The broadband Darlington amplifier as a simple benchmark circuit for compact model verification at mm-wave frequency

Benchmark circuit are small circuit blocks that resemble the major features of the active and passive devices for a given process technology. Such blocks are attractive for verifying the compact models delivered in process design kits as well as for demonstrating the process performance at the earliest possible time. This paper presents results of two broadband Darlington amplifier versions that were designed as a benchmark circuit during the EU DOTSEVEN project with the purpose of verifying compact models at mm-wave frequencies and under realistic circuit operating conditions. The circuits were fabricated and its measured performance is compared to simulation results.