A 290–359 GHz Push-Push Signal Source with 1.7 dBm Pmax using Variable Inductance in SiGe BiCMOS Technology

This paper presents a fully integrated, continuously tunable 290–359 GHz high output power signal source achieving 1.7dBm peak output power (P <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">max</inf> ) at 320 GHz. A continuous frequency tuning range of 69 GHz (21.3 %) is achieved by tuning both, the capacitance and effective inductance of a push-push Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) at around 160 GHz and subsequent frequency multiplication by a factor of 2. A phase noise of −74 dBc/Hz/−98 dBc/Hz at 1MHz/10MHz offset from the carrier, as well as a power variation below 5.6 dB is achieved. The prototype is fabricated using an advanced 90nm SiGe BiCMOS technology with target f <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">t</inf> /f <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">max</inf> of 300GHz/500GHz and consumes around 457mW. This corresponds to a DC-to-RF efficiency of 0.33% and FoM <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">T</inf> of −170 dBc/Hz, which is very competitive among fully integrated signal sources, considering the high output power and tuning range.