Optimization of a fully integrated low power CMOS GPS receiver

This paper describes an optimization technique able to optimize a complete wireless receiver architecture in a reasonable amount of time. The optimizer alternates between SPICE level optimizations of simple building blocks and a full architecture optimization of the whole based on accurate models of the building blocks. The models of the building blocks are interpolated over the data points acquired in the SPICE level simulations. The optimizer technique has been applied to the optimization of an architecture for a GPS receiver. The optimal design has been implemented in a standard 0.25 μm CMOS process.