Abstract
This paper presents the design strategy of a microwave low noise amplifier (LNA) in microstrip technology for sub-6 GHz 5G communication systems. A microstrip coupler is exploited to design a DC block in order to avoid unwanted parasitic effects generated by lumped elements and to facilitate fabrication. Bias and matching networks are implemented using microstrip transmission lines. Based on the designed circuit, a prototype is fabricated and measured using an Agilent Technologies (hp)® ATF13786 field effect transistor. The proposed LNA is simulated and measured at 3.5 GHz. The results demonstrate that the proposed LNA achieves high gain of 12.7 dB, noise figure less than 2 dB, input and output reflection coefficients less than –10 dB, and unconditional stability over the desired bandwidth. Regarding the large signal results, the proposed LNA yields excellent performance with an output power of 16.4 dBm, and a power added efficiency (PAE) of 18%. Furthermore, the proposed LNA exhibits good linearity with an output compression point at 1 dB (OP1dB) of 0 dBm, and a third-order intercept point (OIP3) greater than +37.7 dBm.
REFERENCES
Chang, J.-F. and Lin, Yo-Sh., 3–9-GHz CMOS LNA using body floating and self-bias technique for sub-6‑GHz 5G communications, IEEE Microwave Wireless Compon. Lett., 2021, vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 608–611. https://doi.org/10.1109/lmwc.2021.3075279
Delwar, T.S., Siddique, A., Biswal, M.R., Behera, P., Rashed, A.N.Z., Choi, Ye., and Ryu, J.Yo., A novel dual mode configurable and tunable high-gain, high-efficient CMOS power amplifier for 5G applications, Integration, 2022, vol. 83, pp. 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vlsi.2021.12.004
Ahmadi, S., 5G NR: Architecture, Technology, Implementation, and Operation of 3GPP New Radio Standards, Academic, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-102267-2.00002-6
Božanić, M. and Sinha, S., Device Technologies and Circuits for 5G and 6G, Mobile Communication Networks: 5G and a Vision of 6G, Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol. 751, Cham: Springer, 2021, pp. 99–154. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69273-5_4
Božanić, M. and Sinha, S., Millimeter-Wave Low Noise Amplifiers, Signals and Communication Technology, Cham: Springer, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69020-9
Chen, Ch.-Ch. and Wang, Ye.-Ch., 3.1–10.6 GHz ultra-wideband LNA design using dual-resonant broadband matching technique, AEU-Int. J. Electron. Commun., 2013, vol. 67, no. 6, pp. 500–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeue.2012.11.007
Wang, Q., Wu, Yo., Qi, Yu., and Wang, W., A reconfigurable wireless superheterodyne receiver for multi-standard communication systems, Int. J. Electron., 2022, vol. 110, no. 5, pp. 882–897. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207217.2022.2067905
Seyedhosseinzadeh, N. and Nabavi, A., A highly linear CMOS low noise amplifier for K-band applications, Int. J. Electron., 2014, vol. 101, no. 12, pp. 1607–1620. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207217.2014.888775
Wang, Jh.-J. and Chen, D., LNA with wide range of gain control and wideband interference rejection, Int. J. Electron., 2016, vol. 103, no. 10, pp. 1748–1758. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207217.2016.1138528
Lahsaini, M., Zenkouar, L., and Saadi, A., Approach for the design of a broadband microwave power amplifier in microstrip technology for mobile communications systems, Indones. J. Electr. Eng. Inf. (IJEEI), 2020, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 289–297. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijeei.v8i2.1701
Bahl, I., Fundamentals of RF and Microwave Transistor Amplifiers, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470462348
Kajfez, D. and Vidula, B.S., Design equations for symmetric microstrip DC blocks, IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., 1980, vol. 28, no. 9, pp. 974–981. https://doi.org/10.1109/tmtt.1980.1130205
Ahn, H.-R. and Tentzeris, M.M., Wideband and compact impedance-transforming 90° DC blocks with symmetric coupled transmission-line sections, IEEE Trans. Compon., Packag. Manuf. Technol., 2018, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcpmt.2018.2838327
Mongia, R., Bahl, I.J., Bhartia, P., and Hong, J., RF and Microwave Coupled-Line Circuits, Norwood, Mass.: Artech House, 1999.
White, J.F., Microwave Semiconductor Engineering, Van Nostrand Reinhold Electrical/Computer Science and Engineering Series, Dordrecht: Springer, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7065-9
Kim, Ch.-W., Kang, M.-S., Anh, Ph.T., Kim, H.-T., and Lee, S.-G., An ultra-wideband CMOS low noise amplifier for 3-5-GHz UWB system, IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 2005, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 544–547. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSSC.2004.840951
Bagga, S., Mansano, A.L., Serdijn, W.A., Long, J., Van Hartingsveldt, K., and Philips, K., A frequency-selective broadband low-noise amplifier with double-loop transformer feedback, IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I: Regular Pap., 2014, vol. 61, no. 6, pp. 1883–1891. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsi.2013.2295010
Sattar, S. and Zulkifli, T.Z.A., A 2.4/5.2-GHz concurrent dual-band CMOS low noise amplifier, IEEE Acce-ss, 2017, vol. 5, pp. 21148–21156. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2017.2756985
Funding
This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
The authors of this work declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note.
Pleiades Publishing remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mohamed Boumalkha, Lahsaini, M., Griguer, H. et al. Implementation of an LNA Using a Microstrip Coupler as a DC-Block for Sub-6 5G Communication Systems. Russ Microelectron 52, 547–555 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S106373972370066X
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S106373972370066X