Bogdan J. Janiczak

Design of MM-Wave MIC Frequency Multipliers and Mixers using Simple Microstrip High-Pass Filters

General requirements on semiconductor device embedding impedances in mm-wave MIC frequency multipliers and converters have been discussed. Preferred filter types in different circuit paths have then been defined showing the utility of high-pass filters. Microstrip with short-circuited edge has been introduced as a high-pass filter realizable at mm-wave frequencies and successfully employed in a 20-40 GHz subharmonically pumped mixer.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Crosstalk Effect in Coupled Coplanar Waveguides—Part II: Multimode Coupled Line Representation

An approach for the crosstalk effect description in coupled coplanar waveguides with ideally grounded central strip conductor (C-CPWGS) that, for the first time, takes into account nonideal grounding by means of multimode propagation is presented in this paper. The frequency-domain full-wave computations of modal eigenvectors and propagation delays combined with multiconductor transmission line equations have been employed to obtain near- and far-end crosstalk waveforms. Developed theory has been verified experimentally by comparison with results of the time-domain crosstalk measurement of selected test structures. A very good degree of coherence between numerically computed and experimentally measured data has been achieved

Analysis of single-ground-plane coplanar waveguide

Analysis applicable for a class of coplanar transmission lines with a single ground plane has been worked out with use of the spectral domain approach (SDA). Representative results for the single-ground-plane coplanar waveguide are provided. Despite line geometrical simplicity, results of its full-wave analysis have not been presented in literature so far. Comparison with experimental data has yielded good agreement, proving usefulness of the method

Mixed time/frequency-domain modeling of cross-talk phenomena in coupled microstrip lines terminated with digital circuit

This work presents results of cross-talk modeling in system of edge-coupled microstrip lines loaded with nonlinear termination representing input/output pin of a real digital circuit. Analytical approach based on mixed time/frequency-domain description allows for inclusion of the line dispersion effect and waveform analysis accessibility. To eliminate complicated computations in order to achieve nonlinear load response, the algorithm makes use of combination of Volterra and Taylor series. Simulation results, obtained from a specially designed software tool, called XTalk, are compared with data gathered from real circuit measurements.

Application of mode transformers for characterization of symmetrical bi-modal planar transmission lines

A new approach for characterization of electrically symmetrical bi-modal planar transmission lines is presented. The method relies on the application of standard two-port vector network analyzer (VNA) and mode transformers used to exert single mode propagation in the line under test. Verification of practical usability of developed method has been performed for coupled coplanar waveguides (C-CPW). Good coherence between results of measurements of both modal propagation coefficients and characteristic impedances with solutions obtained from the full-wave computations has been achieved. Acquired time domain reflectometry (TDR) waveforms have demonstrated that discontinuities introduced to the investigated structure response in case of the use of mode transformers (single-end driving) are comparable or smaller than in case of differential driving. Moreover, TDR measurements have demonstrated that, dependently on the nature of used transformer, either power-current or power-voltage definition of the modal characteristic impedance provides the best coherence with measurement.

Cross-Talk Modeling in Coupled Transmission Lines Terminated with Nonlinear Loads

This paper presents a brief scan as well as a short comparison of available, although suitable for considered configurations, cross-talk simulation/modeling methods. Since most mixed-signals applications, especially ICs interconnects frequently suffer from signal integrity or EMC compliance problems, the main emphasis of this work is placed on transmission structures, in this case coupled transmission lines, terminated with arbitrary nonlinear components. Moreover, the Volterra series usability in cross-talk calculations in presence of a nonlinear component that terminates a direct path of coupled microstrip lines is focused on and experimental results compared with simulation are also presented.

Experimental Frequency-Domain Characterization of Fundamental Guided Mode Parameters in Coupled Coplanar Waveguide

The experimental method of propagation coefficient and characteristic impedance estimation of fundamental guided modes in coupled coplanar waveguide (C-CPW) is presented in the paper. The method employs feeding transitions which allow to excite desired mode and measure parameters of transmission line with use of standard two-port vector network analyzer (VNA). Characteristic impedance is determined from easily measured propagation coefficient and static capacitance per unit length estimated from time-domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement. The results were checked against numerical data computed with use of the Spectral Domain Approach. Satisfactory degree of convergence between measured and numerical data has been achieved proving usefulness of worked out technique.