What makes a good low-noise device?

Click here to go to our main page on LNAs

Click here to go to our main page on receivers

Click here to learn about noise parameters

What makes a good low noise device?  Ideally, you want to optimizeall  noise parameters:  GammaOpt should be close to the conjugate match at your operating frequencies. RN should be as large as possible to provide a "soft" fall-off as your matching network moves away from Gamma_opt.

Choice of device type: GaAs pHEMT is better than SiGe HBT

Geometry: Multiple gate fingers lower the gate resistance. Certain peripheries may have hold teh advantage of gamma opt for noise figure being closer to conjugate match.

Dissipation: large devices cause more heat raising channel temperature.

Bias point: Usually a low voltage just pass the knee of teh curve is going to give the lowest NFmin, with current well below Class A.

Intrininsic properties: if your process has any gate leakage at all, it will show up in noise figure.

Here's a wite paper from NXP that provides much more detail on LNA design.

 

 

 

 

Author : Unknown Editor