A 0.5-14-GHz 10.6-dB CMOS cascode distributed amplifier

A 0.5-14-GHz distributed amplifier (DA) using 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS technology has been presented. It demonstrates the highest gain bandwidth product reported for a CMOS amplifier using a standard Si-based IC process. This DA chip achieves measured results of 10.6/spl plusmn/0.9 dB gain, NF between 3.4 and 5.4 dB with good return losses better than from 0.5 to 14 GHz. The measured output IP3 and P/sub ldB/ are +20 dBm and +10 dBm, respectively, from 2 to 10 GHz.