Voltage controlled oscillator with frequency tripler in MHMIC technology for V-Band applications

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for V-Band applications in miniaturized hybrid integrated circuit (MHMIC) technology is proposed. The introduced circuit is designed to provide its third harmonics in the unlicensed frequency band around 60 GHz. The underlying concept is based on a negative resistance oscillator (NRO), centered at 20 GHz and driven by a PHEMT Transistor. A 3 GHz tuning range is achieved by a voltage controlled load-network, which consists of a hybrid assembled varactor diode at the transistor drain electrode. The fundamental frequency is intended to drive a resistive frequency tripler. Two concepts, consisting of a single diode and a antiparallel diode multiplier are compared with -23 dB and -15.5 dB conversion gain, respectively.