Skip to main content
Log in

Silicon Bipolar LNAs in the X and Ku Bands

  • Published:
Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two fully integrated silicon bipolar LNAs at 8 and 12 GHz are presented. Both circuits provide simultaneous noise and input impedance matching. Resonant loads, designed for 50-Ω output matching, are also included. Moreover, the noise and input impedance self-matching trend of the cascode topology in the X and Ku bands was also explored and the design of integrated spiral inductors was discussed. From an on-wafer test, the 8 and the 12-GHz LNAs exhibit a power gain of 11.5 and 8 dB and a noise figure of 2.6 and 4.7 dB, respectively. This performance was achieved with bias currents as low as 4 mA for each circuit. The two LNAs were fabricated in a 46-GHz-f T pure bipolar technology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R.G. Meyer and W.D. Mack, “A 1-GHz Bi-CMOS RF front-end IC.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 29, pp. 350–355, March 1994.

  2. C.Y. Wu and S.Y. Hsiao, “The design of a 3-V 900-MHz CMOS bandpass amplifier.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 32, pp. 159–168, Feb. 1997.

  3. J.A. Macedo and M.A. Copeland, “A 1.9-GHz silicon receiver with monolithic image filtering.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 33, pp. 378–386, March 1998.

  4. A.R. Shahani, D.K. Sheaffer, and T.H. Lee, “A 12-mW wide dynamic range CMOS front-end for portable GPS receiver.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 32, pp. 2061–2070, Dec. 1997.

  5. K. Kim and K.O, “Characteristics of an integrated spiral inductor with an underlying n-well.” IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, vol. 44, no. 9, pp. 1565–1567, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  6. A.M. Niknejad and R.G. Meyer, “Analysis of eddy-currents over conductive substrates with application to monolithic inductors and transformers.” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 166–176, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  7. S.P. Voinigescu, M.C. Miliepaard, J.L. Showell, G.E. Babcock, D. Marchesan, M. Schroter, P. Schvan, and D.L. Harame, “Ascalable high-frequency noise model for bipolar transistors with application to optimal transistor sizing for low-noise amplifier.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 32, pp. 1430–1439, Sept. 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  8. G. Girlando and G. Palmisano, “Noise figure and impedance matching in RF Cascode Amplifiers.” IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Systems-II Analog and Digital Signal Processing, vol. 46, pp. 1388–1396, Nov. 1999.

  9. E. Ragonese, G. Girlando, and G. Palmisano, “A very accurate design of monolithic inductors in a 2D EM simulator.” in Proc. IEEE Int. Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems, 2002, pp. 1199–1202.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Girlando, G., Ragonese, E. & Palmisano, G. Silicon Bipolar LNAs in the X and Ku Bands. Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing 41, 119–127 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ALOG.0000041629.52175.6a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ALOG.0000041629.52175.6a

Navigation