Extending the Dynamic Range of Square-Law Power Detectors for Large-Scale Receiver Arrays

This letter proposes and investigates a solution to extend the compression point (P1dB) and dynamic range (DR) of square-law power detectors. A nonlinear driver stage is incorporated before the detector to compensate for the detector’s I–V curve nonideality, enabling distortion-free mixing over a wider range of input RF signals. The modified MOSFET-based detector demonstration achieves a 14-dB increase in P1dB, raising the baseline from −10 to over 4 dBm while maintaining a bias current consumption of $5~\mu $ A. An off-the-shelf BJT proof-of-concept verification shows an 11-dB P1dB extension, reaching 0 dBm. The enhanced performance, combined with its compatibility with integrated circuit (IC) implementation and low-power local oscillator (LO) requirements, makes it a promising alternative to heterodyne mixers in the development of large-scale receiver arrays for integrated millimeter-wave and terahertz applications.