A frequency-agile RF frontend for multi-band TDD radios in 45nm SOI CMOS

A tunable and highly digital RF frontend for multi-band TDD radios is integrated in 45nm SOI CMOS. The PA absorbs the TX branch of the TX/RX switch with no added loss. Peak PA output power is 27.5±0.5dBm from 1.6 to 3.4GHz, with up to 30% total efficiency at 2V. For TDD LTE applications, better than -30dBc ACLR and -25dB EVM is measured with 16-QAM, 20MHz signals from 1.65 to 3.5GHz, with up to 16.5% average efficiency and 22.9dBm average power. The broadband LNA achieves A
_V
> 14dB, NF=4.3 ± 1.6dB and IIP3 > -7dBm from 1.6 to 3.4GHz while drawing just 6mA from 1V.