ECE414/ECE414S

LECTURE 4: SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

Mohamed El-Nozahi Mostafa Ahmed

Professor Assistance Professor

Electronics and Communications Department

Ain Shames University
C. Sensitivity
• Sensitivity is the minimum detectable signal
• For any RF system to detect a specific signal it has
to satisfy a given SNR. SNR
• Sensitivity is the signal that satisfies the SNR
Sensitivity
SNR =
Total Input referred noise
Sensitivity = SNR  Total Input referred noise
Sensitivity dBm = SNR dB +Total Input referred noise dBm
= SNR dB + NF + Ns dBm + 10 log BW
= SNR dB + NF − 174 + 10 log BW
• BW is the bandwidth of the signal

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D. Dynamic Range
• Dynamic Range of a receiver is defined as the ratio between the
maximum and minimum input power levels and is measured in dB

• Minimum input level is determined by the sensitivity

• Maximum input level is determined by the compression

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E. Spurious Free Dynamic Range (SFDR)
• In this case, the maximum input power is determined using the two
tone test

• The maximum level of the two tones that yield an IM3 component
that is equal to the integrated noise determines the SFDR

2 𝐼𝐼𝑃3 + 174 − 𝑁𝐹 − 10 log(𝐵𝑊)

𝑆𝐹𝐷𝑅 = − 𝑆𝑁𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛
3

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F. Phase Noise

Phase noise is the ratio of the power in a 1Hz bandwidth a frequency fm away from
the carrier, to the power in the carrier itself. (dBc/Hz)

𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇

𝑳∅ 𝒇𝒎 in dBc/Hz

fo fo+fm f

Spectral Density of Noise

𝑳∅ 𝒇𝒎 = 𝟏𝟎 log = 𝟏𝟎 log 𝑆∅𝑛, 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑓
Power of Carrier
in dBc/Hz

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Spurious Noise

Spurious noise is the ratio of the power of the spur, to the power in the carrier
itself. (dBc)

𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇

𝒅𝑩𝒄

fo fo+fspur f

Power of spur
Spurious Noise= 𝟏𝟎 log in dBc
Power of Carrier

𝑎𝑠𝑝𝑢𝑟 is the amplitude of the periodic tone appearing at the input of VCO

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Impact of Phase Noise/Spurious Noise on RX

• Phase noise of the VCO down-converts unwanted

signals on top of the main signal → Reducing SNR

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PN Requirements for the RX

• Usually, blockers are defined for any wireless standard

• The BW is the bandwidth of the signal

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Example for Receiver Specifications
• Applied on the GSM-900 standard
• Low-IF architecture is assumed for implementing the CMOS receiver
• Image rejection is performed by the digital section

Anti-
VGA I Aliasing ADCI
Filter I

Attenuation DR, fs
LNA 90 LO1 90 LO2

Anti-
VGAQ Aliasing ADC
Filter Q Q

Analog Digital

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What is a Standard?
• Focus is GSM standard (GSM 900)
• Standard defines the following:
– Sensitivity
– Desired BER and Modulation (what about SNR)
– Blocker distribution and Intermodulation
– Maximum transmitted power, transmitter mask
• SNR is obtained from the required BER

Modulation 0.3 GMSK Blockers (Rx)

Bandwidth 600 kHz ≤ |f-fo| < 1.6 MHz
200 kHz -43 dBm
Sensitivity -102 dBm 1.6 MHz ≤ |f-fo| < 3 MHz -33 dBm
3 MHz ≤ |f-fo| -23 dBm
Baseband SNR 9 dB
900 MHz to 915 MHz -5 dBm
Rx-Band 935-960MHz 980 MHz to 1275 MHz 0 dBm
Max. Input -20 dBm

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Summary of the GSM-900 Specifications
• RX Frequency Band: 935-960MHz
• Channel spacing= 200kHz

Signal Blocker 1 Blocker 2 SNR

Test
f Level f Level f Level
(dB)
(MHz) (dBm) (MHz) (dBm) (MHz) (dBm)

1. Sensitivity 935-960 -102 -- -- -- -- 9

fo±0.2·n
2. Blocker 1 935-960 -99 -43 -- -- 9
(n=3-8)
fo±0.2·n
3. Blocker 2 935-960 -99 -33 -- -- 9
(n=9-14)
fo±0.2·n
4. Blocker 3 935-960 -99 -23 -- -- 9
(n=15-125)
5. Blockers 4 935-960 -99 900-915 -5 -- -- 9
6. Blocker 5 935-960 -99 980-1270 0 -- -- 9
fo±0.2·n±0.
fo±0.2·n
7. Two Blockers 935-960 -99 -49 8 -49 9
(n=4-125)
(n=4-125)

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Global Specifications and Tradeoffs
• First step to determine the overall specification of the receiver
• AIM:
– To determine the overall NF, IIP3, PN and DR of the ADC
– To determine the various tradeoffs for the receiver design
– Analyze the extracted information for more information
• Approach:
– Understand the standard and determine the requirements to meet the
standard
– Analyze the data to determine the various general specifications
• What are the inputs:
– System specifications (SNR Tests)
– Receiver general architecture: Direct conversion, Low IF or superheterodyne

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Approach

System Specifications Analyze the specifications

Noise Figure:
Sensitivity Tests NF = Si − (−174) + 10 log( BW ) − SNR

Single Blocker Tests IIP3:

I M 3 dBm = 3  Interferrer Level dBm − 2  IIP3 dBm

Intermodulation Tests Tradeoffs:

NF vs. IIP3

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Analyze 1: Sensitivity
• AIM: To Determine the NF under matched condition

NF = Si − (−174) − 10 log( BW ) − SNR

Si (dBm) SNR (dB) NF (dB) Note that this is not the design value

-102 9 10

• Effect of Image Band and Image Rejection Ratio:

– Due to non-ideal image filtering part of noise is folded back in the band of
interest
– Is also problematic in low-IF receivers
– The folded noise increases the noise floor by:
2
Percentage folded Noise = (1 + IMRR)100
8

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Analyze 2: Single Blocker

• AIM: To determine the PN vs. IIP3 for a single blocker

• Sources of Non-idealities :
– Phase noise of Oscillator Blocker
– Gain Desensitization Blocker Noise

– Thermal Noise

Si
Total Noise = Blocker Noise + Thermal Noise =
SNR
dBc
PN ( ) = Blocker Noise dBm − 10 log( BW ) − Blocker level dBm
Hz

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Analyze 2: Single Blocker Tests (cont.)
• Si = -99dBm, Blocker = -43dBm @ fo+0.2·n (MHz) (n=3-8), SNR = 9 dB
• Si = -99dBm, Blocker = -33dBm @ fo+0.2·n (MHz) (n=9-14), SNR = 9 dB
• Si = -99dBm, Blocker = -23dBm @ fo+0.2·n (MHz) (n=15-125), SNR = 9 dB

For this example, the gain reduction is neglected. However for the general case, gain desensitization should be
considered

 −121 at 600kHz
dBc
PN ( )  −131 at 1.4MHz
Hz
 −141 at 6MHz
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Analyze 3: Intermodulation
• AIM: To determine the IIP3 requirements vs. PN and NF of the
receiver

• Sources of non-idealities:
– LO Phase Noise
– Non-linearity
– Thermal Noise

Si
Total Noise power = IM 3 + PN + Thermal Noise =
SNR
I M 3 dBm = 3  Interferrer Level dBm − 2  IIP3 dBm

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Analyze 3: Intermodulation (cont.)
• Si = -99dBm, Blockers = -49dBm @ fo+0.2·n & fo+0.2·n+0.8 (MHz) SNR = 22 dB

-18 dBm

IIP3 should be selected higher than -18 dBm

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Summary of Global Specifications and Tradeoffs

• Step 1: NF vs. IMRR from the Sensitivity Test

• Step 2: PN vs. IIP3 of the blocks before the mixer from the adjacent and alternate
tests

• Step 3: PN vs. IIP3 vs. NF for the whole receiver from the two blocker test

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