A Multiband, Spectrally-Efficient Impulse Radio Transmitter Design with Low-Complexity CMOS Pulse Generator for IEEE 802.15.4a Application

Abstract

A novel multiband impulse radio ultra-wideband (MB-IR-UWB) transmitter with an energy-efficient and low-complexity pulse generator design technique compliant with the IEEE 802.15.4a standard is investigated in this paper. This transmitter is made up of a new differential narrow triangular pulse generator, a new multiband voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), an active mixer and a variable-gain power amplifier (PA). It operates at 14 UWB bands and generates an output signal with the duration of 3[Formula: see text]ns, more than 500[Formula: see text]MHz of channel bandwidth and more than 20[Formula: see text]dB of sidelobe suppression, while achieving an average energy efficiency of 51.36 pJ/pulse from 1.4-V supply. Improving spectral flexibility and worldwide compliance is the major contribution brought by this paper to make this circuit as a multifunction wireless device well suited for low-cost, low-power multiband applications.