A 140-GHz 0.25-W PA and a 55-135 GHz 115-135 mW PA, High-Gain, Broadband Power Amplifier MMICs in 250-nm InP HBT

Abstract

Two high-gain, broadband power amplifier MMICs are reported. The first result is a 140-GHz 0.25-W PA. It utilizes 5-gain stages and 4-way power combining. S <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">21</sub> gain is 29.4-dB. It demonstrates over 0.21-W P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">out</sub> across 110-150 GHz. 0.25-W P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">out</sub> at 140-GHz requires 4-dBm P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">in</sub> - the associated gain is 16-dB with 7.0% PAE. The 140-GHz OP <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1dB</sub> 1-dB gain compression is 171-mW with 4.9% PAE. The 3-dB S <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">21</sub> bandwidth (BW) is between 112-148 GHz. This result improves state-of-the-art by 65% at 140-GHz for peak SSPA power. The second PA result is a 55-135 GHz 115-135 mW PA. It utilizes 4-gain stages and 2-way power combining. Its operation fully covers WR15 (50-75 GHz) to WR08 (90-140 GHz) bands. S <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">21</sub> gain is 27.3-dB. The S <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">21</sub> fractional BW at 1-dB and 3-dB gain roll-off are 63% and 81%. Large-signal BW associated with high power and gain between 55-135 GHz is 84%. P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">out</sub> variation over this span at 3-dBm P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">in</sub> is only 11.2% (±13-mW). This result improves state-of-the-art for mm-wave PA's where simultaneously high P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">out</sub> , fractional BW, gain, and gain flatness are required.