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Q1
C1 0.15
Ig (mA)
R5 L4 0.10
L1 L2 L3
C2 0.05
0
R4 C5 0 2 4 6 8 10
PIN (dBm)
C3
Figure 4. Rectified gate current vs. input power
R2
R3
R1 Table 1. Parts list for the ATF-54143 amplifier
C6 Part 6244-04 AN 1299
Value Qty.
Vdd C1, C4 5.6 pF (0805) 2
C2, C5 18 pF (0805) 2
Figure 2. Circuit diagram
C3, C6 10 nF (0805) 2
6244-02 AN 1299 L1 6.8 nF (LL2012) 1
L2, L3 Shorting strip 2
1.043 IN.
L4 8.2 nH (LL2012) 1
R1 4.7 kΩ (0805) 1
R2 33 kΩ (0805) 1
R3 27 Ω (0805) 1
R4 56 Ω (0805) 1
Figure 3. Component placement drawing for the ATF-54143 low noise R5 330 Ω (0805) 1
amplifier Q1 ATF-54143 1
6244-3 AN 1299
The schematic diagram describing the 900 MHz low The purpose of R4 is to enhance the low frequency
noise amplifier is shown in Figure 2. Circuit topology is stability of the device by providing a resistive
very similar to the typical depletion mode circuit except termination at low frequencies. Capacitor C3 provides a
for the method of biasing the device. A parts placement low frequency bypass for R4.
drawing is shown in Figure 3. The parts list for the
amplifier is shown in Table 1. Each source lead is connected to ground through the
topside microstrip line etch (LL) and a plated through
Biasing the ATF-54143 is accomplished by the use of hole to the bottom ground-plane. The additional
a voltage divider consisting of R1 and R2. The voltage inductance LL can have a very pronounced effect
for the divider is derived from the drain voltage which on amplifier performance. Some of the effects are
provides a form of voltage feedback to help keep drain undesired, such as out-of-band gain peaking and
current constant. While low value resistors in R1 and lower reverse isolation. Beneficial effects include
R2 should improve bias stability, they can result in improved input return loss and greater stability. Source
excessive rectified gate current under large signal input inductance is a low loss form of degenerative feedback.
conditions. If the rectified current is not kept below 2 It is less noisy in comparison to resistive feedback
mA, gate metal migration may occur over time. Using because there is no feedback resistor to generate
the resistor values suggested in Table 1, the rectified thermal noise [1].
gate current, as shown in Figure 4, stays way below 2
mA even at the input power of 10 dBm.
2
G gmVc D
Rg
+
Cgs Vc Rds Cds
–
S S
G D
Rg
Ig +
Cgs Vc gmVc
– S
Vg
Ls
Is = Ig + gmVc
Figure 5. Simplified FET models without source inductance (above) and with external source inductance (below)
Equations-AN1299
Without source feedback, the input impedance of a FET- Generally, the conjugate match (tuning for lowest
type transistor can be determined by inspection of the
Equations-AN1299 VSWR) for a RF transistor does not coincide with
simplified model in Figure 5: the optimal noise match (tuning for lowest noise).
Therefore, it is very difficult to achieve a low noise figure
1
6244-05 AN 1299 while maintaining a low input VSWR. The use of source
Zin = Rg - inductance effectively moves the input conjugate
jωCgs
1 match ( Γ11* ) closer to the optimal noise match ( Γopt
Zin = Rg - ). As more source inductance is being added, the input
jωCgs
With the addition of source inductance, the input conjugate match moves along the constant reactance
impedance is modified accordingly [2]: contour [2]. At the same time, Γopt remains relatively
Ls unchanged [3].
Zin' = Rg + gm + j ωLs - 1
CLgs ωCgs
s
Zin' = Rg + gm + j ωLs - 1 50
Ls
Zgin', indicates that feedback adds 200
m + jωLs to the input 10
CLgs
s + jωL to the input
gimpedance
m [2]. s
Cgs 500
impedance[2].
500
Qu - Ql 200
loss = 20 log
QuQ- uQl 100
loss = 20 log
Qu 50
25
ΔIM
IP3 = Pfund +
2 10
ΔIM
IP3 = Pfund +
2
Figure 6. The addition of source inductance shifts the conjugate match
closer to the optimal noise match (arrow indicates direction of shift)
81.3 6244-06 AN 1299
IP3 = - 0.7 + ≅ 40.0 dBm
2
81.3
3IP3 = - 0.7 + ≅ 40.0 dBm
2
The demonstration board is designed such that the 5.0
amount of source inductance is variable. Each source 4.5
lead is connected to a microstrip line, which can be
4.0
connected to a ground pad at any point along the line.
For the amplifier described in this application note, each 3.5
STABILITY FACTOR, k
source lead is connected to its corresponding ground 3.0
pad at a distance of approximately 2.5 mm (0.1") from 2.5
the source lead. The distance is measured from the edge
2.0
of the source lead to the nearest edge of the ground
strap (Figure 7). The remaining unused source lead pad 1.5
SHORTING
STRIP
L
ATF-54143
GAIN (dB)
-10
Equations-AN1299
L
-20
1.0 3.0 6.0
1 GHz
Zin = Rg -
jωCgs
Figure 9. Wide-band gain sweep (1 ~ 6 GHz)
Figure 7. Position of the shorting strips 6244-09 AN 1299
6244-07 AN 1299
The amount of source inductance used in the prototype The amplifier uses high-pass impedance matching
(L = 2.5 mm, or 0.1") was not enough to ensure networks for theLsinput noise match and the output
Zin' = Rg + gmatch. + j ωL 1
unconditional stability (e.g. k > 1). Unfortunately, conjugate m C The s - ωC network consists
high-pass
gs and a shuntgsinductor. The high-
of a series capacitor
further increase in source inductance led to out-of-
band gain peaking. To resolve this problem, an output pass topology helps to roll-off the gain below the
The difference between Zin and
shunt resistor R5 was used to raise the k above one. The amplifier’s operating frequency, where k is the lowest.
output shunt resistor R5 must be chosen carefully as The L-section matching networks also double as
Z ', indicates that feedback adds
too small a value can lower the intercept point of the a in
means of inserting gate and drain voltages for
amplifier. No excessive gain peaking was noted in the Ls Additionally, the series capacitors (C1 and
biasing.
g + jωLs to astheainput
wide-band sweep of Figure 9. Depending on the final C4)m also
Cgs function DC block. The Q of the input
layout and component parasitics, circuit stability may shunt inductor (L1) is extremely important from the
impedance[2].
be different. standpoint of circuit loss and can be calculated from
the following equation [4]:
Qu - Ql
loss = 20 log
Qu
ΔIM
IP3 = Pfund +
2
4
2.0
where Qu is the unloaded Q-factor of the inductor and
Ql is the loaded Q of the matching network.
18 -5
INPUT
-10
RETURN LOSS (dB)
17
OUTPUT
-15
16
700 800 900 1000 1100
FREQUENCY (MHz) -20
6244-12 AN 1299
5
gs
impedance[2].
Q - Ql
The
loss DC log u conditions
= 20operating (Vds and I ds) have a
The relationship between the gain and the input power Qu the IP3 result. Fixing Ids at 60 mA,
large influence over
Equations-AN1299
is shown in Figure 13. The 1-dB compressed gain (G1dB) Avago Technologies empirically found that the best
and the associated input power (Pin) can be read from IP3 occurred at Vds = 2.9 V for the prototype. The third
the graph. The P1dB was calculated as below: order products were approximately 81.3 dB below
ΔIM
the = Pfund +
IP3 fundamental output tones (Figure 14). Hence, the
P1dB = G1dB + Pin = 18.7 – 2.3 = 16.4 dBm 2
1 third-order intercept point, referred to the output, was
Zin = Rg - calculated as below:
20.0 jωCgs
19.5
19.0 81.3
IP3 = - 0.7 + ≅ 40.0 dBm
18.5 -18.9 dBm 2
L
19.6919 dB
s
+ j ωLs - 1
0
Zin ' = Rg + gm
18.0
ATF-64143
ATF-54143 -0.7 dBm AT 901.0 MHz
ωCgs
GAIN (dB)
17.5
Cgs 2V9/60mA
-2.34 dBm
18.6867 dB
17.0
The difference between Zin and
16.5
P (dBm)
16.0
-40
Ls15.5 -82.0 dBm AT 901.5 MHz
gm
15.0 + jωLs to the input
Cgs
-23.5 -0.5
impedance[2]. INPUT POWER LEVEL (dBm)
6
5. Appendix:
GAIN (dB)
gain. However, decreased gain also correlates to higher
-10
input intercept point. The question then becomes how
-20
much source inductance can one add before one has
gone too far? -30
-40
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
For an amplifier operating in the 2 GHz frequency FREQUENCY (GHz)
range, excessive source inductance will usually manifest Figure 16. Wide-band gain plot of 2 GHz ATF-55143 amplifier with an
itself in the form of a gain peak above 6 GHz and acceptable amount of source inductance
even sometimes above 12 GHz. Normally the high
frequency amplifier gain roll-off will be gradual and Excessive source inductance will cause gain to peak at
smooth. Adding source inductance begins to add the higher frequencies and may even cause the input
bumps or gain peaks to the once smooth gain roll-off. and output return loss to be positive. Adding excessive
The source inductance, while having a degenerative 6244-16 AN 1299
source inductance will most likely generate a gain
effect at low frequencies, is having a regenerative effect peak in the 12 to 13 GHz frequency range which could
at higher frequencies. This shows up as a very high approach several dB. Its effect can be seen in Figure
frequency gain peak (S21) and also shows up as input 17. The end result is poor amplifier stability, especially
return loss (S11) becoming more positive. Some shift when the amplifier is placed in a housing with walls and
in upper frequency performance is acceptable as long a cover.
as the amount of source inductance is fixed and has
some margin in the design in order to account for S21 Larger gate width devices such as the 800-micron
variations in the device. ATF-54143 will be less sensitive to source inductance
than the smaller gate width devices and can therefore
A wide-band gain plot of S21 for an amplifier using the tolerate more source inductance before instabilities
400-micron gate width ATF-55143 device is shown in occur. The only drawback of the wider gate width ATF-
Figure 15. The plot shown in Figure 15 represents an 54143 will be slightly reduced gain. The wide-band gain
amplifier that uses minimal source inductance and has plot does give the designer a good overall picture as to
a relatively flat gain response at the higher frequencies. what to look for when analyzing the effect of excessive
The amplifier has relatively high gain at 2 GHz but less source inductance on overall amplifier performance.
than 0 dB gain above 6 GHz.
20
20 10
10 0
GAIN (dB)
0
GAIN (dB)
-10
-10
-20
-20
-30
-30
-40
-40 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 FREQUENCY (GHz)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
Figure 17. Wide-band gain plot of 2 GHz ATF-55143 amplifier with an
Figure 15. Wide-band gain plot of 2 GHz ATF-55143 amplifier using unacceptable amount of source inductance producing undesirable gain
minimal source inductance peaking in the 12 to 13 GHz frequency range
7
6. References
1. Smith, J., Modern Communication Circuits, McGraw-
Hill, 1986, chapter 5 sub-topic: Lossless feedback
amplifiers.
2. Henkes, D., “LNA Design Uses Series Feedback to
Achieve Simultaneous Low Input VSWR and Low
Noise”, Applied Microwave & Wireless, October, 1998.
3. Hewlett-Packard Application Note 1076, “Using the
ATF-10236 in Low Noise Amplifier Applications in the
UHF through 1.7 GHz Frequency Range”, sub-topic:
Design Techniques, page 2.
4. Hewlett-Packard Application Note 1085, “900 and
2400 MHz Amplifiers Using the AT-3 Series Low Noise
Silicon Bipolar Transistors”, page 9.
5. Vizmuller, P., RF Design Guide, Artech House, 1995,
chapter 3.6: Intercept Point.
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Data subject to change. Copyright © 2005-2010 Avago Technologies. All rights reserved.
5988-6670EN - July 13, 2010