This paper proposes a one-branch zero-IF receiver topology, which samples the I and Q signals of the modulated RF carrier with one signal path by means of a multiphase local oscillator. The suggested one-branch receiver works without matching problem, and it is also capable of cancelling out the flicker noise and DC-offset when the local oscillator is configured to the four-phase mode. The one-branch receiver saves much area and power compared with the traditional two-branch ones. All of the advantages above make the one-branch receiver topology a promising architectural candidate for low-power and low-cost RF CMOS receiver designs.
