A highly linear BiCMOS down-conversion mixer with MCM passives for GPS applications

The specification of today's wireless receivers are low noise figure, low power consumption, high linearity, and a high degree of integration. To meet these requirements at the system level, every RF block has to meet them. This paper presents a design of one of the RF blocks: a down-conversion mixer. The mixer uses MCM inductors as degeneration in the input differential pair, which yields it a high linearity (high IP/sub 3/ voltage), a high input impedance and reduces noise. The high input impedance, together with the small required LO signal guarantees low power operation. This combination makes it well suited to integrate in a single-package GPS receiver.