Metal-mask configurable RF front-end circuits

This paper describes metal-mask configurable RF circuits that offer reduced design and manufacturing risk, hence lowers nonrecurring engineering (NRE) costs. The base circuit fabric is configured for various wireless applications using only top metal and via layers. A two-stage design optimization methodology is used to optimally trade-off area and performance for design risk and cost. Measurement results are shown for a metal-mask configurable RF front-end circuit fabric that is configured for applications in 1.5GHz GPS, 2.1GHz WCDMA and 5GHz WLAN using a 0.25mum 47GHz f(T) SiGe BiCMOS process. The final three metal and via layers are the application-specific physical design differences for the three front-end circuits. The three front-end designs consume 10.5mA, 9.5mA, and 8.5mA from 2.5V, provide noise figures of 2.5dB, 2.8dB and 4.5dB, have conversion gains of 24.6dB, 24.2dB and 12dB, and offer IIP3s of -8dBm, -9dBm and -4dBm, respectively.