Design and Analysis of Ultra Wideband GaN Dual-Gate HEMT Low-Noise Amplifiers

Abstract

In this paper, we present three ultra wide bandwidth low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) using dual-gate AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices. The single-stage, resistive feedback amplifiers target two different frequency bands: two LNAs operate in 0.3-4 GHz and one LNA is in 1.2-18 GHz. All three LNAs are capable of better than 13:1 bandwidth. The first low frequency amplifier uses a microstrip design and achieves 17.7 dB flat gain between 300 MHz-3 GHz, and 1.2 dB minimum noise figure around 1.3 GHz. The second 0.3-4 GHz LNA uses coplanar waveguide transmission lines and demonstrates 18 dB flat gain and 1.5 dB noise figure between 2 and 5 GHz. The high frequency microstrip-type LNA shows an average of 13 dB gain and between 2-3 dB noise figure across the band. The robust LNAs can be operated under various bias voltages while similar gain and noise figure performance are maintained.