A 2.4-GHz Low-Power Superregenerative RF Front-End for High Data Rate Applications

This paper describes the design and implementation of a low-power superregencrative receiver front-end operating in the 2.4-GHz ISM band. Specifically, the design is conceived to support high quench frequencies and, consequently, high data rates. The front-end is evaluated as a part of a novel architecture in which the superregenerative oscillator is quenched synchronously with the received data. This mode of operation allows higher data rates to be obtained and significantly overcomes the traditional problem of poor selectivity in this type or receivers. The implemented front-end achieves 10 Mbit/s, an RF bandwidth of 37 MHz and a total supply current of 870 μA at 3-V supply voltage, offering an excellent trade-off between performance, simplicity and power consumption. © 2006 EuMA

An 11-Mb/s 2.1-mW Synchronous Superregenerative Receiver at 2.4 GHz

This paper presents a low-voltage low-power high-speed superregenerative receiver operating in the 2.4-GHz industrial-scientific-medical band. The receiver uses an architecture in which, thanks to the presence of a phase-locked loop, the quench oscillator is operated synchronously with the received data at a quench frequency equal to the data rate. This mode of operation has several benefits. Firstly, the traditional problem of poor selectivity in this type of receiver is to a large extent overcome. Secondly, considerably higher data rates can be achieved than with classical receivers. Thirdly, the bit envelope can be matched to the superregenerative oscillator, which improves sensitivity. The receiver includes an RF front end optimized to support high quench frequencies at low supply voltages, responding to today's increasing demand for high speed and low power consumption. The prototype implemented is very simple and achieves a data rate of 11 Mb/s with a current consumption of 1.75 m A at a supply voltage of 1.2 V - an excellent tradeoff between cost, performance, and power consumption. © 2007 IEEE