4G terminals: how are we going to design them?

Fourth-generation wireless communication systems (4G) will have totally different requirements than what front-end designers have been coping with up to now. Designs must be targeted to multi-mode and reconfigurability, leading to the concept of a “software-defined radio”. A large part of such a radio will be integrated into a complex SoC, where the substrate noise coupling problem must be solved. However, for an optimal implementation of the complete system, including e.g. PA, RF filters and antenna, different technologies must be combined in a single package, merging the worlds of microwave ‘s-parameter’ designers and IC ‘spice’ designers. Design and simulation environments efficiently combining the assets of both are needed. At the same time, optimized mixed-signal radio architectures including digital compensation techniques that overcome the limitations and inaccuracies of the analog front-end must be developed. Again, efficiently designing and simulating such mixed a...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: DAC
• Authors: Jan Craninckx, Stéphane Donnay
• Keywords: Computer Architecture, DAC 2003, Fourth-generation Wireless Communication, Front-end Designers, Mixed-signal Radio Architectures