A complete 38 GHz transmit and receive chip set in low cost surface mount package

While most point-to-point radio systems migrate to SMT(surface mount technology) over chip-and-wire, the 38 GHz band has provided the largest challenge. This paper demonstrates a commercially viable complete SMT solution to receive LNA-down-converter and transmit up-converter, VGA, power amp and directional power detector. The receive chain provides 10 dB conversion gain with 4.5 dB NF. The transmit chain provides 26 dB maximum total gain with 24 dB gain control and 30 dBm maximum power out at 1 dB compression. The amplifiers are housed in 5×5 mm packages while the detector uses a chip scale 1×0.5 mm package. All cover the 37 to 42 GHz radio bands. This is the only known complete SMT Tx/Rx solution to be published or demonstrated.