A Bounded and Discretized Nelder-Mead Algorithm Suitable for RFIC Calibration

This paper describes a calibration technique for noisy and nonconvex circuit responses based on the Nelder-Mead direct search algorithm. As Nelder-Mead is intended for unconstrained optimization problems, we present an implementation of the algorithm which is suitable for bounded and discretized RFIC calibration problems. We apply the proposed algorithm to the problem of spurious tone reduction via VCO control line ripple minimization for a PLL operating at a frequency of 12 GHz. For this nonconvex calibration test case, we show that a gradient descent-based algorithm has difficulty in reducing the VCO control line ripple, while the proposed algorithm reduces the relative power of the first harmonic reference spurs by at least 10 dBc and effectively enables design complexity reduction in the supporting analog calibration circuitry.