3.88 dB NF 60 GHz CMOS UWB LNA with small group-delay-variation

Abstract

A low power and low noise figure (NF) 60 GHz low-noise amplifier (LNA) with excellent phase linearity using standard 90 nm CMOS technology is reported. The LNA comprises a common-source (CS) stage followed by a cascode stage and a CS stage. The LNA consumes 14.1 mW, achieving S11 better than - 10 dB for the frequencies 55.1- 59.5 GHz, S22 better than - 10 dB for the frequencies 55.1-59.4 GHz, and group delay variation smaller than ± 13.25 ps for the frequencies 50.4-63 GHz. Additionally, high and flat S21 of 9.9 ± 1.5 dB is achieved for the frequencies 50.4-62.9 GHz, which means the corresponding 3 dB bandwidth is 12.5 GHz. Furthermore, the LNA achieves a minimum NF of 3.88 dB at 55.5 GHz and an NF of 4.73 ± 0.85 dB for the frequencies 50-63.5 GHz, one of the best NF results ever reported for a 60 GHz CMOS LNA. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2013.