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高速射频集成电路，它实现无线电收发器。射频集成电路（rfic）构成了从移动电话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启用技术。电路层面的深入研究仍在进行中，因为无线电的改进是必要的，以使rfic与数字技术更加兼容，并提供更低的功耗操作以延长电池寿命，同时提高无线电性能，以便向用户提供更高的数据速率。前端模块是设计高性能无线电以满足新无线应用需求的关键组件之一，前端模块包含构成双工器的滤波器。这些滤波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的破坏性能量的轰击。目前，这些滤波器被实现为昂贵的片外无源元件。本提案的研究旨在用完全集成的n路滤波器技术取代这些滤波器，这将为该问题提供更小且更具成本效益的解决方案。Skyworks Solutions已将N-Path滤波器确定为未来的关键使能技术。他们对将这些过滤器集成到前端模块中非常感兴趣。这些滤波器还提供了在射频上执行通道选择的机会，因为它们能够随意重新输入。这将导致与它们接口的无线电的新改进架构，从而实现更好的性能，以满足更先进无线电不断增长的需求。这笔拨款将支持通过开发旨在提高其性能的新型电路来提高n路滤波器性能的研究。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.