Optimizing CMOS analog Variable Gain Amplifier cell for WiMAX receiver

This paper presents the design of an analog Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) design in TSMC 0.18 μm process. The proposed circuit is composed of tow transimpedance amplifiers, a transconductance amplifier applied to mobile WiMAX standard. The VGA control is ensured by using analog voltage control (Vctr). The optimized circuit presents high gain, high bandwidth, low power consumption and low Noise Figure (NF). In order to attempt mobile WiMAX standard specifications, one VGA cell is used. The simulation structure provides a minimum and a maximum gain of respectively 5 dB and 40 dB over more than 160 MHz bandwidth and less than 19 dB of NF. The VGA consumes only approximately 72 μW under 1.8 V power supply.

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