Drexel University

Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept

RF Electronics, ECE-E472

TITLE:

CAD Lab 5 Microwave Amplifier

NAME:

Stephen Watt

DATE PERFORMED:

March 7, 2014

DATE DUE:

March 21, 2014

DATE RECEIVED:

OBJECTIVE
The goal of CAD Lab 5 is to design and simulate performance of a low noise amplifier using
Agilent ADS.

THEORY & CALCULATIONS

Common Emitter Amplifier Bias Equations

Stability Analysis Stability Circles

Noise & Gain Analysis Noise & Gain Circles

RESULTS
Low Noise Amplifier Circuit using Agilent HBFP0420 BJT

freq
0.0000 Hz

freq
950.0 MHz

S(1,1)
0.660 / -99.847

I_c.i

Vb

36.04 mA

961.7 mV

S(1,2)
0.019 / 47.612

Vc
8.008 V

S(2,1)

S(2,2)

21.523 / 134.059

0.727 / -24.757

Simulation A Stability Analysis

For unconditional stability the stability factor (K) must be greater than 1 and the stability
measure (B1) must be greater than zero. As shown in the plot of the simulated stability factor and
measure, the LNA circuit would be unconditionally stable at frequencies below 90 MHz.
3

1.4

0.5

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.0

1.2

0.9

0.8

0.6

0.7

Simulation B Gain Analysis and Matching Network Design

0.4

3.0

0.3

4.0
5.0

20

10

5.0

4.0

3.0

1.6
1.8
2.0

20

1.4

1.2

0.8
0.9
1.0

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.1

-20

-0.1

-10

m4
indep(m4)= 40
GsCircle1=0.089 / 88.277
gain=0.479896
impedance = Z0 * (0.989 + j0.178)
-4.0

0
-2.

-1.8

-1.6

-1.4

-1.2

-1.0

-0.9

-0.8

-0.7

-0.6

-0.
5

-3.
0

m3
-0.2
indep(m3)= 29
3
GlCircle1=0.043
/ 25.291
-0.
gain=0.267461 .4
-0
impedance = Z0 * (1.080 + j0.040)

-5.0

S_StabCircle1
L_StabCircle1
GlCircle1
GsCircle1

0.2
10

m4
m3

cir_pts (0.000 to 51.000)

indep(L_StabCircle1) (0.000 to 51.000)
indep(S_StabCircle1) (0.000 to 51.000)

Ga, a
Gs, S
Gp, p
Gl, L

Source
30.5, 0.083 / 82.325
0.480, 0.089 / 88.277
-

Load
29.5, 0.041 / 42.392
0.268, 0.043 / 25.291

Using S = 0.083 / -82.325 , L = 0.041 / -42.392

Calculated Value
1120.
0.7374
542.3
541.4
1133

Avail. Power Gain (GA)

Unilateral Measure (U)
Transducer Gain (GT)
Unilateral Transducer Gain (GTU)
Stable Gain (Gms)

QWT matching network synthesis

Single stub matching network synthesis

4

freq
950.0 MHz

freq
950.0 MHz

S(1,1)
0.234 / -59.816

S(1,1)
0.229 / -77.263

S(1,2)

S(2,1)

S(2,2)

0.003 / 130.734

3.316 / -142.818

0.243 / -61.019

S(1,2)
0.002 / 66.433

S(2,1)

S(2,2)

2.287 / 152.880

0.245 / -71.446

Simulation C Noise Analysis and Matching Network Design

in
Let S be
Noise Figure
Gain

freq
950.0 MHz

S(1,1)
0.827 / -61.544

S(1,2)
0.019 / 44.624

S(2,1)

S(2,2)

21.361 / 131.071

0.493 / -71.074

0.233 / 35.5
0.233 / -35.5
1.25 dB
29.5

ANALYSIS
For unconditional stability the stability factor (K) must be greater than 1 and the stability
measure (B1) must be greater than zero. As shown in the plot of the simulated stability factor and
measure, the LNA circuit would be unconditionally stable at frequencies below 90 MHz. The
quarter wave transformer input/output matching networks demonstrated a better VSWR than the
single stub matching networks.

QUESTIONS & HW
1. Disucss how to achieve VSWR<1.8 over frequency of 900 to 1000 MHz. How would you
modify the design approach?
If both the input and output of the amplifier are perfectly matched, the VSWR for both
ports would be 1:1. This can be accomplished by selecting S to be the complex
conjugate of in, and selecting L to be the complex conjugate of out.
2. Is the LNA stable? If not stable, how to overcome the stability problem?
If the LNA is unstable, a compromise will need to be made in terms of the amount of
gain and noise that we will tolerate. We can adjust S and L to so that the network yields
a lower gain. This compromise should improve the stability of the amplifier.
3. How do you satisfy all of the LNA performance requirements? What are the
compromises?
Since we are designing a low-noise amplifier, the primary requirement should be
reducing the noise of the network. For this reason, the first compromise is choosing the
lowest noise figure possible while still maintaining a moderately high gain. This can be
accomplished by adjusting the S and L values.
4. Problems 12.7, 12.9, 13.2, 14.11 from Radmanesh. [See attached]

CONCLUSION
CAD Lab 5 provided the student opportunity to design and analyze a low-noise amplifier using
Agilent ADS. The student gained experience making design compromises related to gain, noise,
and stability. Matching networks for the LNA circuit were designed in order to adjust S and L
to achieve ideal noise figure and gain characteristics. For future LNA design using ADS, care
will be taken to use the realistic lumped components (from the Murata and Coilcraft ADS
libraries) to ensure component parasitics are accounted for in the s-parameter simulations.