Noise analysis of reflection‐type microwave RTD amplifier. Issue 7 (30th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Jongwon; Lee, Jooseok
• Is Part Of: IET circuits, devices & systems. Volume 14:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: 966
• Page End: 971
• Publication Date: 2020-09-30
• Subjects: low‐power electronics -- MMIC amplifiers -- shot noise -- III‐V semiconductors -- thermal noise -- indium compounds -- resonant tunnelling diodes -- integrated circuit modelling; noise analysis -- reflection‐type microwave RTD amplifier -- noise figures -- resonant tunnelling diodes -- power gain -- dc‐power consumption -- bias voltage -- noise factor -- shot noise -- FSH -- thermal noise -- FTH -- high‐gain bias range -- RTD parameters -- NF characteristic -- negative resistance magnitude -- size 0.9 mum -- power 133.0 muW -- frequency 5.7 GHz -- noise figure 5.08 dB -- voltage 0.355 V -- voltage 0.32 V to 0.38 V -- gain 10.4 dB -- InP; Electronic circuits -- Periodicals; Electronic systems -- Periodicals; 621.381505
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-cds.2020.0078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-858X

Abstract

Abstract : This study reports an analysis of noise figures (NFs) in a reflection‐type microwave amplifier using resonant tunnelling diodes (RTDs). The minimum NF for the RTD amplifier based on 0.9 μm InP process technology, featuring a power gain ( S 21 ) of 10.4 dB and a dc‐power consumption of 133 μW at a centre frequency of 5.7 GHz, is measured to be 5.08 dB at a bias voltage of 0.355 V. The estimated NF characteristic based on an equation of the noise factor caused by the shot noise ( F SH ) and a simulation of the noise factor generated by the thermal noise ( F TH ) closely matches the measured NF characteristic, in the high‐gain bias range of 0.32–0.38 V and near the centre frequency. It is found that the measured NF value of 5.08 dB originates mostly from the F SH of 1.88 and the F TH of 2.02. Additionally, the effect of the RTD parameters on the achieved NF is investigated, indicating that the negative resistance ( R D ) magnitude had a dominant effect on the NF by changing the F TH as well as the F SH .