15
iO1000 Detailed Service Manual - THEORY OF OPERATION
iZIF IC
The iZIF IC performs the following functions:
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Implements AGC
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Down converts IF into baseband I and Q
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Synthesizes the second VCO frequency and TX offset oscillator
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Sends received data to the DSP through the ADDAG
The iZIF takes the IF signal as its input, and outputs differential I and Q baseband
signals as well as differential RSSI information. The signal path inside this IC can
be divided into three stages: IF pre-amp, down conversion mixer, and baseband
filters.
The first part of the IF pre-amp stage is a 20 dB step attenuator that is controlled
by the iZIF AGC circuitry. This step attenuator is used to protect the IC from over-
load during strong signal conditions. The next part of this stage is the pre-amp.
This is an amplifier that has been optimized for noise figure and gain. The last part
of the IF pre-amp stage is the variable attenuator, which has been optimized to
maintain a constant third-order intercept point.
The next stage in the iZIF lineup is the down conversion mixer. This is a quadra-
ture type of mixer. Its inputs are the IF and second LO signals (see “Second Local
Oscillator (LO)” on page 19), and its outputs are baseband I and Q signals.
The last stage in the iZIF is the baseband filters. These are lowpass filters that pro-
vide the IF selectivity for the iZIF. Baseband I and Q signals go through these fil-
ters.
Receiver Signal Flow
The receiver can be divided into two parts. The first part is the front-end, which
consists of the antenna switch, preselector SAW filter, and the down mixer. The
second part is the back-end which consists of the 3-pole crystal filter, and the iZIF
IC.
The received signal goes through the front end the following way. During receive
mode, the antenna switch connects the antenna to the receiver path. The received
signal (RF) goes through the preselector SAW filter which only lets through the
desired frequency band (851-866 MHz) and attenuates out-of-band signals and the
image frequency. In the next stage, the down mixer, the signal is down converted
from the RF frequency to a lower one called the intermediate frequency (IF).