PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

TITLE : LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER

CLO : CLO3
OUTCOMES : Upon completion the experiment, students should be able to:
1. identify the microwave components correctly.
2. explain the theory and concept of low noise amplifier
3. applying microwave device design theory.

APPARATUS:
a) Ansoft Designer SV (insert SIMULATION folder at Ansoft File)
b) Laptop / Computer

THEORY:

The Low Noise Amplifier is a special type of electronic amplifier used in

communication systems which amplifies very weak signals captured by an
antenna. This is frequently used in microwave systems like GPS. When using a low
noise amplifier, noise is reduced by the gain of the amplifier while the noise is
injected directly into the received signal.

Using an LNA, the effect of noise from subsequent stages of the receive chain is
reduced by the gain of the LNA, while the noise of the LNA itself is injected directly
into the received signal. Thus, it is necessary for an LNA to boost the desired signal
power while adding as little noise and distortion as possible, so that the retrieval of
this signal is possible in the later stages in the system. A good LNA has a low NF
(like 1 dB), a large enough gain (like 20 dB) and should have large enough
intermodulation and compression point. Further criteria are operating bandwidth,
gain flatness, stability and input and output voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).

Noise figure (NF)

Noise figure is also one of the important factors which determine the efficiency of a
particular LNA. Hence, we can decide which LNA is suitable for a particular
application. For example: In satellite communication, an LNA having a very low
noise figure is required and have noise figure in the range 0.9 - 1.5 dB. Noise figure
varies according to the operating frequency for a same LNA. Low noise figure
results in better reception of signal.
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

High gain
With the low noise figure LNA must have high gain for the processing of signal into
post circuit. According to requirement high gain LNA are designed for application
by manufacturer. If the LNA does not have high gain, then the signal will be affected
in by noise in LNA circuit itself and maybe attenuated so high gain of LNA is the
important parameter of LNA. Like NF gain of LNA also varies with the operating
frequency.

Operating frequency

Range of LNA operation is very wide, it operates from 500 kHz to 50 GHz.
Frequency is the basic thing for any electronic device specially among the ones
used in communication systems. the filter to the power delivered to the load
impedance after insertion of the filter

PROCEDURE:
1. Create schematic window
a. Click Project > Insert Circuit Design
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

b. Click None

2. Add libraries
a. Click Tools > Configure Libraries > System Libraries > Components >

b. Click >> > OK

3. Add substrate definition

a. Click Circuit > Add Model Data > Add Substrate Definition
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

b. Fill in the information:

Substrate Name RO4003C
Dielectric
 H 20 mil
 Er 3.38
 TAND 0.0021

c. Click Material box

d. Type COPPER at Search by Name > OK

PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

e. Fill in the information:

Metalization
Material Resistivity Thickness Unit
Copper 1.72414 0.669 mil

4. Insert components:
a. ERA-5SM
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

b. MSTEE

c. Microstrip
Click Circuit > TRL > Microstrip > Single
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

Double click at component for Property

PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

d. MSRSTSR

e. Resistor

f. Capacitor
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

g. Voltage supply

h. Port and Ground

5. Copy and paste component to complete the circuit. Use these three buttons for
flip and rotate. Connect each component with wire.
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

Complete circuit

6. Set simulation frequency range

PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

7. Execute simulation
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

8. Create report

9. Print screen complete circuit and simulation diagram as a result.

10. Record your finding at the Result Table.
PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

RESULT:
Gain, S21
Noise Figure (NF), S12
Input Return Loss, S11
Output Return Loss, S22
*you can use data marker (at left click) to trace your marker

DISCUSSION:
Make a discussion based on the question below.

1. State the definition of Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). (2marks)

2. State three (3) applications of Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). (3 marks)
3. Draw and label block diagram of Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). (5 marks)
4. State the frequency range value used in this experiment. (1 marks)
5. State the highest and lowest gain obtain in this experiment. (2 marks)
6. State the value of Gain, Noise Figure, Input Return Loss and Output Return Loss
that you have obtained. (2 marks)

CONCLUSION:
Write a conclusion from the experiment. (5 marks)
 PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

DEP50043 MICROWAVE DEVICES

PRACTICAL WORK 5: PRACTICAL SKILL ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

Student Name: Class:

Student ID: Date:

CLO / SCORE DESCRIPTION

CLUSTER DT SKILLS / ASPECTS EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD FAIR UNSATISFACTORY SKILL SCORE
(CLS) 5 4 3 2 1
Able to construct the Able to construct the Able to construct the Unable to construct
Construct the circuit Unable to construct
measurement of appropriate output variable
CLO2: Assemble the related microwave communication equipment in performing the

P3 circuit design circuit design with circuit design with the circuit design X1
design the circuit design.
without assistance. little assistance. more assistance. with assistance.
Able to insert Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Unable to insert
P1 Inserting substrate substrate without substrate with little substrate with more substrate with X1
substrate.
assistance. assistance. assistance. assistance.
Able to insert ERA- Able to insert ERA- Able to insert ERA- Unable to insert
Unable to insert
P1 Insert ERA-5SM 5SM without 5SM with little 5SM with more ERA-5SM with X1
ERA-5SM.
assistance. assistance. assistance. assistance.
Able to insert Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Unable to insert
P1 Insert MSTEE MSTEE without MSTEE with little MSTEE with more MSTEE with X2
MSTEE.
assistance. assistance. assistance. assistance.
Able to insert
Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Insert microstrip microstrip single Unable to insert
P1 microstrip single microstrip single microstrip single X2
single with more microstrip single.
without assistance. with little assistance. with assistance.
assistance.
Able to insert Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Unable to insert
P1 Insert MSRSTSR MSRSTSR without MSRSTSR with little MSRSTSR with more MSRSTSR with X2
MSRSTSR.
assistance. assistance. assistance. assistance.
Able to insert Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Unable to insert
P1 Insert resistor resistor without resistor with little resistor with more resistor with X3
resistor.
assistance. assistance. assistance. assistance.
Able to insert Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Unable to insert
P1 Insert capacitor capacitor without capacitor with little capacitor with more capacitor with X3
capacitor.
assistance. assistance. assistance. assistance.
Able to insert Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Unable to insert
P1 Insert voltage source voltage source voltage source with voltage source with voltage source with X1
voltage source.
without assistance. little assistance. more assistance. assistance.
Able to insert
Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert
Insert microwave microwave port Unable to insert
P1 microwave port microwave port microwave port X2
port with more microwave port.
without assistance. with little assistance. with assistance.
assistance.
P1 Insert ground Able to insert Able to insert Able to insert Unable to insert Unable to insert X2
ground without ground with little ground with more ground with ground.
assistance. assistance. assistance. assistance.
 PSAS/JKE DEE50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICES/PRACTICAL WORK 6

CLO / SCORE DESCRIPTION

CLUSTER Able to obtain
(CLS) Able obtain Able to obtain Unable to obtain
Obtain simulation simulation diagram Unable to obtain
DT SKILLS / ASPECTS simulation diagram simulation diagram simulation diagram SKILL SCORE
P3 diagram of S - of s - parameters simulation diagram X4
of s - parameters of s - parameters of s - parameters
parameters with more of s - parameters.
without assistance. with little assistance. with assistance.
assistance.
Able to measure Able to measure Able to measure
Unable to measure Unable to measure
P3 Measure Gain gain without gain with little gain with more X1
gain with assistance. gain.
assistance. assistance. assistance.
Able to measure Able to measure Able to measure Unable to measure
Unable to measure
P3 Measure noise figure noise figure without noise figure with noise figure with noise figure with X1
noise figure.
assistance. little assistance. more assistance. assistance.
Able to measure
Able to measure Able to measure Unable to input
Measure input input return loss Unable to measure
P2 input return loss input return loss return loss with X1
return loss with more input return loss.
without assistance. with little assistance. assistance.
assistance.
Able to measure
Able to measure Able to measure Unable to output
Measure output output return loss Unable to measure
P3 output return loss output return loss return loss with X1
return loss with more output return loss.
without assistance. with little assistance. assistance.
assistance.

/140

TOTAL: /70

P2 Print screen the circuit and simulation diagram /10

P2 Discussion /15

Students only able

Students able to Students able to Students only able to
to generally
clearly conclude the conclude the conclude some of No conclusion was
conclude the
practical work by practical work by the practical work included or show
P2 Conclusion practical work by /5
referring to the referring to the by referring to the little effort and
referring to the
experiment experiment experiment reflection on the lab
experiment
objective. objective. objective.
objective.
TOTAL: /30