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Enhancing Ultra-Wideband Breast Imaging: A Low Noise Amplifier with Minimized Group Delay Variation

International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
© 2026 by SSRG - IJEEE Journal
Volume 13 Issue 1
Year of Publication : 2026
Authors : Nuha A. Rhaffor, Rohana Sapawi, Sofiyah Sal Hamid, Selvakumar Mariappan
10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V13I1P109
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How to Cite?

Nuha A. Rhaffor, Rohana Sapawi, Sofiyah Sal Hamid, Selvakumar Mariappan, "Enhancing Ultra-Wideband Breast Imaging: A Low Noise Amplifier with Minimized Group Delay Variation," SSRG International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, vol. 13,  no. 1, pp. 95-102, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V13I1P109

Abstract:

This research presents a 180 nm CMOS technology ultra-wideband low-noise amplifier with low group delay variation for breast imaging applications. The proposed design employs a hybrid LNA configuration that integrates a cascoded architecture with inductive source degeneration and an inductive peaking structure functioning within the frequency range of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. The measurement results demonstrate a maximum gain, S21, of 13.6 dB; an input reflection coefficient, S11, of less than –10 dB; and a reverse isolation, S12, of less than –33.5 dB at the measurement stage. It achieves an excellent group delay of 117.6 ±24.8 ps, an input 1-dB compression point of -12 dBm, an input third-order intercept point of 2 dBm, and a minimum noise figure of 5.2 dB. Furthermore, this research identifies three inductors as the dominant factor contributing to low group delay variation through simulation and theoretical analysis.

Keywords:

Breast cancer, Group delay variation, Low noise amplifier, Microwave breast imaging, UWB.

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