A 300 GHz x9 Multiplier Chain With 9.6 dBm Output Power in 0.13-m SiGe Technology

This paper presents a 300 GHz x9 multiplier chain in an advanced 0.13-mu m SiGe HBT technology. It consists of 2 over-driven differential class-A cascode triplers (27-35 GHz and 81-105 GHz), a buffer amplifier, 2 bandpass mode-selective filters, and a 3-stage power amplifier (PA). The mode-selective filters were designed to allow broadband operation with high harmonic rejection. Band-selective matching transformers with high common mode (CM) suppression are implemented. The x9 multiplier chain has a peak 9.6 dBm output power at 270 GHz, fractional 3-dB bandwidth of 21% (244-300 GHz), 0.66 W DC power consumption, and 1.36% DC-RF efficiency. It has a wideband high harmonic suppression of >30 dBc/>40 dBc in the frequency range of 244-300 GHz/252-288 GHz for 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th harmonics. The active area of the x9 multiplier chain is 0.92 mm(2)