Low complexity, 165 mu W, 5 Mbit/s wideband radio front-end with range of several meters

McGregor, I., Whyte, G. and Elgaid, K. (2009) Low complexity, 165 mu W, 5 Mbit/s wideband radio front-end with range of several meters. In: IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest: 7-12 June 2009, Boston, MA, USA. IEEE Computer Society: Piscataway, N.J., USA, pp. 397-400. ISBN 9781424428038 (doi: 10.1109/MWSYM.2009.5165717)

Abstract

This paper details the design, implementation, simulation and measurement of an ultra low power, low complexity, wideband RF front end. The RF transceiver front end is suitable for short range, relatively high data rate applications (5 Mbit/s). The transmitter consists of an SRD - based pulse generator. The pulse generator is triggered by bursts of low frequency carrier. The narrow bursts of carrier are used to signal a data '1' and cause the pulse generator to output a series of narrow, wide bandwidth, impulses. The output RF impulses are sent through a pair of wideband, high gain, Vivaldi antennas. The received pulses are envelope detected by a wideband active FET detector. A SPDT FET-based switch is used to allow antenna sharing and consumes approximately 15 mu W. The transmitter is passive and requires a drive signal of 0.5 mW. The overall power consumption of the receiver is 150 mu W. A non linear model running inside ADS is used to model the SRD-based pulse generator. The transceiver is the lowest complexity, lowest power wideband RF front end published and has a range of several meters.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Elgaid, Dr Khaled and McGregor, Dr Ian
• Authors: McGregor, I., Whyte, G., and Elgaid, K.
• Subjects: T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Publisher: IEEE Computer Society
• ISBN: 9781424428038