Demystifying Mixer Spurs in RF Downconversion: Frequency Planning and ADS Simulation Guide
Feeling overwhelmed by spurious signals in your RF designs? You’re not alone. The unpredictable nature of spurs can ruin performance and cause major headaches for any engineer. You can demystify intermodulation by understanding it’s a predictable result of mixer nonlinearity1. Use mixer spurious charts and simulation software like ADS to select frequencies that avoid spurs. Also, keep the mixer’s input power well within its linear range to minimize them. This sounds simple, but let’s break it down. I remember a project early in my career where a mysterious spur nearly derailed our entire timeline. It was a frustrating experience, but it taught me a valuable lesson: understanding the fundamentals is […]
Stop Self-Jamming on a RF Up/Down converter: Advanced PCB Layout and Shielding for RF Isolation
Poor isolation in your up/downconverter can ruin your system’s performance. This leads to self-jamming and unreliable links1. But a systematic approach can help you achieve deep isolation levels. Excellent isolation in a broadband RF up/downconverter is achieved by combining three key techniques. First, use dense ground via fences and multi-cavity shielding for physical isolation. Second, design a clean power delivery network with separate supplies. Finally, verify the entire design with EM simulation. When I first started designing integrated transceiver systems, I learned a tough lesson about isolation. It’s not just a single parameter you can tweak; it’s the result of a total design philosophy. If your transmit and receive channels […]
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