Project Proposal:
Flexible Radio Front-end
using RF sampling technique
Acreo proposes to start a project in the area of Flexible Radios (or Software Defined Radios- SDR) using RF sampling technique.
This technique promises to provide an agile, robust HW platform for RF front-ends, able to support a multitude of existing and non-existing standards. For an OEM this means new opportunities in creating products that simultaneously support several communication protocols, faster development times and shorter time to market. The robustness also makes it insensitive to process variations and is therefore suitable for porting between processes and through process generations.
The project would be partly based on recent research results [1], [2] and IP and experience from previous RFIC development programs. Close co-operation with established research groups in the field is also expected.
A multi-phase project plan covering 2-3 years and 3 tape-outs is proposed, where the HW is gradually developed from the core blocks such as the sampler and decimating filter to a complete transceiver including an ADC, PLL and transmitters. A demonstration of the developed hardware in a selected application will also form an important objective of the project.
A pre-study on a multi-ISM application (Bluetooth, WLAN and ZigBee) has been made which clearly indicates the feasibility of the technology. However, to start the project, more information and feedback from industry on plausible applications and markets is needed.
Acreo is currently searching for industry partners interested in taking part in this exciting project.
[1] D. Jakonis, K. Folkesson, C. Svensson, J. Dabrowski, P. Eriksson, “An RF sampling downconversion filter for a receiver front-end”, Proceedings of MWSCAS, pp. I-165-I-168, Hiroshima, Japan, 2004.
[2] D. Jakonis, K. Folkesson, J. Dabrowski, P. Eriksson, C. Svensson, “A 2.4-GHz RF sampling receiver front-end in 0.18-um CMOS”, accepted to IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, 2005.