No Noise Is Good Noise: Noise Matching, Noise Canceling, and Maybe a Bit of Both for Wide-Band LNAs

Researchers have described the concept of noise matching since at least the 1950s, with studies demonstrating the interrelationships among the noise factor of a low-noise amplifier (LNA), the LNA's noise parameters, and the signal-source impedance Zs. Noise matching is accomplished when an LNA is driven by a signal source, the impedance (or admittance) of which is designed-perhaps using a matching network-to equal the LNA's optimum signal-source impedance for minimum noise, or Zopt. The complex Zopt = Gopt + jXopt represents two of the four noise parameters that completely characterize the noise behavior of a linear two-port device, such as an LNA. The other two noise parameters are the minimum noise factor, Fmin , and the Lange invariant N, which is, arguably, a more fundamental parameter than the often-used equivalent noise resistance, Rn.

[1]  B. Nauta,et al.  Wideband Balun-LNA With Simultaneous Output Balancing, Noise-Canceling and Distortion-Canceling , 2008, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[2]  S. W. Wedge,et al.  Wave techniques for noise modeling and measurement , 1992 .

[3]  I. Bastos,et al.  Wideband CMOS low noise amplifiers , 2015 .

[4]  S.S. Taylor,et al.  A 5GHz resistive-feedback CMOS LNA for low-cost multi-standard applications , 2006, 2006 IEEE International Solid State Circuits Conference - Digest of Technical Papers.

[5]  Bram Nauta,et al.  A wideband noise-canceling CMOS LNA exploiting a transformer , 2006, IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFIC) Symposium, 2006.

[6]  R. P. Meys,et al.  A Wave Approach to the Noise Properties of Linear Microwave Devices , 1978 .

[7]  Hermann A. Haus,et al.  Signal and Noise Properties of Gallium Arsenide Microwave Field-Effect-Transistors , 1975 .

[8]  Eric A. M. Klumperink,et al.  Generating all two-MOS-transistor amplifiers leads to new wide-band LNAs , 2000, IEEE J. Solid State Circuits.

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

[10]  A. Bevilacqua,et al.  An ultrawideband CMOS low-noise amplifier for 3.1-10.6-GHz wireless receivers , 2004, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[11]  Edgar Sánchez-Sinencio,et al.  An Inductor-Less Noise-Cancelling Broadband Low Noise Amplifier With Composite Transistor Pair in 90 nm CMOS Technology , 2011, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[12]  J.R. Long,et al.  A 1.2 V Reactive-Feedback 3.1–10.6 GHz Low-Noise Amplifier in 0.13 $\mu{\hbox {m}}$ CMOS , 2007, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[13]  Lluis Pradell,et al.  Method for measuring noise parameters of microwave two-port , 1998 .

[14]  G. Gonzalez.  Microwave Transistor Amplifiers: Analysis and Design , 1984 .

[15]  J. Lange,et al.  Noise Characterization of Linear Twoports in Terms of Invariant Parameters , 1967 .

[16]  Frédéric Aniel,et al.  Four noise parameter determination method for transistors based on the frequency dependence of the noise figure , 1998 .

[17]  S. Weinreb,et al.  Design of Cryogenic SiGe Low-Noise Amplifiers , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[18]  P. Russer,et al.  correction to 'An Efficient method for Computer Aided Noise Analysis of Linear Amplifier Networks' , 1976 .

[19]  S. Weinreb,et al.  A novel wide-band noise-parameter measurement method and its cryogenic application , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[20]  Paul Crozat,et al.  50 /spl Omega/ noise measurements with full receiver calibration without tuner , 1996 .

[21]  K. Ayaki,et al.  A 4-GHz Multistage Transistor Amplifier , 1969 .

[22]  M. Pospieszalski.  Modeling of noise parameters of MESFETs and MODFETs and their frequency and temperature dependence , 1989 .

[23]  Leonid Belostotski,et al.  Sub-0.2 dB Noise Figure Wideband Room-Temperature CMOS LNA With Non-50 $\Omega$ Signal-Source Impedance , 2007, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[24]  L. Belostotski,et al.  Wide Band Room Temperature 0.35-dB Noise Figure LNA in 90-nm Bulk CMOS , 2007, 2007 IEEE Radio and Wireless Symposium.

[25]  Brian William Hughes,et al.  Designing FET's for broad noise circles , 1993 .

[26]  A. V. Der Ziel,et al.  Thermal Noise in Field-Effect Transistors , 1962, Proceedings of the IRE.

[27]  B. Nauta,et al.  Wide-band CMOS low-noise amplifier exploiting thermal noise canceling , 2004, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[28]  M. Pospieszalski.  On noise properties of transistors and amplifiers a critical review , 2014, 2014 20th International Conference on Microwaves, Radar and Wireless Communications (MIKON).

[29]  Walter Ciccognani,et al.  Constant Mismatch Circles and Application to Low-Noise Microwave Amplifier Design , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[30]  P. Sivonen,et al.  A 1.2-V Highly Linear Balanced Noise-Cancelling LNA in 0.13-$\mu{\hbox{m}}$ CMOS , 2008, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[31]  Andrew C. Davidson,et al.  Accuracy improvements in microwave noise parameter measurements , 1989 .

[32]  A.A. Abidi,et al.  A 3-10-GHz low-noise amplifier with wideband LC-ladder matching network , 2004, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[33]  M.J. Deen,et al.  Analytical Determination of MOSFET's High-Frequency Noise Parameters From NF$_{50}$ Measurements and Its Application in RFIC Design , 2007, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[34]  Lluis Pradell,et al.  FET noise-parameter determination using a novel technique based on 50-/spl Omega/ noise-figure measurements , 1999 .

[35]  L. Belostotski,et al.  Evaluation of Tuner-Based Noise-Parameter Extraction Methods for Very Low Noise Amplifiers , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[36]  W. Dahlke,et al.  Theory of Noisy Fourpoles , 1956, Proceedings of the IRE.

[37]  Hermann A. Haus,et al.  Circuit Theory of Linear Noisy Networks , 1959 .

[38]  Peter Russer,et al.  An efficient method for computer aided noise analysis of linear amplifier networks , 1976 .

[39]  D. Pasquet,et al.  New Method for Noise-Parameter Measurement of a Mismatched Linear Two-Port Using Noise Power Wave Formalism , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[40]  H. Fukui,et al.  Available Power Gain, Noise Figure, and Noise Measure of Two-Ports and Their Graphical Representations , 1966 .

[42]  H. A. Haus,et al.  Optimum Noise Performance of Linear Amplifiers , 1958, Proceedings of the IRE.

[43]  Stanley S K Ho,et al.  A CMOS Broadband Low-Noise Mixer With Noise Cancellation , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[44]  B. M. Albinsson,et al.  A graphic design method for matched low-noise amplifiers , 1990 .

[45]  R. Hu,et al.  Wide-band matched LNA design using transistor's intrinsic gate-drain capacitor , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[46]  L. Belostotski,et al.  Noise figure optimization of wide-band inductively-degenerated CMOS LNAs , 2007, 2007 50th Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems.

[47]  Jr. P. Penfield.  Wave Representation of Amplifier Noise , 1962 .

[48]  A. Ziel.  The state of solid state device noise research , 1976 .

[49]  Robert Hu,et al.  Investigation of Different Input-Matching Mechanisms Used in Wide-Band LNA Design , 2005 .

[50]  Arthur Uhlir,et al.  A Novel Procedure for Receiver Noise Characterization , 1973 .

[51]  A. Madanayake,et al.  Wideband LNA With an Active -C Element , 2012, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[52]  R. Hu.  An 8-20-GHz wide-band LNA design and the analysis of its input matching mechanism , 2004, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[53]  Shen-Iuan Liu,et al.  Inductorless Wideband CMOS Low-Noise Amplifiers Using Noise-Canceling Technique , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers.

[54]  Antonio Lázaro,et al.  FET Noise-Parameter Determination Using a Novel Technique Based on 50-Noise-Figure Measurements , 1999 .

[55]  Leonid Belostotski,et al.  Two-port noise figure optimization of source-degenerated cascode CMOS LNAs , 2008 .

[56]  R. Q. Lane,et al.  The determination of device noise parameters , 1969 .

[57]  H. Rothe,et al.  The theory of noisy four-poles , 1954, Transactions of the IRE Professional Group on Electron Devices.

[58]  H. A. Haus,et al.  Representation of Noise in Linear Twoports , 1960, Proceedings of the IRE.

[59]  Leonid Belostotski.  Comparison of LNAs fabricated in 65-nm CMOS GP and LP processes for the Square Kilometre Array , 2012, IEICE Electron. Express.

[60]  Ahmad Mirzaei,et al.  A blocker-tolerant wideband noise-cancelling receiver with a 2dB noise figure , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference.

[61]  R. S. Tucker,et al.  Low-Noise Design of Microwave Transistor Amplifiers (Short Papers) , 1975 .

[62]  Kyung-Whan Yeom,et al.  An Extraction of Two-Port Noise Parameters From Measured Noise Powers Using an Extended Six-Port Network , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[63]  Pui-In Mak,et al.  A 0.46-mm$ ^{2}$ 4-dB NF Unified Receiver Front-End for Full-Band Mobile TV in 65-nm CMOS , 2011, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[64]  Leonid Belostotski,et al.  Wide-band CMOS low noise amplifier for applications in radio astronomy , 2006, 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems.