Low-Power Current-Reuse Self-Biased Regulated-Cascode TIA in 130nm SiGe BiCMOS for Low-Noise and High Data Rate Applications

This paper presents a 35 Gbps, current-reuse, self-biased regulated cascode (RGC) transimpedance amplifier (TIA). Thanks to an RCN-degeneration Wilson current source, the power consumption, noise, and external interference are significantly reduced. It also leads to a robust design since power-hungry bipolar transistors complicate the biasing circuit design. Additionally, inherent RC degeneration in modified Wilson current source by CN as a degree of freedom improves the bandwidth and leads to pole-zero cancelation. The proposed cascade topology leads to reduced low-frequency noise by resistance degeneration. Also, the C-N reduces dominant high-frequency noise. As a result, this leads to low power, low noise, and a compact design compared to conventional RGC solutions. By consuming 5mW, the TIA in 130nm SiGe BiCMOS technology has 24 GHz BW, a transimpedance gain of 60 dB Omega and 24 pA/ root Hz input-referred noise for a 150fF capacitance at the input.