mm-wave Design Examples
This page contains additional information about some of our microwave and mm-wave designs.
E-band amplifier and image reject mixer ICs
E-band spectrum at 71-76GHz and 81-86GHz offers worldwide availability of a large amount of spectrum under a "light license" basis. Whilst the challenges of designing components and sub-systems operating at E-band are significant the potential benefits of using E-band are very attractive for bandwidth hungry applications such as very high data rate point to point links for mobile communications back-haul. Plextek has developed image reject mixer (single-sideband upconverter) and amplifier MMICs for E-band applications using commercially available IC processes. We have the expertise to help you develop commercially viable E-band components and sub-systems.
More information on the Design of E-band Amplifier MMICs …
Front-end modules for FMCW radar
Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radars are capable of measuring distances to high levels of accuracy and detecting small targets with lower levels of peak transmit power than conventional pulsed radar. Plextek designed and developed the Blighter FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) radar. This work included the development of the Ku-band components and subsystems used to implement the microwave front-end. Ku band components developed by Plextek include an LNA-filter module with 26dB gain and 2.5dB NF, a 6W PA module with temperature compensated biasing, an image reject IQ downconverter with integral LO driver amplifier, a DDS based synthesiser to allow ultra-linear frequency sweeps and a single-sideband upconverter.
More information on the Blighter Ku band FMCW radar design …
Broadband (12 to 19GHz) SP4T using discrete PIN diodes
The availability of discrete PIN diodes in low parasitic packages allows the convenient realisation of custom switch modules having the required configuration and benefiting from low loss and high power handling. Plextek has designed custom Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) and Single Pole 4-Throw (SP4T) switches covering the 12GHz to 19GHz frequency range. The switch designs used beam-lead packaged PIN diodes, SMT resistors and capacitors and printed components on a low cost Rogers’ RO4003 substrate. The measured insertion loss is 0.85dB for the SPDT and 1.8dB for the SP4T. Both switches can handle RF input power levels of at least 2W without any significant compression.
More information on discrete PIN diode based broadband microwave switch design …
X-band, 200W PA
As solid-state Power Amplifier (PA) technology continues to grow in maturity and capability the replacement of tube based devices with solid-state PAs has become increasingly viable. Plextek was able to assist a client in replacing a magnetron based X-band radar with a solid-state system undertaking parts of the radar system design and the complete development of a 200W solid state PA. The PA was capable of CW operation but its intended use was pulsed with short rise times (<10ns) and a variety of duty cycles. Plextek’s solution was based on mature GaAs MESFET devices and low loss power combiners. The resulting amplifier required an input drive of just 20mW to deliver 200W to a waveguide output.
