{"title":"A 0.28 THz Super-Harmonic Self-Injection-Locked Radar for Vibration Sensing and Phase Imaging","authors":"Wei Sun;Sidharth Thomas;Aydin Babakhani","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3542319","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3542319","url":null,"abstract":"This letter presents a continuous-wave (CW) radar for micrometer-level phase and vibration detection based on super-harmonic self-injection locking in a free-running oscillator. The radar system consists of an oscillator that radiates a signal which gets reflected off a target. The reflected signal is re-injected into the oscillator. Due to super-harmoinc self-injection-locked (SSIL), this causes a frequency shift dependent on the target distance, enabling precise ranging. The proposed radar is implemented using a 140 GHz oscillator followed by an efficient medium-breakdown HBT-based doubler and on-chip antenna. The doubler achieves a peak EIRP of +25.3 and −0.1 dBm radiated power at 281 GHz and consumes 144 mW dc power (dc-to-THz efficiency of 0.68%). In SSIL radar operation, a frequency shift of 250 MHz is observed. Using the proposed radar, we demonstrate: 1) detection of sub-<inline-formula> <tex-math>$30~mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>m vibrations and 2) reflection-based phase imaging.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"496-499"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single-Layer High-Directivity Tight-Coupling Directional Coupler Based on Postwall CPW","authors":"Feiyu Ge;Hongxin Zhao;Shunli Li;Xiaoxing Yin","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538502","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538502","url":null,"abstract":"A novel tight-coupling structure based on the postwall coplanar waveguide (PWCPW) is presented for the high-directivity coupler. PWCPW is a type of single-layer transmission line consisting of double-side CPW connected by a series of metalized vias. The large parallel-plate coupling capacitance gives the coupled PWCPW the characteristic of tight coupling, which is essential for couplers with high coupling coefficient. The small difference of the even- and odd-mode phase velocities in coupled PWCPW, resulting in efficient signal cancellation at the isolation port, makes the coupled PWCPW suitable for the high-directivity coupler. For verification purposes, a 3-dB high-directivity coupler is designed and fabricated based on PWCPW. The experimental results show the coupler operating in 0.54–1.44 GHz (a center frequency of 0.99 GHz and a bandwidth of 90%), with the return loss better than 25 dB. The peak directivity reaches 55 dB, with a 25-dB directivity bandwidth of 83%.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"436-439"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Miniaturized Dielectric Waveguide Bandpass Filter Using Strongly Coupled Resonator Quintuplet","authors":"Wei Qin;Wei Huang;Wen-Wen Yang;Jian-Xin Chen","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538464","url":null,"abstract":"This letter proposes a miniaturized dielectric waveguide bandpass filter (BPF) using strongly coupled resonator quintuplet (SCRQt). The SCRQt is formed by five quarter-wavelength resonators on the top surface of a dielectric block coated with silver. The five resonators are strongly coupled, resulting in five resonance modes. Four of these modes form the filter’s passband, while one mode is functioning as a redundant mode (RM) with a resonance frequency significantly lower than the passband. A fourth-order BPF utilizing the proposed SCRQt is designed and measured at the center frequency of 3.5 GHz. Compared with other dielectric waveguide filter, it significantly reduces the overall size.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"404-407"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A True-Differential Attenuator With Phase Error Compensation for Low-Power Phased Array Systems","authors":"Nengxu Zhu;Xin Zhang;Yiting Zhang;Zhen Yang;Bing Liu;Zenglong Zhao;Fanyi Meng","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3541885","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3541885","url":null,"abstract":"This letter presents a true-differential magnetically switchable coupled-lines (TD-MSCLs)-based attenuator with broadband phase compensation characteristics. The structure features low insertion loss (IL), compact size, low amplitude and phase errors, and intrinsic ESD protection. Compared to the MSCL structure, the TD-MSCL structure offers differential operation with common-mode (CM) rejection that is more suitable for terahertz ICs. In addition, it features phase compensation over a wide bandwidth by inducing proper coupling between two differential-mode (DM) MSCL cells. The attenuator prototype was implemented in a 0.13-<inline-formula> <tex-math>$mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>m SiGe BiCMOS technology, exhibiting only 2.6-dB IL and <0.43 dB/5° rms amplitude/phase error within 200–230 GHz and 14-dB CM rejection ratio (CMRR) in a compact area of 0.019 mm2. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first true differential attenuator at 220 GHz and beyond.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"468-471"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143839821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A 7–13-GHz Broadband High-Efficiency MMIC Power Amplifier Using Second Harmonic Inductively Tuning Network","authors":"Xiangdong Wang;Mo Li;Qiyu Wang;Liwei Luo;Yang Liu;Jian Zhang","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3540466","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3540466","url":null,"abstract":"This letter presents a three-stage 7–13-GHz broadband high-efficiency monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) power amplifier (PA) implemented in a commercial 0.25-<inline-formula> <tex-math>$mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>m GaAs pHEMT process. A novel second harmonic tuning method based on the RC model of the transistor is proposed for the efficiency maximization in a broadband range. In the output matching network (MNO), an inductive tuning network (ITN) is adopted to resonate with the parasitic capacitance seen from the intrinsic drain plane. With this method, the second harmonic is effectively tuned to an open-circuit state, which minimizes the overlaps of the drain current and voltage waveforms, thus greatly improving the efficiency. To achieve a broadband performance, a low-pass matching structure (LPMS) is employed to shift the matching trajectory of the fundamental impedance to nearby <inline-formula> <tex-math>$50~Omega $ </tex-math></inline-formula> by compensating the reactance of the fundamental impedance with negligible effect on the tuning of the second harmonic. Over the frequency range of 7–13 GHz, the MMIC PA delivers a saturated output power (<inline-formula> <tex-math>$P_{text {SAT}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) of 35.0–36.5 dBm with a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 42%–47.4% in the continuous wave (CW) mode and a <inline-formula> <tex-math>${P}_{text {SAT}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 35.5–36.9 dBm with a PAE of 43.8%–49.6% in the pulse mode.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"484-487"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Transformation of Normalization Standard of Smith Chart for Microwave Networks With Multiple Impedance Transmission Lines","authors":"Zixuan Yi;Peipei Hu;Xue-Xia Yang;Meiling Li;Dan Zeng","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3540447","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3540447","url":null,"abstract":"The Smith chart is a graphical approach for solving impedance matching problems in the microwave circuit design, which provides visualized traces, but it is not applicable to address impedance discontinuities graphically, especially for multiple-impedance transmission lines (TLs) within microwave networks. In this letter, a novel transformation of normalization standard (TNS) method is proposed, which is applied to the Smith chart to solve the aforementioned problem. Then, TNS traces are derived and applied to the classical Smith chart, obtaining an improved Smith chart. In addition, the TNS idea is applied to the microwave circuit design examples. The proposed TNS method provides a convenient visualized way for the design of microwave circuits with multi-impedance TLs.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"384-387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design of the SISL Waveguide Filter With Co-Designed Magnetic-Coupled SISL Resonators Using Hybrid SISL and AF-SIW Technologies","authors":"Yun He;Kaixue Ma","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3539694","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3539694","url":null,"abstract":"This letter presents the design and implementation of a new class of substrate-integrated suspended line (SISL)-based waveguide filters (SISLWFs) based on the magnetic-coupled SISL resonators (MCRs). Cavity resonators excited by the SISL via are utilized to design the passband while the <inline-formula> <tex-math>$0.5~lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> SISL shorted stub line (SISLSS) resonator printed on G5 layer is directly connected to the SISL via to generate transmission zeros (TZs). A magnetic-coupled <inline-formula> <tex-math>$0.5~lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> L-shaped short-ended resonator (LSR) is also printed on the G5 layer and arranged at the end of the SISLSS to generate a new TZ. By utilizing the novel short-ended MCR topology, more SISL resonators can be co-designed in the SISL cavity, thus, up to seven TZs can be generated and controlled simultaneously. The measured results coincide well with the simulated ones which validates the proposed MCR methods.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"424-427"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design and Fabrication of Milliwatt and Microwatt Microwave Rectifiers Based on Low Turn-On GaN Schottky Barrier Diodes","authors":"Qiu-Xuan Li;Yang Li;Tao Liu;Ren-Pin Huang;Xia Zhu;Peng-Bo Liu;Xiao Wang;Zhi-Wei Chen;Jie You;Zhang-Cheng Liu;Jin-Ping Ao","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538337","url":null,"abstract":"Low turn-on GaN Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) and dedicated rectifiers for microwatt and milliwatt microwave rectification are designed and fabricated for the first time. GaN SBDs with a low turn-on voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math>$V_{mathrm {on}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) of 0.32 V, a cutoff frequency (<inline-formula> <tex-math>$f_{T}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) of 139.47 GHz, a breakdown voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math>$V_{text {b}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) of 30 V, and <inline-formula> <tex-math>$f_{T} times V_{text {b}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>/<inline-formula> <tex-math>$V_{mathrm {on}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> figure of merit (FOM) up to 13.08 THz are achieved by carefully controlling the Ti/N ratios of Schottky anode. Milliwatt and microwatt rectifiers are designed utilizing customized low turn-on GaN SBDs. The measured maximum efficiency of 84.16% and 64.36% as well as ultrawide power dynamic range of 27 dB (-7 to 20 dBm) for milliwatt rectifier and 22 dB (-12 to 10 dBm) for microwatt rectifier are obtained. The result underscores the significant potential of GaN SBDs in applications not only limited to high-power scenarios but also extended to the milliwatt and microwatt regimes of microwave energy harvesting.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"444-447"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bhushan Ballav Pathak;Ramanand Sagar Sangam;Rakhesh Singh Kshetrimayum;Jiasheng Hong;Matthew A. Morgan
{"title":"Uniplanar Conformal Center-Split M-Unit Cell Based SSPP Broadband Bandpass Filter for B5G Radio Stripe Networks","authors":"Bhushan Ballav Pathak;Ramanand Sagar Sangam;Rakhesh Singh Kshetrimayum;Jiasheng Hong;Matthew A. Morgan","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3539017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3539017","url":null,"abstract":"In this letter, a single-layer flexible broadband bandpass filter using spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) is presented. The filter consists of center-split M-shaped unit cells arranged on either side of the central metal CPW line. In the proposed design, interdigital structures are placed in the arms of the unit cell to control the lower cutoff frequency, whereas the SSPP structures of unit cells can adjust the higher cutoff frequency. The filter has a height of <inline-formula> <tex-math>$0.002lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and a volume of <inline-formula> <tex-math>$0.0052lambda _{g}^{3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, where <inline-formula> <tex-math>$lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> represents the guided wavelength at the operating bandwidth’s central frequency. The measured passband has a relative bandwidth of 59% with an insertion loss (IL) of 1.2 dB. The characteristics of the presented filter, such as low volume, flexibility, ultrathin profile, and wide bandwidth, make it an excellent contender for applications in beyond fifth-generation (5G) radio stripe networks (RSNs).","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"392-395"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A High Selectivity and Steep Attenuation Integrated Passive Device On-Chip Filter With Semi-Lumped π-Type Topology and Cross-Coupling Technique","authors":"Hao-Ran Zhu;Wen-Tao Wang;Lv-Bo Ma;Tao Ni","doi":"10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538697","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2025.3538697","url":null,"abstract":"In this letter, a high selectivity integrated passive device (IPD) on-chip bandpass filter with compact size is presented. The modified semi-lumped K inverter is utilized to generate two transmission zeros (TZs) at upper stopband. The semi-lumped <inline-formula> <tex-math>$pi $ </tex-math></inline-formula> type section is designed to achieve another two TZs at the lower stopband. Moreover, cross-coupling technology is also employed to introduce TZ, which can improve the frequency selectivity near the passband and the attenuation level at the stopband. A chip sample is fabricated with gallium arsenide processing with a size <inline-formula> <tex-math>$1.125times 0.565$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm2. The measurement results show that the center frequency is 27 GHz, the fractional bandwidth is 39%, and the insertion loss (IL) is 1.73 dB.","PeriodicalId":73297,"journal":{"name":"IEEE microwave and wireless technology letters","volume":"35 4","pages":"400-403"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}