Power-conscious design of wireless circuits and systems

The great importance of power consciousness is well understood in mobile wireless communications. However, with growing experience the fundamental principles underlying power conscious design of RF circuits, systems, and networks are only now becoming known. Using as example ultralow-power wireless devices for messaging such as paging receivers and wireless sensor networks, the first part of this paper presents the relationship between current consumption and dynamic range of low-noise amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, and active filters. The second part of the paper covers issues of modulation, protocols, and networking that would be required in dense networks of wireless sensors, which communicate using very little energy. These ideas are expected to find use in most forms of digital wireless communications.