Dual-band RF receiver chip-set for Galileo/GPS applications

This paper describes the development of a highly linear radio front-end, able to operate with Galileo and GPS satellite signals suitable for coexisting in a cellular hostile environment for location based services, satisfying the basic requirements for a mass market product such as low cost, low footprint, good accuracy, low power consumption and high sensitivity. The target is a high sensitivity Galileo E1/E5A and GPS L1/L5 dual-system dual band GNSS switching receiver front-end with a low-IF architecture. The first step toward the implementation of a fully integrated mass-market product has been carried out implementing three different multifunction chips using a low-cost commercial 018 mum CMOS technology: a dual band LNA, a downconverter with integer PLL synthesizer and a broadband IF section comprising a digitally controlled VGA and tunable filter. The complete multi-chip assembly could be housed in a low cost 4times4mm2 package with overall 2.5 dB noise figure, 117 dB gain, 9 MHz bandwidth and consuming 54 mW @1.8 V.