Fully Integrated 18-20GHz Phaselocked DRO Signal Source for Digital Radio Systems using Chip & Wire Technology

A very compact 20GHz band local oscillator for digital radio link systems has been developed. The RF assemblies in the system consist of an 18-20GHz voltage controlled oscillator with dielectric resonator (DR-VCO), a balanced amplifier, a ferrite isolator and a sampling phase detector. A control circuitry includes PLL amplifier, voltage regulators and filtering elements. The circuits make extensive use of alumina MIC technology where most elements used are chip or beam-lead devices. A sophisticated design of a K-band sampling phase detector permitted to realize all RP circuits of the oscillator in the 20GHz range. The MIC assemblies are installed in a hermetically sealed package. Design considerations and measured results of the signal source are presented. A survey of the technologies applied, including packaging, is given.