A low power balun LNA with active loads for gain and noise figure optimization

Abstract

In this paper we describe a balun LNA with noise and distortion cancelling with active loads to boost the gain and reduce the noise figure (NF). Simulation and measurements results, with a 130 nm CMOS technology, show that the gain is enhanced by about 3 dB and the NF is reduced by at least 0.5 dB, with a negligible impact on the circuit linearity (IIP3 is about 0 dBm). The total power dissipation is only 4.8 mW, and the active area is less than 50 × 50 µm2.