Subharmonic Mixer Design

With

Ansoft Designer
Tony Donisi
Ansoft Road Show Autumn, 2002

Presentation #9

Circuit And Systems Designs Are Growing More Complex

Ansoft Designer Can be used to reduce design cost and Ansoft Designer Can be used to reduce design cost and speed time-to-market for even the most challenging speed time-to-market for even the most challenging RF/microwave designs. RF/microwave designs.

Unique Technology Unique Technology Solver on demand Solver on demand Cosimulation Cosimulation Visualization Tight Integration Visualization Tight Integration Advanced Capabilities Advanced Capabilities Circuit, Circuit, Transient Analysis Transient Analysis System System Load Pull Load Pull andPlanar EM Planar EM and 3D plotting 3D plotting Integrated 2D layout Integrated 2D layout Integrated 3D layout Integrated 3D layout

SVD FastSolve technology SVD FastSolve technology Thick 3D metal Thick 3D metal Edge Meshing Edge Meshing Triangular mesh Triangular mesh Variable thickness and r Variable thickness and r Advanced visualization Advanced visualization

Planar EM Planar EM

Linear Linear Harmonic balance Harmonic balance Transient Transient Load Pull Load Pull Modulation analysis Modulation analysis VCO Design and analysis VCO Design and analysis

Circuit Circuit

Ansoft Ansoft Designer Designer

Frequency domain and convolution engine Frequency domain and convolution engine BER BER Modulation Modulation

System System

Overview
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Introduction Theory Design Simulation Results Conclusion

Subharmonic mixers provide a Subharmonic mixers provide a design challenge due to: design challenge due to: Higher frequencies Higher frequencies Higher order mixer products Higher order mixer products Intricate geometries Intricate geometries Device modeling Device modeling

Subharmonic Mixer
Uses even harmonics of the Uses even harmonics of the LO for its conversion LO for its conversion products products For a standard mixer, the For a standard mixer, the product of interest is LO RF. product of interest is LO RF. For a subharmonic mixer, 2LO For a subharmonic mixer, 2LO RF is the desired signal. RF is the desired signal.
Power
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Advantages
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Low frequency LO Inherent 2LO rejection LO easily filtered Higher order spurs Higher conversion loss

Disadvantages
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nLO mRF
2LO - RF 2LO + RF

LO

Frequency RF LO 2LO

RF

Mixer Characteristics
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LO at 14GHz RF at 28.1GHz Output at 100mhz 5mil thick Alumina

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Flip-Chip surface mount antiparallel diode pair Spiral inductors for IF Low-Q on Alumina

Mixer Design
RF Matching LO Matching

Diode Characterization

Output Matching

Stubs and matching

LO Filter Design IF Filter Design

3D Planar Modeling of Vias, coupled lines, 3D Planar Modeling of Vias, coupled lines, and non-standard microstrip structures and non-standard microstrip structures

Subharmonic Mixer Diodes

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Subharmonic mixers us antiparallel diode pairs

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These mixers produce most of their power at odd products of the input signals Even products are rejected due to the I-V characteristics m + n odd

Attenuation of even harmonics is determined by diode balance

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Diode match is critical

Antiparallel diode pairs are manufactured by many companies

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Diodes come from the adjacent areas of the wafer so the characteristics match very well Ideal for MMICS SMT, Beamlead and flipchip versions Spice parameters available

Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

Diode I-V Characteristics

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Subarmonic mixers use antiparallel diodes, giving the I-V characteristics shown

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Subharmonic Mixer

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Harmonic Mixer Harmonic mixers use single diodes or FETs, having familiar I-V characteristics

Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

Designer Component With Netlist Equivalent

DIODES:@ID_a %0 %1 *RS(RS=@RS) *CJ0(CJ0=@CJ0) *VJ(VJ=@VJ) DIODES:@ID_a %0 %1 *RS(RS=@RS) *CJ0(CJ0=@CJ0) *VJ(VJ=@VJ) *TJ(TJ=@TJ) *TNOM(TNOM=@TNOM) *XTI(XTI=@XTI) *EG(EG=@EG) *M(M=@M) *TJ(TJ=@TJ) *TNOM(TNOM=@TNOM) *XTI(XTI=@XTI) *EG(EG=@EG) *M(M=@M) *AREA(AREA=@AREA) *T(T=@T) *IS(IS=@IS) *N(N=@N) *FC(FC=@FC) *AREA(AREA=@AREA) *T(T=@T) *IS(IS=@IS) *N(N=@N) *FC(FC=@FC) *BV(BV=@BV) *IBV(IBV=@IBV) *IMAX(IMAX=@IMAX) *GC1(GC1=@GC1) *BV(BV=@BV) *IBV(IBV=@IBV) *IMAX(IMAX=@IMAX) *GC1(GC1=@GC1) *GC2(GC2=@GC2) *GC3(GC3=@GC3) *MOD(MOD=@MOD) *GC2(GC2=@GC2) *GC3(GC3=@GC3) *MOD(MOD=@MOD) *NOISE(NOISE=@NOISE) *FCP(FCP=@FCP) *KF(KF=@KF) *AF(AF=@AF) *NOISE(NOISE=@NOISE) *FCP(FCP=@FCP) *KF(KF=@KF) *AF(AF=@AF) *SN(SN=@SN) *HARM(HARM=@HARM) *ISR(ISR=@ISR) *NR(NR=@NR) *SN(SN=@SN) *HARM(HARM=@HARM) *ISR(ISR=@ISR) *NR(NR=@NR) *NBV(NBV=@NBV) *NBVL(NBVL=@NBVL) *IBVL(IBVL=@IBVL) *IKF(IKF=@IKF) *NBV(NBV=@NBV) *NBVL(NBVL=@NBVL) *IBVL(IBVL=@IBVL) *IKF(IKF=@IKF) *TBV1(TBV1=@TBV1) *TBV2(TBV2=@TBV2) *TRS1(TRS1=@TRS1) *TBV1(TBV1=@TBV1) *TBV2(TBV2=@TBV2) *TRS1(TRS1=@TRS1) *TRS2(TRS2=@TRS2) *TIKF(TIKF=@TIKF) *VDT0(VDT0=@VDT0) *TRS2(TRS2=@TRS2) *TIKF(TIKF=@TIKF) *VDT0(VDT0=@VDT0)

Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

Diode Footprint

Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

Diode Schematic
Object: Used Designers advanced Object: Used Designers advanced visualization capabilities to gain greater visualization capabilities to gain greater insight into diode electrical performance insight into diode electrical performance

Frequency Input at 14GHz, 2f located at 28GHz

Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

Sweep Setups

Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

3D Parameter Plot

Variation with Variation with Junction Junction Capacitance and Capacitance and Series Resistance Series Resistance
Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

Amplitude of 2f Product Vs. Parameter Variation

Variation with Variation with Series Series Resistance Resistance Ideal Ideal Spectral Spectral Response Response

Variation with Variation with Junction Junction Capacitance Capacitance

Variation with Variation with Forward Forward Voltage Voltage

Diode Characterization Diode Characterization

Mixer Design: LO filter

LO Filter Design LO Filter Design

LO filter Real Time Tuning

LO Filter Design LO Filter Design

Mixer Design: LO filter Results

LO Filter Design LO Filter Design

Custom MCPL

This implementation This implementation will ease the will ease the transition from one transition from one coupler section to coupler section to the next. the next.
LO Filter Design LO Filter Design

Filter Co-Simulation Results

CoSimulation Results CoSimulation Results Circuit Results Circuit Results

LO Filter Design LO Filter Design

Other Solver on Demand Possible Topologies

Designer planar EM does Designer planar EM does not have the draw on grid not have the draw on grid restriction. Ensemble restriction. Ensemble meshes based on geometry meshes based on geometry you specify, not some preyou specify, not some predefined grid. defined grid. Tees Tees Tapers Tapers Y-Junctions Y-Junctions Any other topology! Any other topology!

Triangle based Triangle based meshing assures an meshing assures an accurate simulation. accurate simulation.
LO Filter Design LO Filter Design

Stub Analysis

14GHz Stub 14GHz Stub 42GHz Stub 42GHz Stub

Tuning Stubs Tuning Stubs

82.5mil Long, 3.3mil wide 82.5mil Long, 3.3mil wide 27.0mil Long, 2.9mil wide 27.0mil Long, 2.9mil wide

Shorted Stub
Designers Co-Simulation allows users to Designers Co-Simulation allows users to define their own custom 2D and 3D vias. define their own custom 2D and 3D vias. No restrictions on layers or geometry No restrictions on layers or geometry No more guesswork No more guesswork

Tuning Stubs Tuning Stubs

Low Pass Filter

IF Filter IF Filter

Assembling the circuit

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Stubs at key locations

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Reflect power back into diodes Proper phase Passed parameters Tuning (real time)

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SMT or chip capacitor Flip-Chip Diode LO filter geometry Grounded stub for DC return

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

Subharmonic Mixer Schematic & Layout

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

Subharmonic Mixer 3D Layout

This mixer can be This mixer can be directly inserted into directly inserted into another circuit, or even another circuit, or even a system level circuit, a system level circuit, to provide accurate to provide accurate system simulation. system simulation. Designers system tool Designers system tool automatically extracts automatically extracts the necessary the necessary parameters from this parameters from this circuit for use in the circuit for use in the system simulation system simulation

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

Output Power Vs LO Input Power

RF Power = -20dBm RF Power = -20dBm

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

Output Power Vs RF Input Power

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

Harmonic Output

Output Power Vs RF Frequency

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

IF Power Vs Frequency and Parameter W5t Variation

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

IF Power Vs W1 and L1 Variation 2 Dimensional Plot

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

IF Power Vs W1 and L1 Variation 3 Dimensional Plot

Subharmonic Mixer Subharmonic Mixer

Conclusion
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Subharmonic mixer design illustrated Designers advantages

More accurate simulations w No restrictions on geometric models w Higher frequencies w Higher order mixer products w Intricate geometries Designers Designers w Device modeling flexibility as a flexibility as a Solver on demand completely completely Cosimulation integrated circuit, integrated circuit, Visualization system and planar system and planar tool has been tool has been demonstrated. demonstrated.
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