A 24 GHz-Optimized Up-Conversion Mixer for Beyond-5G: A Combined ComGAPSO and ImGKAN Approach

An optimal CMOS up-conversion mixer is designed using a novel combination of genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization (ComGAPSO) and improved-Kolmogorov–Arnold networks (ImGKAN) for 5G communication. The proposed ImGKAN, trained with ComGAPSO, enhances optimization through social interactions and private cognition through social interactions. The proposed hybrid approach enables accurate parameter determination due to the effective modeling and compensation of nonlinearities in the up-conversion mixer. The proposed optimized mixer incorporates an enhanced linearity boosting technique (LBT) along with a tunable capacitive feedback common-source (TCF-CS) structure. This combination effectively suppresses third-order nonlinear distortion while compensating for parasitic capacitances to improve gain performance and enhance circuit stability. The proposed design achieves a peak conversion gain (CG) of approximately 4.2 dB near 24 GHz. In terms of isolation characteristics, the LO-IF isolation reaches about −44 dB. Additionally, the RF-IF isolation is around −30 dB, ensuring minimal undesired coupling between the input and output paths, while the LO-RF isolation is maintained near −39 dB. The optimized mixer exhibits an output 1 dB compression point (OP1dB) of 5.1 dBm and an input 1 dB compression point (IP1dB) of −1.1 dBm. The RF port shows a return loss of approximately −24 dB near 24 GHz. The LO port exhibits a return loss in the range of −3 to −5 dB, with improved matching observed over the operating band. Meanwhile, the IF port demonstrates strong matching at lower frequencies, with return loss values dropping below −20 dB. Furthermore, the measured optimized design achieves a minimum noise figure (NF) of approximately 3.8 dB at 24 GHz.