42 GHz static frequency divider in a Si/SiGe bipolar technology

Abstract

Frequency dividers are key components for multi-gigabit-per-second optical fiber links. For this application, maximum speed is mandatory, while the power consumption is not a limiting factor. To date, the highest operating speed for static frequency dividers has been achieved with III-V devices. For AlInAs/GaInAs HBTs with 130 GHz f/sub T/, 39.5 GHz operation is measured, and for 0.1 /spl mu/m InAlAs/InGaAs HEMTs with f/sub T/ of approximately 200 GHz an operating speed of 40.4 GHz is recently reported. The fastest published static silicon divider operates up to 35 GHz. Silicon bipolar technologies offer high reliability and cost-effectiveness. This divider is fabricated in a 0.5 /spl mu/m double-polysilicon self-aligned Si/SiGe heterojunction bipolar technology.