Millimeter-wave wide-band amplifiers using multilayer MMIC technology

Author

Imaoka, Toshikazu ; Banba, Seiichi ; Minakawa, Akira ; Imai, Nobuaki

Author_Institution

ATR Opt. & Radio Commun. Res. Labs., Kyoto, Japan

Volume

45

Issue

1

fYear

1997

fDate

1/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

95

Lastpage

101

Abstract

This paper describes millimeter-wave wide-band single-ended and balanced amplifiers using novel multilayer monolithic microwave/millimeter-wave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. The fundamental characteristics of thin-film transmission lines and a 50-GHz-band multilayer MMIC directional coupler are described through measurements up to 60 GHz. A single-ended amplifier fabricated in a 1.1 mm×0.8 mm area, shows a gain of about 12 dB with a noise figure of better than 5 dB around 50 GHz. A balanced amplifier fabricated using the multilayer MMIC directional couplers and single-ended amplifiers, shows a gain of 10-17 dB with input and output return losses of better than 14 dB from 33 to 53 GHz. The transmission lines and directional couplers can be effectively combined with millimeter-wave active circuits without degrading the circuit performance or increasing the circuit area. To our knowledge, these are the first millimeter-wave active circuits employing multilayer MMIC technology

Keywords

MIMIC; MMIC amplifiers; differential amplifiers; integrated circuit measurement; millimetre wave amplifiers; millimetre wave directional couplers; wideband amplifiers; 10 to 17 dB; 33 to 60 GHz; active circuits; balanced amplifiers; directional couplers; millimeter-wave wide-band amplifiers; multilayer MMIC technology; return losses; single-ended amplifier; thin-film transmission lines; Active circuits; Broadband amplifiers; Directional couplers; Distributed parameter circuits; MMICs; Millimeter wave circuits; Millimeter wave integrated circuits; Millimeter wave measurements; Millimeter wave technology; Nonhomogeneous media;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.552037

Filename

552037