundamental fre!uency translation Mixer performs the fundamental fre!uency translation
function function
O Switches are critical 6uilding 6locFs for mixers) antenna Switches are critical 6uilding 6locFs for mixers) antenna
switches) phase shifters and modulators switches) phase shifters and modulators
O 5il6ert cell is the most common mixer topology today 5il6ert cell is the most common mixer topology today
O 5il6ert cell employed to realiJe =58) modulators and 5il6ert cell employed to realiJe =58) modulators and
phase shifters phase shifters
O +inary-weighted layout allows fine digital controlCcorrection +inary-weighted layout allows fine digital controlCcorrection
of all mm-wave 6locFs D of all mm-wave 6locFs D