17GHz RF Front-Ends for Low-Power Wireless Sensor Networks

A 17 GHz low power radio front-end is presented. Low-power operation is based on minimization of energy/bit, the design metric for low-power radios. Increasing the data rate while reducing the receiver turn-on time is proposed as a method of improving energy efficiency. Circuit design of prototype receiver and transmitter front ends for a 17 GHz ultra low-power radio are presented and discussed. The power gain of the LNA is 12 dB with a minimum noise figure of 3.25 dB. Conversion gain of the RF chain is 30 dB at DC, the measured IIP3 of the Rx chain is -26.3 dBm whereas the maximum saturated output power of the PA is about 5 dBm. The total, measured power consumption is 17.5 mW (@2.5 supply) in the received