A 2 V, 600 mA, 1 GHz, BiCMOS super-regenerative receiver

The high-volume demand for wireless short-distance data exchange components, in applications such as home automation, robotics, computer peripherals or biomedicine, requires an electronic board with a small number of electronic components and an optimized cost for the receiver chip. The use of two batteries implies a 2 to 3.2 V operating voltage and a low-power consumption. Current solutions, generally based on conversion systems, like 0-IF or low-IF receivers, are penalized by power consumption, minimum operating voltage and the number of external components, especially expensive IF filters. This receiver is based on super-regeneration. Due to the simplicity of the circuit, a 2 V, 1.2 mW chip is integrated on a 6 GHz 0.8 /spl mu/m BiCMOS technology, the external components being limited to two inductors and one varicap diode for center frequency control.