EE220 Homework #2 (5 points) Solution March 11, 2019

1. Suppose we wish to deliver 14.3 dBm of power to a 50 Ω antenna at 1.9 GHz. What is the
peak-to-peak output swing required of the power amplifier assuming a sinusoidal output?

14.3 dBm = 10 log10 (Prms/1mW) → Prms = 10(14.3/10) mW = 26.915mW

Prms = Vrms2/(R) = Vpeak2/(2R) since Vrms = Vpeak /√2
Vpp= 2Vpeak = 2 √(2R Prms) = 2√(2x50x26.915x0.001) = 3.28V

2. We are designing a system with an LNA whose behavior can be modeled as:
--------- (1)
where α1 = 10, α2 = -2, α3 = -0.5. The inputs to the LNA are a desired signal at ω1 with a peak
amplitude of 1 mV, and a blocking signal at ω2 with a peak amplitude of 2 V. Assuming that
no filtering takes place before the LNA, what is the gain (in dB) for the desired signal?

From lecture#8 page 10,

Gain = α1 + 3α3 (A12 /4 + A22 /2) = 10 + 3(-0.5) (0.0012/4 + 22/2) = 7

Gain in dB = 16.9 dB

3. In class we discussed the IP3 for a system, which quantified the size of the third order
intermodulation products (output components at 2ω1 – ω2, 2ω2 - ω1) relative to the
fundamental. In some systems we are more interested in the size of the second order
intermodulation products (output components at ω1 – ω2, ω2 – ω1) relative to the fundamental.

(a) Assuming that the system can be modeled as in (1) from the previous question, derive an
expression for the AIP2 point (the input amplitude for which the second order IM products
are equal to the fundamental).

From lecture#8 page 14,

IM2 is coming from
α2(A1cos ω1t + A2cos ω2t)2 = α2A1A2 2cos ω1t cos ω2t + ….
= α2A1A2[cos(ω1+ω2) + cos(ω1-ω2)] + ….

Assume A1= A2 = A, then IM2 coefficient = α2A2 and the fundamental coefficient = α1A
Similar to AIP3 definition, we let |IM2| = |Fund| to get AIP2
Therefore, |α2AIP22| = |α1 AIP2|
|AIP2| = |α1/α2|

(b) Suppose we know that for an input power of -40 dBm, the power of the fundamental
components at the output is -10 dBm and the power of the IM2 components is -50 dBm.
What is the IIP2 (input second intercept point) of the system?
4. Suppose we have a system that is composed of two cascaded blocks, with the first block
having a gain of α1 = 10 and an input IP3 of AIP3,1 = 1, and the second block having a gain of
β1 = 2 and an input of IP3 of AIP3,2 = 1.

(a) What it the input IP3 of the system as a whole?

Given α1 = 10, AIP3,1 = 1, β1 = 2, AIP3,2 = 1

From lecture#9 page 13,

AIP3-2 = 1/(1)2 + (10/1)2 = 1 + 100 = 101

AIP3 = 1/√101 = 0.0995V

(b) What does the system input IP3 become if the order of the blocks is reversed?

If the blocks are reversed, α1 = 2, AIP3,1 = 1, β1 = 10, AIP3,2 = 1

AIP3-2 = 1/(1)2 + (2/1)2 = 1 + 4 = 5

AIP3 = 1/√5 = 0.447V

(c) What des this tell us about how we should distribute the gain in a system if we want to
maximize the linearity?

To maximize the liniearity, we should minimize the gain used in the early stages of the
cascade blocks.
5. A common-source low noise amplifier (LNA) with feedback is shown below. RS is the input
source resistance. Assume that the transistors are long-channel devices and λ = 0.

(a) Determine the input impedance (Rin) of the LNA.

(b) Calculate the voltage gain of the LNA (i.e., Vout/Vin) after matching if RF = 25 RS.

(c) Derive an expression for the output noise of the LNA contributed by RS after matching.
Assume RF >> RS.