On-chip tapered transmission line transformer based on coplanar waveguide

Abstract

A traditional tapered transmission line transformer (TLT) is implemented in a commercial 0.13 μm digital complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology to raise the short pulse amplitude which is generated on-chip. The transformer, based on 20 coplanar waveguides whose impedances are gradually increased from 50 ohm to 93 ohm, is analyzed through Cadence™ Spectre schematic and post-layout simulations. The pulse generator and the linear tapered transmission line transformer are fabricated in the same technology, the test results show that after the transformer the amplitude of the output pulse generated on-chip is successfully enlarged from 0.18V to 0.24V when the input DC voltage is 1.6V