Advanced Model and RF-CMOS Design of the Boot-Strapped Inductor

Abstract

This paper reports a new advanced design of the active circuit named Boot-Strapped Inductor (BSI), which realizes an equivalent inductor with an high quality factor (Q). In particular, a new small-signal circuit model is proposed for an accurate design at high frequency in a modern RF CMOS process, also by taking into account the issues of an algorithmic and low-power consumption circuit design. A case study for 13-GHz low-power applications by using a standard for 90 nm CMOS process is reported. The BSI provides an equivalent inductance close to 1.6 nH with an associated quality factor Q close to 200.

On exploiting new circuit topologies for the next-generation wireless transceivers at the μ- and mm-Waves

“…The Boot-Strapped Inductor (BSI) is an active circuit equivalent to a high quality factor inductor, which respect to other solutions reported in the literature is characterized by a high linearity and a low noise contribution [10]. It exploits an integrated transformer and a current amplifier (i.e.…”

“…Due to its circuit elements (only transistor, capacitor, inductor and transformer) and its relevant performance, this circuit could play a key role for many challenges, even at millimeterwaves. For instance, it can be adopted for the implementation of high-gain tuned LNA, low-phase noise VCO and antenna switch, as well as it has been already done at lower frequency (reference therein [10]). In order to reduce the impact of the design issues (e.g.…”