T.N. Ton

High-performance in W-band monolithic pseudomorphic InGaAs HEMT LNA's and design/analysis methodology

High-performance W-band monolithic one- and two-stage low noise amplifiers (LNAs) based on pseudomorphic InGaAs-GaAs HEMT devices have been developed. The one-stage amplifier has a measured noise figure of 5.1 dB with an associated gain of 7 dB from 92 to 95 GHz, and the two-stage amplifier has a measured small signal gain of 13.3 dB at 94 GHz and 17 dB at 89 GHz with a noise figure of 5.5 dB from 91 to 95 GHz. An eight-stage LNA built by cascading four of these monolithic two-stage LNA chips demonstrates 49 dB gain and 6.5 dB noise figure at 94 GHz. A rigorous analysis procedure was incorporated in the design, including accurate active device modeling and full-wave EM analysis of passive structures. The first pass success of these LNA chip designs indicates the importance of a rigorous design/analysis methodology in millimeter-wave monolithic IC development. >

A W-band monolithic downconverter

The design, fabrication, and evaluation of a fully integrated W-band monolithic downconverter based on InGaAs pseudomorphic HEMT technology are presented. The monolithic downconverter consists of a two-stage low-noise amplifier and a single-balanced mixer. The single-balanced mixer has been designed using the HEMT gate Schottky diodes inherent to the process. Measured results of the complete downconverter show conversion gain of 5.5 dB and a double-sideband noise figure of 6.7 dB at 94 GHz. Also presented is the downconverter performance characterized over the -35 degrees C to +65 degrees C temperature range. The downconverter design was a first pass success and has a high circuit yield. >

A 0.1-W W-band pseudomorphic HEMT MMIC power amplifier

The authors have designed and fabricated monolithic power amplifiers using pseudomorphic InGaAs power HEMTs (high-electron-mobility transistors) with record power and gain performance at W-band frequency. The two-stage amplifier has a small-signal gain of 9 dB and can deliver 0.1-W output power with 5.9-dB associated gain and 6.6% power-added efficiency at 93.5 GHz. The successful first pass design of the W-band MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) power amplifier is due to the superior device performance and the millimeter-wave monolithic power amplifier design techniques.<<ETX>>

An ultra low noise W-band monolithic three-stage amplifier using 0.1- mu m pseudomorphic InGaAs/GaAs HEMT technology

An ultra-low-noise W-band monolithic three-stage amplifier based on 0.1- mu m pseudomorphic InGaAs/GaAs high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices has been developed. This amplifier has a measured noise figure of 3.5 dB with an associated small signal gain of 21 dB at 94 GHz. This is the best reported performance of a monolithic W-band high-gain low-noise amplifier (LNA), significantly improved compared with previous records in terms of noise figure and associated gain. Accurate modeling techniques were essential to the success of this monolithic circuit design, which included active device and full-wave electromagnetic analysis of passive matching structures. The measured results of the W-band three-stage monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) LNA from 91 to 97 GHz are presented.<<ETX>>

W-band MMIC direct detection receiver for passive imaging system

W-band MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) direct-detection receivers for passive millimeter-wave imaging applications have been demonstrated. These receivers were developed using InGaAs HEMT (high electron mobility transistor)-based W-based LNA (low-noise amplifier) and preamplified detector MMICs. The first receiver uses a 50-dB-gain, 6-dB-noise-figure amplifier and a Schottky-barrier-diode waveguide detector. The amplifier uses four W-band MMIC LNAs. The second receiver consists of two three-stage MMIC LNAs and an MMIC preamplified detector chip. Individual receivers were integrated with a millimeter-wave camera system. Field imaging acquisition runs were performed using the camera in stepping pushbroom image acquisition mode, and excellent results were obtained.<<ETX>>

A high performance W-band monolithic pseudomorphic InGaAs HEMT LNA

A high-performance W-band monolithic two-stage LNA (low-noise amplifier) based on pseudomorphic InGaAs/GaAs HEMT (high electron mobility transistor) device has been developed. This amplifier has a measured small signal gain of 13.3 dB at 94 GHz and 17 dB at 89 GHz. The noise figure is 5.5 dB from 91 to 95 GHz. This is the best reported performance of a W-band monolithic LNA. The measured results of this MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) LNA rival those of some reported hybrid LNAs. A rigorous analysis procedure was incorporated in the design, including accurate active device modeling and full-wave EM analysis of passive structures. The first-pass success of this LNA chip design indicates the importance of a rigorous analysis/design methodology in the millimeter-wave monolithic IC development.<<ETX>>

A W-band image-rejection downconverter

The design, fabrication, and evaluation of a W-band image-rejection downconverter based on pseudomorphic InGaAs-GaAs HEMT technology are presented. The image-rejection downconverter consists of a monolithic three-stage low-noise amplifier, a monolithic image-rejection mixer, and a hybrid IF 90 degrees coupler with an IF amplifier. The three-stage amplifier has a measured noise figure of 3.5 dB, with an associated small signal gain of 21 dB at 94 GHz while the image-rejection mixer has a measured conversion loss of 11 dB with +10 dBm LO drive at 94.15 GHz. Measured results of the complete image-rejection downconverter including the hybrid IF 90 degrees coupler and a 10 dB gain amplifier show a conversion gain of more than 18 dB and a noise figure of 4.6 dB at 94.45 GHz. >

A W-band monolithic InGaAs/GaAs HEMT Schottky diode image reject mixer

A W-band monolithic image reject mixer (IRM) utilizing pseudomorphic InGaAs/GaAs high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) diodes has been developed. The monolithic circuit integrates two single-balanced HEMT Schottky diode mixers, a W-band Lange coupler, and a Wilkinson power divider on one chip. The image reject mixer including an external hybrid IF 90 degrees coupler has a measured conversion loss of less than 11 dB and a 12-16-dB rejection with 10-dBm local oscillator (LO) drive at 94.15 GHz. The success of this monolithic IRM development is attributed to the excellent device performance, the simple circuit topology, and a rigorous design/analysis methodology.<<ETX>>

110-120-GHz monolithic low-noise amplifiers

The authors discuss the development of 110-120-GHz monolithic low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) using 0.1-mm pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs low-noise HEMT technology. Two 2-stage LNAs have been designed, fabricated, and tested. The first amplifier demonstrates a gain of 12 dB at 112 to 115 GHz with a noise figure of 6.3 dB when biased for high gain, and a noise figure of 5.5 dB is achieved with an associated gain of 10 dB at 113 GHz when biased for low-noise figure. The other amplifier has a measured small-signal gain of 19.6 dB at 110 GHz with a noise figure of 3.9 dB. A noise figure of 3.4 dB with 15.6-dB associated gain was obtained at 113 GHz. The authors state that the small-signal gain and noise figure performance for the second LNA are the best results ever achieved for a two-stage HEMT amplifier at this frequency band. >

A W-band direct-detection radiometric imaging array

We report a first W-band 1/spl times/4 direct detection radiometric imaging array based on MMIC technology. The imaging array was integrated with a W-band radiometric imaging system. Field image taken by the 1/spl times/4 imaging array in stepping push-broom mode shows excellent results. Successful demonstration of the 1/spl times/4 W-band radiometric imaging array indicates not only the maturity of MMW MMIC technology but also the feasibility of larger linear or two-dimensional radiometric imaging array based on the simple MMIC direct-detection approach.<<ETX>>