4.9-GHz low-phase-noise transformer-based superharmonic-coupled GaInP/GaAs HBT QVCO

Author

Meng, C.C. ; Chang, Y.-W. ; Tseng, S.C.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Commun. Eng., Nat. Chiao Tung Univ., Hsinchu, Taiwan

Volume

16

Issue

6

fYear

2006

fDate

6/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

339

Lastpage

341

Abstract

The low-phase-noise GaInP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) quadrature voltage controlled oscillator (QVCO) using transformer-based superharmonic coupling topology is demonstrated for the first time. The fully integrated QVCO at 4.87GHz has phase noise of -131dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset frequency, output power of -4dBm and the figure of merit (FOM) -198dBc/Hz. The state-of-the-art phase noise FOM is attributed to the superior GaInP/GaAs HBT low-frequency device noise and the high quality transformer formed on the GaAs semi-insulating substrate.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; MMIC oscillators; bipolar MMIC; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; network topology; phase noise; transformers; voltage-controlled oscillators; 1 MHz; 4.87 GHz; 4.9 GHz; GaInP-GaAs; HBT; QVCO; figure of merit; heterojunction bipolar transistor; low phase noise transformer; quadrature voltage controlled oscillator; transformer-based superharmonic coupling topology; Coupling circuits; Degradation; Filters; Frequency conversion; Gallium arsenide; Heterojunction bipolar transistors; Low-frequency noise; Phase noise; Phase transformers; Voltage-controlled oscillators; GaInP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT); phase noise; quadrature voltage controlled oscillator (QVCO); superharmonic coupling; transformer;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1531-1309

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LMWC.2006.875624

Filename

1637488