A SiGe E-band transceiver circuits for broadband communication

Two sets of E-band transceiver circuits in a superhetrodyne architecture covering the lower 71-76GHz and upper 81-86GHz bands were designed and fabricated in 0.13μm SiGe technology. The measured upper band transmitter RF gain chain is 30dB with a saturated output power of 15.2dBm. The LNA exhibits more than 15dB gain. A frequency quadrupler was used to generate the LO signal in both transmitter and receiver enabling a single PLL design with reuse of 60GHz intermediate and baseband circuits. The measured value of quadrupler conversion gain is approximately -8dB, to our best knowledge the highest reported value for a SiGe frequency quadrupler. Measurements of fabricated critical circuits in conjunction with modifications performed to proven 60GHz transceiver components enables a complete E-band transceiver circuit solution covering the entire E-band frequency range. The paper will focus on the critical E-band building blocks.