Designing Amplifier For 4G Long Term Evolution Applications

MUHAMMAD HUSAINI BIN ZULKIFLI EE2407B UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA 2009695398

Abstract : This paper involved the design, implementation and testing of input and output matching circuits for an RF Low Noise Amplifier for an operating frequency spectrum of 4 GHz. The report reflects a design approach emphasizing computer simulations, using Agilents Genesys software. The simulations are subsequently employed to develop a physical circuit. This circuit is then refined through testing and tuning. Index Terms: Low Noise Amplifier, 4G LTE and Agilent Genesys Software The Agilent Technologies ATF-35143 is one of a family of high dynamic range low noise PHEMT devices designed for use in low cost commercial applications in the VHF through 4 GHz frequency range [3]. As the technology advances in the area of communication systems, such as cellular networks, so do the requirements for the LNA. An LNA is a key component which is placed at the front-end of a radio receiver circuit. Receiving multiple signals, at different power levels over different frequency ranges, place high requirements on the LNA performance for low noise and high linearity. While the optimization of an LNA design is fairly mature for the GSM and CDMA standards, the emerging fourth generation (4G) In telecommunications, LTE is a 4G wireless communications standard developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) that's designed to provide up to 10x the speeds of 3G networks for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks and wireless hotspots. 4G technologies are designed to provide IP-based voice, data and multimedia streaming at speeds of at least 100 Mbit per second and up to as fast as 1 Gigabits per second. 4G LTE is one of several competing 4G standards along with Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and WiMAX (IEEE 802.16). The leading cellular providers have started to deploy 4G technologies, with Verizon and AT&T launching 4G LTE networks and Sprint utilizing its new 4G WiMAX network [1]. An amplifier is a device for increasing the power of a signal by use of an external energy source. Stability is an issue in all amplifiers with feedback, whether that feedback is added intentionally or results unintentionally. It is especially an issue when applied over multiple amplifying stages. Stability is a major concern in RF and microwave amplifiers. The degree of an amplifier's stability can be quantified by a so-called stability factor. Stability measure the distance from center of the smith chart to the nearest unstable region. For low noise, the amplifier needs to have a high amplification in its first stage. Therefore JFETs and HEMTs are often used [2]. Figure 1: Layout of Low Noise Amplifier Circuit Schematic using Genesys The amplifier is designed to operate at the frequency of 4 GHz. Figure 1 illustrate the layout of a construction low noise amplifier using Agilents Genesys Software. In this design, ATF-35143 is used as a transistor based on its featured performances. application areas offer an open field for design innovation [4].

I.

INTRODUCTION

II.

METHODOLOGY

A. Designing an amplifier

The value of

Radius of the input stability circle: | ( | | ) |

| )( | |

B. Calculation
Checking on the stability factor using Rollets equation: Auxiliary condition: ( ( | )( )( 0.46 Thus, | | ( | | ) | | Radius of the output stability circle: | | ( | | )( | | ) | ( | | | ) | | | ) ) Location of the center of the output stability circle: ( | | | | ( | | | )( ) | | )( | )

| )( | |

Maximum Load Gain: Therefore, at 4 GHz the transistor is conditionally stable as value K < 1 and thus, we will have to be careful in the way the transistor is matched. The equations for calculation of the stability circles are:| |

Location of the center of the input stability circle: Maximum Source Gain: ( | ( | | | | | | | | )( ) | )( ) | |

Maximum Transistor Gain: | |

Radius of the input stability gain: | ( |( | |) ) | |) )

Total Maximum Gain Achieved: | ( |(

Calculation for Output gain circle:

( )

Total maximum gain chosen in designing amplifier:

Center of the output stability gain: | | A value of 10 dB is chosen due to the minimum gain of 4G applications. | | |( |( | ) | )

Radius of the output stability gain: Calculation for Input gain circle: ( )= 1.2 dB = 1.32 ( )
| ( |(

|
|

( |(
|) )

|) )

Calculation for Noise circle: Center of the input stability gain: | | | |( |( | ) ( ) | | ) Noise Figure (based on application) = 0.9 dB =1.23 Noise Figure (min) = 0.52 dB=1.127 | |

Center noise figure circle:

Radius noise figure circle: ( | | )

Figure 4: Output Stability Circles. From the Smith chart of output stability circles we can see that there are large areas of potential instability.

| )

C. Plotting on Smith Chart

Stability Circles. From the Smith chart of input stability circles we can see that there are large areas of potential instability where: Yellow: Center stability circle (instable outside) Red: Input Gain Purple: Noise Gain Figure 4: Smith Chart of Output Stability circle There other 4 component where calculated to improve stability circuit which from the output gain (furthest away from instability circle) to the origin as shown in Figure 5.

B
L3 L=4.48nH

O
L4 L=1.99nH

X, Intersect Point of Noise and Input Gain

C3 C=0.55pF

C4 C=0.53pF

Figure 5: 4 components for matching circuit at the output

Figure 2: Smith Chart of Input Stability circle From the intersect point of Noise and Input Gain, 4 component where calculated for the matching stability circuit which are from intersect point to the origin as shown in Figure 3.

D. Agilents Genesys Software

These designs were simulated by using Genesys software to determine the characteristic of the designed amplifier.

C
C2 C=1.693pF C1 A C=1.56pF

Simulations were done to estimate the values of stability factor, return loss S[1,1] , gain S[2,1] and noise figure.

L2 L=4.23nH

L1 L=2.65nH

X Position

Figure 3: 4 components for matching circuit at the input

III.

RESULT

A. Simulation Results
Figure 6 shows the schematics circuit of the design. The simulations results in Figure 6 shows that at 4 GHz the transistor is conditionally stable as K < 1. Figure 7 : The schematic diagram of LNA with resistor

To improve the stability of the HEMT circuit we can add a small series resistor. A value of 24.50 ohms ensures that the stability circles lie outside of the smith chart, ensuring that the circuit will be stable with any applied load for 4 GHz Figure 6: The schematic diagram of LNA

K=0.454

K=1.009

Figure 6: The Stability Factor at 4 GHz The parameters must satisfy K > 1 and || < 1 for a transistor to be unconditionally stable. There are techniques to stabilize the transistor.

Figure 8: The Stability Factor at 4 GHz after adding the resistor As we can see in Figure 8, the stability factor is increased up to 1.009 which is K > 1 thus transistor already become unconditionally stable which the parameters is satisfied.

B. Stabilization Techniques C .Tuning Result

A method of stabilization is the addition of a series resistor at the output circuit to ensure that no match is capable of intersecting an input stability circle to tend to clip the outer edge of the Smith chart. However, the addition of a resistor will greatly increase the noise figure of the device as the resistor acts as a noise generator. Figure 7 shows the new schematic circuit with addition of resistor in order to stabilize the amplifier. Tuning values of the capacitance and inductance were done in simulation to gives the most optimum specification of the Low Noise Amplifier Design. All the criteria in making a good low noise amplifier is followed for this design.

4 GHz

30

Referring to Figure 9, the simulation shows that Noise Figure is 0.913 dB which is good because the Noise Figure is less than 1 dB. The primary characteristic of an LNA is its noise figure, which is a measure of how much the LNA degrades the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal. In theoretical,

27

24

21

18
db( NF )

15

12

0.913

amplifier is very good when the noise is less than 1 dB. The Gain value showed that the simulated value in Figure 10 at 4.0
0.913

GHz is 11.20 dB which is meet the specifications greater than

4.6 5

0 1 1.4 1.8 2.2 2.6 3 Frequency (GHz)

db( NF )

3.4

3.8

4.2

minimum value of 10 dB.

The return loss value is as

minimum as possible at 0.352 as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 9: The Noise Figure(dB) at 4 GHz

4 GHz
30

IV.
11.201

CONCLUSION

24

18

In this paper, the design of Low Noise Amplifier is presented. The simulation result of the design has been shown. The

12

6
db( S[2,1] )

performance of the amplifier meets the desired requirement in

-6

11.201 dB

term of S11, S21 and stability factor. Low Noise Amplifier for 4 GHz produced good gain and low noise figure.

-12

-18

-24

-30 2 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.2 3.5 Frequency (GHz)

db( S[2,1] )

3.8

4.1

4.4

4.7

V.

FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

The results obtained from simulation shows that the value Figure 10: Gain (dB) S[2,1] at 4 GHz attained can be accepted in designing an amplifier. But precautions step must be taken in order to get better performance in designing an amplifier. This is might be due to
4 GHz
1 0.93

the fact that calculation in designing an amplifier has miscalculation. Also, the decimals point in calculation must be

0.86

0.79

0.72
mag( S[1,1] )

0.352

considered. Not to forget human error when plotting the entire circle in the smith chart paper when doing the matching and drawing the stability circle. From the observation the value of the stability factor affects the characteristic of amplifier especially the gain. In addition, this amplifier can be improved
0.352

0.65

0.58

0.51

0.44

0.37

by using of a quarter wavelength piece of transmission line

4.188 4.386 4.584 4.782 4.98

0.3 3 3.198 3.396 3.594 3.792 3.99 Frequency (GHz)

mag( S[1,1] )

connected to a resistor 50 . Addition of 50-ohm resistors can be added to the bias networks to ensure that a 50-ohm resistor is connected at low frequencies where the gain of the device is

Figure 11: Return Loss S[1, 1] at 4 GHz

at its highest. Lastly, in order to avoid human error when drawing the smith chart, we can use Advanced System Design Software. Advanced System Design Software will plotting the smith chart just by inserting all the parameters and equations in the software.

REFERENCES

[1] 4G LTE ,available from: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/4/4G_LTE.html [2] Function of amplifier, available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplifier#Stability [3] Low Noise Pseudomorphic HEMT in a Surface Mount Plastic Package Agilent ATF-35143 Technical Data S Sheet, available from : www.DatasheetCatalog.com

[4]: Lucek, Jarek, and Robbin Damen. "LNA Design for CDMA Front End." Http://www.nxp.com. Philips Semiconductors. Web. 30 Sept. 2011.