An area-efficient 5-GHz multiple receiver RFIC for MIMO WLAN applications

This paper presents area-efficient multiple receivers on a single-chip for 5-GHz MIMO wireless LAN systems. Each receiver has a low noise amplifier, Q-enhanced image reject filter, mixer, and local oscillator amplifier but shares a global local oscillator amplifier and distribution circuits for bias and filter tuning. The receivers are suitable for both spatial diversity and multiplexing. Area-efficiency results from frequency planning, circuit sharing, and application of spatial diversity. One receiver provides 14 dB gain, consumes 25 mA at 1.8 V, and occupies less than 1 mm chip area. The filter has better than 30 dB rejection at the image frequency.