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Active frequency-tripler MMICs for 300 GHz signal generation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2012

Ulrich Johannes Lewark ,
Axel Tessmann ,
Hermann Massler ,
Sandrine Wagner ,
Arnulf Leuther  and
Ingmar Kallfass
Ulrich Johannes Lewark*
Affiliation:
Institut für Hochfrequenztechnik und Elektronik, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstrasse 12, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. Phone: +49 721 608 47669
Axel Tessmann
Affiliation:
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF), Tullastrasse 72, D-79108, Germany
Hermann Massler
Affiliation:
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF), Tullastrasse 72, D-79108, Germany
Sandrine Wagner
Affiliation:
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF), Tullastrasse 72, D-79108, Germany
Arnulf Leuther
Affiliation:
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF), Tullastrasse 72, D-79108, Germany
Ingmar Kallfass
Affiliation:
Institut für Hochfrequenztechnik und Elektronik, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstrasse 12, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. Phone: +49 721 608 47669 Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF), Tullastrasse 72, D-79108, Germany
*
Corresponding author: U. J. Lewark Email: ulrich.lewark@kit.edu
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Abstract

Two frequency-tripler monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) reaching sub-millimeter-wave output frequencies of 315 GHz are presented. The convenient integration of transistor–based field effect transistor (FET) frequency multipliers into multifunctional MMICs is shown by integration of a single–stage frequency-tripler with a buffer amplifier generating −0.5 dBm of peak output power at 288. Without post-amplification an average output power of −10.1 dBm in the output frequency range from 285 to 315 is measured with 10 dBm of input power. The 3-dB bandwidth is more than 30 GHz and could not be determined exactly due to the measurement setup. Both MMICs are realized in a 50 nm metamorphic high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) transistor technology. A multiple power-meter measurement technique including a waveguide filter is used to measure accurately the second harmonic power content within the output spectrum.

Keywords

Circuit Design and ApplicationsModellingSimulation and characterizations of devices and circuits
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 4 , Special Issue 3: European Microwave Week 2011 , June 2012 , pp. 259 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2012

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References

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