Towards RF analog IC realization of wave-discrete filters on 65nm CMOS

A method is proposed for realizing analog active filters at microwave frequencies that avoids the use of spiral inductors and that can be used in the front-end of radio receivers. The proposed analog filters are based on doubly (resistively) terminated, passive, LC-ladder prototypes and wave-digital filter structures. It is expected that the proposed “wave-discrete” filters will carry to the analog domain the excellent sensitivity and stability properties of the wave-digital filters and have low sensitivity to process, voltage and temperature variations. A building block circuit is simulated in Cadence SPICE with BSIM4 models as proof of concept in 65nm CMOS process and frequency response, time domain response and IIP3 results are given. The simulation serves as an encouraging proof-of-concept towards future RF realization of wave-discrete analog IC filters for RF-FPGA, software defined, cognitive, and reconfigurable radio front-ends.