An ultralow-power-consumption, high-speed, GaAs 256/258 dual-modulus prescaler IC

A GaAs divide-by-256/258 dual-modulus static prescaler is described. The prescaler has a pulse-swallow counter-type architecture and quasi-differential switch flip-flops as its basic circuit architecture. For the input buffer circuit, a circuit called a source-coupled push-pull circuit has been developed that can generate high-frequency complementary signals from a single-phase signal at a low supply voltage. This IC operates at up to 14.5 GHz with a power consumption of 22 mW. The power consumption is less than 1/50 of the previously reported prescalers that can operate above 10 GHz.