A 110–170-GHz Multi-Mode Transconductance Mixer in 250-nm InP DHBT Technology

Author

Yu Yan ; Mingquan Bao ; Gunnarsson, Sten E. ; Vassilev, Vessen ; Zirath, Herbert

Author_Institution

Dept. of Microtechnol. & Nanosci. (MC2), Chalmers Univ. of Technol., Goteborg, Sweden

Volume

63

Issue

9

fYear

2015

Firstpage

2897

Lastpage

2904

Abstract

A novel full D-band (110-170 GHz) multi-mode transconductance down-converter mixer is realized in a 250-nm indium-phosphide double heterojunction bipolar transistor technology. A single-balanced topology is chosen and an active power combiner for the RF and the local oscillator (LO) signals´ combination is used. The designed mixer is feasible to work at × 1, × 2, × 3, × 4 subharmonically LO-pumped mixing modes with relatively low LO powers of 0, -1, 5, and 6 dBm, respectively. The measured conversion gain achieves typical values of -3, -1, -5, and -4 dB over the full D-band while the best noise figures of 12, 13.5, 18.5, and 19 dB are obtained, respectively. Through the multi-mode operation in terms of subharmonic LO-pump-frequency, the designer can make a tradeoff between LO frequency, LO power, and noise figure.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; heterojunction bipolar transistors; indium compounds; millimetre wave mixers; power combiners; D-band multi-mode transconductance down-converter mixer; DHBT; InP; active power combiner; double heterojunction bipolar transistor; frequency 110 GHz to 170 GHz; gain -1 dB; gain -3 dB; gain -4 dB; gain -5 dB; local oscillator; noise figure 12 dB; noise figure 13.5 dB; noise figure 18.5 dB; noise figure 19 dB; noise figures; single-balanced topology; size 250 nm; Harmonic analysis; Impedance matching; Mixers; Noise; Radio frequency; Transconductance; Transistors; 110–170 GHz; 250 nm; Conversion gain; D-band; double heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT); duty-cycle; indium–phosphide (InP); millimeter wave; monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC); multi-mode; noise figure; sub-harmonic mixer; transconductance mixer;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMTT.2015.2459676

Filename

7181726