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Pareto optimization of radar receiver low-noise amplifier source impedance for low noise and high gain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2015

Charles Baylis ,
Robert J. Marks II  and
Lawrence Cohen
Charles Baylis
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
Robert J. Marks II*
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
Lawrence Cohen
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, DC, District of Columbia, USA
*
Corresponding author: R.J. Marks Email: RJMarksII@gmail.com
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Abstract

In radar receivers, the low noise amplifier (LNA) must provide very low noise figure and high gain to successfully receive very low signals reflected off of illuminated targets. Obtaining low noise figure and high gain, unfortunately, is a well-known trade-off that has been carefully negotiated by design engineers for years. This paper presents a fundamental solution method for the source reflection coefficient providing the maximum available gain under a given noise figure constraint, and also for the lowest possible noise figure under a gain constraint. The design approach is based solely on the small-signal S-parameters and noise parameters of the device; no additional measurements or information are required. This method is demonstrated through examples. The results are expected to find application in design of LNAs and in real-time reconfigurable amplifiers for microwave communication and radar receivers.

Keywords

AmplifiersCircuit designCircuit theoryLow noise amplifiersMicrowave circuitsOptimization
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 8 , Issue 8 , December 2016 , pp. 1133 - 1139
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2015 

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