Wideband, high gain, high linearity, low noise amplifier for GNSS frequencies with compensation for low frequency instability

This paper presents the design methodology, simulation results and implementation details of a low noise amplifier (LNA) designed to operate over the whole range of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) frequencies (1164MHz to 1615.5MHz). This LNA works over combined (but overlapping) frequency bands of all three GNSS constellations (GNSS consist of the American Global Positioning System (GPS), European Galileo system and the Russian GLONASS system). Designed to be unconditionally stable with gain of over 18dB and noise figure of 2dB over a considerable bandwidth of about 450MHz, the achieved results conformed quite well to the specifications. Final implementation results include a gain of 18.5dB at the centre frequency with a nominal variation of ±1.3dB over the desired bandwidth. The noise figure obtained is 2.18dB and the amplifier stability range extends from 0Hz to 9GHz. Very high degree of linearity is achieved with output ldB compression at +13dBm and output third order intercept at +23dBm. This paper describes results at every stage of design, simulation and implementation along with a solution against typical low frequency instability by a small trade-off in noise figure.

[1]  D. Pozar.  Microwave Engineering , 1990 .

[2]  Dominic Hayes,et al.  Galileo Signals and the Open Service Signal-in-Space Interface Control Document , 2012 .

[3]  Tung-Sang Ng,et al.  An efficient algorithm for downconverting multiple bandpass signals using bandpass sampling , 2001, ICC 2001. IEEE International Conference on Communications. Conference Record (Cat. No.01CH37240).

[4]  Ching-Hsiang Tseng,et al.  Direct downconversion of multiband RF signals using bandpass sampling , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications.

[5]  B. Nauta,et al.  An inductorless wideband balun-LNA in 65nm CMOS with balanced output , 2007, ESSCIRC 2007 - 33rd European Solid-State Circuits Conference.

[6]  Md.Maruf Hossain.  ''Design of RF Front End for Multi-Band Multi-System GNSS Receiver'' , 2008 .

[7]  Rodney G. Vaughan,et al.  The theory of bandpass sampling , 1991, IEEE Trans. Signal Process..

[8]  M.L. Psiaki,et al.  Design and practical implementation of multifrequency RF front ends using direct RF sampling , 2003, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[9]  Jie-Cherng Liu.  Bandpass sampling of multiple single sideband RF signals , 2008, 2008 3rd International Symposium on Communications, Control and Signal Processing.

[10]  James B. Y. Tsui,et al.  Direct bandpass sampling of multiple distinct RF signals , 1999, IEEE Trans. Commun..