Design of modulator module using wide-band frequency tripler for K-band applications

This paper proposes how to generate various K-band modulation signals using an X9 frequency multiplier and an E4438C vector signal generator. The proposed modulation set-up consists of a vector signal generator, two frequency triplers and two amplifiers. The designed multiplier has showed an output power higher than -10 dBm. Suppressions of the 7th, 8th, and 10th order harmonics are measured more than 50 dBc around the desired 9th signal in the frequency range of 19.8 GHz ~ 24 GHz. The measured phase noise has showed -113 dBc/Hz and -130 dBc/Hz at offset frequencies of 100 kHz and 1 MHz, respectively. The designed modulation set-up is tested by modulating a binary phase shift-keying with a data rate over 30 Mbps. The designed modulation set-up is tested in conjunction with a demodulation chip, showing a successful modulation and demodulation operation.