Balun

About: Balun is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5375 publications have been published within this topic receiving 52256 citations. The topic is also known as: Telephone balance unit.

Low Noise 24 GHz CMOS Receiver for FMCW Based Wireless Local Positioning

Abstract: This work demonstrates a fully integrated 24 GHz CMOS receiver targeted for low power and compact wireless sensor nodes utilizing FMCW radar for wireless local positioning. The receiver incorporates a highly integrated low noise amplifier, passive mixer and on-chip transformer balun for single-to-differential conversion of LO. The receiver chip has been realized in a 130 nm CMOS technology. At 24 GHz RF the measured receiver performance includes a power conversion gain of 16.5 dB, a noise figure of 5.3 dB, an input power at 1 dB compression point of -26 dBm and an IIP3 of -15 dBm. The complete receiver chip consumes 18 mW from a 1.2 V power supply with 13 mW for the LNA and 5 mW for the output IF buffer. The chip area is 0.7 mm2. The realized receiver compares the best 24 GHz CMOS receiver realizations published so far.

Wide-Bandwidth Power-Combining and Inverse Class-F GaN Power Amplifier at X-Band

Abstract: In this paper, we present a wide bandwidth power amplifier (PA) utilizing a Marchand balun to achieve power combining and inverse class-F (class-F-1) matching. We have used a 4-to-1 balun and its out-of-band characteristics to achieve matching at the second and third harmonic for differential class-F-1 operation. Thus, the balun simultaneously acts as a combiner and harmonic matching network. The experimental results demonstrate that the prototype PA achieves an output power of 41.5 dBm at the 1-dB compression point (P1 dB), power-added efficiency of 55%, and gain of 10 dB over a fractional bandwidth of 40% from 8 to 12 GHz. Due to the differential operation, the class-F-1 PA has also achieved a measured second harmonic distortion of -50 dBc.

A compact LTCC bluetooth system module with an integrated antenna

Abstract: In this article, a system-on-package (SoP) approach for Bluetooth system module applications using low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology is presented. The developed LTCC integrated substrate for our Bluetooth module application is overall 12 × 12 × 1 mm3 in size, with integration of two originally proposed components, a balanced-to-unbalanced bandpass filter and a folded meander-line inverted-F antenna, as well as other passive circuitries. The embedded balanced-to-unbalanced filter, which is derived from the basic center-tapped transformer circuit, works simultaneously as a balun and a bandpass filter, thus leading to a significant amount of size reduction for the overall module. Likewise, comparing to the usual quarter-wavelength inverted-F antennas, our proposed antenna is only one-tenth of a wavelength in length—but no sacrificing of antenna efficiency. Consequently, couplings among different functional blocks of this highly integrated module are crucial to its performance and the resulting effects are discussed. A fully functional prototype is successfully fabricated and tested, demonstrating a promising solution for Bluetooth applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2006.

Dual-band balun with flexible frequency ratios

Abstract: A novel dual-band balun is presented. The designed 3-port balun is based on a 4-port structure with the fourth port terminated as an open end. Being a 4-port symmetrical network, even–odd-mode analysis is used to analyse the balun's performance. Based on the derived explicit design equations, a balun is designed to operate at 1.1 and 2 GHz. Numerical simulations show a low reflection coefficient S 11, equal magnitude of −3 dB as well as 180° phase difference at the output ports. To validate the theoretical and numerical simulations, the proposed balun is fabricated on the FR4 Isola printed circuit board and measurement results match well with the design theory.

Method and System for Configurable Differential or Single-Ended Signaling in an Integrated Circuit

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for configurable differential or single-ended signaling in an integrated circuit. In this regard, a balun comprising one or more loops fabricated in a plurality of metal layers in an integrated circuit may enable conversion between unbalanced and balanced signals. In this regard, balanced signal output by a power amplifier may be converted to a balanced signal for transmission via an antenna. Similarly, an unbalanced signal received by an antenna may be converted to a balanced signal for amplification by an amplifier with a balanced input. The loops may be fabricated in transmission line media such as microstrip and/or stripline. The loops may comprise ferromagnetic material which may be deposited on and/or within the IC. Signals converted via the balun may be in the 61 GHz-61.5 GHz ISM band.