Bandpass Sigma–Delta Modulation: The Path toward RF-to-Digital Conversion in Software-Defined Radio

Abstract

This paper reviews the state of the art on bandpass ΣΔ modulators (BP-ΣΔMs) intended to digitize radio frequency (RF) signals. A priori, this is the most direct way to implement software-defined radio (SDR) systems since the analog/digital interface is placed closer to the antenna, thus reducing the analog circuitry and doing most of the signal processing in the digital domain. In spite of their higher programmability and scalability, RF BP-ΣΔM analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) require more energy to operate in the GHz range as compared with their low-pass (LP) counterparts. This makes conventional direct conversion receivers (DCRs) the commonplace approach due to their overall smaller energy consumption. This paper surveys some circuits and systems techniques which can make RF ADCs and SDR-based transceivers more efficient and feasible to be embedded in mobile terminals.

Keywords

• analog-to-digital conversion
• sigma–delta modulation
• software-defined radio