Base coupled differential amplifier: a new topology for RF integrated LNA

摘要

A new topology of bipolar low noise amplifier (LNA) for RF applications, named base coupled differential (BCD), is presented. The proposed approach is compared by simulation against most classical topologies. The BCD configuration has the key advantage to join an integrated matching on a single-ended input with a differential output. This is done by using down-bond wiring, so that no integrated inductors are needed. The main advantages of this new topology are a drastic area reduction and an increased linearity range (or a reduced biasing current with the same linearity) together with a noise figure (NF) and voltage supply reduction. Particularly, the BCD LNA presented in this paper has been designed for 2.44 GHz frequency operation. It is characterized by a NF of 1.93 dB, a voltage gain (Av) of 19.5 dB, an input impedance of 50 Ω a third Input-referred Intercept Point (IIP_3) of ―7.25 dBm and a dissipated power (P_D) equal to 19 mW.