W-band radiometer system with switching front-end for multi-load calibration

Weißbrodt, Ernst; Kallfass, Ingmar; Hulsmann, A.; Tessmann, A.; Leuther, A.; Maßler, H.; Ambacher, O.

doi:10.1109/igarss.2011.6050069

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…A temperature range from 220 to 1750 K at the center frequency of 94 GHz was achieved at the output of the SCFE. While a setup of separate modules as in [3], with a −4.3 dB switch loss and an ACL module noise temperature of 220 K [13] would result in a temperature of 270 K at the output of the switch, the SCFE exhibits a noise temperature of 220 K at its output. Packaging the SCFE will add an additional loss of approximately 1 dB, but will still show superior performance while reducing the size.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, novel calibration techniques with internal active loads are being investigated to minimize orbital maneuvers and moving mechanical parts for the calibration with external reference targets [2]. Apart from compact size, low weight and minimum power consumption, active loads allow presenting multiple references to the radiometer, when combined with an appropriate switching front-end [3]. This minimizes interpolation errors and accounts for non-linearity of the radiometer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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W-band active loads and switching front-end MMICs for radiometer calibration

Weißbrodt

Schlechtweg

Ambacher

et al. 2013

Int. J. Microw. Wireless Technol.

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A millimeter-wave monolithic integrated circuit consisting of a W-band (75-100 GHz) single-pole-five-throw (SP5T) switch and multiple internal active and passive loads for radiometer calibration was designed and manufactured in a low noise 50 nm GaAs metamorphic high electron mobility transistor technology. This highly compact and integrated front-end device for radiometer systems is capable of ultra fast switching between two identical input ports (e.g. for polarimetric applications) and three internal calibration references. It allows an accurate multi-load calibration with noise temperatures between 220 and 1750 K at the output of the device. Compared to conventional calibration methods this marks a substantial advantage in terms of size, mass, power consumption, complexity, and repetition rate

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

W-band active loads and switching front-end MMICs for radiometer calibration

Weißbrodt

Schlechtweg

Ambacher

et al. 2013

Int. J. Microw. Wireless Technol.

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“…An integration time τ = 30 ms is supposed for the sensitivity. The higher sensitivity of direct detection scheme is related to the broader bandwidth and to a slightly lower noise figure [23,24]. Figure 12.…”

Section: Comparison Of Super-heterodyne and Direct Detection Radiometers In Dicke Operationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2021

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W-Band radiometers using intermediate frequency down-conversion (super-heterodyne) and direct detection are compared. Both receivers consist of two W-band low noise amplifiers and an 80-to-101 GHz filter, which conforms to the reception frequency band, in the front-end module. The back-end module of the first receiver comprises a subharmonic mixer, intermediate frequency (IF) amplification and a square-law detector. For direct detection, a W-Band detector replaces the mixer and the intermediate frequency detection stages. The performance of the whole receivers has been simulated requiring special techniques, based on data from the experimental characterization of each subsystem. In the super-heterodyne implementation a local oscillator at 27.1 GHz (with 8 dBm) with a x3 frequency multiplier is used, exhibiting an overall conversion gain around 48 dB, a noise figure around 4 dB, and an effective bandwidth over 10 GHz. In the direct detection scheme, slightly better noise performance is obtained, with a wider bandwidth, around 20 GHz, since there is no IF bandwidth limitation (~15 GHz), and even using the same 80-to-101 GHz filter, the detector can operate through the whole W-band. Moreover, W-band detector has higher sensitivity than the IF detector, increasing slightly the gain. In both cases, the receiver performance is characterized when a broadband noise input signal is applied. The radiometer characteristics have been obtained working as a total power radiometer and as a Dicke radiometer when an optical chopper is used to modulate the incoming signal. Combining this particular super-heterodyne or direct detection topologies and total power or Dicke modes of operation, four different cases are compared and discussed, achieving similar sensitivities, but better performances in terms of equivalent bandwidth and noise for the direct detection radiometer. It should be noted that this conclusion comes from a particular set of components, which we could consider as typical, but we cannot exclude other conclusions for different components, particularly for different mixers and detectors.

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“…Amplifiers based on indium phosphide (InP) high electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) technology operating at 850 GHz and amplifiers in InP double heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) technology operating at 670 GHz have been demonstrated [1], [2]. These circuits are interesting for future high data-rate wireless communication systems and high-resolution imaging sensors [3], [4]. In comparison with diode and optical technologies, monolithic integrated circuit (IC) technology can be cost efficient, offer mass manufacturability, and be compact with multifunctionality on single chips [3]- [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These circuits are interesting for future high data-rate wireless communication systems and high-resolution imaging sensors [3], [4]. In comparison with diode and optical technologies, monolithic integrated circuit (IC) technology can be cost efficient, offer mass manufacturability, and be compact with multifunctionality on single chips [3]- [5]. The InP DHBT technology has high yield and the ability to integrate hundreds of transistors onto a single chip, which is crucial for multifunctional circuits [6]- [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

InP DHBT Amplifier Modules Operating Between 150–300 GHz Using Membrane Technology

Eriksson

Sobis

Gunnarsson

et al. 2015

IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Techn.

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In this paper, we present WR05 (140-220 GHz) and WR03 (220-325 GHz) five-stage amplifier modules with novel membrane microstrip-to-waveguide transitions. The modules use a 250-nm InP double heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) technology and multilayer thin-film microstrip transmission lines. The waveguide transitions use -plane probes on 3-m-thin GaAs membrane substrate. Beam lead connectors integrated on the transition eliminate the need of highly reactive bond wires. In addition, process steps such as backside metallization, backside vias, and nonrectangular dicing of the integrated circuits (ICs) are not required. The WR05 amplifier module demonstrates a peak gain of 24 dB at 245 GHz and more than 10-dB gain from 155 to 270 GHz. The WR-03 module has 19-dB gain from 230 to 254 GHz with input and output return loss better than 10 dB from 225 to 330 GHz. The two modules were also characterized in terms of noise. The minimum noise figures were measured to 9.7 dB at 195 GHz and 10.8 dB at 240 GHz for the WR05 and WR03 modules, respectively. To the authors' best knowledge, these are the first published results on an InP DHBT amplifier modules operating at these high frequencies. It is also the first time that membrane technology is used for IC packaging, regardless of IC technology.Index Terms-Amplifier, double heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT), indium phosphide (InP), membrane, multilayer, waveguide packaging, waveguide transition, WR05, WR03.

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W-band radiometer system with switching front-end for multi-load calibration

Cited by 8 publications

References 10 publications

W-band active loads and switching front-end MMICs for radiometer calibration

W-band active loads and switching front-end MMICs for radiometer calibration

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

InP DHBT Amplifier Modules Operating Between 150–300 GHz Using Membrane Technology

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