Two-Dimensional Multi-Parameter Adaptation of Noise, Linearity, and Power Consumption in Wireless Receivers

This paper presents a general method for real-time adaptation of wireless receivers according to the prevailing reception conditions. In order to maintain the desired signal quality at the minimum possible power dissipation, the method performs an optimal trade-off between noise, linearity, and power consumption in the building blocks of the receiver. This is achieved by continuously monitoring the signal-to-noise plus interference ratio (SNIR) and accordingly tuning the adaptation parameters embedded in the receiver design. A prototype DVB-H receiver chip, implemented in a standard 0.18- μm CMOS process, is used as the test vehicle. By properly trading noise with linearity in the receiver, the method saves power, even for the worst-case test scenarios. For less demanding conditions, a power saving up to seven times is achieved. The experimental results show significant improvement, in both power saving and dynamic range, compared to the existing adaptation methods.