DC to 12+GHz, +30dBm OIP3, 7.2dB Noise Figure Active Balun in 130nm BiCMOS for RF Sampling Multi-Gbps Data Converters

An active balun using dual stage feedback and distributed feedforward distortion cancellation for use as a driver amplifier for wideband RF sampling ADCs is presented. With a gain of 16.5dB & HD2 of 60dBc while delivering 3dBm (100Ω), the DC coupled balun achieves a linear-bandwidth of >12GHz holding OIP3>27dBm & NF2in a 130nm BiCMOS process, the device consumes 100mA from 5V in a 2×2mm2flip chip QFN package.