Wideband MMIC receiver modules for imaging array applications

Lawrence Y. Chu; Eugene Fischer; Scott W. Duncan; Norman E. Byer; Sander Weinreb

doi:10.1117/12.319404

21 August 1998 Wideband MMIC receiver modules for imaging array applications

Lawrence Y. Chu, Eugene Fischer, Scott W. Duncan, Norman E. Byer, Sander Weinreb

Proceedings Volume 3378, Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology II; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319404
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls, 1998, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Recent advances in monolithic semiconductor technology at W- band (75 to 110 GHz) have enabled implementation of compact radiometer front-ends for imaging applications. This paper describes a downconversion approach using Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave/millimeter-wave integrated circuits (MMIC) to build modules for a 32-element receiver array. The MMIC downconverter module contains low noise amplifiers (LNA), microstrip bandpass filter, Schottky diode mixer and IF amplifiers. In conjunction with the local oscillator (LO), each downconverter serves as a superheterodyne receiver channel in the imaging array. The W- band array has 32 downconverter modules and 8 LO distribution modules which distribute LO power from a Gunn diode oscillator to each downconverter. The LO distribution module incorporates varactor phase shifters with LO drive amplifiers for phase adjustments of plus or minus 180 degrees to match the phase output from each receiver channel. The downconverter modules of the 32-element array demonstrated greater than 40 dB RF-to- IF gain and an average noise figure of 5.7 dB over a 10 GHz bandwidth centered at 94 GHz. Uniformity of the MMIC devices allows gain tracking within plus or minus 2.5 dB and phase tracking within plus or minus 18 degrees between the 32 receive channels. For Dicke radiometer operation, a PIN diode switch MMIC has been inserted in front of LNA in the downconverter module. Noise figure and gain results for the PIN switch front-end will be presented.

Citation Download Citation

Lawrence Y. Chu, Eugene Fischer, Scott W. Duncan, Norman E. Byer, and Sander Weinreb "Wideband MMIC receiver modules for imaging array applications", Proc. SPIE 3378, Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology II, (21 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319404

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