4GHZ LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER FOR SATELLITE DOWNLINK

COMMUNICATION

NORNABILA BINTI MD NOR

This Report Is Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For The Award

Of Bachelor Of Degree Electronic Engineering (Telecommunication Electronic)

With Honors

Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Computer Engineering

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

JUNE 2014

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UNIVERSTI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN ELEKTRONIK DAN KEJURUTERAAN KOMPUTER

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN

PROJEK SARJANA MUDA II

Tajuk Projek : 4GHZ LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER FOR SATELLITE DOWNLINK COMMUNICATION

Sesi Pengajian :

1 3 / 1 4

Saya NORNABILA BINTI MD NOR mengaku membenarkan Laporan Projek Sarjana Muda ini disimpan di Perpustakaan dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Laporan adalah hakmilik Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka.

2. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja.

3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan laporan ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi

pengajian tinggi.

4. Sila tandakan ( √ ) :

SULIT*

*(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

TERHAD**

**(Mengandungi maklumat terhad yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

TIDAK TERHAD

Disahkan oleh:

__________________________ ___________________________________

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (COP DAN TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

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” I, hereby declare that this report is the result of my own work except for quotes as

cited in the references.”

Signature : ..……………………………..

Author : NORNABILA BINTI MD NOR

Date : 03 JUNE 2014

iv

“I hereby declare that I have read this report and in my opinion this report is

sufficient in terms of the scope and quality for the award of Bachelor of Electronic

Engineering (Telecommunication Electronic) with Honors”

Signature : ....………………………………

Supervisor Name : DR MOHD AZLISHAH BIN OTHMAN

Date : 03 JUNE 2014

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For the most beloved and supporting parents,

MD NOR BIN HJ ALIAS

ROPE’NGAH BINTI JANTAN

Dedicated, in thankful appreciation for the support, encouragement, love and understanding.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Alhamdulillah, all praise to Allah SWT, God Almighty, Most Merciful for

His guidance, blessing and by his will the project is successfully finished. A million

thanks to my beloved family, who gives me encouragement and moral supported

throughout the project. Without the encouragement and moral supported , the project

will not be succeeded. Their trust and conviction towards me will always inspire me

to become honestly in knowledge and never give up whatever happened towards

especially during realization this final project. It is to them that I dedicate this work.

Generally, I personally gratitude to my supervisor; Dr Mohd Azlishah Bin

Othman for His wide knowledge and critical thinking has helped me in a lot of way

in completing this project. This project is done by his guidance and supervision and

he has helped me understand the task at hand that has to be done.

I would like to extend my thankfulness to my fellow friends,classmates for

never ending reminding me to always be confident and strive till the end during

finishing this project. Last but not least,thank you for all the people who have helped

me intentionally or unintentionally with my work and for their cooperation, support

and encouragement.

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ABSTRACT

Communication is the most important in our life through rapidly with

technology.Since, there are many ways to communicate even through the

world.Satellite is one of the part of communication that consist of uplink and

downlink.This project will design for downlink satellite at C-Band indicate in

microwave spectrum frequency with frequeny 4GHz.This Low Noise Amplifier

(LNA) which is located at the front-end of the receiver(ground station). Low Noise

Amplifier functioned to amplify the firsts amplication signal and to reduce the noise

in the received signal.This will make it harder for the system to read the signal. The

objective of this project is to design a LNA with operating frequency at 4GHz. The

goal of noise figure(nf2) less than 1.3 dB and gain is over than 10 dB. GaAS FET

transistor ATF-54143 from Avago Technology will be used as one of the part Low

Noise Amplifier because it meet the specifications Avago Technology and able to

used for satellite downlink communication. The simulation for this project will be

using Advance Design System 2011. This LNA input and output match by using

single stub technique and fabricated by using microstrip technology FR4 as a

material. The design was successfully achieved with noise figure(nf2) 1.182dB and

reasonable gain(S21) 11.112dB.

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ABSTRAK

Komunikasi adalah yang paling penting dalam kehidupan kita seiring dengan

kepesatan teknologi.Disebabkan itu , terdapat banyak cara untuk berkomunikasi

walaupun dengan perhubungan diseluruh dunia.Satelite adalah salah satu sebahagian

daripada komunikasi yang terdiri daripada ‘uplink’ dan ‘downlink’ yang terletak

stesen bumi.Projek ini akan mereka bentuk untuk pautan turun satelit di C -Band

menunjukkan dalam spektrum frekuensi gelombang mikro dengan 4GHz.Frekuesi

Bunyi Rendah Amplifier (LNA) yang terletak di bahagian depan yang penerima

(stesen tanah) . Fungsi utama LNA adalah untuk memberi isyarat pertama meluaskan

dan mengurangkan bunyi dalam isyarat yang diterima. Objektif projek adalah untuk

mereka bentuk LNA yang menggunakan frekuensi 4GHz dan angka bunyi yang

disasarkan adalah kurang daripada 1.3 dB dan gandaan lebih besar daripada 10 dB.

Transistor GaAS FET ATF - 54143 dari Avago Teknologi akan digunakan untuk

mereka bentuk LNA kerana ia memenuhi spesifikasi dari Avago Teknologi untuk

reka bentuk LNA bagi aplikasi satelit. Simulasi untuk projek ini akan menggunakan

Rekabentuk Sistem Advance 2011 . Pada LNA input dan output perlawanan dengan

menggunakan teknik puntung tunggal dan direka dengan menggunakan teknologi

mikrostrip dan FR4. Reka bentuk itu berjaya mencapai angka hingar ( nf2 ) 1.182dB

dan gandaan ( S21 ) 11.112dB .

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

PROJECT TITLE

STATUS REPORT FORM

STUDENT DECLARATION

SUPERVISOR DECLARATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

ABSTRAK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLE

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF APPENDICES

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iii

iv

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ix

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I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

1.2 Problem Statement

1.3 Objective

1.4 Scope of Project

1.5 Thesis Outline

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4

4

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II LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Satellite Frequency Bands

2.2 Satellite Communication

2.3 Low Noise Amplifier

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2.4 Transistor

2.5 Conclusion

10

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III

METHODOLOGY 3.1 ATF54143

3.2 Project Planning

3.3 Design Specification

3.4 Design Architecture

3.5 Process Design Flow

3.6 Design Low Noise Amplifier

3.6.1 DC Bias Network

3.6.2 S-parameter

3.6.3 Two Port Network

3.6.4 Stability

3.6.5 Noise Figure

3.6.6 Input and Output Matching

3.6.6.1 Single Stub Matching

3.7 Advance Design System (ADS 2011)

3.8 Fabrication Process

3.9 Measurement Setup

3.10 Performance Trade-off in LNA design

3.11 Conclusion

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IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 S-parameter

4.2 Stability

4.3 Reflection Source (Γs ) and Reflection Load(ΓL)

4.4 Reflection Coefficient at the input and output

4.5 Gain

4.5.1 Power Gain

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4.5.2 Transducer Power Gain

4.5.3 Available Power Gain

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34

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4.6 LNA Simulation Results

4.6.1 Stability

4.6.2 DC Biasing

4.6.3 Input and output matching

4.7 Schematic View of LNA design

4.7.1 Circuit Description

4.7.2 S-parameters result

4.7.3 Performance summary of LNA

4.8 Layout of LNA Design

4.8.1 Layout consideration

4.8.2 DRC and LVS

4.9 Prototype Fabricated

4.10 Discussion

4.11 Conclusion

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V

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK 5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Future Work

REFERENCES

Appendix A: Input Matching Smith Chart

Appendix B: Output Matching Smith Chart

Appendix C: ATF-54143 Data Sheet

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LIST OF TABLE

NO TITLE PAGE

2.1 Bands available for fixed satellite 7

2.2 CMOS vs PHEMT 9

3.1 Stability and criteria of transistor 22

4.1 S-parameters at 4GHz from simulation 32

4.2 Comparison Before Matching and After Matching 44

4.3 Comparison between design target and simulation 44

4.4 List of Component 46

xiii

LIST OF FIGURE

NO TITLE PAGE

2.1 The microwave spectrum 7

2.2 Basic block diagram of RF 9

3.1 Gantt Chart 14

3.2 Flowchart of Project methodology 16

3.3 General flow of low noise amplifier design 18

3.4 LNA block diagram 18

3.5 S-parameter representation of two-port network diagrams 20

3.6 Two-port network diagrams 21

3.7 Stability of two-port networks 22

3.8 Single-stub matching circuits (a) Shunt stub;

(b) Series stub

26

3.9 Advance Design System 2011 27

3.10 Fabrication Process; (a)LNA print layout; (b) UV Exposure unit

; (c) Etching machine; (d) Stripping machine

(a)27;

(b);(c);(d)28

3.11 Setup equipment testing 29

3.12 Trade-off of LNA design 30

4.1 Stability of design 36

4.2 Voltage divider biasing 37

4.3 Voltage divider with lumped componen 37

4.4

(a)Transistor tested by using curve trace ; (b) IV characteristics of the transistor

38

4.5 LNA schematic design 41

xiv

4.6 Stability 42

4.7 Input reflection(S11) and Output reflection(S22) 42

4.8 S12(isolation) and S21(gain) simulation results 43

4.9 Noise figure(nf2) simulation results. 43

4.10 LNA layout design 45

4.11 LNA prototype 47

xv

LIST OF APPENDICES

NO TITLE PAGE A Input Matching Smith Chart 53

B Output Matching Smith Chart 54

C ATF-54143 Data Sheet 55

1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

There are one parts of communication in RF repeater known as satellite. A

carrier begins at a transmit terminal with an effective isotropic radiated power,

arrives at the satellite to be amplified by a transponder high-power amplifier (HPA),

and then goes downlink to a receive terminal [1].At the earth station, the instrument

consist of dish antenna at transmitter carries high frequency 6GHz meanwhile the

receiver carries 4GHz of micro wave signals. Ground station can transmit and

receive the signals while the others can only receive high directivity signals and a

high gain antenna is necessary at the earth station due the loss and the transmission

very high [2]. Meanwhile, it is important to have a low noise amplifier before the

mixer stage at receiving end a parabolic dish antenna provides a high gain, thus

amplifies the signal power. The uplink is affected by the satellite antenna and LNA

noises, and the downlink is affected by the receive terminal antenna and LNA noises.

The end-to-end noise-to-signal power ratio is additive in those of uplink.

2

Low Noise Amplifier is one of the RF Receiver links that functioned to

amplify the received signal in front end receiver especially. Initially, Low Noise

Amplifier is one of the key components used to dominate the sensitivity of the

complete receiver. The received signal might be very weak and the Low Noise

Amplifier used to amplify the signal without injects much noise from the Low Noise

Amplifier itself. This LNA is usually placed close to the detection device (antenna)

to reduce losses and to avoid degradable of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A good

Low Noise Amplifier adds as little noise as possible to the signal and has high gain.

Since the satellite downlink receiver operating with frequency 4GHZ (received

signal) is weak, the LNA design to provide major gain with minimum the noise that

flow to the system and boost the antenna signal.

The selective transistor is necessary it to calculate the value of s-parameters

before simulation done. The s-parameters use to match impedance for minimum

noise figure because s-parameters use for high frequency circuit. At last but not least,

this report will force designer to design complexity the schematic and layout of

LNA. To design LNA some parameter highlighted includes noise , input output

matching, stability, linearity and gain that which will affect the performance of the

entire receiver.For this project, the LNA are design by using a ATF54143 transistor

from Avago Technologies and simulated by using Advance Design System 2011

software by Agilent Technologies. This project will deals mostly with Low Noise

Amplifier design, fabricating and testing the amplifier using Vector Network

Analyzer.

1.2 Problem Statement

In satellite communication system,the earth station receiving antenna will

connect to a Low Noise Amplifier due to the received signal is weak and the received

signal is usually a little above background noise.In addition, the LNA boosts the

antenna signal to compensate for the feedline losses going from the (outdoor)

antenna to the (indoor) antenna.Generally,the RF performance of the Low Noise

Amplifier is quite good as it able to achieve the reasonable gain and provides low

noise figure.Due for the different biasing circuit,active biasing circuit does not offer

3

much advantage compare to the passive biasing circuit.The only improvement

detected and recorded is the noise figure performance of the Low Noise Amplifier

with active biasing circuit. The matching networks using microstrip stub element

matching is easier to design, simple and cost savings compare to two other matching.

By using high performance devices such as the ATF-54143, however, circuits

designed on FR4 material can meet the customer‟s requirements for noise figure,

gain and linearity. The biggest benefit to customers is the lower cost of the FR4

material. This is a critical concern for customers‟ main production.

1.3 Objective

There are several objectives during designing this Low Noise Amplifier. The

objectives include:

1. To study the characteristic and the specification of low noise

amplifier (LNA) for satellite communication at 4GHz.

2. To design and simulate a low noise amplifier by using Advance

Design System 2011.

3. To fabricate a low noise amplifier by using microstrip technology.

4

1.4 Scope of Projects

The scope of project is explore varies topologies of low noise amplifier and

identify the most suitable method to satisfy the design target. Scope of this project

can be separated into three parts:

1. Simulation-It will be done by varied parameters using Advanced Design

System (ADS) in order to get required results which are close to the

theoretical results.

2. Fabricating-The fabrication of the Low Noise Amplifier, PCB laminate

(e.g:FR4 board), components, etching facilities.

3. Test analysis-A test analysis is the last stage in this project. The performance

of the designed amplifier circuit is verified on board using RF testing

equipment such as the vector network analyzer and cable.

1.5 Thesis Outline

The thesis is divided to five chapters and covers covering the research works

that have been through for Low Noise Amplifier circuit design.

1. Chapter 1 is introduces the concept of the project, which is a brief the

introduction for the satellite and Low Noise Amplifier. Several objectives are

made to achieve the designing LNA.

2. Chapter 2 briefs the literature review of the basic concepts in Low Noise

Amplifier circuit design. All the overview of this chapter will describes the

techniques and procedures for design by making a various type of research.

5

3. Chapter 3 describes the design and simulation process and method that will

be used. The transistor GaAS FET ATF54143 selected and Advance Design

System 2011 used to simulate the LNA to obtain low noise figure and

reasonable high gain.

4. Chapter 4 will report the simulation and measurement. This chapter also

includes discussion from simulation and measurement results.

5. Chapter 5 concludes the research works that have been carried and gives

suggestion for future development of the research project.

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CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

This Chapter will review the basic concept during designing Low Noise

Amplifier circuit. Research has been done study include:

1) Satellite Frequency Bands

2) Satellite Communication

3) Low Noise Amplifier

4) Transistor

2.1 Satellite Frequency Bands

Radio Frequency (RF) devices are designed to operate at radio frequencies

bands with various types of spectrum frequency.For this project , Low Noise

Amplifier operates at downlink at 4GHz indicated at C-bands.[3]. Satellite C-band

usually transmits (uplink) around 6 GHz and receives(downlink) around 4 GHz[4].

7

Figure 2.1: The microwave spectrum

From the microwave spectrum, C band was the first part of the spectrum to be

applied extensively to satellite communications and still extensively used due to the

low cost and wide availability of components and avaibility in heavy rain compare to

high frequency satellite.The Table 2.1 shows the RF Band frequency in satellite

applications.

Table 2.1: Bands available for fixed satellite services

RF Bands Frequency(GHz)

L-Bands 1-2

C-Bands 4-6

Ku-Bands 12-18

Ka-Bands 26.5-40

8

2.2 Satellite Communication

S.Ekpo and D.George [3] in their journal have discussed of 4-8 GHz LNA

Design for a Highly Adaptive Small Satellite Transponder Using InGaAS pHEMT

Technology. Based on this journal, small satellite communication critical due to the

noise level at the receiver. Thus, GaAs pHEMT consist of low noise and high gain in

the frequency band 4-8GHz.A better design that delivers low noise performance,

high gain and low power consumption for space mission. This LNA located in front

receiver satellite successfully developed with high gain 17dB and 0.5dB of noise

figure over the characterised bandwidth.

P.Raj Kumar [4], in this report have discuss and design of L-Band Low Noise

Amplifier by using the ATF34143 GaAS HEMT’s.In His project, a discretely 2-stage

L-band low noise amplifier designed with center frequency 1.25GHz.Next,GaAS

HEMT’s offers low noise figure opposite to MESFET’s and silicon FET’s.This

biasing sections by using radial stubs matching with tapered line. This LNA

successfully developed with high gain 20dB and noise figure 0.17dB.

Curtis L.Mayberry. [5] in his journal 6GHz Low Noise Amplifier Design for

C band application lies in the IEEE. This band suitable for satellite communications.

This LNA design by using transistor pHEMT GaAS FET and operate at 6GHz.This

amplifier need a high gain to effectively amplify the small signals received and to

reduce noise. This amplifier successfully design and fabricated by using Duroid

RO30006 with reasonable gain 13.1dB and noise figure 0.81dB.

2.3 Low Noise Amplifier

There are parts at RF front receiver known as Low Noise Amplifier where it

interchanged part in the microwave system. This Low Noise Amplifier will produce

a minimum noise figure also major gain for entire system. From the Figure 2.2, it is

showed the block diagram of the RF receiver that has been simplified for easier to

understand. Usually, RF filter will filtering the received signals from antenna at front

receiver.

9

After that, RF filter then act with the LNA and this is where LNA function to

amplify the signal before sent to the mixer. The signal with a local-oscillator (LO)

and band pass filter [6] will combine by the mixer. Mixer used to amplify small

signal or generate large signal. The signal will demodulate by demodulator, and then

it will apply to ADC. The affected the performance of LNA especially at receiver are

the case sensitivity for noise parameters [6].

Figure 2.2: Basic block diagram of RF

Low Noise Amplifier merges a low noise figure, reasonable gain and

stability without oscillation entire useful frequency range. The Low Noise Amplifier

always operates in Class A amplifier, typically at 15-20% of its maximum useful

current [7].Class A is characterized by a bias point does not shift. The smallest signal

that can be received by a receiver defines the receiver sensitivity. For large signal

levels, the LNA amplifies the extremely low power levels. The Low Noise Amplifier

design presents a substantial challenge because of its simultaneous requirement for

high gain, low noise figure, good input and output matching and unconditionally

stability at the lowest possible current draw from the amplifier [8].