A Current Re-Use Quadrature RF Receiver Front-End for Low Power Applications: Blixator Circuit

This article presents the theory and implementation of a quadrature differential RF front-end receiver. Combining balun, low-noise amplifier (LNA), mixer, oscillator in single stage, proposed circuit, named Blixator, is well suited for low-power applications. The baseband’s transimpedance (TIA) also shares part its dc current with Blixator cell, resulting sub-milliwatt power consumption. To avoid additional area by LO generation, I/Q signals are generated at RF, employing inductors already required providing path LNA transistors. expressions gain, noise figure (NF), phase voltage-controlled (VCO) derived, behavior circuit thoroughly investigated. prototype receiver implemented 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS technology. experimental results show NF 10.5 dB, an IIP3 −15.5 dBm, maximum image rejection 23 which meets requirements Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard. consumes only 340- \text{W}$ , from 0.8-V supply, die 0.75 mm 2 .