Double-Band Multi-Sandard Radio Frequency Front-End for WLAN applications

Publications

Design Optimization of Radio Frequency Discrete Tuning Varactors

Publication . Moreira Mendes, Luís Miguel; Pires, Eduardo J. Solteiro; Oliveira, Paulo B. de Moura; Machado, José A. Tenreiro; Ferreira, Nuno M. Fonseca; Vaz, João Caldinhas; Rosário, Maria J.

This work presents a procedure to automate the design of Si-integrated radio frequency (RF) discrete tuning varactors (RFDTVs). The synthesis method, which is based on evolutionary algorithms, searches for optimum performance RF switched capacitor array circuits that fulfill the design restrictions. The design algorithm uses the ε-dominance concept and the maximin sorting scheme to provide a set of different solutions (circuits) well distributed along an optimal front in the parameter space (circuit size and component values). Since all the solutions present the same performance, the designer can select the circuit that is best suited to be implemented in a particular integration technology. To assess the performance of the synthesis procedure, several RFDTV circuits, provided by the algorithm, were designed and simulated using a 0.18μm CMOS technology and the Cadence Virtuoso Design Platform. The comparisons between the algorithm and circuit simulation results show that they are very close,poi ting out that the proposed design procedure is a powerful design tool.

2009-04Book part

Restricted access

Design of Radio-Frequency Integrated CMOS Discrete Tuning Varactors Using the Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

Publication . Pires, E. J. Solteiro; Mendes, Luís; Oliveira, P. B. de Moura; Machado, J. A. Tenreiro; Vaz, João C.; Rosário, Maria J.

This paper presents an automated design procedure of radio- frequency integrated CMOS discrete tuning varactors (RFDTVs). This new method use the maximin and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms to promote well distributed non-dominated fronts in the parameters space when a single-objective function is optimized. The fitness function used in the search tool is proportional to the RFDTV quality factor. The outcome of the automated design method comprises a set of RFDTV circuits, all having the same maximum performance. Each solution, which corresponds to one RFDTV circuit, is defined by the number of cells and by the circuit components values. This approach allows the designer to choose among several possible circuits the one that is easier to implement in a given CMOS process. To validate the effectiveness of the synthesis procedure proposed in this paper (PSO-method) comparisons with a design method based on genetic algorithms (GA-method) are presented. A 0.18 μm CMOS radio-frequency binary-weighted differential switched capacitor array (RFDSCA) was designed and implemented (the RFDSCA is one of the possible topologies of the RFDTVs). The results show that both design methods are in very good agreement. However, the PSO technique outperforms the GA-method in the design procedure run time taken to accomplish the same performance results.

2009Book part

Open access

Keywords

cmos receiver,wlan,double-band,multi-standard, Engineering and technology ,Engineering and technology/Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

Funding agency

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.

Funding programme

3599-PPCDT
Concurso para Projectos de I&D em todos os Domínios Científicos - 2006

Funding Award Number

PTDC/EEA-ELC/64368/2006