Integrated millimeter-wave quadrature generator

US7386291B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Brian A. Floyd · Raleigh, US
• Ullrich R. Pfeiffer · Wolfsburg, DE
• Scott K. Reynolds · Amawalk, US
• Thomas Zwick · Leutkirch im Allgäu, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 2, 2003
• Grant date: Jun 10, 2008
• Expiry date: Jun 10, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B1/30
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An off-chip signal is provided to a differential branch-line directional coupler implemented entirely on-chip. The coupler produces differential quadrature signals, which are then buffered and applied to a quadrature mixer. The coupler is implemented entirely on-chip using microstrip transmission lines. The coupler is made up of a plurality of rings and a plurality of underpasses connecting ports of the rings, wherein each of the plurality of rings is made up of four branch lines, and each branch line having an electrical length of one-quarter wavelength at the center design frequency. Coupling between the plurality of branch lines of the rings may be varied.