A 2.4 GHz Monolithic Single-ended-Input/Differential-Output Low-Noise Amplifier

This paper describes the design and simulation of an innovative monolithic active balun integrated with low noise amplifier. The Single-ended-to-differential signal transformation circuit comprises a differential signal generation circuit, which is able to receive a single-ended signal and generate a pair of signals having a 180o (differential) relationship phase. The fully integrated circuit was implemented in a 0.35μm AMS CMOS standard technology. The simulations, optimized to noise performance, minimum differential phase and magnitude error, were performed with BSIM3 model. The complete circuit presents 20.6dB of differential power gain at 2.4GHz, a phase and a transducer gain magnitude errors less than 0.2o and 0.04dB (0.32%), respectively, in a 1GHz span around 2.4GHz, a 3.7dB noise figure, a 2dBm output-referred 1dB compression point, 50Ω input and output match, while drawing 11mA from a 3V power supply.