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A novel approach to minimize RMS errors in multifunctional chips
Author(s) -
Bentini Andrea,
Ferrari Mauro,
Ciccognani Walter,
Limiti Ernesto
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of rf and microwave computer‐aided engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1099-047X
pISSN - 1096-4290
DOI - 10.1002/mmce.20611
Subject(s) - attenuator (electronics) , phase shift module , spurious relationship , computer science , amplitude , electronic engineering , minification , bandwidth (computing) , microwave , chip , engineering , physics , attenuation , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , machine learning , optics , programming language
Abstract In this contribution, a novel approach, based on single cells permutations, is presented for the minimization of RMS errors in digitally controlled subsystems. The method is described and demonstrated for phase‐shifting functionalities, but it can be easily applied to different subsystems. By using the proposed approach, the designer is able to choose the best cell configuration, fulfilling arbitrary specification goals. An X‐band GaAs multifunctional chip (MFC) for T/R Module applications, composed by a six‐bit phase shifter, six‐bit attenuator, T/R switch, and on‐board serial‐to‐parallel converter has been designed, realized, tested, and presented here as a test vehicle of the methodology. Measured results include a 4.5° maximum RMS phase error, 1.2 dB maximum RMS spurious amplitude error, and better than 13 dB input and output return losses for all phase and amplitude settings over the whole 9.0–10.2 GHz operating bandwidth. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2012.