Modern deep-submicron CMOS processes enable the use of switched capacitor techniques to convert the RF continuous-time input of an RF radio into a discrete-time signal using discrete-time signal processing techniques. The discrete-time output of this type of receiver front-end requires a different measurement methodology than typically used in purely continuous-time systems. A mixed discrete-time/continuous-time measurement setup is necessary to analyze the system's linear and nonlinear behavior. This paper presents measurement methodologies to characterize both the linear and the nonlinear behavior of multi-rate discrete-time sampling mixers. It presents single and multi-tone measurements of a discrete-time RF receiver front-end designed in a 90nm digital CMOS process. Reduction of the quantization noise floor in the digital oscilloscope is crucial to resolve low-power intermodulation tones. Ways to improve the measurement setup's SNR are shown. The measurement results were validated with transistor-level simulations of the device under test.
Geis, A, Vandersteen, G & Rolain, Y 2008, Nonlinear Distortion Measurements of Discrete-Time Radio Receivers. in I2MTC/2008, Proceedings of the IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, Victoria, Vancouver, Canada, May 12-15, 2008. pp. 1572-1576, Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden, 21/09/09.
Geis, A., Vandersteen, G., & Rolain, Y. (2008). Nonlinear Distortion Measurements of Discrete-Time Radio Receivers. In I2MTC/2008, Proceedings of the IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, Victoria, Vancouver, Canada, May 12-15, 2008 (pp. 1572-1576)
@inproceedings{2f2fa9a1acb34257baf7cb8712ade122,
title = "Nonlinear Distortion Measurements of Discrete-Time Radio Receivers",
abstract = "Modern deep-submicron CMOS processes enable the use of switched capacitor techniques to convert the RF continuous-time input of an RF radio into a discrete-time signal using discrete-time signal processing techniques. The discrete-time output of this type of receiver front-end requires a different measurement methodology than typically used in purely continuous-time systems. A mixed discrete-time/continuous-time measurement setup is necessary to analyze the system's linear and nonlinear behavior. This paper presents measurement methodologies to characterize both the linear and the nonlinear behavior of multi-rate discrete-time sampling mixers. It presents single and multi-tone measurements of a discrete-time RF receiver front-end designed in a 90nm digital CMOS process. Reduction of the quantization noise floor in the digital oscilloscope is crucial to resolve low-power intermodulation tones. Ways to improve the measurement setup's SNR are shown. The measurement results were validated with transistor-level simulations of the device under test.",
keywords = "RF sampling, Discrete-time, non-linear distortion, multi-sine",
author = "Arnd Geis and Gerd Vandersteen and Yves Rolain",
year = "2008",
month = may,
day = "12",
language = "English",
isbn = "1-4244-1541-1",
pages = "1572--1576",
booktitle = "I2MTC/2008, Proceedings of the IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, Victoria, Vancouver, Canada, May 12-15, 2008",
note = "Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet ; Conference date: 21-09-2009 Through 25-09-2009",
}