A 1.2 V low noise amplifier with double feedback for high gain and low noise figure

Abstract

In this thesis we present a balun low noise amplifier (LNA) in which the gain is boosted using a double feedback structure. The circuit is based in a Balun LNA with noise and distortion cancellation. The LNA is based in two basic stages: common-gate (CG) and common-source (CS). We propose to replace the resistors by active loads, which have two inputs that will be used to provide the feedback (in the CG and CS stages). This proposed methodology will boost the gain and reduce the NF (Noise Figure). Simulation results, with a 130 nm CMOS technology, show that the gain is 19.65 dB and the NF is less than 2.17 dB. The total power dissipation is only 5 mW (since no extra blocks are required), leading to an FOM (Figure of Merit) of 3.13 mW-1 from a nominal 1.2 supply.