Simplified RF receive frontend architecture for active array applications

Author

Solbach, Klaus

Author_Institution

Gerhard-Mercator-Univ. Duisburg, Germany

Volume

13

Issue

7

fYear

2003

fDate

7/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

271

Lastpage

272

Abstract

A new concept for receive front end circuits is presented, which proposes the use of the low noise amplifier (LNA) in a second role as an amplifier of the local oscillator (LO) signal. Based on this concept, much of the complexity of the active array signal distribution networks (calibration and LO) can be reduced. It is shown that the danger of saturation, intermodulation and noise degradation can be overcome by using an unbalanced active mixer circuit which requires an LO-power level compatible with the limitations of modern LNAs.

Keywords

UHF amplifiers; UHF antennas; UHF mixers; active antenna arrays; intermodulation distortion; radio receivers; 1295 MHz; 1380 MHz; 85 MHz; IMD; L-band operation; LNA; LO signal; RF receive frontend architecture; active array applications; active array signal distribution networks; calibration; intermodulation; local oscillator signal; low noise amplifier; noise degradation; receive front end circuits; saturation; unbalanced active mixer circuit; Active noise reduction; Calibration; Circuit noise; Coupling circuits; Local oscillators; Low-noise amplifiers; Noise figure; RF signals; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency amplifiers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1531-1309

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LMWC.2003.814594

Filename

1214546