Inductorless very small 4.6pJ/pulse 7th derivative pulse generator for IR-UWB

This paper presents a fully integrated low-power 7^th derivative Gaussian pulse generator for UWB applications designed in 180 nm CMOS technology. We propose a simple architecture based on parallel pulse generator blocks that produce Gaussian pulses, and a pulse shaping stage which adjusts each pulse amplitude individually. The whole circuit has been simulated and the results have demonstrated the circuit capability to operate like an impulse generator. The implemented circuit generates pulse envelopes of 944 ps width and maximum amplitude of 120 mVpp, an average power of 3.8 mW/pulse at 100 MHz PRF and about energy of 4.6 pJ/pulse. The circuit does not need any inductor leading to a very small area; therefore, the complete circuit occupies only 73×75 μm² (without PADs). This pulse generator complies with FCC UWB spectral power mask.