An area-efficient broadband balun-LNA-mixer front-end for multi-standard receivers

An area-efficient wideband receiver front-end for multi-standard receivers is presented. To handle large input signal levels, dual gain modes are employed in the LNA stage. For input signals lower than -۱۷.۵ dBm, a noise-canceling balun CG-CS LNA is employed. The LNA features a local feedback loop to reduce power consumption. For input signals in the range of from -۱۷.۵ to -۵.۲ dBm, the CG-CS LNA is bypassed with a balun unit-gain inverter stage. The proposed front-end shows better than -۱۲ dB input matching for both gain modes in the frequency range of ۰.۴-۳.۴ GHz. Due to the lack of off-chip balun, the proposed front-end consumes low area. Moreover, the full differential structure leads to enhanced linearity performance. The post-layout simulation results in RF CMOS ۰.۱۸ µm process shows the conversion gain of ۲۴.۵/۱۳.۰۶ dB in HG/LG modes. The minimum DSB NF is ۳.۷۷/۹.۸۴ dB, and the third input intercept point (IIP۳) is -۷.۲۹/-۱.۸ dBm. The circuit dissipates ۱۲.۹۳ mW with an active area of ۰.۰۷۳ mm۲.

Keywords:

receiver front-end , balun LNA , low area , noise-canceling , wideband , inductor less