Design and performance of a ultra-low-NF, high gain, linear LNA for 3GPP wireless node-B application

In this paper, we discuss the design methodology of a linear low noise amplifier (LNA) for optimum noise performance under good input match and reasonable output matching condition. Linearity is achieved with the use of balanced configuration and with overall high bias current gain of the LNA is optimised to be used in wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) base-station receiver front-end. The balanced-cascade amplifier chain uses two E-pHEMT GaAsFET devices having gate widths of 800 /spl mu/m and 6400 /spl mu/m. Simulation performance shows an overall gain of 43 dB, noise figure less than 0.5 dB and third order intermodulation level (IMD3) better than -82 dBc under outdoor high-end mobile data rate of 384 kbps.