Broadband Pulse Generation and Radiation with 1.9ps FWHM and 2.5mW Peak Radiated Power based on Direct Digital-to-Impulse Architecture

Broadband signal generation and radiation is demonstrated based on an oscillator-less Direct Digital-to-Impulse (D2I) picosecond pulse radiator with 153GHz 3dB-BW (252GHz 10dB-BW) centered at 140GHz. The radiated pulse achieves a peak EIRP of 15dBm and peak radiated power of 2.5mW. It is shown that the starting time of the radiated pulse is locked to the edge of an input digital trigger with a timing accuracy of better than 270fsec. Frequency-comb spectrum of the radiated pulse train with 5.2GHz repetition rate is characterized up to 1.1THz for a 5.2GHz pulse repetition rate. The measured received SNR at 1.0THz and 1.1THz is 28dB and 22dB, respectively for a distance of 4cm. A 10dB spectral width of 2Hz for the 1.1THz tone is achieved demonstrating extremely high frequency stability (2 part per trillion). Time-domain picosecond pulses are characterized using a fsec-laser-based THz-TDS system. Coherent spatial combining from two widely spaced chips is demonstrated achieving a timing jitter of less than 270fsec. The chip is fabricated in a 130nm SiGe BiCMOS process technology. KeywordsIntegrated circuits, THz, picosecond, direct digital-to-impulse, D2I, on-chip antenna, silicon, SiGe, BiCMOS