A Highly-Efficient 120 GHz and 240 GHz Signal Source in A SiGe-Technology

Abstract

This work presents a highly-efficient signal source for radar applications at 120 GHz and 240 GHz in a 130-nm SiGe-technology. A low DC-Power consumption of only 78 mW - respectively 264 mW is needed to provide as much as 7.1 dBm (7 dBm) output power at RF-frequencies. The resulting DC-to-RF efficiency is 6.58 (1.88) %. For the signal generation, a Colpitts VCO followed by a bootstrapped gilbert doubler and two power amplifier stages are used at a supply voltage of 3.3 V. The used technology offers new HBTs with an ft of around 470 GHz and fmax of 700 GHz. For the use in radar applications, the VCO frequency can be swept with a bandwidth of 16.3 GHz, while the center frequency can be adjusted using laser-fuses.