A 5–9-mw, 0.2–2.5-GHz CMOS low-if receiver for spectrum-sensing cognitive radio sensor networks

A low-power, wideband CMOS receiver for spectrum-sensing cognitive radio sensor networks is presented. The low-IF receiver equipped with an inverter-based LNA-balun and I/Q sub-threshold rectifier enables low-power and high-speed spectrum sensing. For further extension to support higher data-rate radio systems, our local oscillator provides a frequency-dividing function when a low-phase-noise signal source is optionally used. A prototype chip fabricated in a 65-nm CMOS process can support a wide frequency range of 0.2-2.5 GHz with 43-dB maximum gain, 6-dB NF, and -9-dBm IIP3 and only occupies 0.6 mm² while consuming as low as 5-9 mW at a 0.6-V supply.