Design Of Low-Noise Amplifier Utilising Active Shunt Feedback For Medradio Band Applications
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Date
2019-02-01
Authors
Abdul Mubin, Mutanizam
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
A low-power 0.18-ยตm CMOS low-noise amplifier (LNA) for MedRadio
applications has been designed and verified in this research work. Cadence IC5
software with Silterraโs C18G CMOS Process Design Kit were used for all design and
simulation work. This LNA utilises complementary common-source current-reuse
topology and subthreshold biasing to achieve low-power operation with simultaneous
high gain and low noise figure. An active shunt feedback circuit is used as input
matching network to provide a suitable input return loss. For test and measurement
purpose, an output buffer was designed and integrated with this LNA. Inductorless
design approach of this LNA, together with the use of MOSCAPs as capacitors, help to
minimise the die size. On post-layout simulations with simulated total power
consumption of 0.5 mW, all targeted specifications are met albeit with some
degradations from the pre-layout simulation results. From pre-layout to post-layout
simulations, the simulated gain and input return loss are reduced to 16.3 dB and 10.1
dB respectively whilst the simulated noise figure worsens to 4.9 dB. However, the
simulated ๐ผ๐1๐๐ต and ๐ผ๐ผ๐3 slightly improve to -26.7 dBm and -18.6 dBm respectively.
Overall, the post-layout simulated performance of this proposed LNA is fairly
comparable to some current state-of-the-art LNAs for MedRadio applications. However,
the worsening simulated input return loss and noise figure at post-layout level due to
parasitic capacitances and resistances in the integrated circuit layout need to be given
serious attention. This is because the post-layout simulation results of these two
parameters virtually have no margin to their respective targeted specifications.