MMIC mixers

Abstract

New ways of achieving broadband, low-cost, reliable mixers are investigated. Resistive MESFET mixer topology is the main focus of this work. Despite the accurate modeling difficulties of resistive mode operation, promising results are obtained. Three resistive MESFET mixers and one double balanced mixer with a diode quad are designed in the frequency range of 10GHz-20GHz. A new passive balım which can be fabricated using a standard MMIC process is proposed. The all-passive floating FET mixer and its improved version, both of which include the new balun, demonstrate good port isolation and conversion gains at low local oscillator power levels, in very small area. Additionally, a new single balanced mixer topology employing resistive mode MESFETs is presented. The chips are designed using Microwave Harmonica, layouts are generated using CADENCE microwave design enviroment and the chips are fabricated by CEC-Marconi’s 0.5 fim GaAs (F20) process.