A GaAs-HBT Distributed Amplifier with Near-fT Cut-off Frequency for High-Bitrate Transmissions
(2004)
In this paper, optimization of the loaded quality factor Q<sub>L</sub> for reflection-type heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) oscillators is investigated. The main result is an optimum relation between the S-parameter phases at the three transistor ports. A new design strategy for this type of oscillator is proposed. The analysis is verified by comparing several Ka-band monolithic-microwave integrated-circuit oscillators in GaAs HBT technology with different resonators. The measured loaded Q<sub>L</sub> values correspond to the measured phase noise of the circuits. At an oscillation frequency of 33 GHz, an excellent phase noise of -87 dBc/Hz at 100-kHz offset frequency is achieved over the whole tuning range.
Fabrication and Electrical Performance of Oscillators in GaAs/GaInP-HBT MMIC Technology up to 40 GHz
(2002)
In this paper, optimization of the loaded quality factor QL for reflection-type HBT oscillator is investigated. Main result is an optimum relation between the S parameter phases at the three transistor ports. To support this finding, a 35.5 GHz MMIC VCO phase noise better than -85 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset frequency is demonstrated.
Coplanar W-band push-push VCO MMICs using GaInP/GaAs HBTs are presented. One circuit operates at 77 GHz with phase noise of -92 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset. To our knowledge this is the first fully monolithic W-band VCO with phase noise better than -90 dBc/Hz. A second version with two varactor diodes yields an almost threefold relative tuning bandwidth.
Monolithic coplanar 18 and 36 GHz oscillators with GaInP/GaAs-HBTs and on-chip resonators are presented. Measured phase-noise reaches -93 dBc/Hz and -91 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset for 18 and 36 GHz, respectively. These values demonstrate that GaAs-HBT oscillators yield a phase-noise performance comparable to SiGe-HBTs, with the potential for higher frequencies.
Two differential coplanar MMIC HBT oscillators are presented, a fixed frequency and a VCO version. They provide single-ended output at the second harmonic at 38 GHz as well as differential output at 19 GHz. The oscillators show excellent phase noise performance, the fixed-frequency type reaches -95 dBc/Hz at the fundamental frequency and -89 dBc/Hz at the second harmonic, at 100 kHz offset.
DC and RF characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs processed by 2-inch stepper lithography are presented. The devices, grown by MOVPE on 2" sapphire wafers consist of: GaN buffer, Al0.25Ga0.75 N spacer, doped Al0.25Ga0.75N supply layer, Al0.25Ga0.75N barrier, GaN cap. Refractory source and gate contacts along with mesa isolation and air bridge technology are applied. Typical values for maximum saturation current, transconductance and pinch-off voltage are: 616 m/A/mm, 203 mS/mm, -3.5 V with very good homogeneity across 2". The cut off frequencies fT and fmax are 24 and 54 GHz respectively. A standard small signal equivalent circuit model exactly describes DC- and microwave properties
We report on the technology and performance of fully monolithic coplanar voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) with GaInP/GaAs-HBTs as the active devices. With our optimized HBT process, the parasitic base resistance R/sub B/ and extrinsic base-collector capacitance C/sub EX/ are significantly reduced. In this way, the maximum frequency of oscillation F/sub max/ is increased from 100 to 170 GHz. This allows us to realize fundamental 38 GHz-VCOs with very low phase noise. At an oscillation frequency F/sub res/=34.2/spl plusmn/0.2 GHz, the VCO reaches phase noise levels of -87 dBc/Hz @ 100 kHz and -108 dBc/Hz @ 1 MHz offset frequency, respectively. To our knowledge, these phase noise values are the lowest GaAs data for Ka-band applications reported so far.