A 30–40 GHz CMOS Receiver Front-End with 5.9 dB NF and 16.5 dB Conversion Gain for Broadband Spectrum Sensing Applications

Hyunki Jung,Seok-Kyun Han,Sang-Gug Lee,Dzuhri Radityo Utomo,Junsung Kim,Saebyeok Shin

doi:10.3390/electronics8050593

Hyunki Jung, Seok-Kyun Han + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8050593

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Abstract

A broadband receiver front-end with low noise figure and flat conversion gain response is presented in this paper. The receiver front-end is a part of the broadband spectrum sensing receiver and processes 30–40 GHz of broad input spectrum followed by down-conversion to DC-10 GHz of IF signal. The proposed work is comprised of a low noise amplifier (LNA), on-chip passive Balun, down conversion mixer, and output buffer. To achieve front-end target specification over 10 GHz input bandwidth, the stagger-tuned LNA is employed and the down conversion mixer is loaded with a 3rd-order LC ladder low pass filter. The prototype chip was implemented in 45 nm CMOS technology. The chip achieves 10.3–16.5 dB conversion gain, 5.9 dB integrated NF, and −11 dBm IIP3 from 30 to 40 GHz. The chip is realized within 0.42 mm 2 and consumes 96 mW from a 1.2 V supply.

Highlights

Modern wireless transceivers operate in a spectrum-crowded environment due to numerous communication standards introduced to meet the different needs of end-users
A broadband receiver solution for spectrum sensing applications is essential to achieve the opportunistic utilization of the valuable resource, known as cognitive radio
To achieve a resolution of a few centimeters, Ka-band is utilized in the receiver front-end of ultra wideband (UWB) short-range radar applications [8,9]

Summary

Introduction

Modern wireless transceivers operate in a spectrum-crowded environment due to numerous communication standards introduced to meet the different needs of end-users. Proposed a frequency channelization receiver architecture as one of the attractive solutions to achieve an expeditious spectrum utilization. The front-end has to provide low noise and high linearity requirements to have a wide dynamic range [3]. These requirements are satisfied with a newly proposed input matching network utilizing gate to drain feedback capacitance and a linear down-conversion mixer with current-reuse. To achieve a resolution of a few centimeters, Ka-band is utilized in the receiver front-end of UWB short-range radar applications [8,9].

Overall RF Front-End System

Building Blocks Designs

Down-Conversion Mixer

Third-Order LC Ladder Filter and LO Buffer

Measurement Results

Conclusions