A 0.6V 1.6mW transformer based 2.5GHz downconversion mixer with +5.4dB gain and -2.8dBm IIP3 in 0.13μm CMOS

An on-chip transformer in current gain and resonant mode has been employed in a downconversion mixer. Part of the overall gain of the mixer has been shifted from the RF input stage to the transformer. Thus the power consumption has been reduced, and, in spite of the low supply voltage, moderate linearity has been achieved. The downconversion mixer has been realized in 0.13 μm CMOS. It consumes 1.6 mW from a 0.6. V supply. A gain of 5.4 dB, an IIP3 of -2.8 dBm, an input 1 dB compression point of -9.2 dBm, and a SSB noise figure of 14.8 dB have been achieved.