80-GHz Tuned Amplifier in Bulk CMOS

An 80-GHz six-stage common source tuned amplifier has been demonstrated using low leakage (higher V_T) NMOS transistors of a 65-nm digital CMOS process with six metal levels. It achieves power gain of 12 dB at 80 GHz with a 3-dB bandwidth of 6 GHz, noise figures (NF's) lower than 10.5 dB at frequencies between 75 and 81 GHz with the lowest NF of 9 dB. IP_{1 dB} is -21 dBm and IIP3 is -11.5 dBm. The amplifier consumes 27 mA from a 1.2 V supply. At V_DD = 1.5 V and 33 mA bias current, NF is less than 9.5 dB within the 3-dB bandwidth and reaches a minimum of 8 dB at 80 GHz.