Gabriele Manganaro

A 12 mW Low Power Continuous-Time Bandpass ΔΣ Modulator With 58 dB SNDR and 24 MHz Bandwidth at 200 MHz IF

A continuous-time bandpass ΔΣ modulator (CTBPDSM) is a good solution for software-defined-radio (SDR) since it allows much flexibility in the digital backend and also decreases the complexity of the receiver chain by combining several analog blocks into a single ADC [1]. However, conventional CTBPDSMs suffer from large power consumption and occupy large area. CTBPDSMs based on LC tanks are large, while biquad-based resonators are also large and suffer from high power consumption because two amplifiers are usually required in each resonator. The fact that there are typically twice as many feedback paths compared to a lowpass ΔΣ modulator with the same bandwidth and performance also increases power consumption, area and complexity. This paper presents a power-efficient resonator with a single amplifier and also introduces a simplified architecture utilizing return-to-zero (RZ) and half-clock-delayed return-to-zero (HZ) pulses to solve the power and complexity problems.

Progress update and a look ahead

The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) begins by reporting that in 2012 we have had more than 1100 new paper submissions. In comparison, during the prior four years, TCAS-I constantly received approximately 900-1000 new paper submissions on each year. While all regions increased the number of their submissions, a slightly higher increase from Region 10 (Asia/Pacific) has been noted. We are presently trending at a solid 100 new papers submitted each month and expect a new record of submissions this year. The outstanding challenge, however, is the publication backlog. An accepted paper takes about 4-5 months to be electronically pre-published in IEEExplore and about 9 months and up to 1 year from final decision to be published in print. To address that the CAS Society generously allowed us to increase our 2012 page budget from 2700 pages to 3100 pages. We are continuing our special issue on the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS) as well as the special section on the IEEE Custom Integrated Circuit Conference (CICC) which complements, with more system oriented papers, the Special Issue on the conference published every year in the IEEE JOURNAL ON SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS. You will see them again in the May and the August issues respectively.

High-Performance Digital-to-Analog Converters for Wireless Infrastructure

This chapter discusses the practical application of RF digital-to-analog converters (RF DACs) to communication systems such as cable distribution, wireless communications infrastructure (WIFR) base stations, wireless backhaul, and other such systems. The key specifications that are driving the development of RF DAC technology are reviewed, as are some common radio architectures used to implement those systems. Challenges associated with the design of RF DACs are described, and some trade-offs and possible solutions are discussed. Design considerations of the package and the printed circuit board (PCB) design are reviewed. Measured results of an RF DAC suitable for cable head-end transmitters are presented. The features and performance of RF DACs provide an enabling solution for “Software Defined Radio” (SDR) systems targeted toward multi-carrier, multi-band, multi-standard radio transmitters.

Chapter 1 – Wireless Infrastructure

The recent and dramatic increase in demand for mobile data communication, driven by consumer devices such as smartphones and tablets, is resulting in heightened technical challenges for the wireless infrastructure that lies as a bridge in-between these mobile terminals and the wired network transferring the data between final users. Several challenges arise in the design of the electronics behind the wireless infrastructure access points, or base-stations. This Chapter provides an overview of the present state, challenges and trends in the RF, analog and mixed signal electronics for wireless infrastructure and provides a frame to orient the reader of this book to the following chapters covering the specifics of the technologies involved.

F1: Advanced transmitters for wireless infrastructure

Digital cellular standards have emerged over the past 20 years. As a consequence modern cellular handheld radios make use of highly digitized transceiver architectures. This is in contrast to wireless infrastructure systems where nowadays still traditional analog-intensive radio architecture concepts are used, partly owing to more demanding performance requirements. However, future wireless infrastructures will move to more flexible and digitally-intensive architectures to address the increasing number of standards, modes and bands in cellular communication.

Guest Editorial Special Section on 2010 IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference (CICC 2010)

The ten papers in this special section were selected from the 2010 IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference (CICC) held in San Jose, CA, in September 2010.

Guest Editorial Special Section on 2009 IEEE System-on-Chip Conference

The five papers in this special section are expanded from presentations at the 2009 IEEE System-on-Chip Conference, held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, September 9-11, 2009.

Guest Editorial Special Section on 2009 IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference

The six papers in this special issue were originally presented at the 2009 IEEE Custom Integrated Circuit Conference (CICC), held in San Jose, CA, September 13-16, 2009.

Guest Editorial Special Issue on ISCAS 2008

The 20 papers in this special issue were originally presented at the 2008 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS 2008), held in Seattle, WA, May 18-21, 2008.