A 4.5 GHz 3-4 dual-modulus frequency divider IC in GaAs technology

This paper presents a divide-by-3/divide-by-4 dual-modulus frequency divider fabricated in a commercially available GaAs pHEMT technology. The highspeed architecture presented overcomes the inherent frequency limitations of the classical Johnson structure and allows the same speed of the simple divider-by-4 circuit from which it derives. Even if the circuit was designed specifically for its use in frequency generation modules of satellite transponder, it can be conveniently used as the first stage of high frequency dual-modulus prescalers. The fabricated circuit operates up to 4.5GHz with a total power consumption of 75mA from a 3.5V supply.