Multifunction silicon MMIC's for frequency conversion applications

The application of advanced silicon bipolar IC technology to multifunction microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs) is demonstrated. The modeling, design, and testing of two silicon MMICs for frequency conversion applications are illustrated. The first product is a wideband frequency doubler with conversion gain, 20-dBc rejection of harmonics, and a 2-GHz bandwidth. The second product is a wideband vector demodulator (or image reject mixer) that utilizes an onchip digital frequency divider to generate 0 degrees and 90 degrees local oscillator (LO) phases from 0.05 to 1.5 GHz. Both products operate from a single 5-V supply, are load insensitive, require no external baluns, and are packaged in 180-mil hermetic packages. These frequency conversion MMICs and others currently under development have been prototyped on the analog silicon transistor array starCHIP-1, which is also described.<
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