Full D-Band InP Frequency Sixtupler MMIC and Waveguide Module for Instrumentation Application

This article presents a full D-band (110–170 GHz) frequency sixtupler MMIC and waveguide module for instrumentation applications. The frequency sixtupler, implemented in indium phosphide (InP) 250-nm double heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) technology consists of a frequency tripler and a frequency doubler, both driven by amplifiers to provide sufficient power. The sixtupler operates across the full D-band by driving the multipliers with sufficient power for the saturated output power and using a doubly-tuned transformer for wideband frequency matching. The sixtupler MMIC is then packaged into a split-block waveguide module with an E-plane probe on a quartz substrate for a microstrip-to-waveguide transition. The transition coupler is designed to compensate for impedance mismatch caused by a bond-wire. Measured output power ranges from 2.7 to 9.8 dBm from the on-wafer test and –1.9 to 8.1 dBm from the waveguide module test, respectively, across the full D-band.