Self-Calibrating Embedded RF Down-Conversion Mixers

Abstract

This paper proposes a self-calibrating approach for embedded RF down-conversion mixers. In the proposed approach, the output of the RF mixer is analyzed by using on-chip resources for testing and the mixer performs self-compensation for parametric defects using tuning knobs. The tuning knobs enable the RF mixer to self-calibrate for multi-parameter variations induced due to process variability. Using this methodology, it is demonstrated that performance compensation of RF down-conversion mixers can be performed simultaneously for critical specifications such as Gain and 1-dB compression point (P1dB).