Silicon-germanium ICs for satellite microwave front-ends

Implementations of building blocks for Ku- and Ka-band satellite communication are presented: a 12 GHz receiver for satellite DVB-S signals, including a down-conversion signal path with gain roll-off compensation, a fully integrated frequency synthesizer, and packaged in a standard 24-pin HVQFN (lead-less) plastic package; a 10 GHz fully-integrated low-phase-noise differential Colpitts oscillator; and a 25 GHz low-power adaptive prescaler. State-of-the-art system implementations are reviewed, and advantages of the proposed circuits are highlighted.