A general weak nonlinearity model for LNAs

This paper presents a general weak nonlinearity model that can be used to model, analyze and describe the distortion behavior of various low noise amplifier topologies in both narrowband and wideband applications. Represented by compact closed-form expressions our model can be easily utilized by both circuit designers and LNA design automation algorithms. Simulations for three LNA topologies at different operating conditions show that the model describes IM components with an error lower than 0.1% and a one order of magnitude faster response time. The model also indicates that for narrowband IM2@w1-w2 all the nonlinear capacitances can be neglected while for narrowband IM3 the nonlinear capacitances at the drain terminal can be neglected.

[1]  B. Nauta,et al.  Analog circuits in ultra-deep-submicron CMOS , 2005, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[2]  Mohamed A. Y. Abdulla,et al.  Distortion Analysis in Analog Integrated Circuits , 2002 .

[3]  R. A. Baki,et al.  Distortion in RF CMOS short-channel low-noise amplifiers , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[4]  G. Palumbo,et al.  High-frequency harmonic distortion in feedback amplifiers: analysis and applications , 2003 .

[5]  Ali M. Niknejad,et al.  A Highly Linear Broadband CMOS LNA Employing Noise and Distortion Cancellation , 2007, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[6]  Wei Cheng,et al.  A multi-step P-cell for LNA design automation , 2008, 2008 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems.

[7]  Sina Balkir,et al.  Automatic synthesis of CMOS RF front-ends , 2006, 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems.

[8]  Yves Rolain,et al.  Nonlinearity Analysis of Analog/RF Circuits Using Combined Multisine and Volterra Analysis , 2007, 2007 Design, Automation & Test in Europe Conference & Exhibition.

[9]  Thomas H. Lee,et al.  The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits: RF CIRCUITS THROUGH THE AGES , 2003 .

[10]  Lawrence T. Pileggi,et al.  Efficient per-nonlinearity distortion analysis for analog and RF circuits , 2003, IEEE Trans. Comput. Aided Des. Integr. Circuits Syst..

[11]  Shen-Iuan Liu,et al.  A Broadband Noise-Canceling CMOS LNA for 3.1–10.6-GHz UWB Receivers , 2007, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[12]  Paul-Peter Sotiriadis,et al.  A State-Space Approach to Intermodulation Distortion Estimation in Fully Balanced Bandpass $G_{m}$– $C$ Filters With Weak Nonlinearities , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers.