RFIC Design and Testing for Wireless Communications

181 Pages·2008·2.35 MB·English

RFIC Design and Testing for Wireless
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A Full-Day Tutorial at VLSI Design & Test Symposium
July 23, 2008
Lecture 1: Introduction
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Foster Dai, [e-mail]
Auburn University, Dept. of ECE, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
1
Abstract
This tutorial discusses design and testing of RF integrated circuits
((RRFFIICC)). IItt iiss ssuuiittaabbllee ffoorr eennggiinneeeerrss wwhhoo ppllaann wwoorrkk oonn RRFFIICC bbuutt ddiidd nnoott
have training in that area, those who work on IC design and wish to
sharpen their understanding of modern RFIC design and test methods,
and engineering managers. It is an abbreviated version of a one-
semestter uniiversiitty course. SSpeciiffiic ttopiics iinclludde semiicondducttor
technologies for RF circuits used in a wireless communications system;
basic characteristics of RF devices – linearity, noise figure, gain; RF
front-end desiggn – LNA,, mixer;; freqquencyy syynthesizer desiggn – pphase
locked loop (PLL), voltage controlled oscillator (VCO); concepts of
analog, mixed signal and RF testing and built-in self-test; distortion –
theory, measurements, test; noise – theory, measurements, test; RFIC
SSOOCCss aanndd tthheeiirr tteessttiinngg.
2
Objectives
(cid:137) To acquire introductory knowledge about integrated circuits
(IC) used in radio frequency (RF) communications systems.
(cid:137) To learn basic concept of design of RFIC.
(cid:137)(cid:137) TToo lleeaarrnn bbaassiicc ccoonncceeppttss ooff RRFFIICC tteessttiinngg..
3
Outline
(cid:137) Introduction to VLSI devices used in RF communications
■ SOC and SIP
■ Functional components
■ Technologies
(cid:137) Design concepts
(cid:137) Test concepts
■ Basic RF measurements
■ Distortion characteristics
■ Noise
■ SOC testing and built-in self-test (BIST)
4
References
1. M. L. Bushnell and V. D. Agrawal, Essentials of Electronic Testing for Digital,
Memory & Mixed-Signal VLSI Circuits, Boston: Springer, 2000.
2. J. Kelly and M. Engelhardt, Advanced Production Testing of RF, SoC, and
SiP Devices, Boston: Artech House, 2007.
33. BB. RRaazzaavvii, RRFF MMiiccrrooeelleeccttrroonniiccss, UUppppeerr SSaaddddllee RRiivveerr, NNeeww JJeerrsseeyy:: PPrreennttiiccee
Hall PTR, 1998.
4. J. Roggers,, C. Plett and F. Dai,, Integgrated Circuit Desiggn for Higgh-Sppeed
Frequency Synthesis, Boston: Artech House, 2006.
5. K. B. Schaub and J. Kelly, Production Testing of RF and System-on-a-chip
Devices for Wireless Communications, Boston: Artech House, 2004.
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Schedule
09:30AM – 10:00AM Lecture 1 Introduction Agrawal
10:00AM – 11:00AM Lecture 2 RF Desiggn I Dai
11:00AM – 11:30AM Break
1111::3300AAMM – 1133::0000PPMM LLeeccttuurree 33 RRFF DDeessiiggnn IIII DDaaii
13:00PM – 14:00PM Lunch
14:00PM – 15:00PM Lectures 4 RF Testing I Agrawal
15:00PM – 15:30PM Break
15:30PM – 17:30PM Lectures 5-7 RF Testing II Agrawal
LLeeccttuurree 88 RRFF BBIISSTT DDaaii
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An RF Communications System
Superheterodyne Transceiver
ADC
00°
)
P
LNA VGA Phase LO S
Splitter D
(

90° r
o
ss
rr
e s
x ADC e
e c
LO
l o
p
r
u P
D
l
DDAACC aa
n
g
0° i
S

PA VGA Phase LO al
t
Splitter i
g
ii
90° D
DAC
RF IF BASEBAND
7
An Alternative RF Communications System
Zero-IF (ZIF) Transceiver
ADC
00°
)
P
LNA Phase LO S
Splitter D
(

90° r
o
rr ss
e s
x ADC e
e c
l o
p
r
u P
D

l
DDAACC aa
n
g
0° i
S

l
Phase LO a
PA t
Splitter i
g
i
90° D
DAC
RF BASEBAND
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Components of an RF System
(cid:137)Radio frequency (cid:137)Mixed-signal
● Duplexer ● ADC: Analog to digital
● LNA: Low noise amplifier converter
● PA: Power amplifier ● DAC: Digital to analog
converter
● RRFF mmiixxeerr
● Local oscillator
(cid:137)Digital
● Filter
● Diggital siggnal pprocessor
(cid:137)Intermediate frequency
(DSP)
● VGA: Variable gain amplifier
● MModdullattor
● Demodulator
● Filter
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Duplexer
(cid:137)TDD: Time-Division (cid:137)FDD: Frequency-
DDuupplleexxiinngg DDiivviissiioonn DDuupplleexxiinngg
● Same Tx and Rx frequency ● Tx to Rx coupling (-50dB)
● RF switch (PIN or GaAs FET) ● More loss (3dB) than TDD
● LLess tthhan 11ddBB lloss ● AAddjjacentt chhannell lleakkage
fr
RRxx
Rx
ft
fr
Tx
Tx
TDD command ft
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