A 68-85GHz Current-Combining Power Amplifier with 20% PAE and 17dBm Psat in 40-nm CMOS

Abstract

This paper presents a 77GHz power amplifier (PA) in 40nm CMOS technology for automotive radars. A symmetrical current-mode power combiner is adopted in the PA design to extend bandwidth, enrich efficiency, and maximize output power. The small-signal gain of the PA is 16.4dB with a 3-dB bandwidth from 68 to 85GHz. The proposed PA achieves a saturated output power (Psat) of 17dBm, Psat-1dB bandwidth of 30GHz from 70-100GHz, and peak power-added efficiency (PAE) of 20%.