An Ultra Wideband Low Complexity Circuit Transceiver Architecture for Sensor Networks

Abstract

The architecture of a low-power, low-complexity ultra wideband (UWB) impulse radio (IR) transceiver circuit, aimed for low data rate, low-cost applications, is presented. The UWB-ER receiver is based on a non-coherent, energy-based approach, which makes it largely independent of the shape of the transmit waveform and robust to multipath channels. Both transmitter and receiver functionalities are included in the circuit presented. The circuits are designed for 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS IC technology, and the top-level layout of the transmitter is given. The UWB pulse generator produces a Gaussian monocycle of 340 ps typical width. The UWB-IR transmitter IC occupies a total area of 0.16 mm/sup 2/, and consumes 20 mW with a 3.3 V supply.