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Low-cost SiGe circuits for frequency synthesis in millimeter-wave devices

thesis
posted on 2022-03-28, 09:49 authored by Adam Peter Lauterbach
Advances in Silicon Germanium (SiGe) Bipolar Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (BiCMOS) technology has caused a recent revolution in low-cost Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) design. -- This thesis presents the design, fabrication and measurement of four MMICs for frequency synthesis, manufactured in a commercially available IBM 0.18μm SiGe BiCMOS technology with ft = 60GHz. The high speed and low-cost features of SiGe Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs) were exploited to successfully develop two single-ended injection-lockable 15GHz Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) for application in an active Ka-Band antenna beam-forming network, and a 24GHz differential cross-coupled VCO and 1/6 synchronous static frequency prescaler for emerging Ultra Wideband (UWB) automotive Short Range Radar (SRR) applications. -- On-wafer measurement techniques were used to precisely characterise the performance of each circuit and compare against expected simulation results and state-of-the-art performance reported in the literature. -- The original contributions of this thesis include the application of negative resistance theory to single-ended and differential SiGe VCO design at 15-24GHz, consideration of manufacturing process variation on 24GHz VCO and prescaler performance, implementation of a fully static multi-stage synchronous divider topology at 24GHz and the use of differential on-wafer measurement techniques. -- Finally, this thesis has llustrated the excellent practicability of SiGe BiCMOS technology in the engineering of high performance, low-cost MMICs for frequency synthesis in millimeterwave (mm-wave) devices.

History

Table of Contents

Introduction -- Design theory and process technology -- 15GHz oscillator implementations -- 24GHz oscillator implementation -- Frequency prescaler implementation -- MMIC fabrication and measurement -- Conclusion.

Notes

2009 Bibliography: p. 163-166

Awarding Institution

Macquarie University

Degree Type

Thesis masters research

Degree

Thesis (MSc (Hons)), Macquarie University, Faculty of Science, Dept. of Physics and Engineering

Department, Centre or School

Department of Physics and Engineering

Year of Award

2010

Principal Supervisor

K. Esselle

Rights

Copyright disclaimer: http://www.copyright.mq.edu.au Copyright Adam Peter Lauterbach 2010.

Language

English

Extent

xxii, 166 p. : ill (some col.)

Former Identifiers

mq:7717 http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/76626 1370917