MILLIMETER-WAVE SIGNAL GENERATION USING MONOLITHIC HEMT TECHNOLOGIES

We have designed, processed and tested monolithic 40GHz frequency doub lers and amplifiers using enhancement and depletion HEMT processes. Th e passive parts included microstrip, coplanar waveguide and lumped com ponent circuits. The on-chip measured output power of frequency double rs at 40GHz was +2 dBm and the conversion loss was 2-5 dB. The EHEMT d oublers operated at low input power level from a single DC supply and the CPW passive parts enabled economical design. The integrated system of depletion PHEMT doubler and amplifier chips enclosed in hermetic p ackages delivered +10 dBm output power at 38GHz frequency band. This i s the first time that the application of enhancement mode HEMTs in fre quency doublers is reported and compared to the performance with deple tion mode HEMTs. We have proven that EHEMT and DHEMT frequency multipl ier circuits are efficient solutions for local oscillator use in moder n millimetre wave systems.