A pseudomorphic HEMT monolithic K-Band VCO

An appropriate nonlinear design methodology based on the optimisation of the load cycles, using the facilities of a commercial harmonic-balance software, is applied for a K-band monolithic varactor tunable oscillator (VCO) using 0.2 ¿m GaAlAs/GaInAs/GaAs Pseudomorphic HEMT technology. A tuning range over 14% bandwidth (22.4-25.8 GNz) is obtained, with a high sensitivity of 4.5 GHz/V.A constant output power of 6 dBm is measured over the tuning range. Markedly low phase noise level of ¿89 dBc/Nz at 100 KNz offset from the carrier (24.4 GHz) is achieved. To our knowledge, this is one of the lowest phase noise level reported for K-band solid state VCO.