WLAN-WCDMA dual-mode receiver architecture design trade-offs

This work discusses receiver architecture trade-offs for a combined 802.11a and WCDMA front-end aiming for a high level of integration. Trade-off parameters such as ADC-bandwidth, image rejection, DC-offset rejection, channel-select filter-requirements and 1/f-noise tolerance are considered. In particular, the possibility of using a simple high-pass filter for DC-offset rejection and the SNR-degradation caused by ISI in such a filter are investigated. The conclusion is that a combined low-IF and direct conversion architecture implemented in the same hardware is possible and preferable.