Low-Level RF Circuit Design
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Low-Level RF Circuit Design

RF Circuit Design Keysight ADS LNA Balun LPF Microelectronics
2025-06

Overview

Designed a Low Pass Filter, Balun, and Low Noise Amplifier in Keysight ADS using unideal component models where noise and resonance effects are accounted for at the component parameter level.

Details

Microelectronics (Autumn 2025) ยท High Distinction (88)

Three RF circuits designed to meet strict benchmark specifications using Keysight ADS. Unlike standard circuit design, unideal component models are used: inductors are specified by coil length, spacing, and turn count rather than inductance value. This matters at GHz frequencies where small parameter changes cascade through the entire circuit.

Low Pass Filter (2.5 GHz)

ParameterTargetResult
Centre Frequency2.5 GHz2.75 GHz - Pass
Insertion Loss< 2 dBPass
Return Loss> 10 dBPass
Fractional Bandwidth30โ€“50%61% - Fail
Out-of-band rejection> 30 dB at 2f015/18 dB - Fail

Balun (15 GHz)

ParameterTargetResult
Centre Frequency15 GHz +/-10%54.25 GHz (target 55) - Pass
Amplitude Balance+/- 0.5 dBPass
Phase Balance+/- 3 degFail
Insertion Loss3โ€“4 dBPass
Return Loss> 10 dB-19.8 dB - Pass
FBW> 15%48.18% - Pass

Low Noise Amplifier (15 GHz)

ParameterTargetResult
Centre Frequency15 GHzPass
Noise Figure< 1.2 dB0.890 dB - Pass
Transducer Power Gain> 10 dB11.557 dB - Pass
Return Loss> 10 dBPass
DC Power< 0.2 W0.144 W - Pass