A Survey of Integrated RF Power Measurement and Control Components for Communications

The accurate measurement of power and other attributes of signals used in communications systems has become a necessary aspect in optimizing power consumption and data throughput. From simple portable, battery-powered devices to large scale base-stations and routers, knowledge of the signal characteristics and its environment enables the system to reconfigure itself and allocate power and bandwidth as needed. A combination of high-speed silicon-based process technologies and an unrelenting focus on precision circuit design have enabled the in-situ analog signal processing of signals to be performed accurately and practically non-invasively. A review of numerous signal measurement techniques developed at Analog Devices reveals an unusual combination of high-speed and precision design techniques.