A 140 GHz T/R Front-End Module in 22 nm FD-SOI CMOS
 
A 140 GHz T/R Front-End Module in 22 nm FD-SOI CMOS ■
 
Xinyan Tang, Xinyan Tang, Xinyan Tang, Johan Nguyen, Johan Nguyen, Johan Nguyen, Giovanni Mangraviti, Giovanni Mangraviti, Giovanni Mangraviti, Zhiwei Zong, Zhiwei Zong, Zhiwei Zong, Piet Wambacq, Piet Wambacq, Piet Wambacq
 
Abstract ■

This paper presents a D-band front-end module (FEM) with an integrated transmit/receive (T/R) switch in 22-nm fully-depleted silicon on insulator (FD-SOI) CMOS technology for beyond-5G communication. The asymmetric T/R switch topology with intrinsic ESD protection leverages the Tx- and Rx-mode RF performance. Both the PA and LNA have a differential topology with transformer-based matching networks to eliminate unwanted effects from common-mode parasitics, especially at the antenna port. The adopted stacked-FET PA achieves a high output power while consuming much less area than a PA based on passive power combining. At 140 GHz, the Tx achieves a power gain \$G\_\{p\}\$ of 33.6 / 35.7 dB, a saturated output power Psat of 12.5 / 14.7 dBm, a peak power-added efficiency PAE of 10.8 / 11.3\%, and output 1-dB compression point (OP1dB) of 9.4 / 11.2 dBm with nominal/boosted supplies. At 140 GHz, the Rx achieves a 20-dB \$G\_\{p\}\$, a -24-dBm input 1-dB compression point (IP1dB), and a 9.2-dB noise figure (NF) with only 20-mW power consumption from a 0.8-V supply. This compact FEM has a PA / LNA core area of 0.024 / 0.032 mm2, respectively.