Novel Architecture and MMIC's for an Integrated Front-End of a Spectrum Analyzer

摘要

This paper proposes a novel architecture and MMICs for an integrated 2-32 GHz front-end of a spectrum analyzer. The architecture achieves miniaturization by eliminating the large YIG tracking filter and also achieves multi-octave measurement with less than one octave sweep of the first local oscillator. The MMIC's demonstrate ultra-wideband performances with reduced chip sizes by utilizing newly developed FET cells for power combination, multi-order frequency conversion, low leakage variable resistance, and active impedance translation. The MMIC's are a fundamental/harmonic frequency converter, a variable attenuator, a single-pole triple-throw switch, a single-pole double-throw switch, a distributed pre-amplifier, and an active LC lowpass filter. All the MMIC's are smaller than 1 mm~2, except the pre-amplifier and the filter.