High-efficiency Ku-band oscillators

Ku-band oscillators have been experimentally found to have a high dc-to-radio-frequency (RF) efficiency. Using a packaged pseudomorphic high electron-mobility transistor (pHEMT) device, a maximum efficiency of 60% was measured at 14.5 and 15 GHz with output powers of 16 and 23 mW, respectively. Oscillator circuits also revealed efficiencies of 48% at 16 GHz and 41% at 17.1 GHz with RF output power levels of 11 and 13 mW, respectively.