Highly Linear Low-Noise Amplifier Design Using an Out-of-Band Termination for WiMAX Applications

A 2.6 GHz highly linear low-noise amplifier (LNA) is designed and implemented in hybrid microwave integrated circuit (HMIC) using GaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors (pHEMTs) for WiMAX applications. The center frequency of WiMAX LNA is designed at 2.6 GHz for the U.S. multi-point microwave distribution system (MMDS) band of frequency range from 2.5 GHz to 2.69 GHz. The proposed design is based on the out-of-band termination. The crucial measured results of WiMAX LNA include that a noise figure (NF) is less than 2 dB, a power gain is greater than 8 dB, an input 1 dB compression point (IP_{1 dB}) is equal to 0 dBm, and an input third-order intercept point (IIP₃) is equal to 7.5 dBm. A supply voltage of 1.8 V and power consumption is 8 mW are used.