Radio frequency digital to analog converter

Abstract

Dynamic performance of high speed, high resolution digital-to-analog converters (DACs) is limited by distortion at the data switching instants. Inter-symbol interference (ISI), imperfect timing synchronization and clock jitter are all culprits. A DAC output current controlled by an oscillating waveform is proposed to mitigate the effects of the switching distortion. The oscillating waveform should be a multiple (k*fs) of the sampling frequency (f), where k>l. The waveforms can be aligned so that the data switching occurs in the zero regions of the oscillating output. This makes the DAC insensitive to switch dynamics and jitter. The architecture has the additional benefit of mixing the DAC impulse response energy to a higher frequency. An image of a low IF input signal can therefore be output directly at a high IF or RF frequency for transmit communications applications. A narrow-band sigma-delta DAC with eight unit elements is chosen to demonstrate the radio frequency digital-to-analog converter (RF DAC) concept. A sigma-delta architecture allows the current source transistors to be smaller since mismatch shaping is employed. Smaller current source transistors have a lower drain capacitance, allowing large high frequency output impedance to be achieved without an extra cascode transistor. Elimination of the cascode reduces transistor headroom requirements and allows the DAC to be built with a 1.8V supply. The RF DAC prototype is targeted to GSM transmit specifications and implemented in 0.1 8ptm CMOS technology. Measured single-tone SFDR is -75dBc, SNR is 52dB, and IMD3 is -70.8dBc over a 17.5MHz bandwidth centered at 942.5MHz. Measured SNR has the predicted dependence on the phase alignment of the data clock and oscillating pulse.