Compact 160-GHz amplifier with 15-dB peak gain and 41-GHz 3-dB bandwidth

Abstract

This paper presents a compact wideband amplifier at 160 GHz in 40-nm CMOS. Typical wideband amplifier design requires higher-order matching networks and more gain stages, both of which demand larger die area. The presented 8-stage amplifier uses a compact “fishbone” layout technique, and its core size is as small as 190 × 123 μm2. A small-signal gain of 15 dB at 160 GHz and a 3-dB bandwidth of 41 GHz are achieved. It consumes 117 mW from a 0.9 V voltage supply.