3.1GHz–3.8GHz integrated transmission line super-regeneration amplifier with degenerative quenching technique for impulse-FM-UWB transceiver

This paper presents an integrated transmission line super-regeneration amplifier (SRA) with degenerative quenching technique for short range impulse-FM-UWB transceiver. In transmitting mode, the SRA generates pulsed-sinusoids centered at two different tuned frequencies within 3.1GHz-3.8GHz to distinguish between data bit `1´ and `0´. In receiving mode, the SRA switches between filtering and oscillating modes with periodic change in the resonant frequency to detect the impulse-FM-UWB data pattern. The Q-enhanced degenerative quenching technique reduces the sensitivity of the negative transconductance (G_M) over a wide range of bias currents. This also reduces the direct coupling of the high frequency quenching pattern to the resonator and the negative G_M stage. The capacitively loaded integrated transmission line reduces the phase noise in transmit and receive modes. A test structure of the amplifier has been implemented in 0.25um BiCMOS technology. The SRA consumes 1.2mA and 1.8mA from a 2.5V supply in transmit and receive mode for a data rate of 10Mb/s and a sensitivity of -90dBm.