Studies on Selected Topics in Radio Frequency Digital-to-Analog Converters

Studies on Selected Topics in Radio Frequency Digital-to-Analog Converters
Author: Mohammad Reza Sadeghifar
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
Total Pages: 137
Release: 2019-10-14
Genre:
ISBN: 9176850307

The network latency in fifth generation mobile technology (5G) will be around one millisecond which is much lower than in 4G technology. This significantly faster response time together with higher information capacity and ultra-reliable communication in 5G technology will pave the way for future innovations in a smart and connected society. This new 5G network should be built on a reasonable wireless infrastructure and 5G radio base-stations that can be vastly deployed. That is, while the electrical specification of a radio base-station in 5G should be met in order to have the network functioning, the size, weight and power consumption of the radio system should be optimized to be able to commercially deploy these radios in a huge network. As the number of antenna elements increases in massive multiple-input multiple-output based radios such as in 5G, designing true multi-band base-station radios, with efficient physical size, power consumption and cost in emerging cellular bands especially in mid-bands (frequencies up to 10~GHz), is becoming a challenge. This demands a hard integration of radio components; particularly the radio's digital application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) with high-performance energy-efficient multi-band data converters. In this dissertation radio frequency digital-to-analog converter (RF DAC) and semi-digital finite-impulse response (FIR) filter digital-to-analog converter has been studied. Different techniques are used in these structures to improve the transmitter's overall performance. In the RF DAC part, a radio frequency digital-to-analog converter solution is presented, which is capable of monolithic integration into today's digital ASIC due to its digital-in-nature architecture, while fulfills the stringent requirements of cellular network radio base station linearity and bandwidth. A voltage-mode conversion method is used as output stage, and configurable mixing logic is employed in the data path to create a higher frequency lobe and utilize the output signal in the first or the second Nyquist zone and hence achieving output frequencies up to the sample rate. In the semi-digital FIR part, optimization problem formulation for semi-digital FIR digital-to-analog converter is investigated. Magnitude and energy metrics with variable coefficient precision are defined for cascaded digital Sigma-Delta modulators, semi-digital FIR filter, and Sinc roll-off frequency response of the DAC. A set of analog metrics as hardware cost is also defined to be included in semi-digital FIR DAC optimization problem formulation. It is shown that hardware cost of the semi-digital FIR DAC, can be reduced by introducing flexible coefficient precision in filter optimization while the semi-digital FIR DAC is not over-designed either. Different use cases are selected to demonstrate the optimization problem formulations. A combination of magnitude metric, energy metric, coefficient precision and analog metric are used in different use cases of the optimization problem formulation and solved to find out the optimum set of analog FIR taps. Moreover, a direct digital-to-RF converter (DRFC) is presented in this thesis where a semi-digital FIR topology utilizes voltage-mode RF DAC cells to synthesize spectrally clean signals at RF frequencies. Due to its digital-in-nature design, the DRFC benefits from technology scaling and can be monolithically integrated into advance digital VLSI systems. A fourth-order single-bit quantizer bandpass digital Sigma-Delta modulator is used preceding the DRFC, resulting in a high in-band signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The out-of-band spectrally-shaped quantization noise is attenuated by an embedded semi-digital FIR filter. The RF output frequencies are synthesized by a configurable voltage-mode RF DAC solution with a high linearity performance. A compensation technique to cancel the code-dependent supply current variation in voltage-mode RF DAC for radio frequency direct digital frequency synthesizer is also presented in this dissertation and is studied analytically. The voltage-mode RF DAC and the compensation technique are mathematically modeled and system-level simulation is performed to support the analytical discussion.

Radio-Frequency Digital-to-Analog Converters

Radio-Frequency Digital-to-Analog Converters
Author: Morteza S Alavi
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2016-11-18
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0128025034

With the proliferation of wireless networks, there is a need for more compact, low-cost, power efficient transmitters that are capable of supporting the various communication standards, including Bluetooth, WLAN, GSM/EDGE, WCDMA and 4G of 3GPP cellular. This book describes a novel idea of RF digital-to-analog converters (RFDAC) and demonstrates how they can realize all-digital, fully-integrated RF transmitters that support all the current multi-mode and multi-band communication standards. With this book the reader will: - Understand the challenges of realizing a universal CMOS RF transmitter - Recognize the design issues and the advantages and disadvantages related to analog and digital transmitter architectures - Master designing an RF transmitter from system level modeling techniques down to circuit designs and their related layout know-hows - Grasp digital polar and I/Q calibration techniques as well as the digital predistortion approaches - Learn how to generate appropriate digital I/Q baseband signals in order to apply them to the test chip and measure the RF-DAC performance. - Highlights the benefits and implementation challenges of software-defined transmitters using CMOS technology - Includes various types of analog and digital RF transmitter architectures for wireless applications - Presents an all-digital polar RFDAC transmitter architecture and describes in detail its implementation - Presents a new all-digital I/Q RFDAC transmitter architecture and its implementation - Provides comprehensive design techniques from system level to circuit level - Introduces several digital predistortion techniques which can be used in RF transmitters - Describes the entire flow of system modeling, circuit simulation, layout techniques and the measurement process

Advances in Analog and RF IC Design for Wireless Communication Systems

Advances in Analog and RF IC Design for Wireless Communication Systems
Author: Gabriele Manganaro
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2013-05-13
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0123983320

Advances in Analog and RF IC Design for Wireless Communication Systems gives technical introductions to the latest and most significant topics in the area of circuit design of analog/RF ICs for wireless communication systems, emphasizing wireless infrastructure rather than handsets. The book ranges from very high performance circuits for complex wireless infrastructure systems to selected highly integrated systems for handsets and mobile devices. Coverage includes power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, modulators, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and even single-chip radios. This book offers a quick grasp of emerging research topics in RF integrated circuit design and their potential applications, with brief introductions to key topics followed by references to specialist papers for further reading. All of the chapters, compiled by editors well known in their field, have been authored by renowned experts in the subject. Each includes a complete introduction, followed by the relevant most significant and recent results on the topic at hand. This book gives researchers in industry and universities a quick grasp of the most important developments in analog and RF integrated circuit design. - Emerging research topics in RF IC design and its potential application - Case studies and practical implementation examples - Covers fundamental building blocks of a cellular base station system and satellite infrastructure - Insights from the experts on the design and the technology trade-offs, the challenges and open questions they often face - References to specialist papers for further reading

Software Defined Radio

Software Defined Radio
Author: Walter H.W. Tuttlebee
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 440
Release: 2003-04-11
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0470852631

Software defined radio (SDR) is one of the most important topics of research, and indeed development, in the area of mobile and personal communications. SDR is viewed as an enabler of global roaming and as a unique platform for the rapid introduction of new services into existing live networks. It therefore promises mobile communication networks a major increase in flexibility and capability. SDR brings together two key technologies of the last decade - digital radio and downloadable software. It encompasses not only reconfiguration of the air interface parameters of handset and basestation products but also the whole mobile network, to facilitate the dynamic introduction of new functionality and mass-customised applications to the user's terminal, post-purchase. This edited book, contributed by internationally respected researchers and industry practitioners, describes the current technological status of radio frequency design, data conversion, reconfigurable signal processing hardware, and software issues at all levels of the protocol stack and network. The book provides a holistic treatment of SDR addressing the full breadth of relevant technologies - radio frequency design, signal processing and software - at all levels. As such it provides a solid grounding for a new generation of wireless engineers for whom radio design in future will assume dynamic flexibility as a given. In particular it explores * The unique demands of SDR upon the RF subsystem and their implications for front end design methodologies * The recent concepts of the 'digital front end' and 'parametrization' * The role and key influence of data conversion technologies and devices within software radio, essential to robust product design * The evolution of signal processing technologies, describing new architectural approaches * Requirements and options for software download * Advances in 'soft' protocols and 'on-the-fly' software reconfiguration * Management of terminal reconfiguration and its network implications * The concepts of the waveform description language The book also includes coverage of * Potential breakthrough technologies, such as superconducting RSFQ technology and the possible future role of MEMS in RF circuitry * Competing approaches, eg all-software radios implemented on commodity computing vs advanced processing architectures that dynamically optimise their configuration to match the algorithm requirements at a point in time The book opens with an introductory chapter by Stephen Blust, Chair of the ITU-R WP8F Committee and Chair of the SDR Forum presenting a framework for SDR, in terms of definitions, evolutionary perspectives, introductory timescales and regulation. Suitable for today's engineers, technical staff and researchers within the wireless industry, the book will also appeal to marketing and commercial managers who need to understand the basics and potential of the technology for future product development. Its balance of industrial and academic contributors also makes it suitable as a text for graduate and post-graduate courses aiming to prepare the next generation of wireless engineers.

Direct Conversion Receivers in Wide-Band Systems

Direct Conversion Receivers in Wide-Band Systems
Author: Aarno Pärssinen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2006-04-18
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0306475456

This book is based on my doctoral thesis at the Helsinki University of Technology. Several different projects during five years guided me from the basics of the RF IC design to the implementations of highly integrated radio receiver chips. Sharing time and effort between IC and system issues is not always straightforward. I have been lucky to follow both topics and share experiences with diligent and enthusiastic people having different specialities. As a result, this book will cover a wide range of different topics needed in the design of highly integrated radio receivers. Experiences from the first receiver prototypes for the third generation cellular systems form the basis of this book. Most of the issues are directly related to the early proposals of European and Japanese standardization organizations. For example, the chip rate was originally set to 4. 096 Mcps in a wide-band CDMA channel. I have kept that number in the book in most of the examples although it has been later changed to 3. 84 Mcps. I hope that the readers will accept that and the possible other incompabilities to the latest specifications. At least in the research phase the changes even in the most essential requirements are definitely not a rare incident and IC designers should be able to react and modify their designs as soon as they can.

Advances in Solid State Circuit Technologies

Advances in Solid State Circuit Technologies
Author: Paul Chu
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 458
Release: 2010-04-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9533070862

This book brings together contributions from experts in the fields to describe the current status of important topics in solid-state circuit technologies. It consists of 20 chapters which are grouped under the following categories: general information, circuits and devices, materials, and characterization techniques. These chapters have been written by renowned experts in the respective fields making this book valuable to the integrated circuits and materials science communities. It is intended for a diverse readership including electrical engineers and material scientists in the industry and academic institutions. Readers will be able to familiarize themselves with the latest technologies in the various fields.

Performance Optimization Techniques in Analog, Mixed-Signal, and Radio-Frequency Circuit Design

Performance Optimization Techniques in Analog, Mixed-Signal, and Radio-Frequency Circuit Design
Author: Fakhfakh, Mourad
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 488
Release: 2014-10-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1466666285

Improving the performance of existing technologies has always been a focal practice in the development of computational systems. However, as circuitry is becoming more complex, conventional techniques are becoming outdated and new research methodologies are being implemented by designers. Performance Optimization Techniques in Analog, Mix-Signal, and Radio-Frequency Circuit Design features recent advances in the engineering of integrated systems with prominence placed on methods for maximizing the functionality of these systems. This book emphasizes prospective trends in the field and is an essential reference source for researchers, practitioners, engineers, and technology designers interested in emerging research and techniques in the performance optimization of different circuit designs.

Single and Multi-Chip Microcontroller Interfacing

Single and Multi-Chip Microcontroller Interfacing
Author: G. Jack Lipovski
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 513
Release: 1999-04-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0080517269

Single and Multi-Chip Microcontroller Interfacing teaches the principles of designing and programming microcontrollers that will be used in a wide variety of electronic and mechanical devices, machines and systems. Applications are wide, ranging from controlling an automobile to measuring, controlling and displaying your home's temperature. The book utilizes the new Motorola 68Hc12 microcontroller as the primary example throughout. This new microprocessor is the latest development in mid-level 16-bit microcontrollers that will be used world wide due to its low cost and ease of programming. The book features the most popular programming languages--C and C++--in describing basic and advanced techniques. The 68Hc12 will replace many of the existing 8-bit microprocessors currently used in applications and teaching. - First book available on the new Motorola 68HC12 microcontroller - Thorough discussion of C and C++ programming of I/O ports and synchronization mechanisms - Concrete discussion of applications of the popular, readily available, inexpensive and well-designed 68HC12 - Many examples and over 200 problems at the end of each chapters - Separate sections describing object-oriented interfacing This book is ideal for professional engineers as well as students in university courses in micro-processors/microcontrollers in departments of electrical engineering, computer engineering or computer science; It is also appropriate for advanced technical school courses. The book will also be a valuable professional reference for electrical engineers and mechanical engineers in industry working with the design of electronic and electromechanical devices and systems

Signal Digitization and Reconstruction in Digital Radios

Signal Digitization and Reconstruction in Digital Radios
Author: Yefim Poberezhskiy
Publisher: Artech House
Total Pages: 343
Release: 2018-12-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1630814016

This comprehensive resource provides the latest information on digitization and reconstruction (D&R) of analog signals in digital radios. Readers learn how to conduct comprehensive analysis, concisely describe the major signal processing procedures carried out in the radios, and demonstrate the dependence of these procedures on the quality of D&R. The book presents and analyzes the most promising and theoretically sound ways to improve the characteristics of D&R circuits and illustrate the influence of these improvements on the capabilities of digital radios. The book is intended to bridge the gap that exists between theorists and practical engineers developing D&R techniques by introducing new signal transmission and reception methods that can effectively utilize the unique capabilities offered by novel digitization and reconstruction techniques.