0.18 μm 21-27 GHz CMOS UWB LNA with 9.3 ± 1.3 dB gain and 103.9 ± 8.1 ps group delay

A 21-27 GHz CMOS ultra-wideband low-noise amplifier (UWB LNA) with state-of-the-art phase linearity property (group delay variation is only plusmn8.1 ps across the whole band) is reported for the first time. To achieve high and flat gain (S₂₁) and small group delay variation at the same time, the inductive series peaking technique was adopted in the output of each stage for bandwidth enhancement. The LNA dissipated 27 mW power and achieved input return loss (S₁₁) of -13 to -20.1 dB, output return loss (S₂₂) of -8.2 to -30.2 dB, flat S₂₁ of 9.3 plusmn 1.3 dB, reverse isolation (S₁₂) of -52.7 to -73.3 dB, and noise figure of 4.9-6.1 dB over the 21-27 GHz band of interest. The measured 1 dB compression point (P_1dB) and input third-order intermodulation point (IIP3) were -14 and -4 dBm, respectively, at 24 GHz.