An 80 GHz programmable frequency divider for wideband mm-Wave frequency ramp synthesis

A programmable frequency divider operating at input frequencies from DC to 80 GHz for the use in fractional-N synthesizers is presented. The division factor can be set to all integer values between 12 and 259 and is applied by an 8 bit parallel interface for fast modulation. The remarkably high input frequency in combination with the programmability is achieved by a dual-modulus concept and differential emitter-coupled logic with a consequent merging of logic gates into flip-flops. Among this, a reset function has been implemented to synchronize multiple synthesizers. The frequency divider has been realized in a SiGe BiCMOS technology (fr/fmax=250/360 GHz). The divider works at a supply voltage of 3.3 V with a power consumption of less than 390 mW.