EERF 6330- RF IC Design

Low Noise Amplifiers - I

Prof. Bhaskar Banerjee

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Outline

LNA Considerations
NF, Gain, Linearity, Stability, Bandwidth

Input Matching
Basic LNA Topologies

Reading: RF Microelectronics, B. Razavi

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

NF Considerations
The NF of the LNA directly adds to the RX noise figure.
A typical LNA has a NF of 2-3 dB.

If RS = 50 ,

a very small value!

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Effect of Metal Resistance

Consider an LNA that connects its input to a pad through a metal line 200 m long.
In order to minimize the input capacitance, the width of the line is chosen to be 0.5
m. Assuming a noise figure of 2 dB for the LNA and a sheet resistance of 40 m/
for the metal line, determine the overall noise figure. Neglect the input-referred noise
current of the LNA.
We draw the equivalent circuit as shown in figure below, pretending that the line resistance,
RL, is part of the LNA. We thus write

where NFLNA denotes the noise figure of the LNA without the line resistance. Since NFLNA = 2 dB 1.58
and RL = (200/0.5) 40 m/ = 16 , we have

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Gain of the LNA

The gain of the LNA must be large enough to minimize the
noise contribution of subsequent stages, specifically, the
downconversion mixer(s).

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Input Return Loss

The quality of the input match is expressed by the input return
loss, defined as the reflected power divided by the incident power.
For a source impedance of RS, the return loss is given by:

Constant contours in the Zin plane. Each contour is a circle with its center shown.
Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Stability
Stern stability factor, defined as:

Unconditionally stable:
K > 1 and < 1 for all frequencies.
Note: = S11S22 - S12S21

In modern designs, the load impedance of the LNA is

relatively well controlled making K a pessimistic measure of
stability
Also, since the LNA o/p is typically not matched to the input of
the mixer, S22 is not very meaningful.

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Stability Example
Consider a cascade stage with a high reverse isolation (S12 0). If
the output impedance is relatively high (S22 1), determine the
stability considerations.

In other words, the forward gain must not exceed a certain value. For < 1, we have
implying that the input resistance must remain positive.

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Linearity
In most cases, the LNA does not limit the linearity of the
receiver.
But in FDD systems (e.g. LTE) - LNA linearity is critical!

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Bandwidth
The LNA must provide a relatively flat response for the frequency range of interest,
preferably with less than 1 dB of gain variation. The LNA -3-dB bandwidth must
therefore be substantially larger than the actual band so that the roll-off at the edges
remains below 1 dB.

An 802.11a LNA must achieve a -3-dB bandwidth from 5 GHz to 6 GHz. If the LNA
incorporates a second-order LC tank as its load, what is the maximum allowable tank
Q?

Q of the tank must remain less than 5.5 GHz/1 GHz = 5.5

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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Band Switching in LNAs

Bands can be switched by adding or removing a capacitor to
the LNA tank - useful technique to achieve a relatively large
fractional bandwidth.

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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Input of the CS Amplifier

Typically the input of the LNA needs to provide a 50
impedance to match to the antenna/filter.

Typical values:
CF = 10 fF, CL = 30 fF, gmRD = 4 and RD = 100 .
At 5 GHz: Re {Yin} = (7.8 k)-1, far away from (50 )-1.
Mainly owing to very little feedback through CF at these frequencies!
Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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Resistive Matching at the Input

Use a resistor (RP) at the input to create the 50 matching.

M1 and RD provide the required noise figure and gain.

RP is placed in parallel with the input to provide Re {Zin} = 50
an inductor is placed between the RS and the input to cancel Im {Zin}.

RS = RP -> NF = 3 dB + circuit noise!

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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Overview of LNA Topologies

Common-Source

Inductive Load
Resistive

Common-Gate

Feedback

Cascode, Inductive
Load, Inductive
Degeneration

Inductive Load
Feedback
Feedforward
Cascode and
Inductive Load

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

Broadband
Topologies

Noise-canceling

LNAs
Reactancecanceling LNAs

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CS with Inductive Load

Supply voltage scales down with process (CMOS channel length). For
example, at low frequencies,

To circumvent the trade-off expressed above and also operate at higher

frequencies, the CS stage can incorporate an inductive load.
Can operate with very low supply
voltages
L1 resonates with the total capacitance
at the output node, affording a much
higher operation frequency than does
the resistively-loaded counterpart

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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CS with Inductive Load: Input Matching

Redraw: RS models the inductor loss. Tank impedance:

Voltage drop:

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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CS with Inductive Load: Input Matching

Substituting ZT:

It is thus possible to select the values so as to obtain Re{Zin} = 50

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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CS with Inductive Load: Input Matching

The feedback capacitance gives rise to a negative input resistance at
other frequencies, potentially causing instability.

The numerator falls to zero at a frequency given by

Thus, at this frequency (if it exists), Re{Zin} changes sign.

It is possible to neutralize the effect of CF in
some frequency range through the use of
parallel resonance.
Will introduce significant parasitic
capacitances at the input and output and
degrading the performance.

Bhaskar Banerjee, EERF 6330, Sp2013, UTD

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