@phdthesis{Kared2025, author = {Kared, Trusha}, title = {Mathematical analysis, design, and validation of a high dynamic range, low noise differential mixer using SiGe microwave transistors}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7121}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-71216}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The limits imposed by the wireless environment require the designer to consider noise, linearity, and power consumption. Bipolar technology has been the most appealing silicon technology due to its high-speed performance and well-engineered base parasitics. Its high transition frequency and low base resistance have resulted in remarkable noise performance. These advantages, combined with scaling flexibility, have made bipolar devices the fundamental component of silicon RF front-ends. With the growing demand for high-performance wireless applications from satellite and radar systems to 5G infrastructure, there is a strong need for advanced mixer architectures that can deliver high isolation, gain, and low noise across wide frequency ranges. The purpose of this dissertation was to describe the differential mixer and its mathematical properties in terms of gain and noise figure, and to explore further optimizations. In fact, it turned out that the mixer design was greatly improved in terms of both the noise figure and the intercept point. The active double-balanced down-conversion mixer is built on SiGe technology. The circuit exhibits significant improvement in terms of the mixer's other performance parameter metrics. This dissertation presents a novel SiGe HBT-based differential double-balanced down-conversion mixer featuring significantly enhanced conversion gain, noise performance, linearity, dynamic range, and port-to-port isolation. Compared to existing designs, this mixer delivers outstanding performance, achieving a single-sideband (SSB) noise figure of 7 dB ± 0.4 dB, a conversion gain of 12 dB ± 1 dB, and exceptional isolation metrics RF-to-IF isolation greater than 35 dB, with LO-to-RF and LO-to-IF isolation exceeding 50 dB across the 0.5 GHz to 1.8 GHz frequency range. Furthermore, it has an Input third-order intercept point (IP3) of +4.7 dBm, an output third-order intercept point (OIP3) of +15 dBm, and a 1 dB compression point of -8 dBm. This high-performance down-conversion double-balanced mixer integrates several state-of-the-art innovations. A transformer-free single-ended-to-differential conversion enhances efficiency and eliminates unnecessary components at the RF stage. The dual-feedback linearization technique optimizes impedance matching while suppressing nonlinear distortion, ensuring superior linearity. Additionally, symmetrical active device layout and advanced multilayer PCB technology significantly mitigate LO-to-RF feedthrough, reducing crosstalk and maximizing port-to-port isolation. These advancements collectively result in a highly efficient, low-noise, and exceptionally linear mixer architecture, setting a new benchmark in SiGe HBT-based mixer technology rather than relying on noisy CMOS technology. Due to its higher fabrication complexity, lower yield at advanced nodes, and the necessity for more complicated design tactics in high-frequency applications, CMOS technology in small quantities is ultimately more costly than SiGe HBT-based designs. Although CMOS excels in low-power applications and large-scale digital integration, SiGe HBT remains a reasonably affordable option for high-performance RF}, subject = {Down-conversion double balanced mixer; Noise figure; Dynamic range; Marchand balun; LO mixing core; Doppelt balancierter Abw{\"a}rtsmischer; Rauschmaß; Dynamikbereich; Marchand-Balun; LO-Mischkern; Heterobipolartransistor; Siliciumhalbleiter; Germaniumlegierung; Mischer ; Rauschmessung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Apte2020, author = {Apte, Anisha}, title = {A new analytical design method of ultra-low-noise voltage controlled VHF crystal oscillators and it's validation}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-51386}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The design of high Q oscillators, using Crystals at lower frequencies, (and dielectric resonators at much higher frequencies), has long been considered a black art. This may be due to the fact that a systematic approach with optimized design guideline for crystal oscillators could not be found after extensive literature search. In this dissertation, after analyzing the first crystal oscillator by W.G. Cady (1921), other high performance crystal oscillators will be discussed, analyzed and calculated. A single transistor crystal oscillator design as used by HP (Hewlett Packard) in one of their designs, the HP10811A is considered in this thesis for mathematical analysis and CAD (Computer aided Design) simulation. This was also measured on state-of-the-art signal source analyzer. After validation, this design is scaled to 100MHz, the frequency of interest for this dissertation. Though most designers use a single transistor based oscillator circuit, it is not an optimized design because of limited control over key design parameters such as loop gain, dc current etc. This dissertation is an attempt to overcome the limitation due to the single transistor circuit and to give a step by step procedure, explaining the significance of a two transistor design with thorough analysis and design simulation results. This two stage transistor circuit is also not yet a best solution in terms of phase noise performance and output power, and some add-on circuitry will be needed for an optimized performance. An important contribution of this work is to show that since the voltage gain is the ratio of the collector resistor and the emitter resistor, the performance is practically independent of the VHF transistor and gives better control over various parameters of the oscillator, in order to optimize the design. A grounded-base amplifier is then introduced and added for improving the isolation and the output power. Unlike most oscillators, that take the output from the collector, a novel concept introduced by Rohde [14], is incorporated here, where the crystal is used as a filter that is then connected to the grounded base amplifier, a technique which many companies have been using. This dissertation will show that this technique increases the output power without significantly affecting the phase noise. Such a validation is needed for better understanding and as per my knowledge, has not been done so far. For the oscillator, the tuning diode sensitivity and flicker noise contribution are also taken into consideration, by calibrating the mathematics and its validation is shown. Crystal resonators of the type AT and stress-compensated (SC) cut devices will be considered as they give the best performance. The one port Colpitts type oscillator is considered first and the two port two transistor design later. Both will need a post amplifier/buffer stage. A complete step by step design procedure for an optimized 100MHz crystal oscillator is then presented. For completeness, CAD Simulation and Experimental results are provided for 10 MHz, 128 MHz and 155 MHz VCO circuits.}, subject = {Quartz crystal; Crystal oscillator; Phase noise; Reference source; Voltage controlled; Quarzkristall; Kristalloszillator; Phasenrauschen; Referenzquelle; Spannungsgesteuert; Quarzoszillator; UKW; CAD}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Griebel2021, author = {Griebel, Wolfgang}, title = {Weltraumgeeignete 5MHz Quarzoszillatoren mit maximaler Stabilit{\"a}t zwischen 1 und 10 Sekunden}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-55204}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The dissertation covers the physical, design, simulation and measurement aspects of extremely high Q precision oscillators for space applications. Existing design approaches and methods are evaluated, and it is shown that only physically complete models can deliver a good agreement between theory and experiments. A prototype was built showing very good phase noise and stability.}, subject = {Phase Noise; Crystal Oscillator; Nonlinear; Design Method; Allen Variance; Phasenrauschen; Quarzoszillator; Nichtlinear; Entwurfsmethode; Allen Varianz; Quarzoszillator; Raumfahrt; Phasenrauschen; Systementwurf}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Fleischmann2022, author = {Fleischmann, Manfred}, title = {A novel technique to improve the spurious-free dynamic range of digital spectrum monitoring receivers}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-5898}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-58984}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {This dissertation presents a novel technique for enhancing the spurious-free dynamic range of radio monitoring receivers with a bandwidth of several gigahertz. The improvement is based on suppressing the discrete spurious signals that occur at higher drive levels in the output spectrum of the required broadband analog-to-digital converter. The achievable improvement of the spurious-free dynamic range is typically more than 20 dB, allowing better, gap-free monitoring of wide frequency ranges. The attenuation of the spurious signals is achieved by a unique combination of two separate analog-to-digital converters working in parallel and subsequent digital signal processing. The developed solution is not limited to broadband radio monitoring receivers but can generally suppress certain types of spurious signals generated during analog-to-digital conversion.}, subject = {Broadband receiver; Spurious signals; Analog-to-digital converter; Spurious-free dynamic range; Digital signal processing; Breitbandempf{\"a}nger; St{\"o}rsignale; Analog-digital-Wandler; St{\"o}rungsfreier Dynamikbereich; Digitale Signalverarbeitung; Analog-Digital-Umsetzer; Breitbandempf{\"a}nger; Digitale Signalverarbeitung; St{\"o}rsignal}, language = {en} }