A Ka-band High Linearity Up-Conversion Mixer with LO Boosting Linearization Technique

Abstract

This paper presents a Ka-band high linearity resistive up-conversion mixer using $0.18-\mu \mathrm{m}$ standard CMOS technology. A LO boosting linearization technique is introduced to improve the linearity and conversion gain of the up-conversion mixer. From the experimental results, the resistive up-conversion mixer demonstrates a peak conversion gain of −8.5 dB at RF frequency of 28.1 GHz and IF signal of 100 MHz with zero dc power consumption. After adding the LO boosting linearization technique, the up-conversion mixer achieves an output 1-dB compression point $(OP_{\mathit{1}dB})$ of −2.7 dBm via LO drive power of 10 dBm at 28.1 GHz. In addition, the up-conversion mixer features an IF bandwidth of 5 GHz which is suitable for high-speed wireless communication applications.