A broadband regenerative frequency divider in InGaP/GaAs HBT technology

A dynamic divide-by-two regenerative frequency divider (RFD) is presented in a 60-GHz-f_T InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) technology. To achieve high operation bandwidth, active loads instead of resistor loads are incorporated into the RFD. On-wafer measurement shows that the divider is operating from 10 GHz up to at least 40 GHz, limited by the available input frequency. The maximum operation frequency of the divider is found to be much higher than f_T/2 of the transistor, and also the divider has excellent input sensitivity. The divider consumes 300.85 mW from 5 V supply and occupies an area of 0.47 × 0.22 mm². (semiconductor integrated circuits)