Microelectronics, Volume. 55, Issue 4, 600(2025)
An Improved Active Inductor Based on a Current-reuse Structure
To improve upon traditional active inductors based on current-reuse structures, a novel active inductor with low power consumption, low noise, and independently tunable inductance (L) and quality factor (Q) is proposed. The design primarily consists of a gain-enhanced common-source (CS) –common-gate (CG) composite negative transconductor (NT) with a voltage tuning terminal, a CG positive transconductor (PT), a noise suppression branch, and an active feedback amplifier. The NT and PT are connected in a current-reuse configuration, which enables inductive behavior while reducing power consumption and improving the Q factor. To further suppress noise, a noise suppression branch is introduced at the gate of the CG PT. Additionally, an active feedback amplifier with a voltage tuning terminal is added to the feedback path between the PT and NT to enhance the Q factor and compensate for variations in the Q peak caused by L tuning. This topology allows for independent tuning of the inductance value relative to the Q factor at a fixed frequency, while maintaining a nearly constant Q peak across different frequencies. The circuit also exhibits low power consumption and low noise. Fabricated using a 0.18-μm CMOS process, the inductance can be tuned from 258–469 nH, representing a tuning range of 83.7%, with only a 1.4% variation in Q at a high frequency of 2.75 GHz. At operating frequencies of 2.1, 2.5, and 3.2 GHz, the Q peak values are 327, 329, and 328, respectively, showing a variation of just 0.3%. The noise is 2.99 at 1 GHz and 1.74 at 2.75 GHz. The total power consumption is only 0.96 mW.
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ZHANG Hui, ZHANG Wanrong, XIE Hongyun, JIN Dongyue, NA Weicong, SONG Jinda, WANG Xue, CHU Shangxun. An Improved Active Inductor Based on a Current-reuse Structure[J]. Microelectronics, 2025, 55(4): 600
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Received: Jun. 13, 2024
Accepted: Sep. 9, 2025
Published Online: Sep. 9, 2025
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