GaAs diode/f.e.t. logic circuits for high-speed-frequency-divider applications

This research note reports an improved circuit for GaAs diode/f.e.t. logic that is particularly suited for high-speed-frequency-divider applications. It is also demonstrated that there is a substantial power-reduction advantage in diode/f.e.t. logic over buffered-f.e.t. logic, even on single uniformly doped GaAs active layers. Comparisons have been made on these two logic approaches on i.c.s using nominally two-micrometre-gate-length f.e.t.s.. Propagation delays of 200 to 300 ps at 3 to 4 mW power consumption have been measured on diode/f.e.t. logic gates. Similar propagation delays are observed on buffered-f.e.t. logic, but at up to six times the bias power.