A 17 GHz transformer-neutralized current re-use LNA and its application to a low-power RF front-end

Abstract

A 17 GHz current re-use low noise amplifier (LNA) is designed in 0.13 µm CMOS for low power applications such as wireless sensor networks. The LNA also employs transformer based feedback to neutralize the gate-drain capacitance of a MOSFET. The LNA achieves 15.4 dB gain into a 50 Ω load along with 1.9 GHz bandwidth. It features 4.5dB NF and −12 dBm IIP3 while consuming 7.8 mW of power. A 17 GHz receiver frontend using a similar two-stage LNA and a mixer is also demonstrated which achieves 25 dB of voltage conversion gain at 70 MHz IF, 7 dB NF, −18 dBm IIP3 and consumes 8 mW from a 1.2 V supply.