(Invited) Self-shielded quad-band EGPRS transceiver

The next generation of GSM/EDGE large signal polar modulation transceivers from RFMD is described. The transceiver is realized as a single die in 0.18u CMOS. A VLIF receiver architecture at 175 kHz is implemented with automatic image calibration. A novel fractional N offset PLL with digital AFC allows wider bandwidth operation as well as the ability to change the IF to avoid channel dependent spurious responses. An AM loop is added to reduce variations in total radiated power as well as to limit PA current and voltage. The solution is realized as two self shielded modules using conformal shielding. Only one additional external capacitor is required to realize the entire radio from the DigRF interface to the antenna.