High Performance 200GHz Differential Power Amplifier for Short Range Imaging Applications

A. D. Usman, Abdulmalik Shehu Yaro, Habeeb Bello, Athanisius Terlumun Utev

Abstract


The sub-terahertz (Sub-THz) frequency range offers interesting possibilities for short range high data-rate wireless communication systems as well as high-resolution imaging and sensing of objects than lower frequency radio waves. This is due to its shorter wavelength having a range of 10mm to 0.33mm. Another notable aspect is that, sub-THz cameras are used in Body Area Networks (BANs) for vital organs monitoring, medical imaging for surgery, early detection of viruses, tumors, as well as for security screening and so on. However, one major challenge of sub-THz systems is low output power which results in poor image resolution. Readings from poor images can constraint efficient surgery and early diagnoses of ailments, which can lead to a plethora of challenges, one of which is the loss of patients’ lives. To mitigate these problems, high powered sub-THz power amplifiers (PAs) are required. On this premise, this paper presents a differential power amplifier (PA) design with 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS technology. Simulated results showed that the stability measure at 200GHz showed a stability facor of, which makes it unconditionally stable. Additionally, the S-parameter showed a maximum signal gain of 27 dB. The gain in the forward direction at  falls within the frequency range of 115-211GHz with a gain of about 18dB at 200GHz.  Furthermore, the PA achieves 12.5dBm of saturated output power with 27dB peak gain and a peak PAE of 7.1%. Finally, the PA delivers more than 10 dBm of  from 150–205 GHz with PAE more than 4%. The high output power of the PA makes it a candidate to be used in power combiner circuits to obtain large power in the G-band.

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References


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