A Combined 380 GHz Mixer/Doubler Circuit Based on Planar Schottky Diodes

• Published in: IEEE microwave and wireless components letters Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 353 - 355
• Main Authors: Thomas, B., Alderman, B., Matheson, D., de Maagt, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.05.2008; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit properties; Circuit testing; Conversion; Design. Technologies. Operation analysis. Testing; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fabrication; Frequency; Frequency doublers; Frequency multiplier; Integrated circuit measurements; Integrated circuit noise; Integrated circuits; Loss measurement; Microstrip; Microwave circuits, microwave integrated circuits, microwave transmission lines, submillimeter wave circuits; Microwaves; Mixers; Noise levels; Noise measurement; Noise temperature; Radiocommunications; Schottky diode receiver; Schottky diodes; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Signal convertors; sub-harmonic mixer; Submillimeter waves; submillimeter-wave; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Transmitters. Receivers; Submillimeter wave mixers; Conversion loss; submillimeter-wave; Planar diode; Integrated circuit bonding; Subharmonic; Frequency converter; Tuning frequency; Microwave circuit; Flip chip bonding; Radio wave; Microwave mixer; Frequency doubler; Schottky diode receiver; Receiver; Radiofrequency; Frequency multiplier; Simulation; Integrated circuit; Noise temperature; Schottky barrier diode; Planar device; sub-harmonic mixer; Sideband; Microstrip circuits; Frequency mixing
• ISSN: 1531-1309; 1558-1764
• DOI: 10.1109/LMWC.2008.922130

The design, fabrication and test of a combined sub-millimeter wave mixer/doubler featuring a 380 GHz sub-harmonic mixer and a 190 GHz frequency doubler on a single quartz based microstrip circuit is reported in this letter. The integrated circuit uses separate flip-chip mounted planar Schottky diode components to perform the two functions. Measurements give best double sideband mixer noise temperatures of 1625 K at 372 GHz, and a corresponding mixer conversion loss of 8 dB. The measured fixed-tuned radio frequency bandwidth extends from 368 to 392 GHz, in good agreement with simulations. This work represents the first demonstration of a single substrate combined submillimeter wave mixer/doubler.