Multifunction W-band MMIC receiver technology

The development of a W-band (75-110 GHz) monolithic receiver, culminating in a three-chip multifunctional monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) receiver front-end, is described. The heart of the receiver is a four-channel multiplexer, with each channel possessing its own single balanced mixer and low-noise IF amplifier, all integrated onto a single GaAs chip. Two dual-channel monolithic Gunn oscillators with the drive level and spectral parity to meet system requirements have been developed. The key to the development of the monolithic front-end has been to ensure process compatibility between individual components and the careful partitioning of the chip architecture.<
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