High-Performance Broadband CMOS Low-Noise Amplifier with a Three-Winding Transformer for Broadband Matching

This study presents a 32-to-46-GHz two-stage low noise amplifier (LNA) with a three-winding transformer-based input matching network. The proposed matching network provides a broadband noise and input matching for the entire operating range without performance degradation. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed circuit configuration, the LNA is implemented using a 65-nm bulk complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The measured LNA achieved a gain of > 19.2 dB at 32–46 GHz with a peak of 21.5 dB at 32 and 45 GHz, simultaneously. The minimum noise figure of the fabricated LNA was 2.2 dB at 36.5 GHz, and remains below 3.2 dB across 14 GHz. The input and output return losses were < - 10dB from 32 to 45.5 GHz (effective bandwidth). The third-order input intercept (IIP
3
) point was -7.6 dBm at 38 GHz at the lowest gain when dissipating 22 mA with a 1-V supply voltage.