A Novel 10-18 GHz Current-Reuse Distributed Cascode Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) Design

In this paper, a current-reuse distributed cascode low-noise amplifier (LNA) is designed to operate across the 10-18 GHz frequency range, featuring a low, broadband noise figure (NF), high linearity throughout the band, and low power consumption. The design is based on the 0.15 μm Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) pHEMT technology. The proposed LNA features a two-stage architecture, utilizing a distributed cascode LNA in the input stage to achieve a noise figure of less than 2 dB across the entire bandwidth while maintaining a gain of 25 dB. A two-path output stage amplifier is adopted for improved linearity, ensuring a P1dB of 17 dBm and an OIP3 of 29 dBm. Since the distributed cascode at the input stage reuses the current of the output stage, the power consumption remains at 51.8 mA with a 5 V supply voltage. These results are supported by EM, small-signal, and large-signal simulations within an area of 1500 μm × 2300 μm.