Design Approaches for Established and Emerging RF Receiver Architectures

Traditionally, heterodyne architectures have been the preferred choice for radio frequency (RF) and millimeter-wave (mmWave) receiver architectures, excelling in noise performance, dynamic range, frequency coverage, selectivity, and reduction of EMI. However, recent advancements in high sample rate analog to digital converters (ADCs) and embedded signal processing have prompted a reassessment of both architectures. A thorough examination of the components in the channel design is essential to minimize distortion into the differential ports of the ADC, guaranteeing optimal signal integrity and dynamic bandwidth for the system. This article will overview the design approach as well as when to use a particular component type depending on performance and signal requirements.