Master 2ème année

Active Devices

RF and Microwave Low Noise Amplifiers LNA

Julien LINTIGNAT

05 55 45 77 46 julien.lintignat@xlim.fr
XLIM - UMR CNRS 7252
RF Systems / CCSNL
University of Limoges
 Outline

➢ Noise analysis of linear circuits

➢ Design and synthesis of LNA (Low Noise Amplifier)

➢ Monolithic integration (AsGa, Si) of receivers (RX)

 Why taking into account the effect of noise in a
receiver of a (tele)communication system ?

Because the power of the signal received at the input of the receiver

• is very low
• and is not (very much) greater than the power of the parasitic noise signals

The noise power is therefore not negligible

So it is necessary :

• to make a “noise optimization” of the receiver

• to “optimize” the noise figure of the receive
 Noise in a linear 2-port

The definition of the noise figure of a 2-port (and which is given further in the
course) depends on the ratio : Signal / Noise
• The term "Signal" and the term "Noise" in this ratio are “available powers” i.e.
maximum (max) powers
• The signal max power is that of a sinusoidal signal
• The noise max power is that of a noise signal :
• The noise is a random signal
• Its power is calculated by integrating the power spectral density (see
signal processing course
 Reminder: Sinusoidal operation in linear circuits Power matching of a load
ZL to a generator (Eg Zg)

෢𝑔 . cos(ω𝑡 + 𝜑)
𝑒𝑔 𝑡 = 𝐸

• Eg: Complex amplitude associated to

𝑒𝑔 𝑡
⇒ 𝐸𝑔 = 𝐸෢𝑔 . 𝑒 𝑗𝜑

• VL and IL: Complex amplitudes

associated to vL(t) and iL(t)

• 𝑍𝑔 = 𝑅𝑔 + 𝑗. 𝑋𝑔 𝑍𝐿 = 𝑅𝐿 + 𝑗 ⋅ 𝑋𝐿

1
• By definition PL is the mean power disspated in ZL ⇒ 𝑃𝐿 = 2 . 𝑅𝑒(𝑉𝐿 . 𝐼𝐿∗ )
 Reminder: 2-Port input and output impedance and associated reflection
coefficients

• Zin and Γin are defined and can be calculated by analyzing the above circuit

𝑉1 𝑏
• With: 𝑍𝑖𝑛 = and Γ𝑖𝑛 = 𝑎1
𝐼1 1

• Why did I use « dotted lines » on the arrow Zout and Γout in the output plane of
the diagram above ?
 Reminder: The electrical circuit to calculate Zin and Γin / Zout and Γout

• Zin and Γin are defined and can be calculated by analyzing the original circuit
𝑉 𝑏
below with: 𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 𝐼1 and Γ𝑖𝑛 = 𝑎1
1 1

• Zout and Γout are defined and can be calculated by analyzing the Thevenin/Norton
𝑉 𝑏
circuit below with: 𝑍𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐼2 and Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑎2
2 2
 Reminder: Importance of the determination of Zin and Zout

• Example 1: Rx RF Chain

• Power matching at all interstages:

∗
𝑍𝑖𝑛1 = 𝑍𝑜𝑢𝑡1
∗
➢ ൞𝑍𝑖𝑛2 = 𝑍𝑜𝑢𝑡2
∗
𝑍𝑖𝑛3 = 𝑍𝑜𝑢𝑡3
 Reminder: Importance of the determination of Zin and Zout

• Example 2: Rx RF Amplifier

• Qin is introduced to powermatch Zg to the input impedance of the transistor

• Qout is introduced to power match ZL to the output impedance of the transistor

 Exercice: Determine the expression Zin = f(Zij, ZL)

𝑍11 𝑍12
• Z matrix of the considered 2-port is
𝑍21 𝑍22
 Property: Power matching of 2-ports

• Power matching of 2-port is possible if the 2-port is unconditionnaly stable

• Definition
• The 2-port is unconconditionaly stable if:
∀ 𝑍𝐿 with 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝐿 ) > 0, then 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝑖𝑛 ) > 0
∀ 𝑍𝑔 with 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝑔 ) > 0, then 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝑜𝑢𝑡 ) > 0
Power matching of 2-ports: Design Flow

• Definition
• The 2-port is unconconditionaly stable if:
∀ 𝑍𝐿 with 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝐿 ) > 0, then 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝑖𝑛 ) > 0
∀ 𝑍𝑔 with 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝑔 ) > 0, then 𝑅𝑒(𝑍𝑜𝑢𝑡 ) > 0
 Reminder: S-Parameter for amplifier design

• Definition and design methodology

𝑅0 = 50Ω

𝑏1 = 𝑆11 . 𝑎1 + 𝑆12 . 𝑎2
ቊ
𝑏2 = 𝑆21 . 𝑎1 + 𝑆22 . 𝑎2

𝑉1 + 𝑅0 𝐼1 𝑉2 + 𝑅0 𝐼2
𝑎1 = 𝑎2 =
2 𝑅0 2 𝑅0

𝑉1 − 𝑅0 𝐼1 𝑉2 − 𝑅0 𝐼2
𝑏1 = 𝑏2 =
2 𝑅0 2 𝑅0
 Reminder: S-Parameter for amplifier design

• Exercise: Sij for series impedance :

 Reminder: Γ𝑖𝑛 and Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 for amplifier design

• Γ𝑖𝑛 and Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 are the reflection coefficient associated to Zin (input impedance) and
Zout (output impedance) of the 2-port

• Γ𝑖𝑛 Expression as a function of Sij and ΓL

• Exercise : show that :

𝑆12 . 𝑆21
Γ𝑖𝑛 = 𝑆11 +
1
Γ𝐿 − 𝑆22
 Reminder: Γ𝑖𝑛 and Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 for amplifier design

𝑆12 . 𝑆21
Γ𝑖𝑛 = 𝑆11 +
1
Γ𝐿 − 𝑆22
• Γ𝑖𝑛 properties
• Γ𝑖𝑛 depends on the 2-port S par
• Γ𝑖𝑛 does not dépend on Γ𝑔
• If the 2 port is unilateral, S12=0 , Γ𝑖𝑛 = 𝑆11
• If ZL = R0, Γ𝑖𝑛 = 𝑆11
 Reminder: Γ𝑖𝑛 and Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 for amplifier design

• Γ𝑖𝑛 and Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 are the reflection coefficient associated to Zin (input impedance) and
Zout (output impedance) of the 2-port

• Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 Expression as a function of Sij and Γg

• Exercise : show that :

𝑆12 . 𝑆21
Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑆22 +
1
Γ𝑔 − 𝑆11
 Reminder: Γ𝑖𝑛 and Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 for amplifier design

𝑆12 . 𝑆21
Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑆22 +
1
− 𝑆11
Γ𝑔
• Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 properties
• Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 depends on the 2-port S par
• Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 does not dépend on Γ𝐿
• If the 2 port is unilateral, S12=0 , Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑆22
• If Zg = R0, Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑆22
 Property: Linear stability of 2-ports

• Power matching of 2-port is possible if the 2-port is unconditionnaly stable

• Definition
• The 2-port is unconconditionaly stable if:
∀ Γ𝐿 with Γ𝐿 <1, then Γ𝑖𝑛 < 1

∀ Γ𝑔 with Γ𝑔 <1, then Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 <1

 Reminder: Definition of power gains in linear 2-Ports

𝑃𝐿 2. 1− Γ𝐿 2
Power Gain: 𝐺𝑃 = = 𝑆21
𝑃𝑖𝑛 1−Γ𝐿 .𝑆22 2 .(1− Γ𝑖𝑛 2 )

2
𝑃𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 2. 1− Γ𝑔
Max Available Power Gain: 𝐺𝑎𝑣 = 𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥
= 𝑆21 2
1−Γ𝑔 .𝑆11 .(1− Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 2 )

2
𝑃𝐿 1− Γ𝑔 . 1− Γ𝐿 2
2.
Transducic Power Gain: 𝐺𝑇 = 𝑃 = 𝑆21 2
𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑥 1−Γ𝑔 .𝑆11 . 1−Γ𝐿 .Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 2

Exercise: What are the expressions of these gains when Zg = ZL = 50Ω ?

 Reminder: Interpretation of power gains in linear 2-Ports
The different powers

• Pin or PL : Power dissipated in Zin or ZL

• Pinmax : Maximum available input power dissipated in Zin when there is input
power matching i.e. when Zin = Zg *
→ Maximum available power of the generator

• PLmax : Maximum power available in ZL when there is output power matching,

i.e. when ZL = Zout *
→ Maximum available power of the Thévenin/Norton generator
calculated at the 2-Port output
 Reminder: The power gain in linear 2-Ports

𝑃𝐿 2. 1− Γ𝐿 2
Power Gain: 𝐺𝑃 = = 𝑆21
𝑃𝑖𝑛 1−Γ𝐿 .𝑆22 2 .(1− Γ𝑖𝑛 2 )

GP is the power gain of the 2-Port under real load conditions

 Reminder: Definition of power gains in linear 2-Ports

2
𝑃𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 1− Γ𝑔
Max Available Power Gain: 𝐺𝑎𝑣 = = 𝑆21 2 . 2
𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 1−Γ𝑔 .𝑆11 .(1− Γ𝑜𝑢𝑡 2 )

• Gav is the power gain of the 2-Port under special load conditions with Zin = Zg *
and ZL = Zout *

• Then the Max available Power gain is not the power gain of the 2-Port under
real load conditions
Reminder: The Max available Power gain in linear 2-Ports

𝑃𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐺𝑎𝑣 =
𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝐸𝑇2 𝑜𝑢𝑡
8 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝐺𝑎𝑣 =
𝐸𝑔2
8 𝑅𝑔
 Reminder: S-Parameter for amplifier design

• Exercise: Determine Gp and Gav of the 2-port