Frequency synthesizer is a key building block of fully-integrated wireless communication systems. Design of a frequency synthesizer requires the understanding of not only the circuit-level but also of the transceiver system-level considerations. This dissertation presents a full cycle of the synthesizer design procedure starting from the interpretation of standards to the testing and measurement results. A new methodology of interpreting communication standards into low level circuit specifications is developed to clarify how the requirements are calculated. A detailed procedure to determine important design variables is presented incorporating the fundamental theory and non-ideal effects such as phase noise and reference spurs. The design procedure can be easily adopted for different applications. A BiCMOS frequency synthesizer compliant for both wireless local area network (WLAN) 802.11a and 802.11b standards is presented as a design example. The two standards are carefully studied according to the proposed standard interpretation method. In order to satisfy stringent requirements due to the multi-standard architecture, an improved adaptive dual-loop phase-locked loop (PLL) architecture is proposed. The proposed improvements include a new loop filter topology with an active capacitance multiplier and a tunable dead zone circuit. These improvements are crucial for monolithic integration of the synthesizer with no off-chip components. The proposed architecture extends the operation limit of conventional integerN type synthesizers by providing better reference spur rejection and settling time performance while making it more suitable for monolithic integration. It opens a new possibility of using an integer-N architecture for various other communication standards, while maintaining the benefit of the integer-N architecture; an optimal performance in area and power consumption.

A frequency synthesizer plays a critical role in defining the performance of wireless systems in terms of measures such as operating frequency range, settling time, phase noise and spur performance, and area/power consumption. As the trend in mobile system design has changed from single-standard systems to multi-standard/multi-application systems, the role of frequency synthesizers has become even more important. As the most popular architecture, a phase-locked loop (PLL)-based frequency synthesizer has been researched over the last several decades; however, many unsolved problems related to the PLL-based synthesizer are still waiting for answers. This dissertation addresses key challenges related to fully integrated PLL-based frequency synthesizers, including the problem of large area consumption of passive components, the inherent reference-spur problem, and the problem of trade-offs between integer-N PLLs and fractional-N PLLs. In this dissertation, new techniques and architectures are presented and developed to address those challenges. First, a low-phase-noise ring oscillator and a capacitor multiplier with a high-multiplication factor efficiently minimize the silicon area of sub-components, and a compact programmable delay-locked loop (DLL)-based frequency multiplier is developed to replace the PLL-based frequency synthesizer. Second, the charge-distribution mechanism for suppressing reference spurs is theoretically analyzed, and an edge interpolation technique for implementing the mechanism is developed. Finally, the concept and the architecture of sub-integer-N PLL is proposed and implemented to remove trade-offs between conventional integer-N PLLs and fractional-N PLLs.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-11-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:01:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_vjs_dr_ilha.pdf: 2584742 bytes, checksum: ae7b3113a196a5051a808dbb371dece4 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Nesta tese, propõe-se um sintetizador de freqüência baseado em phase locked loops (PLL) usando uma arquitetura que utiliza um dual-path loop filter, constituído de componentes passivos e um integrador digital. A proposta é empregar técnicas digitais, para reduzir o custo da implementação do sintetizador de freqüência, e flexibilizar o projeto do loop filter, para possibilitar que a arquitetura opere em uma faixa de freqüência larga de operação e com redução de tons espúrios. O loop filter digital é constituído de um contador crescente/ decrescente cujo clock é proveniente da amostragem da diferença de fase de entrada. As técnicas digitais aplicadas ao loop filter se baseiam em alterações da operação do contador, em tempos pré-estabelecidos, os quais são controlados digitalmente. Essas técnicas possibilitam reduzir o tempo de estabelecimento do PLL ao mesmo tempo em que problemas de estabilidade são resolvidos. No desenvolvimento da técnica de dual-path foi realizado o estudo de sua estabilidade, primeiramente, considerando a aproximação do PLL para um sistema linear e depois usando controle digital. Nesse estudo foram deduzidas as equações do sistema, no domínio contínuo e discreto, tanto para o projeto da estabilidade, quanto para descrever o comportamento do PLL. A metodologia top-down é usada no projeto do circuito integrado. As simulações em nível de sistema são usadas, primeiramente, para as criações das técnicas e posteriormente para a verificação do seu comportamento, usando modelos calibrados com os blocos projetados em nível de transistor. O circuito integrado é proposto para ser aplicado em identificação por rádio freqüência (RFID) na banda de UHF (Ultra High Frequency), usando multi-standard, e deve operar na faixa de 850 MHz a 1010 MHz. O sintetizador de freqüência foi projetado na tecnologia CMOS... / In this thesis, a frequency synthesizers phase locked loops (PLL) based with an architecture that uses a dual-path loop filter consisting of passive components and a digital integrator are proposed. The objective is to employ digital techniques to reduce the implementation cost and get loop filter design flexibility to enable the architecture to have a large tuning range operation and spurious reduction. The digital loop filter is based in an up/down counter where the phase difference is sampled to generate the clock of the counter. The techniques applied in the digital path are based in digitally controlled changes in the counter operation in predefined time points. These techniques provide PLL settling time reductions whiling the stability issues are solved. The stability study of the proposed dual path has been developed. First the linear system approximation for the PLL has been assumed and then employing digital control. The continuous and discrete time equations of architecture were derived in that study applied to stability design as well as to describe the architecture behavior. The top-down methodology has been applied to the integrated circuit design. In the beginning, the system level simulations are used for the techniques creation and then the behavioral models that were calibrated with transistor level blocks are simulated. The application of the circuit is proposed to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) using UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band for multi-standards application and will operate in range of 850 MHz to 1010 MHz. The proposed frequency synthesizer has been designed in the AMS 0.35 μm CMOS technology with 2V power supply. A 300 μs of settling time and 140 Hz of resolution was obtained in simulations. The proposed frequency synthesizer have low complexity and shown a reference noise suppression about 45.6 dB better than the conventional architecture

Osciladores Controlados por Tensão (VCOs - Voltage-Controlled Oscillators) são circuitos de grande importância em sistemas de comunicação por radiofrequência atuais. Muitos trabalhos de pesquisa recentes têm focado no desenvolvimento de VCOs para aplicações em uma faixa muito grande de frequências (isto é, suportando amplo tunning range). O desenvolvimento de VCOs com uma ampla faixa de sintonia tem motivação na abertura de bandas de frequência, que até pouco tempo estavam licenciadas apenas para usos específicos, porém agora estão também abertas para a utilização de sistemas de rádios cognitivos. A ideia é que o rádio cognitivo tenha recursos para detectar se um canal (ou faixa de frequência) está sendo usado e, em caso de o canal não estar sendo usado, o rádio cognitivo deve se reconfigurar para operar nesse canal. Desse modo, os rádios cognitivos devem possuir um alto grau de reconfigurabilidade, de forma que possam operar em uma faixa muito ampla de frequências. Esse requisito exige o uso de de VCOs com um amplo tunning range. Este trabalho apresenta um projeto completo de um LC-VCO com uma larga faixa de frequência de operação (widedand). Um amplo tunning range foi obtido a partir do chaveamento (ou programação) do valor da capacitância total do tanque-LC do VCO, gerando assim várias sub-bandas de frequência. O ganho do VCO (KVCO) manteve-se com pequenas variações para todas as subbandas de frequência, com um valor médio de 88.6MHz, sendo 112MHz e 80MHz os valores máximo e mínimo, respectivamente. O ruído de fase variou de -118.4dBc/Hz a -107.4dBc/Hz para as portadores em 3.7GHz e 8.1GHz, respectivamente, enquanto que a potência dissipada do circuito LC-VCO variou de 1.8mW a 5.6mW para todo o tunning range. Para a figura de mérito power-frequency-tunning-normalized (FOMPFTN), os valores obtidos foram na faixa 3.1dB e 11.2dB, comparáveis com a maioria dos trabalhos publicados na área. / Voltage-Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) are very important circuits in current radio frequency communication systems. Much research has been focused recently on developing wideband VCOs in CMOS. The motivation on wideband VCOs is based on the opening of frequency bands, which until recently were licensed for specific uses, for use by cognitive radio systems. The idea is that cognitive radio must have the ability to detect whether a channel (or frequency band) is being used and if the channel is not being used, the cognitive radio must reconfigure itself to operate on that channel. Thus, cognitive radios should possess a high degree of reconfigurability, so that they can operate in a very wide frequency range. This requires the use of VCOs with a wide tunning range. This work presents a complete design of a LC-VCO with a wide operating frequency range (widedand). A wide tunning range has been obtained from the switching (or programming) the value of the total capacitance of the LC-tank of the VCO, thereby generating multiple frequency sub-bands. The VCO gain (KVCO) was maintained with small variations for all frequency sub-bands, with an average value of 88.6MHz, with 80MHz and 112MHz for the minimum and maximum values, respectively. The phase noise ranged from -118.4dBc/Hz to -107.4dBc/Hz for carriers at 3.7GHz and 8.1GHz, respectively, while the power dissipated in the LC-VCO circuit ranged from 1.8mW to 5.6mW for all tunning range. For the figure of merit power-frequency-tuning-normalized (FOMPFTN), the results were in the 3.1dB to 11.2dB range, comparable to most recently published works.

Osciladores Controlados por Tensão (VCOs - Voltage-Controlled Oscillators) são circuitos de grande importância em sistemas de comunicação por radiofrequência atuais. Muitos trabalhos de pesquisa recentes têm focado no desenvolvimento de VCOs para aplicações em uma faixa muito grande de frequências (isto é, suportando amplo tunning range). O desenvolvimento de VCOs com uma ampla faixa de sintonia tem motivação na abertura de bandas de frequência, que até pouco tempo estavam licenciadas apenas para usos específicos, porém agora estão também abertas para a utilização de sistemas de rádios cognitivos. A ideia é que o rádio cognitivo tenha recursos para detectar se um canal (ou faixa de frequência) está sendo usado e, em caso de o canal não estar sendo usado, o rádio cognitivo deve se reconfigurar para operar nesse canal. Desse modo, os rádios cognitivos devem possuir um alto grau de reconfigurabilidade, de forma que possam operar em uma faixa muito ampla de frequências. Esse requisito exige o uso de de VCOs com um amplo tunning range. Este trabalho apresenta um projeto completo de um LC-VCO com uma larga faixa de frequência de operação (widedand). Um amplo tunning range foi obtido a partir do chaveamento (ou programação) do valor da capacitância total do tanque-LC do VCO, gerando assim várias sub-bandas de frequência. O ganho do VCO (KVCO) manteve-se com pequenas variações para todas as subbandas de frequência, com um valor médio de 88.6MHz, sendo 112MHz e 80MHz os valores máximo e mínimo, respectivamente. O ruído de fase variou de -118.4dBc/Hz a -107.4dBc/Hz para as portadores em 3.7GHz e 8.1GHz, respectivamente, enquanto que a potência dissipada do circuito LC-VCO variou de 1.8mW a 5.6mW para todo o tunning range. Para a figura de mérito power-frequency-tunning-normalized (FOMPFTN), os valores obtidos foram na faixa 3.1dB e 11.2dB, comparáveis com a maioria dos trabalhos publicados na área. / Voltage-Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) are very important circuits in current radio frequency communication systems. Much research has been focused recently on developing wideband VCOs in CMOS. The motivation on wideband VCOs is based on the opening of frequency bands, which until recently were licensed for specific uses, for use by cognitive radio systems. The idea is that cognitive radio must have the ability to detect whether a channel (or frequency band) is being used and if the channel is not being used, the cognitive radio must reconfigure itself to operate on that channel. Thus, cognitive radios should possess a high degree of reconfigurability, so that they can operate in a very wide frequency range. This requires the use of VCOs with a wide tunning range. This work presents a complete design of a LC-VCO with a wide operating frequency range (widedand). A wide tunning range has been obtained from the switching (or programming) the value of the total capacitance of the LC-tank of the VCO, thereby generating multiple frequency sub-bands. The VCO gain (KVCO) was maintained with small variations for all frequency sub-bands, with an average value of 88.6MHz, with 80MHz and 112MHz for the minimum and maximum values, respectively. The phase noise ranged from -118.4dBc/Hz to -107.4dBc/Hz for carriers at 3.7GHz and 8.1GHz, respectively, while the power dissipated in the LC-VCO circuit ranged from 1.8mW to 5.6mW for all tunning range. For the figure of merit power-frequency-tuning-normalized (FOMPFTN), the results were in the 3.1dB to 11.2dB range, comparable to most recently published works.

No description available.

Emerging technologies such as Bluetooth and 802.11b (Wi-Fi) have fuelled the growth of the short-range communication industry. Bluetooth, the leading WPAN (wireless personal area network) technology, was designed primarily for cable replacement applications. The first generation Bluetooth products are focused on providing low-cost radio connections among personal electronic devices. In the WLAN (wireless local area network) arena, Wi-Fi appears to be the superior product. Wi-Fi is designed for high speed internet access, with higher radio power and longer distances. Both technologies use the same 2.4GHz ISM band. The differences between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi standard features lead to a natural partitioning of applications. Nowadays, many electronics devices such as laptops and PDAs, support both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi standards to cover a wider range of applications. The cost of supporting both standards, however, is a major concern. Therefore, a dual-mode transceiver is essential to keep the size and cost of such system transceivers at a minimum. A fully integrated low-IF Bluetooth receiver is designed and implemented in a low cost, main stream 0.35um CMOS technology. The system includes the RF front end, frequency synthesizer and baseband blocks. It has -82dBm sensitivity and draws 65mA current. This project involved 6 Ph.D. students and I was in charge of the design of the channel selection complex filter is designed. In the Bluetooth transmitter, a frequency modulator with fine frequency steps is needed to generate the GFSK signal that has +/-160kHz frequency deviation. A low power ROM-less direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) is designed to implement the frequency modulation. The DDFS can be used for any frequency or phase modulation communication systems that require fast frequency switching with fine frequency steps. Another contribution is the implementation of a dual-mode 802.11b/Bluetooth receiver in IBM 0.25um BiCMOS process. Direct-conversion architecture was used for both standards to achieve maximum level of integration and block sharing. I was honored to lead the efforts of 7 Ph.D. students in this project. I was responsible for system level design as well as the design of the variable gain amplifier. The receiver chip consumes 45.6/41.3mA and the sensitivity is -86/-91dBm.

Orientador: Nobuo Oki / Banca: Suely Cunha Amaro Mantovani / Banca: Jozué Vieira Filho / Banca: Marcelo Arturo Jara Perez / Banca: Paulo Augusto Dal fabbro / Resumo: Nesta tese, propõe-se um sintetizador de freqüência baseado em phase locked loops (PLL) usando uma arquitetura que utiliza um dual-path loop filter, constituído de componentes passivos e um integrador digital. A proposta é empregar técnicas digitais, para reduzir o custo da implementação do sintetizador de freqüência, e flexibilizar o projeto do loop filter, para possibilitar que a arquitetura opere em uma faixa de freqüência larga de operação e com redução de tons espúrios. O loop filter digital é constituído de um contador crescente/ decrescente cujo clock é proveniente da amostragem da diferença de fase de entrada. As técnicas digitais aplicadas ao loop filter se baseiam em alterações da operação do contador, em tempos pré-estabelecidos, os quais são controlados digitalmente. Essas técnicas possibilitam reduzir o tempo de estabelecimento do PLL ao mesmo tempo em que problemas de estabilidade são resolvidos. No desenvolvimento da técnica de dual-path foi realizado o estudo de sua estabilidade, primeiramente, considerando a aproximação do PLL para um sistema linear e depois usando controle digital. Nesse estudo foram deduzidas as equações do sistema, no domínio contínuo e discreto, tanto para o projeto da estabilidade, quanto para descrever o comportamento do PLL. A metodologia top-down é usada no projeto do circuito integrado. As simulações em nível de sistema são usadas, primeiramente, para as criações das técnicas e posteriormente para a verificação do seu comportamento, usando modelos calibrados com os blocos projetados em nível de transistor. O circuito integrado é proposto para ser aplicado em identificação por rádio freqüência (RFID) na banda de UHF (Ultra High Frequency), usando multi-standard, e deve operar na faixa de 850 MHz a 1010 MHz. O sintetizador de freqüência foi projetado na tecnologia CMOS... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this thesis, a frequency synthesizers phase locked loops (PLL) based with an architecture that uses a dual-path loop filter consisting of passive components and a digital integrator are proposed. The objective is to employ digital techniques to reduce the implementation cost and get loop filter design flexibility to enable the architecture to have a large tuning range operation and spurious reduction. The digital loop filter is based in an up/down counter where the phase difference is sampled to generate the clock of the counter. The techniques applied in the digital path are based in digitally controlled changes in the counter operation in predefined time points. These techniques provide PLL settling time reductions whiling the stability issues are solved. The stability study of the proposed dual path has been developed. First the linear system approximation for the PLL has been assumed and then employing digital control. The continuous and discrete time equations of architecture were derived in that study applied to stability design as well as to describe the architecture behavior. The top-down methodology has been applied to the integrated circuit design. In the beginning, the system level simulations are used for the techniques creation and then the behavioral models that were calibrated with transistor level blocks are simulated. The application of the circuit is proposed to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) using UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band for multi-standards application and will operate in range of 850 MHz to 1010 MHz. The proposed frequency synthesizer has been designed in the AMS 0.35 μm CMOS technology with 2V power supply. A 300 μs of settling time and 140 Hz of resolution was obtained in simulations. The proposed frequency synthesizer have low complexity and shown a reference noise suppression about 45.6 dB better than the conventional architecture / Doutor

Direct Digital Frequency Synthesis (DDFS) is a method of producing an analog waveform, usually a sine wave, by generating a time varying signal in digital form a then performing a digital to analog conversion. Because operations within a DDFS device are primarily digital, it can offer fast switching between output frequencies, fine frequency resolution and operation over a broad spectrum of frequencies.

This thesis deals with problematics of direct frequency digital synthesis. Principle and basic characteristics of this method of signal generating are explained in the introduction. It considers impact on purity of spectrum of output signal. Next chapter considers conception of the generator, namely choice of DDFS circuit and other basic blocks. Design of frequency multiplier, reconstruction filter and power amplifier are included. It also deals with choice of control circuit. The device is controlled by computer through USB. There was created user programme for this purpose. Measured characteristics are stated at the end of the work. This work includes schemes of connetions of designed parts including simulations and measured parameters.