Wideband and multiband CMOS LNAs: State-of-the-art and future prospects

The realization of Software Defined Radio (SDR) requires flexible RF front-end to accommodate multiple standards in different frequency bands. In this review paper, we survey the literature over the period 1995-2011 and discuss the state-of-the-art multiband and wideband LNAs in context of different receiver architectures suitable for SDR. Wideband and multiband LNA designs reported in open literature are categorized on the basis of their circuit architecture. Measured results of the sample LNA designs from each category are tabulated and discussed with emphasis on power consumption, NF, gain, linearity, and impedance matching tradeoffs. We have also discussed our own three wideband inductorless LNA design prototypes which are manufactured in 0.13 µm and 90 nm CMOS. This review infers that future LNAs suitable for SDR must be highly linear and scalable with future technology nodes.