A Current Tuned Integrated Magnetic Film Monolithic Mixer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a current-tuned integrated magnetic film single-chip mixer based on a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) manufacturing process; the bandwidth and frequency conversion loss of the mixer are tuned by direct current. It is characterized in that the LO (local oscillator) signal and RF (radio frequency) signal of the mixer are respectively input to four ring-shaped diodes through a ferromagnetic helical transformer Balun (balance-unbalance converter) that can apply current Among them, the Balun is implemented by inserting a layer of ferromagnetic film and a layer of insulating medium under the traditional metal spiral transformer Balun; the bandwidth and conversion loss of the mixer can be tuned by the current, and the bandwidth of the mixer is Widening, reducing frequency conversion loss. It has the advantages of (1) tunable mixer bandwidth; (2) tunable frequency conversion loss of the mixer; (3) the manufacturing process is compatible with GaAs (gallium arsenide), GaN (gallium nitride) conventional RF / MMIC manufacturing processes, etc. .

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a circuit in the field of microelectronics technology and a manufacturing method thereof, specifically a current-tuned integrated magnetic film monolithic mixer based on a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) manufacturing process; The bandwidth and conversion loss of the mixer are tuned by direct current. Background technique [0002] A mixer is a device that implements two frequencies (or their harmonics) and or difference operations. It is a key component in almost all RF and microwave communication receivers, transmitters and signal generators. Its main function is to convert signals from one Frequency conversion to another frequency makes the work of other functional circuits such as signal amplification, filtering, detection and transmission more efficient. [0003] The circuit principle of the traditional double-balanced mixer is as follows: figure 1 As shown, a ring structure is formed by four identi...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] Traditional double-balanced mixers generally use Marchand or Lange coupled lines to achieve balanced-unbalanced conversion, but in the lower application frequency band (<10GHz), the area of ​​the balun of these two structures increases rapidly as the frequency decreases, and does not Facilitates full monolithic integration

The metal spiral transformer-type balun developed by the researchers attempted to solve this problem (Y.J.Yoon, Y.Lu, R.C.Frye, and P.R.Smith, "Modeling of monolithic RF spiral transmission-line balun," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., vol .49, no.2, pp.393–395, Feb.2001.), but in the lower application frequency band (<2GHz), the Balun of this structure also occupies a large amount of chip area, making the full monolithic dual The area of ​​the balanced mixer is too large, the yield is reduced, and the cost is increased

At the same time, the bandwidth and conversion loss of the mixers with the above structures cannot be changed during use.

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