Design and Simulation of A 2.45 GHz High Conversion Gain Down-Conversion Mixer for ISM Band Maritime RF Applications Using an LC Ladder Matching Network

Abstract

A high conversion gain down conversion mixer with improved linearity using LC ladder matching at RF trans-conductance stage for 2.4 GHz ISM band maritime RF application in a 0.18μm RF CMOS technology is presented. The proposed mixer is based on the conventional Gilbert cell architecture with inductive source degeneration and lumped LC input impedance matching network at the LO switching stage in order to enhance conversion gain while maintaining linearity in interference prone ISM band environment. Current bleeding is used to improve the conversion gain of the down-conversion mixer. The proposed mixer is ensuring efficient RF to IF signal conversion and designed to operates  at RF signal of 2.45 GHz, whereas intermediate frequency (IF) is 100 MHz. For performance validation, the proposed mixer is simulated using Advanced Design System (ADS) software at the DC supply voltage of 1.8V. The mixer achieves a high conversion gain of 20.34 dB, third order Input Intercept point (IIP3) of -11.72 dBm, 1dB gain compression point of -29.80 dBm, single sideband noise figure of 8.025dB, RF return loss is -19.516 dB. The DC power consumption of the mixer is 14 mW, suitable for  efficient low power maritime RF systems. The proposed mixer achieves a high conversion gain with moderate power consumption while maintaining reasonable linearity performance.