Bahl I.J. "Solid State Circuits The electrical Engineering Handbook Ed. Richard C. Dorf Boca raton crc Press llc. 2000
Bahl, I.J. “Solid State Circuits” The Electrical Engineering Handbook Ed. Richard C. Dorf Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC, 2000
43 Solid state circuits 43. 1 Introduction 43.2 Amplifiers 43.3 Oscillators 43.4 Multipliers I. J. Bahl ITT Gallium arsenide 13.6 Control Circuits Technology Center 43.7 Summary and Future Trends 43. 1 Introduction Over the past two decades, microwave active circuits have evolved from individual solid state transistors and passive elements housed in conventional waveguides and/or coaxial lines to fully integrated planar assemblies, including active and passive components and interconnections, generically referred to as a microwave integrated circuit(MIC). The hybrid microwave integrated circuit(HMIC) consists of an interconnect pattern and distributed circuit components printed on a suitable substrate, with active and lumped circuit components(in packaged or chip form) attached individually to the printed interconnect circuit by the use of soldering and wire bonding techniques. The solid state active elements are either silicon or gallium arsenide(or other Ill-V compound)devices. More recently, the solid state monolithic microwave integrated circuit(MMIC)approach has become commonplace. In MMICs, all interconnections and components, both active and passive,are fabricated simultaneously on a semi-insulating semiconductor substrate(usually gallium arsenide, GaAs)using deposition and etching processes, thereby eliminating discrete components and wire bond interconnects. The term MMIC is used for circuits operating in the millimeter wave(30-300 GHz)region of the frequency spectrum well as the microwave(1-30 GHz) region. Major advantages of MMICs include low cost, small size, low weight, circuit design flexibility, broadband performance, elimination of circuit tweaking, high-volume man ufacturing capability, package simplification, improved reproducibility, improved reliability, and multifunction performance on a single chip Microwave circuits use two types of active devices: two-terminal devices, referred to as diodes, such Schottky, Gunn, tunnel, impact avalanche and transit time(IMPATt), varactor, and PIN, and three-terminal devices, referred to as transistors, such as bipolar junction transistor(B]T), metal semiconductor field effect transistor(MESFET), high electron mobility transistor(HEMT), heterostructure FET (HFET), and heterojunc tion bipolar transistor(HBT). Microwave circuits using these devices include amplifiers, oscillators, multipli ers,mixers, switches, phase shifters, attenuators, modulators, and many others used for receiver or transmitter applications covering microwave and millimeter wave frequency bands. New devices, microwave computer aided design( CAD) tools, and automated testing have played a significant role in the advancement of these circuits during the past decade. The theory and performance of most of these circuits have been well documented Kollberg, 1984; Bhartia and Bahl, 1984; Pucel, 1985; Maas, 1986; Bahl and Bhartia, 1988; Goyal, 1989; Ali et al., 1989; Chang, 1990; Vendelin et al., 1990; Ali and Gupta, 1991; Chang, 1994]. Solid state circuits are extensively used in such applications as radar, communication, navigation, electronic warfare(EW), smart weapons, c 2000 by CRC Press LLC
© 2000 by CRC Press LLC 43 Solid State Circuits 43.1 Introduction 43.2 Amplifiers 43.3 Oscillators 43.4 Multipliers 43.5 Mixers 43.6 Control Circuits 43.7 Summary and Future Trends 43.1 Introduction Over the past two decades, microwave active circuits have evolved from individual solid state transistors and passive elements housed in conventional waveguides and/or coaxial lines to fully integrated planar assemblies, including active and passive components and interconnections, generically referred to as a microwave integrated circuit (MIC). The hybrid microwave integrated circuit (HMIC) consists of an interconnect pattern and distributed circuit components printed on a suitable substrate, with active and lumped circuit components (in packaged or chip form) attached individually to the printed interconnect circuit by the use of soldering and wire bonding techniques. The solid state active elements are either silicon or gallium arsenide (or other III–V compound) devices. More recently, the solid state monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) approach has become commonplace. In MMICs, all interconnections and components, both active and passive, are fabricated simultaneously on a semi-insulating semiconductor substrate (usually gallium arsenide, GaAs) using deposition and etching processes, thereby eliminating discrete components and wire bond interconnects. The term MMIC is used for circuits operating in the millimeter wave (30–300 GHz) region of the frequency spectrum as well as the microwave (1–30 GHz) region. Major advantages of MMICs include low cost, small size, low weight, circuit design flexibility, broadband performance, elimination of circuit tweaking, high-volume manufacturing capability, package simplification, improved reproducibility, improved reliability, and multifunction performance on a single chip. Microwave circuits use two types of active devices: two-terminal devices, referred to as diodes, such as Schottky, Gunn, tunnel, impact avalanche and transit time (IMPATT), varactor, and PIN, and three-terminal devices, referred to as transistors, such as bipolar junction transistor (BJT), metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET), high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), heterostructure FET (HFET), and heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT). Microwave circuits using these devices include amplifiers, oscillators, multipliers, mixers, switches, phase shifters, attenuators, modulators, and many others used for receiver or transmitter applications covering microwave and millimeter wave frequency bands. New devices, microwave computeraided design (CAD) tools, and automated testing have played a significant role in the advancement of these circuits during the past decade. The theory and performance of most of these circuits have been well documented [Kollberg, 1984; Bhartia and Bahl, 1984; Pucel, 1985; Maas, 1986; Bahl and Bhartia, 1988; Goyal, 1989; Ali et al., 1989; Chang, 1990; Vendelin et al., 1990; Ali and Gupta, 1991; Chang, 1994]. Solid state circuits are extensively used in such applications as radar, communication, navigation, electronic warfare (EW), smart weapons, I. J. Bahl ITT Gallium Arsenide Technology Center
Transforme Network Netwo Output FIGURE 43.1 Amplifier circuits configurations (a) Two-terminal negative resistance type requires a circulator to isolate the input and output ports.(b) Three-terminal transistor type requires input and output matching networks onsumer electronics, and microwave instruments and equipment. This section will briefly describe the per formance status of amplifiers, oscillators, multipliers, mixers, and microwave control circuits 43.2 Amplifiers Amplifier circuits have received maximum attention in solid state circuits development. The two-terminal device amplifiers, such as parametric, tunnel, Gunn, and IMPATT, are normally called reflection-type circuits, or negative resistance amplifiers. a diagram for these amplifiers is shown in Fig. 43. 1(a). Parametric amplifiers are narrow band(<10%)and have very good figure. Tunnel-diode amplifiers are high-gain, low-noise figure, and low-power circuits. Octave bandwidth of such amplifiers is possible. The performance of Gunn-diode amplifiers is quite similar to tunnel-diode amplifiers. IMPATT-diode amplifiers are high power and high efficiency. They are moderately noisy, and bandwidths up to an octave are possible The basic circuit configuration for three-terminal device amplifiers is shown in Fig. 43.1(b). Several different types of amplifiers developed using transistors are low noise, power, high linearity, broadband, high efficiency, ogarithmic, limiting, transimpedance, and variable gain. The silicon bipolar transistor performs very well up to about 4 GHz, with reliable performance, high power, high gain, and low cost. The GaAs MESFETs perform better than the bipolar transistors above 4 GHz. They are broadband, have a wide dynamic range, are highly reliable, and are low cost. Both low-noise and medium-power MESFET amplifiers are available. They compete with uncooled parametric amplifiers as well as moderate-power IMPATTs HEMTs find a niche in low-noise and high-frequency applications. The noise figure of HEMT amplifiers is better than that of uncooled para- metric amplifiers up to 100 GHz, as shown in Fig. 43. 2. Various techniques are used to realize small signal or low-power broadband amplifiers. Five of them are shown in Fig. 43.3. The distributed approach provides the unique capability of excellent gain-bandwidth product, low VSWR(voltage standing wave ratio), and moderately low noise figure. This technique has been uccessfully used in monolithic ultrabroadband amplifiers. The performance of such amplifiers using various transistor devices is given in Table 43.1 The performance of solid state power amplifiers is shown in Fig. 43.4. Currently, IMPATT and Gunn diodes provide maximum power above 10 GHz, whereas bipolar junction transistor and MESFET technologies offer the most promise to generate higher power levels below 10 GHz. In particular, IMPATT devices have been operated over the complete millimeter wave band and have shown good continuous wave( Cw)and pulsed power efficiency and reliability. During the past decade significant progress has been made in monolithic power amplifiers operating over both the narrowband and broadband williams and Bahl, 1992; Tserng and Saunier, 1991]. Power levels as high as 12 W from a single MMIC chip at C-band with 60% power-added efficiency(PAE)have been demon- trated.A 6-W MMIC chip has been developed at X-band. A 2-w power output has been obtained at 30 GHz. e 2000 by CRC Press LLC
© 2000 by CRC Press LLC consumer electronics, and microwave instruments and equipment. This section will briefly describe the performance status of amplifiers, oscillators, multipliers, mixers, and microwave control circuits. 43.2 Amplifiers Amplifier circuits have received maximum attention in solid state circuits development. The two-terminal device amplifiers, such as parametric, tunnel, Gunn, and IMPATT, are normally called reflection-type circuits, or negative resistance amplifiers. A diagram for these amplifiers is shown in Fig. 43.1(a). Parametric amplifiers are narrowband (<10%) and have very good noise figure. Tunnel-diode amplifiers are high-gain, low-noise figure, and low-power circuits. Octave bandwidth of such amplifiers is possible. The performance of Gunn-diode amplifiers is quite similar to tunnel-diode amplifiers. IMPATT-diode amplifiers are high power and high efficiency. They are moderately noisy, and bandwidths up to an octave are possible. The basic circuit configuration for three-terminal device amplifiers is shown in Fig. 43.1(b). Several different types of amplifiers developed using transistors are low noise, power, high linearity, broadband, high efficiency, logarithmic, limiting, transimpedance, and variable gain. The silicon bipolar transistor performs very well up to about 4 GHz, with reliable performance, high power, high gain, and low cost. The GaAs MESFETs perform better than the bipolar transistors above 4 GHz. They are broadband, have a wide dynamic range, are highly reliable, and are low cost. Both low-noise and medium-power MESFET amplifiers are available. They compete with uncooled parametric amplifiers as well as moderate-power IMPATTs. HEMTs find a niche in low-noise and high-frequency applications. The noise figure of HEMT amplifiers is better than that of uncooled parametric amplifiers up to 100 GHz, as shown in Fig. 43.2. Various techniques are used to realize small signal or low-power broadband amplifiers. Five of them are shown in Fig. 43.3. The distributed approach provides the unique capability of excellent gain-bandwidth product, low VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio), and moderately low noise figure. This technique has been successfully used in monolithic ultrabroadband amplifiers. The performance of such amplifiers using various transistor devices is given in Table 43.1. The performance of solid state power amplifiers is shown in Fig. 43.4. Currently, IMPATT and Gunn diodes provide maximum power above 10 GHz, whereas bipolar junction transistor and MESFET technologies offer the most promise to generate higher power levels below 10 GHz. In particular, IMPATT devices have been operated over the complete millimeter wave band and have shown good continuous wave (CW) and pulsed power efficiency and reliability. During the past decade significant progress has been made in monolithic power amplifiers operating over both the narrowband and broadband [Williams and Bahl, 1992; Tserng and Saunier, 1991]. Power levels as high as 12 W from a single MMIC chip at C-band with 60% power-added efficiency (PAE) have been demonstrated. A 6-W MMIC chip has been developed at X-band. A 2-W power output has been obtained at 30 GHz. FIGURE 43.1 Amplifier circuits configurations. (a) Two-terminal negative resistance type requires a circulator to isolate the input and output ports. (b) Three-terminal transistor type requires input and output matching networks
GaAs FET/ UNCOOLE uuz 05 COOLED PARAMETRIC 0.1 FREQUENCY(GHz) IGURE 43.2 Comparison of noise performance of various solid state amplifiers; the InP HEMT compatible with MMIC technology, is a clear choice for receiver applications where cryogenic cooling is D. Willems and I. Bahl, Advances in Monolithic Microwave and Millimeter Wave Integrated Circuits and Systems Symp. Digest, PP. 783-786.@ 1992 IEEE. With permission. In the high-efficiency area, a C-band MMIC amplifier with 70%Pae, 8-dB gain, and 1.7-w power output has een demonstrated. For broadband amplifiers having an octave or more bandwidth, MMIC technology has been exclusively used and is quite promising. Figure 43.5 depicts power performance for single-chip MMIC amplifiers spanning microwave and millimeter wave frequencies. The state of the art in high efficiency and broadband power MMIC amplifiers is summarized in Tables 43. 2 and 43.3, respectively. Note that the high efficiency examples included in Table 43. 2 all exceed 40% PAE. 43.3 Oscillators Solid state oscillators represent the basic microwave energy source and have the advantages of light weight and small size compared with microwave tubes. As shown in Fig. 43.6, a typical microwave oscillator consists of a MESFET as an active device(a diode can also be used)and a passive frequency-determining resonant element, such as a microstrip, surface acoustic wave(SAW), cavity resonator, or dielectric I for fixed tuned oscillators and a varactor or a yttrium iron garnet(YIG) sphere for tunable oscillators. These oscillators have the capability of temperature stabilization and phase locking. Dielectric resonator oscillators provide stable operation from I to 100 GHz as fixed frequency sources. In addition to their good frequency stability, they are simple in design, have high efficiency, and are compatible with MMIC technology. Gunn and IMPATT oscillator rovide higher power levels and cover microwave and millimeter wave bands. The transistor oscillators using IESFETs, HEMTS, and HBTs provide highly cost-effective, miniature, reliable, and low-noise sources for use up to the millimeter wave frequency range, while BJT oscillators reach only 20 GHz. Compared to a gaAs MESFET oScillator, a BT or a HBT oscillator typically has 6 to 10 dB lower phase noise very close to the carrier. Figure 43.7 shows the performance of various solid state oscillators. Higher power levels for oscillators are obtained by connecting high-power amplifiers at the output of medium-power oscillators 43.4 Multipliers Microwave frequency multipliers are used to generate microwave power at levels above those obtainable with fundamental frequency oscillators. Several different nonlinear phenomena can be used to achieve frequenc c2000 by CRC Press LLC
© 2000 by CRC Press LLC In the high- efficiency area, a C-band MMIC amplifier with 70% PAE, 8-dB gain, and 1.7-W power output has been demonstrated. For broadband amplifiers having an octave or more bandwidth, MMIC technology has been exclusively used and is quite promising. Figure 43.5 depicts power performance for single-chip MMIC amplifiers spanning microwave and millimeter wave frequencies. The state of the art in high efficiency and broadband power MMIC amplifiers is summarized in Tables 43.2 and 43.3, respectively. Note that the highefficiency examples included in Table 43.2 all exceed 40% PAE. 43.3 Oscillators Solid state oscillators represent the basic microwave energy source and have the advantages of light weight and small size compared with microwave tubes. As shown in Fig. 43.6, a typical microwave oscillator consists of a MESFET as an active device (a diode can also be used) and a passive frequency-determining resonant element, such as a microstrip, surface acoustic wave (SAW), cavity resonator, or dielectric resonator for fixed tuned oscillators and a varactor or a yttrium iron garnet (YIG) sphere for tunable oscillators. These oscillators have the capability of temperature stabilization and phase locking. Dielectric resonator oscillators provide stable operation from 1 to 100 GHz as fixed frequency sources. In addition to their good frequency stability, they are simple in design, have high efficiency, and are compatible with MMIC technology. Gunn and IMPATT oscillators provide higher power levels and cover microwave and millimeter wave bands. The transistor oscillators using MESFETs, HEMTS, and HBTs provide highly cost-effective, miniature, reliable, and low-noise sources for use up to the millimeter wave frequency range, while BJT oscillators reach only 20 GHz. Compared to a GaAs MESFET oscillator, a BJT or a HBT oscillator typically has 6 to 10 dB lower phase noise very close to the carrier. Figure 43.7 shows the performance of various solid state oscillators. Higher power levels for oscillators are obtained by connecting high-power amplifiers at the output of medium-power oscillators. 43.4 Multipliers Microwave frequency multipliers are used to generate microwave power at levels above those obtainable with fundamental frequency oscillators. Several different nonlinear phenomena can be used to achieve frequency FIGURE 43.2 Comparison of noise performance of various solid state amplifiers; the InP HEMT LNA, which is also compatible with MMIC technology, is a clear choice for receiver applications where cryogenic cooling is precluded. (Source: D. Willems and I. Bahl, “Advances in Monolithic Microwave and Millimeter Wave Integrated Circuits,” IEEE Int. Circuits and Systems Symp. Digest, pp. 783–786. © 1992 IEEE. With permission.)
9or Hybrids Balanced Identical Amplifier Stages Feedback Networ Active Match Resistive Match Distributed IGURE 43.3 Broadband amplifier configurations. Balanced has low noise figure and better cascadability, feedback small size, active match is more suitable for monolithic approach, and distributed is good for multioctave bandwidths Itiplication, e.g, nonlinear reactance in varactors and step-recovery diodes and nonlinear resistance in hottky barrier diodes and three-terminal devices(BJT, MESFET, HEMT, HBT) Varactor multipliers offer the best frequency multiplier performance. Varactor multipliers(pulsed)have achieved power output in excess of 100 and 10 W at 4 and 10 GHz, respectively [Bahl and Bhartia, 1988] Table 43. 4 shows the best performance measured in the millimeter wave range and above. 43.5 Mixers Mixers convert(heterodyne) the input frequency to a new frequency, where filtering and/or gain is easier to implement, in contrast to detectors, which are used to provide an output signal that contains the amplitude or amplitude variation information of the input signal. A mixer is basically a multiplier, which requires two e 2000 by CRC Press LLC
© 2000 by CRC Press LLC multiplication, e.g., nonlinear reactance in varactors and step-recovery diodes and nonlinear resistance in Schottky barrier diodes and three-terminal devices (BJT, MESFET, HEMT, HBT). Varactor multipliers offer the best frequency multiplier performance. Varactor multipliers (pulsed) have achieved power output in excess of 100 and 10 W at 4 and 10 GHz, respectively [Bahl and Bhartia, 1988]. Table 43.4 shows the best performance measured in the millimeter wave range and above. 43.5 Mixers Mixers convert (heterodyne) the input frequency to a new frequency, where filtering and/or gain is easier to implement, in contrast to detectors, which are used to provide an output signal that contains the amplitude or amplitude variation information of the input signal. A mixer is basically a multiplier, which requires two FIGURE 43.3 Broadband amplifier configurations. Balanced has low noise figure and better cascadability, feedback has small size, active match is more suitable for monolithic approach, and distributed is good for multioctave bandwidths. RF In RF Out Identical Amplifier Stages 90° Hybrids Matching Network Matching Network MN MN MN Balanced Feedback Active Match Resistive/ Reactive Match Distributed