Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter FINAL SUMMARY REPORT

Transcription

1 Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter FINAL SUMMARY REPORT RF 94GHz LO 41.GHz IF 11GHz CONTRIBUTORS: Prime Contractor: Electronics Ltd., Teollisuustie 9A, FIN-27, FINLAND Subcontractors: QinetiQ Malvern, St Andrews Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, England, WR14 PS The Millimetre Wave Laboratory of FINLAND MilliLab, Otakaari 7 B, Otaniemi, Espoo,Finland

2 Document No: CLRad-YLIN-FRE-29-2 Date: 1 January, 22 Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter FINAL SUMMARY REPORT Electronics Ltd The copyright of this document and all information therein is vested in and the sole property of Electronics Ltd (). Excluding any specific release conditions stated below, no part or whole of this document may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of Electronics Ltd. Specific Release Conditions: This Final Summary Report, of the development activities performed under the title of "Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter" has been prepared on behalf of the European Space Agency and may only be used, copied or circulated under the arrangements of contract number 1/98/NL/NB. It may not be used or copied, in whole or part for any other Governmental, non-governmental or commercial purpose without the written agreement of Electronics Ltd. Prepared by: P.Kangaslahti; Electronics Ltd Approved by: J.Harju; Electronics Ltd Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter Final Summary Report Page No:2 of 14

3 Document No: ClRad-YLIN-FRE-29-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 BACKGROUND THE STUDY TEAM... 2 DESIGN OF INP LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS...7 MEASUREMENT OF INP LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS On-wafer measurements Packaged measurements IMAGE REJECTION MIXER...1 RECEIVER INTEGRATION...11 OUTLINE OF THE COMPLETED WORK AND DELIVERABLES CONCLUSIONS...14 Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter Final Summary Report Page No. of 14

4 Document No: ClRad-YLIN-FRE-29-2 DISTRIBUTION LIST Name Organisation/Department Issue Date F.Coromina ESA ESTEC P.Kangaslahti Electronics Ltd N.Hughes Electronics Ltd Config. Control Electronics Ltd T. Karttaavi MilliLab A. Barnes QinetiQ DOCUMENT CONTROL DATA Issue Revision Date Issue First Issue of New Document REFERENCE DOCUMENTS [1] ClRad-YLIN-TN-14 Issue 1. Cloud Radar LNA Final Design Report dated: 2th June 2 [2] MilliLab test report [] DERA/S&E/MMS/CR11174/1. Issue 1. Cloud Radar RF on wafer measurement report. Dated: June 21. [4] Evaluation of Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter Technical Report, dated 17 th of October, 21 Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter Final Summary Report Page No. 4 of 14

5 Document No: ClRad-YLIN-FRE-29-2 LIST OF ACRONYMS MMIC LNA InP CPW MIM Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit Low Noise Amplifier Indium Phosphide Coplanar Waveguide Metal Insulator Metal Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter Final Summary Report Page No. of 14

6 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE Background There is increasing interest in cloud observation since clouds play a major role in determining long term climatic trends. Clouds also play a major role in radiative processes in the planetary atmosphere through both the absorption and reflection of solar radiation and in the emission of thermal energy. The European Space Agency (ESA) has interest in studying the properties of clouds. Radar systems, operating at mm-wave frequencies (94GHz), are envisaged as the only practical solution to allow vertical profile cloud measurements to be performed with the required resolution. Hence there is strong interest in developing high resolution cloud radar measurement systems and associated technology. The objective of this work was to develop, at breadboard level, prototype 94GHz Cloud Radar instrumentation. This work involved developing a low noise amplifier (LNA), a downconverter and integrated LNA/Downconverter module using advanced U.S and European Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technologies. The performance of the module was evaluated through comprehensive testing. 1.1 THE STUDY TEAM Within this work Electronics Ltd. acted as prime contractor providing LNA MMIC designs and simulations, designing and manufacturing the MMIC modules, as well as maintaining overall management responsibility. QinetiQ has extensive experience in designing and testing MMICs at millimetre wave frequencies. They were subcontracted to design and test the image rejection mixer and frequency doubling circuits. The Millimetre Wave Laboratory of FINLAND MilliLab, are an ESA external laboratory and a centre of excellence for MMIC RF On-wafer (RFOW) measurements. They were subcontracted to provide detailed RFOW testing of the manufactured MMIC's as well as contributing to the MMIC design complement. Final Summary Report Page No: of 14

7 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE Design of InP low noise amplifiers Low noise amplifiers are key components in the development of low noise receivers. The successful design of LNAs is possible only with high performance foundry processes. For this contract we used the state-of-the-art InP processes of DaimlerChrysler Research and HRL laboratories. The properties of the processes are listed in table 1. Table 1. Properties of the InP MMIC processes DaimlerChrysler unit HRL unit Gate length.14 µm.1 µm Transconductance 8 ms/mm 1 ms/mm MIM capacitors Yes Yes Thin film resistors Yes Yes Via holes No Yes Substrate thickness 4 µm µm InP HEMT modeling is an important part of LNA development. Device models used in this work were based on on-wafer noise parameter measurements at 7-11GHz performed at MilliLab. This measurement capability of MilliLab is unique in the world. These measurements were used to extract a Pospieszalski noise model. MilliLab has specialized in transistor model extraction, providing noise + small signal models for this work to complement the transistor models provided from the foundry. The design of the LNAs incorporated three or four-stages of amplification depending on the specific LNA. Each stage had an optimum size device to match the devices to noise minimum in each interstage matching network. The gain match was improved by using source inductance in each stage and further employing thin-film Ω resistors in the gates of the last stages. This design approach resulted in very compact designs. The compact size of the designs make them inherently broadband, due to the short electrical distance between the amplification stages and, most importantly, reduced number of matching elements. These LNAs were designed in two different foundry runs, one from DaimlerChrysler and another from HRL laboratories. The designed circuits are listed in Table 2. The complete design details of these circuits are in the design report [1]. Table 2. Designed InP LNAs and foundry runs LNA Design Reference Foundry run Design details -stage CPW LNA 991A DaimlerChrysler [1] -stage CPW LNA 9917A DaimlerChrysler [1] 4-stage CPW LNA 9918A DaimlerChrysler [1] 4-stage CPW LNA 9918B DaimlerChrysler [1] -stage CPW LNA 9919A DaimlerChrysler [1] -stage CPW LNA 9922A DaimlerChrysler [1] Final Summary Report Page No:7 of 14

8 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE stage CPW LNA 992A DaimlerChrysler [1] 4-stage microstrip LNA 9A HRL laboratories [2] 4-stage microstrip LNA 4A HRL laboratories [2] 4-stage microstrip LNA 41A HRL laboratories [2] 4-stage microstrip LNA 42A HRL laboratories [2] Balanced microstrip LNA 4A HRL laboratories [2] -stage microstrip LNA LNA HRL laboratories [2] -stage grounded CPW LNA LNA2D HRL laboratories [2] Measurement of InP low noise amplifiers.1 On-wafer measurements The characterization of the developed LNAs included both on-wafer and in-package measurements. MilliLab performed the on-wafer measurements, and Ylinen Electronics the packaging and in-package measurements. Figure 2. Measured response and noise figure of the 4-stage 9A LNA. The MMIC is biased to V d =1.2V, I d =2mA. Figure 2 shows the results of severals samples of 9A LNA performance in the on-wafer measurements. This LNA has the necessary 2-dB gain and db noise figure required to achieve low noise figure for the complete receiver. The CPW design 9919B measurement results are shown in Figure. The CPW design has 12-14dB lower gain and 1-2dB higher noise figure than the microstrip design. This is in line with the difference in foundry processes (Table 1). The CPW design has also a roll-off in the gain starting from 9GHz which contributes to the worse performance at 94GHz. Final Summary Report Page No:8 of 14

9 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE-29-1 LNA 9919A Vd=1.1V, Id=29.8mA Gain [db] Frequency [GHz] Gain 2 NF 1 Noise Figure [db] Figure. Measured gain and noise figure of the -stage CPW LNA. The gain is 1dB and noise figure db at 94 GHz. The MMIC is biased to V d =1.1V, I d =29.8mA in this on-wafer measurement [1].2 Packaged measurements For the measurements of the LNAs in package, the MMICs were mounted in a WR-1 split block package with transitions made out of alumina. These sample LNAs were measured at room temperature and as a function of temperature. Figure 4 shows the room temperature performance, whereas the Figure shows the performance of the LNA vs. temperature. This LNA has a.2db noise figure and over 2dB gain. When the LNA is cooled, the noise figure decreases and gain increases. Gain can be increase also by increasing the bias current in the LNA. This does not have a major impact on the noise figure of the LNA and it is also possible to bias the last stages of the LNA to a high gain bias point whereas the first stages are biased to low noise point. Final Summary Report Page No:9 of 14

10 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE-29-1 LNA 9A Vd=1.2V Id=2mA 2 2 Gain [db] NF [db] 7 Gain [db] NF [db] Frequency [GHz] Figure 4. Measured gain and noise figure of the 4-stage LNA 9A in waveguide package.. Gain [db] Gain NF Temperature [deg C] NF [db] Figure. Noise figure and gain of the YE9A LNA at different ambient temperatures. 4 Image rejection mixer The following designs were included in the HRL processing: - Two single ended resistive mixer variants (with and without on chip spiral inductors to allow operation at tow different IF frequencies) - Balanced resistive mixer - Sub-harmonic resistive mixer - Image rejection filter - LO frequency doubler Final Summary Report Page No:1 of 14

11 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE-29-1 The mixer designs were measured with very good results. For the W-band resistive mixer designs state of art conversion loss performance has been obtained. In particular a 94GHz sub-harmonic resistive mixer circuit has been demonstrated with 9.dB conversion loss when operated using a Ka-band LO source at low drive levels (2.dBm). This performance is believed to represent world state of art. In particular the use of a sub-harmonic mixer for the Cloud Radar application will allow the LO doubler function to be removed. This will reduce power consumption and weight for the receiver module, both of which are critical for space based applications. Receiver Integration The previously proven [4] split block MMIC mounting and packaging technique was applied for the integration of the complete receiver. The input is a WR-1 waveguide and a waveguide to microstrip transition on alumina connects to the LNA MMIC. The LNA MMIC is followed by an alumina intermediate substrate, a MMIC filter, a second alumina intermediate substrate and finally the second harmonic mixer. The LO of the mixer is connected with an alumina substrate to a K- connector. The IF and mixer bias ports are connected as well with alumina substrates to SMA connectors. The LNA biasing includes a FR-4 PCB with stabilizing resistors and capacitors + a miniature -pin connector. This module is shown in Figure. RF 94GHz LO 41.GHz LNA 9A IR filter Second Harmonic Mixer IF 11GHz Figure. Photograph of the 2x2x22mm 94GHz receiver module. The module contains the MMICs shown in the functional block diagram. Final Summary Report Page No:11 of 14

12 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE-29-1 Both the LNA and second harmonic mixer had state of the art performance, so the performance of the module was also very good. Figure 7 shows the conversion gain of the module with different bias currents of the LNA. These results show the wideband performance of the module and good compression characteristics. The module was required to operate up to 4dBm input power without compression. The dip in frequency response at 92GHz was determined to be at the IF port assembly (9 GHz resonance) and could most likely be easily removed. Conversion Gain [db] Conversion Gain vs Input Frequency, Pin=-4dBm 21 CG Id=2 ma 18 CG Id= ma Input Frequency [GHz] Conversion Gain [db] Conversion Gain vs Input CG Id=2mA CG Id=mA Pin [dbm] Figure 7. Measured conversion gain of the 94GHz receiver vs. input frequency and input power. The noise figure of the module was also measured at room temperature and cooled. Conversion Gain [db] Noise Figure, LNA Vd=1.2V Id=2mA Input Frequency [GHz] Gain NF Noise Figure [db] Conversion Gain [db] Noise Figure, LNA Vd=1.2V Id=mA Gain NF Input Frequency [GHz] Noise Figure [db] Figure 8. Measured noise figure and gain of the 94GHz receiver at different bias points of the LNA. Figure 8 shows the gain and noise figure vs. frequency at room temperature. The module has db noise figure and 1-17dB gain. The noise figure of the module can be reduced to 2dB by cooling it to 17K (-1 o C) as Figure 9 displays. Final Summary Report Page No:12 of 14

13 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE-29-1 Noise Figure, LNA Vd 1.2V, Id 2mA Conversion Gain [db] Noise Figure [db] Frequency [GHz] Gain 2K Gain 17K Gain 14K Gain 11K Gain 7K Gain RT NF RT NF 2K NF 17K NF 14K NF 11K NF 7K Figure 9. Measured noise figure and gain of the receiver when the drain current of the LNA is set to 2mA. Outline of the completed work and deliverables Item Description Issue Delivery Remarks TASK.1 CLOUD RADAR LNA and DOWNCONVERTER InP MMIC Manufacturing Trade-Off Report 1. April 2, 1999 TASK.2 ClRad-YLIN-TN-14 Cloud Radar LNA Final Design Report Test Plan Cloud Radar: Test Plan 1 ESA Cloud Radar Downconverter WP2 MMIC Test and Measurement Plan TASK. Cloud Radar LNA HRL MMIC Test Report CR_LNA-Mil-TRE-27-1 DERA/S&E/MMS/CR11174/1. Cloud Radar RF on wafer measurement report. Evaluation of Cloud Radar LNA/Downconverter Technical Report th June 2 June 2 June 2 November, 21 June Final Summary Report Page No:1 of 14

14 Document No: MRA-YLIN-FRE-29-1 TASK 4. Cloud Radar Receiver Integration and Test Report CLrad-YLIN-TRE-1-2 Final Report Commercial Evaluation Report This report Redundant with Critical Technology for Millimeter Wave Radiometers 7 Conclusions This project aimed at developing the required downconverter for ESA Cloud Radar mission. The goal was to implement the receiver in a single MCM module and design the required MMICs. MMICs were developed in two different foundries, one European and one US. The main emphasis was on the more advanced U.S. technology of HRL laboratories. MMICs provided state of the art performance in terms of noise and conversion loss, thus they provided good basis for succesfull integration of the 94GHz MCM module. The module provided db noise figure at room temperature and 2dB noise figure at 17K ambient. The conversion gain of the module was 18dB. Module was very small size, 2x2x22mm and provides a good building block for future missions with instruments operating in the 9GHz frequency range. Final Summary Report Page No:14 of 14