Dynamic range performance of on-chip RF bandpass filters

Despite decades of research in developing "single-chip" radio transceivers, most commercial designs continue to rely on off-chip components for RF bandpass filtering. Implementing these filters on-chip remains nearly as challenging today as it was ten years ago due to problems in meeting system requirements. Recent advances in silicon-on-insulator IC processes targeted at RF designs, however, offer the possibility of producing commercially-viable on-chip filters in the coming years using Q-enhancement techniques. This paper reviews filter implementation alternatives and dynamic range (DR) requirements, illustrating the fundamental advantages of Q-enhanced LC filters over active, inductorless, Gm-C designs. A 900-MHz Q-enhanced filter with a 20-MHz bandwidth is reported that achieves 78-dB DR in a 1-MHz bandwidth while consuming 39 mW. While still 15- to 20-dB below performance of comparable-power amplifiers and mixers, investigations of noise figure and inductor Q illustrate how future designs can correct this deficiency, bringing DR performance into the commercially acceptable range.