A Cochlea-based Preselector for UWB Applications

A compact, contiguous-channel multiplexer has been developed using a silicon multi-chip module (MCM) process. The passive channelizing filter is based on the mammalian cochlear response, covers 2-7 GHz in 15 channels (16% bandwidth) and occupies an area of 48 mm
²
. Such a filter finds application in integrated wideband and ultra-wideband (UWB) systems as a receiver preselector filter and/or a spectrum activity monitor.