1.5-54 GHz High Dynamic Range LNA and Mixer Combination for a MIMO Radar Application

This paper presents a 1.5 – 54 GHz high dynamic range low noise amplifier (LNA) and mixer combination MMIC, which is the core component of a monostatic multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) imaging radar receiver system. The circuit is implemented in a $\mathbf{0.13}\ \mu\mathbf{m}$ SiGe BiCMOS process from IHP and occupies a core area of only 0.6 mm2, Controlled feedback, common-base mixer inputs, patterned transmission line grounds and a folded differential distributed amplifier topology were employed to optimize the performance. Ultra-wideband operation from 1.5 to 54 GHz, low noise of $\mathbf{NF}_{\mathbf{dsb}}=\mathbf{4.8\ dB}$, high linearity of $\mathbf{P}_{\mathbf{in},\mathbf{1dB}}=-\mathbf{1\ dBm}$, controlled conversion gain in the range of 0 - 12 dB and a +20 dBm survivability were measured at a DC power consumption of 194 mW. With respect to these core design parameters, the proposed LNA and mixer combination outperforms the state of the art of its class.