A 0/20-dB Step Linearized Attenuator with GaAs-HBT Compatible, AC-Coupled, Stack Type Base-Collector Diode Switches

Author

Yamamoto, K. ; Miyashita, M. ; Moriwaki, T. ; Suzuki, S. ; Ogawa, N. ; Shimura, T.

Author_Institution

High Frequency & Opt. Device Works, Mitsubishi Electr. Corp., Hyogo

fYear

2006

fDate

11-16 June 2006

Firstpage

1693

Lastpage

1696

Abstract

This paper describes a GaAs-HBT compatible, base-collector diode step attenuator for 3.5-GHz band wireless applications. The attenuator uses an AC-coupled, stacked type diode switch topology featuring high power handling capability with low bias current operation. Compared to a conventional diode switch topology, the topology can improve the capability of more than 6 dB with the same bias current. In addition, successful incorporation of a shunt diode linearizer into the attenuator gives the IM3 distortion improvement of more than 7 dB in the high power ranging from 16 dBm to 18 dBm in the 20-dB attenuation mode. Measurement results are as follows: 1.4/20-dB insertion loss, and 20-dBm power handling capability (P_0.2dB) and low bias current of 3.8/6.8 mA in thru/attenuation modes at 5 V

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; attenuators; gallium arsenide; heterojunction bipolar transistors; semiconductor diodes; semiconductor switches; 3.5 GHz; 5 V; GaAs; HBT; IM3 distortion improvement; bias current; collector diode step attenuator; insertion loss; power handling; shunt diode linearizer; stacked type diode switch topology; step linearized attenuator; wireless LAN; Attenuation measurement; Attenuators; Current measurement; Diodes; Distortion measurement; Insertion loss; Loss measurement; Power measurement; Switches; Topology; Attenuators; Diodes; GaAs; Wireless LAN;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Microwave Symposium Digest, 2006. IEEE MTT-S International

Conference_Location

San Francisco, CA

ISSN

0149-645X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-9541-7

Electronic_ISBN

0149-645X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MWSYM.2006.249686

Filename

4015272