N-path filters for front end modules

无线通信是一项价值数十亿美元的业务。任何无线设备的核心都是实现无线电收发信机的高速射频集成电路。射频集成电路(RFIC)构成了从手机到无线局域网以及全球定位系统等任何无线设备的一些关键使能技术。电路层面的密集研究仍在进行中，因为有必要改进无线电，使RFIC与数字技术更兼容，并为更长的电池寿命提供更低的功率运行，同时提高无线电性能，以便向用户提供更高的数据速率。设计高性能无线电以满足新的无线应用需求所必需的关键组件之一是前端模块，该模块包含构成双工器的滤波器。这些过滤器负责隔离接收器和发射器，并保护敏感的接收器免受广泛的强大和潜在破坏性能量的轰击。目前，这些滤波器被实现为昂贵的片外无源元件。本方案的研究旨在用一种完全集成的N路滤波技术取代这些滤波器，这将为这个问题提供一个更小、更具成本效益的解决方案。Skyworks Solutions已将N路径过滤器确定为未来的一项关键启用技术。他们对将这些过滤器集成到他们的前端模块中非常感兴趣。由于能够随意重新进入，这些滤波器还提供了在RF上执行频道选择的机会。这将为它们所连接的无线电带来新的改进的架构，使其能够实现更好的性能，以满足更先进的无线电日益增长的需求。这笔赠款将支持通过开发旨在提高N路滤波器性能的新型电路来提高其性能的研究。拟议的项目将有助于确保加拿大正在进行的无线通信信息技术研究，为科学家和工程师提供就业机会。

Wireless communications is a multibillion dollar business. At the core of any wireless device is the high speed radio frequency integrated circuit which implements the radio transceiver. Radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) form some of the key enabling technologies for any wireless device from a cell phone to a wireless local area network, and global positioning systems along with many more. Intense research is still ongoing at the circuit level as improvements in radios are necessary to make RFICs more compatible with digital technologies, and provide lower power operation for longer battery life and at the same time increasing radio performance in order to deliver higher data rates to the user. One of the key components necessary to designing a high performance radio necessary to meet the demands of new wireless applications is the front end module which contains filters which make up the duplexor. These filters are responsible for isolating the receiver and transmitter and protecting the sensitive receiver from being bombarded with a wide spectrum of powerful and potentially damaging energy. Currently these filters are implemented as costly off chip passive components. The research in this proposal aims at replacing these filters with a completely integrated N-path filter technology which will provide a much smaller and cost effective solution to this problem. Skyworks Solutions has identified N-Path filters as a key enabling technology going forward. They are keenly interested in incorporating these filters into their front end modules. These filters also provide the opportunity to perform channel selection at RF due to the ability to reenter them at will. This will lead to new improved architectures for the radios they interface with that will enable better performance to meet the ever increasing needs of more advanced radios. This grant will support research to improve the performance of N-Path filters through the development of novel circuits aimed at increasing their performance capabilities. The proposed project will help to ensure ongoing Canadian information technology research in wireless communication providing employment for scientists and engineers.