Semiconductors / Integrated Circuits

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Prior to the circuit design and especially in larger designs, EM tools are used to create “library” parts such as inductors, transitions and antennas. While these parts are fairly self-contained, they must ultimately be integrated into the overall design where at the very least they must be connected to the rest of the circuit or in a more complex case be coupled to it. During both early and later stages of design, designers will switch from circuit-based models to EM analysis of critical interconnects to better understand couplings and achieve greater accuracy.

This article will begin by describing a typical Zero-IF or direct-conversion transmitter along with providing a brief introduction to digital modulation. The imperfections introduced by the modulator will be examined with particular focus on the effect of temperature and frequency changes. In-Factory and In-Field algorithms that can reduce the effect of these modulator imperfections will also be discussed. Particular focus will be placed on the efficacy of In-Factory “set-and-forget” algorithms.