A High Dynamic Range CMOS Variable Gain Amplifier for Mobile DTV Tuner

A high dynamic range RF variable gain amplifier (RFVGA) suitable for mobile digital television (DTV) tuners is presented. Variable gain is achieved using a capacitive attenuator and current-steering transconductance (G_m) stages, which provide high linearity with relatively low power consumption. A novel broadband input impedance matching scheme based on resistive shunt-feedback is proposed. This scheme allows the RFVGA to achieve a low noise figure. A gain control technique suitable for CMOS current-steering variable gain amplifiers is described; it features 1 dB per step resolution, independent of process and temperature variations. The chip is fabricated in six-metal 0.18mum CMOS technology and consumes 12.2mA current from 1.8V supply. The RFVGA achieves 16dB maximum gain, 33dB gain control range, a 4.3dB noise figure, and an IIP3 higher than 25dBm     

An ultra-wideband CMOS low noise amplifier for 3-5-GHz UWB system

An ultra-wideband (UWB) CMOS low noise amplifier (LNA) topology that combines a narrowband LNA with a resistive shunt-feedback is proposed. The resistive shunt-feedback provides wideband input matching with small noise figure (NF) degradation by reducing the Q-factor of the narrowband LNA input and flattens the passband gain. The proposed UWB amplifier is implemented in 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS technology for a 3.1-5-GHz UWB system. Measurements show a -3-dB gain bandwidth of 2-4.6GHz, a minimum NF of 2.3 dB, a power gain of 9.8 dB, better than -9 dB of input matching, and an input IP3 of -7dBm, while consuming only 12.6 mW of power.     

A 2 GHz variable gain low noise amplifier in 0.18-μm CMOS

This paper describes a 2 GHz active variable gain low noise amplifier (VGLNA) in a 0.18-μm CMOS process. The VGLNA provides a 50-Ω input impedance and utilizes a tuned load to provide high selectivity. The VGLNA achieves a maximum small signal gain of 16.8 dB and a minimum gain of 4.6 dB with good input return loss. In the high gain and the low gain modes, the NFs are 0.83 dB and 2.8 dB, respectively. The VGLNA’s IIP3 in the high gain mode is 2.13 dBm. The LNA consumes approximately 4 mA of current from a 1.8-V power supply.     

Design of a fully differential CMOS LNA for 3.1-10.6 GHz UWB communication systems

A fully differential complementary metal oxide semiconductor （CMOS） low noise amplifier （LNA） for 3.1-10.6 GHz ultra-wideband （UWB） communication systems is presented. The LNA adopts capacitive cross-coupling common-gate （CG） topology to achieve wideband input matching and low noise figure （NF）. Inductive series-peaking is used for the LNA to obtain broadband flat gain in the whole 3.1-10.6 GHz band. Designed in 0.18 um CMOS technology, the LNA achieves an NF of 3.1-4.7 dB, an Sll of less than -10 dB, an S21 of 10.3 dB with ±0.4 dB fluctuation, and an input 3rd interception point （IIP3） of -5.1 dBm, while the current consumption is only 4.8 mA from a 1.8 V power supply. The chip area of the LNA is 1×0.94 mm^2.     

1.5-6GHz增益和噪声系数稳定的两级超宽带CMOS低噪声放大器设计与性能模拟

 针对UWB应用设计实现了一个1.5-6GHz的两级CMOS低噪声放大器(LNA). 通过引入共栅(CG)和共源(CS)结构以获得宽范围内的输入匹配,采用电流镜和峰化电感进行电流复用,所提出的LNA实现了非常平坦化的功率增益和噪声系数(NF). 经标准0.18μm CMOS工艺实现后,版图后模拟结果表明在1.5-5GHz频率范围内功率增益(S21)为11.45±0.05dB,在2-6GHz频率范围内噪声系数(NF)为5.15±0.05dB,输入损耗(S11)小于-18dB. 在5GHz时,模拟得到的三阶交调点(IIP3)为-7dBm,1dB压缩点为-5dBm.在1.8V电源电压下,LNA消耗6mA的电流,版图实现面积仅为0.62mm^2.     

0.13微米CMOS双通道超宽带低噪声放大器设计

本文设计了一款超宽带低噪声放大器,并对设计流程进行分析仿真.该低噪放采用双通道结构,有效的输入阻抗匹配、平稳的增益和低噪声等性能可以同时实现.应用ADS工具TSMC 0.13μm CMOS工艺库的仿真结果表明,其最大功率增益为14.2dB,在8GHz频点的IIP3为-4dBm,输入、输出反射系数分别小于-10.2dB和-10.89dB,噪声指数单调下降到1.46dB,并且总功耗和带内最大增益摆幅较低.     

Millimeter‐Wave High‐Linear CMOS Low‐Noise Amplifier Using Multiple‐Gate Transistors

A millimeter‐wave (mm‐wave) high‐linear low‐noise amplifier (LNA) is presented using a 0.18 µm standard CMOS process. To improve the linearity of mm‐wave LNAs, we adopted the multiple‐gate transistor (MGTR) topology used in the low frequency range. By using an MGTR having a different gate‐source bias at the last stage of LNAs, third‐order input intercept point (IIP3) and 1‐dB gain compression point (P_1dB) increase by 4.85 dBm and 4 dBm, respectively, without noise figure (NF) degradation. At 33 GHz, the proposed LNAs represent 9.5 dB gain, 7.13 dB NF, and 6.25 dBm IIP3.     

A 2.7-V 900-MHz CMOS LNA and mixer

A CMOS low-noise amplifier (LNA) and a mixer for RF front-end applications are described. A current reuse technique is described that increases amplifier transconductance for the LNA and mixer without increasing power dissipation, compared to standard topologies. At 900 MHz, the LNA minimum noise figure (NF) is 1.9 dB, input third-order intercept point (IIP3) is -3.2 dBm and forward gain is 15.6 dB. With a 1-GHz local oscillator (LO) and a 900-MHz RF input, the mixer minimum double sideband noise figure (DSB NF) is 5.8 dB, IIP3 is -4.1 dBm, and power conversion gain is 8.8 dB. The LNA and mixer, respectively, consume 20 mW and 7 mW from a 2.7 V power supply. The active areas of the LNA and mixer are 0.7 mm×0.4 mm and 0.7 mm×0.2 mm, respectively. The prototypes were fabricated in a 0.5-μm CMOS process     

一种具有新型增益控制技术的CMOS宽带可变增益LNA

高速超宽带无线通信的多标准融合是未来射频器件的发展趋势,该文提出一种基于CMOS工艺、具有新型增益控制技术的宽带低噪声放大器(LNA),采用并联电阻反馈实现宽带输入匹配,并引入噪声消除技术来减小噪声以提高低噪声性能;输出带有新型6位数字可编程增益控制电路以实现可变增益。采用中芯国际0.13m RF CMOS工艺流片,芯片面积为0.76 mm2。测试结果表明LNA工作频段为1.1-1.8 GHz,最大增益为21.8 dB、最小增益8.2 dB,共7种增益模式。最小噪声系数为2.7 dB,典型的IIP3为-7 dBm。     

应用于无线传感器网络低噪声放大器的设计

本文给出一种应用于无线传感器网络射频前端低噪声放大器的设计,采用SMIC0．18μmCMOS工艺模型。在CadenceSpectre仿真环境下的仿真结果表明：该低噪声放大器满足射频前端的系统要求,在2．45GHz的中心频率下增益可调,高增益时,噪声系数为2．9dB,输入P1dB压缩点为-19．8dBm,增益为20．5dB;中增益时,噪声系数为3．6dB,输入P1dB压缩点为-15．8dBm,增益为12．5dB;低增益时,噪声系数为6．0dB,输入P1dB压缩点为-16．4dB,增益为2．2dB。电路的输入输出匹配良好,在电源电压1．8V条件下,工作电流约为6mA。     

A 0.18μm CMOS low noise amplifier using a current reuse technique for 3.1-10.6 GHz UWB receivers

A new,low complexity,ultra-wideband 3.1-10.6 GHz low noise amplifier(LNA),designed in a chartered 0.18μm RFCMOS technology,is presented.The ultra-wideband LNA consists of only two simple amplifiers with an inter-stage inductor connected.The first stage utilizing a resistive current reuse and dual inductive degeneration technique is used to attain a wideband input matching and low noise figure.A common source amplifier with an inductive peaking technique as the second stage achieves high flat gain and wide -3 dB bandwidth of the overall amplifier simultaneously.The implemented ultra-wideband LNA presents a maximum power gain of 15.6 dB,and a high reverse isolation of—45 dB,and good input/output return losses are better than -10 dB in the frequency range of 3.1-10.6 GHz.An excellent noise figure(NF) of 2.8-4.7 dB was obtained in the required band with a power dissipation of 14.1 mW under a supply voltage of 1.5 V.An input-referred third-order intercept point(IIP3) is -7.1 dBm at 6 GHz.The chip area,including testing pads,is only 0.8×0.9 mm2.     

一种具有精确增益控制的CMOS可编程增益放大器

采用0.13μm RF CMOS工艺,设计了一款具有精确增益步长控制的宽带可编程增益放大器.在传统电阻网络衰减器的基础上,提出了一种新的增益控制方法.该方法采用两个互相重叠的反馈环路,通过改变环路中跨导的比值以实现精细的增益步长控制.测试结果表明,当电源电压为1.2V时,功耗为24 mW,-3 dB带宽为600MHz....     

2～12 GHz CMOS超宽带低噪声放大器设计

提出了一种基于双反馈电流复用结构的新型CMOS超宽带(UWB)低噪声放大器(LNA),放大器工作在2～12 GHz的超宽带频段,详细分析了输入输出匹配、增益和噪声系数的性能。设计采用TSMC 0.18μm RF CMOS工艺,在1.4 V工作电压下,放大器的直流功耗约为13mW(包括缓冲级)。仿真结果表明,在2～12 GHz频带范围内,功率增益为15.6±1.4 dB,输入、输出回波损耗分别低于-10.4和-11.5 dB,噪声系数(NF)低于3 dB(最小值为1.96 dB),三阶交调点IIP3为-12 dBm,芯片版图面积约为712μm×614μm。     

A 0.4–3.3 GHz low-noise variable gain amplifier with 35 dB tuning range, 4.9 dB NF,and 40 dBm IIP2

This work presents a low-noise variable gain amplifier (LNVGA) in which the IIP2 is very high, and the gain control is applied to improve the system dynamic range, even with the limitations of the CMOS technology. Two stages compose the LNVGA, a low-noise amplifier, that keeps the noise figure (NF) at low values, and a variable voltage attenuator (VVA), that provides the gain variation. We have applied on the VVA the phase cancellation technique, in which the addition of two out-of-phase signals controls the gain. This technique provides a large gain tuning range only if the paths of the two signalsto be added are well balanced; hence, a precise 180 degrees phase difference is required. In this desing we propose an active balun with small imbalance, which creates those signals. The LNVGA was implemented in 130 nm CMOS with a 1.2 V supply. The measurement results show a 35 dB gain tuning range, varying from 10 to ? 25 dB, a 4.9 dB minimum NF, a ? 10 dBm IIP3, and an IIP2 as high as + 40 dBm.     

A CMOS variable gain LNA for UWB receivers

A CMOS variable gain low noise amplifier(LNA) is presented for 4.2-4.8 GHz ultra-wideband application in accordance with Chinese standard.The design method for the wideband input matching is presented and the low noise performance of the LNA is illustrated.A three-bit digital programmable gain control circuit is exploited to achieve variable gain.The design was implemented in 0.13-μm RF CMOS process,and the die occupies an area of 0.9 mm~2 with ESD pads.Totally the circuit draws 18 mA DC current from 1.2 V DC supply,the LNA exhibits minimum noise figure of 2.3 dB,S(1,1) less than -9 dB and S(2,2) less than -10 dB.The maximum and the minimum power gains are 28.5 dB and 16 dB respectively.The tuning step of the gain is about 4 dB with four steps in all.Also the input 1 dB compression point is -10 dBm and input third order intercept point(IIP3) is -2 dBm.     

New implementation of high linear LNA using derivative superposition method

New implementation of a high linear low-noise amplifier (LNA) using the improved derivative superposition (DS) method is proposed. The input stage is formed by two transistors connected in parallel. One transistor is biased in the strong inversion region as usual and another one is biased in the moderate inversion region instead of the weak inversion region, thus allowing a feasible source degeneration inductance at the sources of the two transistors to achieve a good input impedance matching and low noise figure (NF) while keeping high third-order input intercept point (IIP3) improvement with the DS method. The new implementation has been used in a 0.18-μm CMOS high linear LNA. The measured results show that the LNA achieves +11.92 dBm IIP3 with 9.36 dB gain, 2.25 dB NF and 7.5 mA at 1.8 V power consumption.     

Wide-band CMOS low-noise amplifier exploiting thermal noise canceling

Known elementary wide-band amplifiers suffer from a fundamental tradeoff between noise figure (NF) and source impedance matching, which limits the NF to values typically above 3 dB. Global negative feedback can be used to break this tradeoff, however, at the price of potential instability. In contrast, this paper presents a feedforward noise-canceling technique, which allows for simultaneous noise and impedance matching, while canceling the noise and distortion contributions of the matching device. This allows for designing wide-band impedance-matching amplifiers with NF well below 3 dB, without suffering from instability issues. An amplifier realized in 0.25-/spl mu/m standard CMOS shows NF values below 2.4 dB over more than one decade of bandwidth (i.e., 150-2000 MHz) and below 2 dB over more than two octaves (i.e., 250-1100 MHz). Furthermore, the total voltage gain is 13.7 dB, the -3-dB bandwidth is from 2 MHz to 1.6 GHz, the IIP2 is +12 dBm, and the IIP3 is 0 dBm. The LNA drains 14 mA from a 2.5-V supply and the die area is 0.3/spl times/0.25 mm/sup 2/.     

K-band low-noise amplifiers using 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology

Two K-Band low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) are designed and implemented in a standard 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The 24 GHz LNA has demonstrated a 12.86 dB gain and a 5.6 dB noise figure (NF) at 23.5 GHz. The 26 GHz LNA achieves an 8.9 dB gain at the peak gain frequency of 25.7 GHz and a 6.93 dB NF at 25 GHz. The input referred third-order intercept point (IIP3) is >+2 dBm for both LNAs with a current consumption of 30 mA from a 1.8 V power supply. To our knowledge, the LNAs show the highest operation frequencies ever reported for LNAs in a standard CMOS process.     

An Ultra-Wide-Band 0.4–10-GHz LNA in 0.18-μm CMOS

A two-stage ultra-wide-band CMOS low-noise amplifier (LNA) is presented. With the common-gate configuration employed as the input stage, the broad-band input matching is obtained and the noise does not rise rapidly at higher frequency. By combining the common-gate and common-source stages, the broad-band characteristic and small area are achieved by using two inductors. This LNA has been fabricated in a 0.18-mum CMOS process. The measured power gain is 11.2-12.4 dB and noise figure is 4.4-6.5 dB with -3-dB bandwidth of 0.4-10 GHz. The measured IIP3 is -6 dBm at 6 GHz. It consumes 12 mW from a 1.8-V supply voltage and occupies only 0.42 mm²     

A Fully Integrated Direct-Conversion Receiver for CDMA and GPS Applications

This paper describes a fully integrated zero-IF receiver for cellular CDMA and GPS applications. The single-chip zero-IF receiver integrates the entire signal path for CDMA and GPS bands, including a low-noise amplifier (LNA), I/Q down-converters, baseband channel selection filters (CSFs), a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and a local oscillator (LO) distribution circuit for each band. The cellular-band LNA achieves a noise figure (NF) of 1.2 dB, input third-order intercept point (IIP3) of 11 dBm, and gain of 15.5 dB. Cellular I/Q down-converter and baseband circuitries show 9-dB composite NF, 9 dBm IIP3 and 60-dBm input second-order intercept point (IIP2) without IIP2 calibration. The measured LO leakage is less than -110 dBm at LNA input. The phase noise of the cellular VCO is -134 dBc/Hz at 900-kHz offset with 1.76-GHz carrier frequency. Total GPS signal path achieves NF of 1.7 dB and gain of 74 dB with 42-mA current. The receiver is fabricated in a 0.35-mum SiGe BiCMOS process and packaged in a 6 mm times 6 mm 40-pin micro-lead-frame. Handset measurements report that the receiver meets or exceeds all of the CDMA-2000 requirements