Design of Broadband W-Band Waveguide Package and Application to Low Noise Amplifier Module

Abstract

In this paper, the broadband millimeter-wave waveguide package, which can cover the entire W-band (75–110 GHz) is presented and applied to build a low noise amplifier module. For this purpose, a broadband waveguide-to-microstrip transition was designed using an extended E-plane probe in a low-loss and thin dielectric substrate. The end of the probe substrate was firmly fixed on to the waveguide wall in order to minimize the performance degradation caused by the probable bending of the substrate. In addition, we predicted and analyzed in-band resonances by the simulations that are caused by the empty spaces in the waveguide package to accommodate integrated circuits (ICs) and external bias circuits. These resonances are removed by designing an asymmetrical bias space structure with a radiation boundary at an external bias connection plane. The bond-wires, which are used to connect the ICs with the transition, can generate impedance mismatches and limit the bandwidth performance of the waveguide package. Their effect is carefully compensated for by designing the broadband two-section matching circuits in the transition substrate. Finally, the broadband waveguide package is designed using a commercial three-dimensional electromagnetic structure simulator and applied to build a W-band low noise amplifier module. The measurement of the back-to-back connected waveguide-to-microstrip transition including the empty spaces for the ICs and bias circuits showed the insertion loss less than 3.5 dB and return loss higher than 13.3 dB across the entire W-band without any in-band resonances. The measured insertion loss includes the losses of 8.7 mm-long microstrip line and 41.8 mm-long waveguide section. The designed waveguide package was utilized to build the low noise amplifier module that had a measured gain greater than 14.9 dB from 75 GHz to 105 GHz (>12.9 dB at the entire W-band) and noise figure less than 4.4 dB from 93.5 GHz to 94.5 GHz.

Performance Assessment of W-Band Radiometers: Direct versus Heterodyne Detections

“…This MMIC provides nominally gain around 30 dB and noise figure around 3.5 dB in the band from 80 to 100 GHz, for a DC bias consumption around 30 mW as shown in Figure 3. It should be considered that, in general, custom assembly might worsen on wafer performance due to additional losses and other effects [16]. DC bias point has been slightly tuned from the nominal one provided by the manufacturer in each setup.…”

“…Even GaN technology [18] can provide similar noise figures, but with higher consumption, as could be expected from a technology conceived to handle higher power levels than the typical for LNAs. In addition, it should be mentioned that some of the LNA performances listed in Table 1 correspond to on wafer measurements, which differs from on chassis mounted [16]. To provide a perspective of the technology of W band LNAs at room temperature, Table 1 lists a comparison of the LNAs employed in this setup with other references from different technologies.…”

Non-Contact Measurement of Human Respiration and Heartbeat Using W-band Doppler Radar Sensor

“…( a ) Overall view. ( b ) Waveguide low noise amplifier (LNA) module [ 15 ]. ( c ) Quadrature mixer module [ 13 ].…”

“…The image rejection mixer, which was developed by the author, was used as a In the receiver, the LNA module was fabricated using a commercial W-band LNA IC and E-plane probe waveguide-to-microstrip transitions, as shown in Figure 3b. It exhibits a gain of 18.7 dB with noise figure of 4.4 dB at 94 GHz [15]. The coupler, the 3-dB power divider, enables the Tx signal to be used as the LO for the down-conversion mixer in the receiver.…”

Millimeter-Wave Communications

“…Two different kinds of mmWave amplifiers are presented in two contributions. The design of a high-efficiency K-band MMIC linear amplifier using diode compensation is presented by Zhu and co-workers [6] together with its measured performance, while in a study by Doo and colleagues [7] a broadband mmWave waveguide package, which covers the entire W-band (75-110 GHz), is presented and applied to build a low noise amplifier module. This module measures gains greater than 14.9 dB from 75 GHz to 105 GHz (12.9 dB at the entire W-band) and noise figures less than 4.4 dB from 93.5 GHz to 94.5 GHz.…”