Metal-mask configurable RF front-end circuits

This paper describes metal-mask configurable RF circuits that offer reduced design and manufacturing risk, hence lowering nonrecurring engineering (NRE) costs. The base circuit fabric is configured for various wireless applications using only top metal and via layers. A two-stage design optimization methodology is used to optimally trade-off area and performance for design risk and cost. Measurement results are shown for a metal-mask configurable RF front-end circuit fabric that is configured for applications in 1.5 GHz GPS, 2.1 GHz WCDMA and 5 GHz WLAN using a 0.25 μm 47 GHz f_T SiGe BiCMOS process. The final three metal and via layers are the application-specific physical design differences for the three front-end circuits. The three frontend designs consume 10.5 mA, 9.5 mA, and 8.5 mA from 2.5 V, provide noise figures of 2.5 dB, 2.8 dB and 4.5 dB, have conversion gains of 24.6 dB, 24.2 dB and 12 dB, and offer IIP3s of -8dBm, -9dBm and 4dBm, respectively.