An optimized UWB correlator design with the consideration of the impacts from the ESD protection devices

Abstract

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) failure has become an emerging challenge for radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs), which requires high ESD-protection for circuit applications in harsh environment. This paper discusses the design and optimization of an ultra-wideband (UWB) correlator circuit using ESDaware simulation design technique. Mixed-mode ESD simulation-design method and RF ESD characterization technique are presented for accurate ESD device design and ESD-induced parasitic effects extraction. The impact of ESD induced parasitic is carefully considered in the whole correlator design simulation by using a direct S-parameter insertion technique. The design is based on a commercial 0.18 µm RFCMOS technology.