22-27 GHz 11 dB Inductive Feedback Cascode Amplifier with 12 Picoseconds Group Delay Variation

Abstract

This paper uses the transmission line to implement the inductive feedback cascode amplifier to achieve 16.9% group delay variation from 22 GHz to 27 GHz. The transfer function of the second- order all-pass network, derived from the two-port Y-parameter, is applied to synthesize the group delay. A prototype, fabricated in the 0.13 µm CMOS technology, is characterized through the on-wafer testing. The measurements show a power consumption of 12 mW from 1.2 V, an amplifier gain of 11±0.4 dB, a noise figure (NF) of 5.1±0.4 dB and a group delay of 71 picoseconds (ps) with a variation of ±6 ps from 22 GHz to 27 GHz. From 21 GHz to 27 GHz, the measured input 1-dB compression point (IP_1dB) and the input third-order intercept point (IIP3) are higher than -9.2 dBm and +4.2 dBm, respectively.