A 0.8mm2 all-digital SAW-less polar transmitter in 65nm EDGE SoC

Abstract

EDGE is currently the most widely used standard for data communications in mobile phones. Its proliferation has led to a need for low-cost 2.5G mobile solutions. The implementation of RF circuits in nanoscale digital CMOS with no or minimal process enhancements is one of the key obstacles limiting the complete SoC integration of cellular radio functionality with digital baseband. The key challenges for such RF integration include non-linearity of devices and circuits, device mismatches, process parameter spread, and the increasing potential for self-interference that could be induced by one function in the SoC onto another.