Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques in 2001"

Three-dimensional millimeter-wave imaging for concealed weapon detection

Abstract: Millimeter-wave imaging techniques and systems have been developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, for the detection of concealed weapons and contraband at airports and other secure locations. These techniques were derived from microwave holography techniques that utilize phase and amplitude information recorded over a two-dimensional aperture to reconstruct a focused image of the target. Millimeter-wave imaging is well suited for the detection of concealed weapons or other contraband carried on personnel since millimeter-waves are nonionizing, readily penetrate common clothing material, and are reflected from the human body and any concealed items. In this paper, a wide-bandwidth three-dimensional holographic microwave imaging technique is described. Practical weapon detection systems for airport or other high-throughput applications require high-speed scanning on the order of 3 to 10 s. To achieve this goal, a prototype imaging system utilizing a 27-33 GHz linear sequentially switched array and a high-speed linear scanner has been developed and tested. This system is described in detail along with numerous imaging results.

A design of the low-pass filter using the novel microstrip defected ground structure

Abstract: A new defected ground structure (DGS) for the microstrip line is proposed in this paper. The proposed DGS unit structure can provide the bandgap characteristic in some frequency bands with only one or more unit lattices. The equivalent circuit for the proposed defected ground unit structure is derived by means of three-dimensional field analysis methods. The equivalent-circuit parameters are extracted by using a simple circuit analysis method. By employing the extracted parameters and circuit analysis theory, the bandgap effect for the provided defected ground unit structure can be explained. By using the derived and extracted equivalent circuit and parameters, the low-pass filters are designed and implemented. The experimental results show excellent agreement with theoretical results and the validity of the modeling method for the proposed defected ground unit structure.

Measurement technique for characterizing memory effects in RF power amplifiers

Abstract: Memory effects are defined as changes in the amplitude and phase of distortion components caused by changes in modulation frequency. These are particularly important in cancelling linearizer systems, e.g., when distortion is reduced by similar distortion in the opposite phase. This paper begins by describing electrical and electrothermal causes for memory effects. A three-tone test setup is then constructed to measure the phase of third-order intermodulation distortion products. This paper also presents the measured results for a bipolar junction transistor and a MESFET amplifier.

Acoustic wave technology sensors

Abstract: A brief overview of acoustic wave sensor physics, materials, sensor types, and applications is presented in this paper. Emphasis is placed on the different types of acoustic wave sensors, their respective advantages, and their specific applications in industry.

Optically sampled analog-to-digital converters

Abstract: Optically sampled analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) combine optical sampling with electronic quantization to enhance the performance of electronic ADCs. In this paper, we review the prior and current work in this field, and then describe our efforts to develop and extend the bandwidth of a linearized sampling technique referred to as phase-encoded optical sampling. The technique uses a dual-output electrooptic sampling transducer to achieve both high linearity and 60-dB suppression of laser amplitude noise. The bandwidth of the technique is extended by optically distributing the post-sampling pulses to an array of time-interleaved electronic quantizers. We report on the performance of a 505-MS/s (megasample per second) optically sampled ADC that includes high-extinction LiNbO/sub 3/ 1-to-8 optical time-division demultiplexers. Initial characterization of the 505-MS/s system reveals a maximum signal-to-noise ratio of 51 dB (8.2 bits) and a spur-free dynamic range of 61 dB. The performance of the present system is limited by electronic quantizer noise, photodiode saturation, and preliminary calibration procedures. None of these fundamentally limit this sampling approach, which should enable multigigahertz converters with 12-b resolution. A signal-to-noise analysis of the phase-encoded sampling technique shows good agreement with measured data from the 505-MS/s system.

Class-E, Class-C, and Class-F power amplifiers based upon a finite number of harmonics

Abstract: Class-E operation at UHF and microwave frequencies is achieved by using transmission-line networks to provide the drain harmonic impedances of an ideal class-E power amplifier (PA). This paper develops a technique for analysis of such amplifiers that are based upon a finite number of harmonics. The technique is generally applicable to classes E, C, and F as well as PAs with harmonic reactances not corresponding to those of established classes. The analysis shows that the maximum achievable efficiency depends not upon the class of operation, but upon the number of harmonics employed. For any set of harmonic reactances, the same maximum efficiency can be achieved by proper adjustment of the waveforms and the fundamental-frequency load reactance. The power-output capability depends upon the harmonic reactances and is maximum for class F.

Analysis of current crowding effects in multiturn spiral inductors

Abstract: The effective trace resistance of a multiturn spiral inductor operating at high frequencies is known to increase dramatically above its dc value, due to proximity effect or current crowding. This phenomenon, which dominates resistance increases due to skin effect, is difficult to analyze precisely and has generally required electromagnetic simulation for quantitative assessment. Current crowding is studied in this paper through approximate analytical modeling, and first-order expressions are derived for predicting resistance as a function of frequency. The results are validated through comparisons with electromagnetic simulations and compared with measured data taken from a spiral inductor implemented in a silicon-on-sapphire process.

An extended Doherty amplifier with high efficiency over a wide power range

Abstract: An extension of the Doherty amplifier, which maintains high efficiency over a wide range of output power (>6 dB), is presented in this paper. This extended Doherty amplifier is demonstrated experimentally with InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors at 950 MHz. Power-added efficiency (PAE) of 46% is measured at P/sub 1dB/ of 27.5 dBm and 45% is measured at 9 dB backed off from P/sub 1dB/. Additionally, PAE of at least 39% is maintained for over an output power range of 12 dB backed off from P/sub 1dB/. This is an improvement over the classical Doherty amplifier, where high efficiency is typically obtained up to 5-6 dB backed off from P/sub 1dB/. Compared to a single transistor class-B amplifier with similar gain and P/sub 1dB/, the extended Doherty amplifier has PAE 2.6 /spl times/ higher at 10 dB back off and 3 /spl times/ higher at 20 dB back off from P/sub 1dB/. Under different bias and output matching conditions, the amplifier was also evaluated with CDMA signals. At the highest measured power of 25 dBm, the extended Doherty amplifier achieves a PAE of 45% with an adjacent channel power ratio of -42 dBc. Generalized design equations are also derived and the consequences of finite device output impedance on amplifier gain and linearity are explored.

Low-loss RF transport over long distances

Abstract: Electromagnetic RF energy can be transported over a kilometer or more using antennas, but the efficiency is low unless the injecting and receiving antennas are extremely large. Other means of transporting RF energy such as waveguides and coaxial lines are cumbersome, heavy, costly, and suffer large attenuation. This paper offers a different system for long-distance RF transportation. The key is to use nonradiating electromagnetic surface waves that propagate along thin metallic strips. This means of moving RF energy between two points is simple, inexpensive, lightweight, and has low attenuation. For example, the attenuation is less than 2 dB/km for an Al foil 6-cm wide and 0.002-cm thick. Thus, efficient guidance of surface waves over distances of many kilometers requires neither large antennas, waveguides, nor coaxial lines. Moreover, electric interference with the surroundings is minimized due to the large reduction in the radial extension of the electric field, and the conversion of the radiating electromagnetic waves to surface waves and back is efficient (up to 90%).

New microstrip "Wiggly-Line" filters with spurious passband suppression

Abstract: In this paper, we present a new parallel-coupled-line microstrip bandpass filter with suppressed spurious passband. Using a continuous perturbation of the width of the coupled lines following a sinusoidal law, the wave impedance is modulated so that the harmonic passband of the filter is rejected while the desired passband response is maintained virtually unaltered. This strip-width perturbation does not require the filter parameters to be recalculated and, this way, the classical design methodology for coupled-line microstrip filters can still be used. At the same time, the fabrication of the resulting filter layout does not involve more difficulties than those for typical coupled-line microstrip filters. To test this novel technique, 3rd-order Butterworth bandpass filters have been designed at 2.5 GHz, with a 10% fractional bandwidth and different values of the perturbation amplitude. It is shown that for a 47.5 % sinusoidal variation of the nominal strip width, a harmonic rejection of more than 40 dB is achieved in measurement while the passband at 2.5 GHz is almost unaltered.

Maximum efficiency and output of class-F power amplifiers

Abstract: A class-F power amplifier (PA) improves efficiency and power-output capability (over that of class A) by using selected harmonics to shape its drain-voltage and drain-current waveforms. Typically, one waveform (e.g., voltage) approximates a square wave, while the other (e.g., current) approximates a half sine wave. The output power and efficiency of an ideal class-F PA can be related to the Fourier coefficients of the waveforms, and Fourier coefficients for maximally flat waveforms have been determined. This paper extends that theory by determining the coefficients for the maximum power and efficiency possible in a class-F PA with a given set of controlled harmonics.

Numerical dispersion analysis of the unconditionally stable 3-D ADI-FDTD method

Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of numerical dispersion of the recently developed unconditionally stable three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method where the alternating-direction-implicit technique is applied. The dispersion relation is derived analytically and the effects of spatial and temporal steps on the numerical dispersion are investigated. It is found that the unconditionally stable FDTD scheme has advantages over the conventional FDTD of the Yee's scheme in modeling structures of fine geometry where a graded mesh is required. The unconditionally stable FDTD allows the use of a large time step in a region of fine meshes while maintaining numerical dispersion errors smaller than those associated with the region of coarse meshes.

Design and characterization of single- and multiple-beam mm-wave circularly polarized substrate lens antennas for wireless communications

Abstract: Single- and multiple-beam circularly polarized ellipsoidal substrate lenses suitable for millimeter-wave wireless communications have been designed, implemented, and experimentally characterized at 30 GHz. The lenses are made out of low-cost low-permittivity Rexolite material. The single-beam lens achieves a directivity of 25.9 dB, a front-to-back ratio of 30 dB, and an axial ratio of 0.5 dB is maintained within the main lobe. The measured impedance bandwidth is 12.5% within a SWR/spl les/1.8:1. The single-beam antenna is well suited for broad-band wireless point-to-point links. On the other hand, the multiple-beam lens launches 31 beams with a minimum 3-dB overlapping level among adjacent beams. The coverage of the lens antenna system has been optimized through the utilization of a hexagonal patch arrangement leading to a scan coverage of 45.4/spl deg/ with a maximum loss in directivity of 1.8 dB due to multiple reflections. The multiple-beam lens antenna is suitable for indoor point-to-multipoint wireless communications such as a broad-band local area network or as a switched beam smart antenna. During the proposed design process, some fundamental issues pertaining to substrate lens antennas are discussed and clarified. This includes the depolarization properties of the lenses, the effect of multiple internal reflections on the far-field patterns and the directivity, the nature of the far-field patterns, the estimation of the lens system F/B ratio, and the off-axis characteristics of ellipsoidal lenses.

Dual-mode stepped-impedance ring resonator for bandpass filter applications

Abstract: It is well known that two orthogonal resonant modes exist within a one-wavelength ring resonator. In this paper, we focus on a ring resonator possessing an impedance step as a form of perturbation. A convenient analyzing method for obtaining the resonance characteristics of this resonator structure is presented. Furthermore, generation of attenuation poles obtained by the dual-mode ring resonator is discussed. In addition, a filter design method based on this resonator is explained, followed by experimental results, which prove the validity of the proposed design method.

Analysis and design of impedance-transforming planar Marchand baluns

Abstract: A technique for designing impedance-transforming baluns is presented in this paper. It is based on the Marchand balun with two identical coupled lines. By varying the coupling factor of the coupled sections, a wide range of impedance transforming ratios can be achieved. In addition, a resistive network added between the balun outputs is proposed to achieve balun output matching and isolation. Microstrip baluns, matched at all ports, for transforming from a 50-/spl Omega/ source impedance to 40-/spl Omega/ as well as 160-/spl Omega/ load terminations are realized to demonstrate the technique.

A high-impedance ground plane applied to a cellphone handset geometry

Abstract: A high-impedance electromagnetic surface is a new type of metallic structure exhibiting high surface impedance and the suppression of propagating surface currents at a particular frequency band. We experimentally characterize such a high-impedance surface designed near 2.4 GHz. We describe an antenna built on such a surface, integrated into a printed circuit board that was designed for the form factor of a portable handset. Measurement shows high radiation efficiency near 2.4 GHz.

Do we really need ferroelectrics in paraelectric phase only in electrically controlled microwave devices

Abstract: Typical paraelectric materials (e.g., SrTiO/sub 3/, KTaO/sub 3/, Ba/sub x/Sr/sub 1-x/TiO/sub 3/, x 10 GHz) is of the order of 0.01 (at zero dc-bias field) at room temperature. Nevertheless, quite promising component and subsystem level devices are successfully demonstrated. Use of ceramic (bulk and thick film) ferroelectrics in tunable microwave devices, currently considered for industrial applications, offer cost reduction. In this paper, explicitly for the first time, we consider possibilities and benefits of using ferroelectrics in polar phase in electrically controllable microwave devices. Examples of using ferroelectrics in polar state (e.g., Na/sub 0.5/K/sub 0.5/NbO/sub 3/, SrTiO/sub 3/ in antiferroelectric phase) in electrically tunable devices are reported.

Accurate modeling of dual dipole and slot elements used with photomixers for coherent terahertz output power

Abstract: Accurate circuit models derived from electromagnetic simulations have been used to fabricate photomixer sources with optimized high-impedance antennas. Output powers on the order of 1 /spl mu/W were measured for various designs spanning 0.6-2.7 THz. The improvement in output power ranged from 3 to 10 dB over more conventionally designed photomixers using broad-band log-spiral antennas. Measured data on single dipoles, twin dipoles, and twin slots are in good agreement with the characteristics predicted by the design simulations.

A compact manufacturable 76-77-GHz radar module for commercial ACC applications

Abstract: The design and measured results of a single-substrate transceiver module suitable for 76-77-GHz pulsed-Doppler radar applications are presented. Emphasis on ease of manufacture and cost reduction of commercial millimeter-wave systems is employed throughout as a design parameter. The importance of using predictive modeling techniques in understanding the robustness of the circuit design is stressed. Manufacturing techniques that conform to standard high-volume assembly constraints have been used. The packaged transceiver module, including three waveguide ports and intermediate-frequency output, measures 20 mm/spl times/22 mm/spl times/8 mm. The circuit is implemented using discrete GaAs/AlGaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors (pHEMTs), GaAs Schottky diodes, and varactor diodes, as well as GaAs p-i-n and pHEMT monolithic microwave integrated circuits mounted on a low-cost 127-/spl mu/m-thick glass substrate. A novel microstrip-to-waveguide transition is described to transform the planar microstrip signal into the waveguide launch. The module is integrated with a quasi-optical antenna. The measured performance of both the component parts and the complete radar transceiver module is described.

A new direct millimeter-wave six-port receiver

Abstract: A new direct-conversion wide-band (23-31 GHz) six-port receiver is proposed suitable for millimeter-wave integrated system design. This new hardware receiver is found to be robust, rugged, low cost, and suitable for use in broad-band wireless mass-market QPSK communications. The prototype circuits are fabricated to validate this new concept with our miniaturized hybrid microwave integrated-circuit technology and the proposed receiver topology is also suitable for monolithic-microwave integrated-circuit fabrication. This application-specific integrated receiver is designed on the basis of a wide-band six-port junction and other analogical circuits in the form of a simple multichip module. Bit-error-rate measurements and simulation results are shown and discussed in the presence of noise, adjacent signal interference, local-oscillator (LO) phase shift, and LO phase noise. The maximum bit rate is fundamentally limited by the speed of the video and decoder circuits. Nevertheless, several hundred megabits per second can be achieved at low cost.

High-Q LTCC-based passive library for wireless system-on-package (SOP) module development

Abstract: In this paper, we present the development and full characterization and modeling of a multilayer ceramic-based system-on-package component library. Compact high-Q three-dimensional inductor and capacitor topologies have been chosen and incorporated. A measured inductor Q factor as high as 100 and self-resonant frequency as high as 8 GHz have been demonstrated. The new vertically interdigitated capacitor topology occupies nearly an order of magnitude less of real estate while demonstrating comparable performance to the conventional topology. The low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) library has been incorporated into a 1.9-GHz CMOS power-amplifier design exhibiting a measured 17-dB gain, 26-dBm output power, and 48% power added efficiency. This power-amplifier module with fully integrated LTCC passives demonstrates a superior performance to those with full and partial on-chip passive integration.

Current-mode class-D power amplifiers for high-efficiency RF applications

Abstract: We show that current-mode class-D (CMCD) power amplifiers can achieve high efficiency at RF frequencies. In contrast with conventional voltage-mode class-D amplifiers, the CMCD features "zero voltage switching," which eliminates the output capacitance discharge loss. Experimental CMCD amplifiers with 76.3% power-added efficiency (PAE) at 290-mW output and 71.3% PAE at 870-mW output are demonstrated using GaAs FETs at 900 MHz.

A new family of all-inductive dual-mode filters

Abstract: In this paper, we describe a new family of dual-mode filters that is based on the use of simple inductive discontinuities in a rectangular waveguide environment. The proposed filter structure can be analyzed and optimized very efficiently using multimode equivalent network representations, thus leading to a simple and rapid development procedure. In addition to theory, the measured performance of a number of filter structures is also presented, thereby fully validating the proposed filter concept.

Uniplanar one-dimensional photonic-bandgap structures and resonators

Abstract: This paper presents uniplanar one-dimensional (1-D) periodical structures, so-called photonic-bandgap (PBG) structures, and defect high-Q resonators for coplanar waveguide, coplanar strip line, and slot line. Proposed uniplanar PBG structures consist of 1-D periodically etched slots along a transmission line or alternating characteristic impedance series with wide band-stop filter characteristics. A stop bandwidth obtained is 2.8 GHz with a stopband rejection of 36.5 dB. This PBG performance can be easily improved if the number of cells or the filling factor is modified in a parametric analysis. Using uniplanar 1-D PBG structures, we demonstrate new high-Q defect resonators with full-wave simulation and measured results. These structures based on defect cavity or Fabry-Perot resonators consist of a center resonant line with two sides of PBG reflectors. They achieve a loaded Q of 247.3 and unloaded Q of 299.1. The proposed circuits should have many applications in monolithic and hybrid microwave integrated circuits.

A robust algorithm for automatic development of neural-network models for microwave applications

Abstract: For the first time, we propose a robust algorithm for automating the neural-network-based RF/microwave model development process. Starting with zero amount of training data and then proceeding with neural-network training in a stage-wise manner, the algorithm can automatically produce a neural model that meets the user-desired accuracy. In each stage, the algorithm utilizes neural-network error criteria to determine additional training/validation samples required and their location in model input space. The algorithm dynamically generates these new data samples during training, by automatic driving of simulation tools (e.g., OSA90, Ansoft-HFSS, Agilent-ADS). Initially, fewer hidden neurons are used, and the algorithm adjusts the neural-network size whenever it detects under-learning. Our technique integrates all the subtasks involved in neural modeling, thereby facilitating a more efficient and automated model development framework. It significantly reduces the intensive human effort demanded by the conventional step-by-step neural modeling approach. The algorithm inherently distinguishes nonlinear and smooth regions of model behavior and uses relatively fewer samples in smooth subregions. It automatically deals with large data errors that can occur during dynamic sampling by using a Huber quasi-Newton technique. The algorithm is demonstrated through practical microwave device and circuit examples.

Thin-film bulk acoustic resonators and filters using ZnO and lead-zirconium-titanate thin films

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of a design, modeling, and fabrication study of ZnO and PbZr/sub 03/Ti/sub 07/O/sub 3/ thin-film bulk acoustic resonators and filters Measurements of the high-frequency responses of ZnO resonators having different area are used to develop an acoustic model that accurately represents resonator impedance data The models are also used to interpret S-parameter measurements on thin-film PbZr/sub 03/Ti/sub 07/O/sub 3/-based resonators and a value for the effective coupling coefficient deduced ZnO and PbZr/sub 03/Ti/sub 07/O/sub 3/ ladder filters were designed based on measured impedance data from single resonators Ladder filters based on PbZr/sub 03/Ti/sub 07/O/sub 3/ have been fabricated for the first time It is shown that the high coupling coefficient in PbZr/sub 03/Ti/sub 07/O/sub 3/ leads to bandwidths in the range 100/spl sim/120 MHz at a center frequency of 16 GHz, larger than the bandwidths of ZnO-based filters

Characterization of a coherent optical RF channelizer based on a diffraction grating

Abstract: A coherent optical RF channelizer has been constructed and characterized. The optical channelizer is based on a free-space optical diffraction grating, and utilizes coherent optical heterodyne detection to translate all of the frequency channels to a common intermediate frequency (IF). The designed optical channelizer has a 1-GHz channel spacing, and a nominal 5-GHz IF and can offer an instantaneous bandwidth greater than 100 GHz. The channelizing receiver has been characterized for its frequency response, crosstalk, and spur-free dynamic range, and the results are in a good agreement with the theoretical values.

Analysis of eddy-current losses over conductive substrates with applications to monolithic inductors and transformers

Abstract: In this paper, a closed-form integral representation for the eddy-current losses over a conductive substrate is presented. The results are applicable to monolithic inductors and transformers, especially when such structures are realized over an epitaxial CMOS substrate. The technique is verified against measured results from 100 MHz to 14 GHz for spiral inductors.

Theory and measurements of flip-chip interconnects for frequencies up to 100 GHz

Abstract: A detailed investigation of flip-chip interconnects up to W-band frequencies is presented in this paper. In a coplanar 50-/spl Omega/ environment, different test structures were fabricated and measured to determine the electromagnetic characteristics of flip-chip multichip modules, such as detuning, reflection at the interconnect, and parasitic coupling. Electromagnetic simulation is used to explain the details behind the measured results. Key to high return loss at the interconnect is a small bump-pad area. Applying simple compensation structures, the frequency range of operation can be further extended. It is shown that a return loss beyond 20 dB in the frequency range up to 80 GHz is achievable along with excellent reproducibility. Measurements on detuning and isolation are also presented.

A photonic bandgap (PBG) structure for guiding and suppressing surface waves in millimeter-wave antennas

Abstract: Periodic and regular metal posts, a photonic bandgap (PBG) structure for guiding surface waves in a parallel-plate waveguide is proposed. The isotropic PBG structure is applied to the design of an asymmetric parallel-plate waveguide Luneburg lens (APWLL). The relation between the dimensions of the metal posts and the required refraction index in the lens is derived with transmission-line theory and the transverse resonance method. Different lattices for the entire lens are also investigated. For verification, an antenna for a 76.5 GHz adaptive-cruise control radar is fabricated, consisting of an APWLL, a primary feed, and symmetric corrugated flares to improve the property of the antenna in elevation. Measured results verify the PBG structure design in the APWLL.