A 52-67GHz Ultra-Compact Bi-directional Gate-switching Cascode Amplifier with Tri-coil Broadband Matching in 40-nm CMOS

To increase data rates and capacity, millimeter wave communication has become an emerging technology and many works have been conducted to improve system performance and reduce manufacturing cost [1–5]. In [1], a bi-directional single-chain transceiver architecture demonstrates the potential to simplify the architecture of the transceiver to save the area and cost. It utilizes a bi-directional amplifier core to combine two separated channels and shares phase shifter, mixer, and matching networks. However, the bi-directional operation degrades transceiver performance largely because of severe current leakage introduced by incomplete transistor on/off operation and parasitic effects. This degradation becomes worse as the frequency goes further up.