Submillimeter-wave Signal Generation by Linear Superimposition of Phase-shifted Fundamental Tone Signals

The first CMOS oscillator to generate submillimeter waves Compatible with conventional CMOS fabrication Higher frequencies are possible by superimposing additional phases of fundamental tones The generated sub-millimeter wave signal can be phase-locked A very small active device area would occupy a small footprint on circuit boards A high DC-to-RF conversion efficiency Low phase noise

Submillimeter waves generated by CMOS oscillators could pave the way for a new generation of imaging devices such as high-resolution sensors on spacecraft. Also, highly integrated and lightweight imagers to see through fog or clothing fabric will have tremendous implications in improving travel safety. Furthermore, increasing the frequency also increases the available bandwidth for communication systems, leading to faster communication speeds.

The invention is the first submillimemter-wave source fabricated solely in CMOS technology. Four voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), each with a fundamental frequency of 81GHz, were fabricated in conventional CMOS technology. The output signal was linearly generated by superimposing the rectified phase-shifted outputs of the VCOs to generate an output waveform with an oscillation frequency that was four-times the fundamental frequency, or 324GHz.

Patent Number: US8130049B2
Application Number: US2009579661A
Inventor: Huang, Daquan | Chang, Mau-Chung Frank | LaRocca, Tim R.
Priority Date: 16 Apr 2007
Priority Number: US8130049B2
Application Date: 15 Oct 2009
Publication Date: 6 Mar 2012
IPC Current: H03B000512
US Class: 331117FE | 331045 | 331046 | 331117R | 331135 | 332149
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Submillimeter-wave signal generation by linear superimposition of phase-shifted fundamental tone signals
Usefulness: Submillimeter-wave signal generation by linear superimposition of phase-shifted fundamental tone signals
Summary: Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for generating submillimeter waves. Can also be used in sensor, imaging and communication applications.
Novelty: Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for generating submillimeter waves, has linear superimposition stage that rectifies outputs from phase generators and interleaves outputs to produce superimposed output signal at output frequency

Electronics

Circuit Design

8130049

State of Development

A CMOS VCO chip was fabricated and independently verified to output an oscillation frequency of 324GHz.

Background

Because of nonlinear effects, it is virtually impossible to generate useable submillimeter waves of a frequency greater than 190GHz using CMOS oscillators. In conventional oscillator circuits, which are nonlinear systems, increases in frequency are accompanied by a corresponding loss in gain or efficiency and an increase in noise.

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Tech ID/UC Case

20249/2007-487-0

Related Cases

2007-487-0

USA

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