Analysis and design of a 0.9 V 1 GHz-BW 14.6 dBm-OIP3 broadband receiver with current-mode analog baseband in 12 nm FinFET CMOS

Abstract

This study introduces a wideband LNTA-based receiver employing full current mode (FCM) signal transmission, leveraging a broadband and highly linear current-mode analog baseband (CMAB). The CMAB module comprises a shunt feedback low pass filter and a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) with wide bandwidth, utilizing a regulated CG current mirror design, enriched by gm-boosting methodology and positive feedback capacitance reutilization through an identical boost amplifier. Fabricated in 12 nm FinFET CMOS process, the FCM receiver attains notable characteristics including a baseband bandwidth of 1 GHz, a conversion gain of 30 dB, a noise figure of 5.2 dB, and an OIP3 of 14.6 dBm, while operating with a low supply voltage of merely 0.9 V. Simulation results validate the efficacy of this FCM receiver for wideband communication, effectively addressing the linearity constraints associated with low supply voltages and maximizing the advantages of FinFET technology in current-mode signal transmission. The total layout area is 0.484 mm2.