A CMOS 2-11 GHz Continuous Variable Gain UWB LNA

Abstract

In this paper, a new CMOS variable gain low noise amplifier (VG LNA) with continuous gain variation for 2–11 GHz employing a resistance feedback current reuse stage and a cascode stage is presented. By controlling the transimpedance feedback resistor of the first stage and the bias current of the second stage, a continuous gain tuning range of 26 dB is achieved without influencing the input match and output match. The VG LNA is simulated based on the TSMC 0.18 μm CMOS process and shows the following performance at the highest gain mode: S11 is less than -10 dB from 3 to 10.2 GHz, and S22 is less than -18 dB from 2 to 11 GHz. In the total 2–11 GHz frequency range, the gain is more than 17 dB, and the noise figure is less than 3.8 dB, while drawing 7.57 mA from 1.4 V supply voltage.

Keywords:

• Cascode
• Current reuse
• LNA
• UWB
• Variable gain

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chunhua Wang

Chunhua Wang was born in Yongzhou, China, in 1963. He received the B.Sc degree from Hengyang Teacher’s College, Hengyang, China, in 1983, the M.Sc degree from Physics Department, Zheng Zhou University, Zheng Zhou, China. In 1994, the Ph.D. degree from School of Electronic Information and Control Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China. He is currently a Professor of School of Computer and Communication, Hunan University, Changsha, China. From 2004 to 2005, he served as a Professor and the associate Dean of Information Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, China. His research interests include current-mode circuit design, filtering, radio frequency circuit and wireless communications. E-mail: [email protected]

Jie Jin

Jie Jin was born in Shuangfeng, Hunan, China, in 1982. He is currently doing the master’s degree in the School of Computer and Communication in Hunan University. His interest is radio frequency integrated circuit design. E-mail: [email protected]

Fei Yu

Fei Yu was born in Anqing, Anhui, China, in 1984. He received the B.Sc degree from Anhui Normal University, Anhui, China, in 2007. He is currently a doctor in the School of Information Science and Engineering in Hunan University. He focuses on radio frequency integrated circuit design, millimeter wave CMOS integrated circuit design and UWB antenna design. E-mail: [email protected]