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Millimeter Wave Frequency Extenders from Virginia Diodes Inc

Technical Overviews

The Keysight Technologies, Inc. microwave signal generators provide outstanding performance across a broad set of characteristics, including output power, phase noise, spurious and harmonic distortion, as well as flexible modulation for frequencies up to 67 GHz. When paired with a new line of frequency extenders from Virginia Diodes Inc. (VDI), many of these capabilities are available up to 1.1 THz to meet the requirements of both established and emerging millimeter wave applications.

The E8257DVxx signal generator frequency extension modules expand the operating range of microwave signal generators up into the millimeter frequency range. They combine high output power and low phase noise with broad frequency coverage over full waveguide bands. Standard features include TTL-controlled on/off modulation up to approximately 1 kHz and voltage- controlled RF attenuation (UCA). The RF signal from the signal generator gets multiplied in the module to a much higher frequency and the resulting millimeter signal exits through the rectangular waveguide output. A single coaxial cable provides the connection between the signal generator and the E8257DVxx module.

The E8257DVxx modules provide two different RF inputs, depending on the frequency range of the signal generator. The standard RF input is designed for 20 GHz signal generators (see Figure 2), while the high-frequency RF input is optimized for a 40 or 50 GHz signal generator, depending on the waveguide band. The high frequency input bypasses the first multiplication block (i.e. a doubler or tripler) resulting in a cleaner output spectrum.

The effects of multiplication on modulated signals

Multiplication works very well for both CW and pulsed signals. Note, however, that the pulse rise and fall times may be altered somewhat compared to the original microwave pulse. The millimeter pulse may sometimes have sharper rise/fall times than the original non-multiplied pulse, particularly if the original pulse had relatively slow rise/fall times.

Millimeter source modules typically provide a fixed amount of output power since the amplifiers operate in saturated mode. FM and phase modulation are impacted by the frequency extension modules in that the frequency or phase deviation will be multiplied along with the carrier frequency. Using a WR10 band (75 to 110 GHz) module with X6 multiplication in standard mode as an example, an FM modulated microwave signal with 10 MHz max deviation will be multiplied up to 60 MHz deviation at the waveguide output.

Because millimeter frequency extension modules are inherently non-linear devices, they are not suitable for AM modulation or any type of digital modulation that involves amplitude changes, such as QAM, because of the severe clipping that affects signal amplitude.

If amplitude modulation (AM) or digital modulation is a requirement, the N9029AVxx frequency extender with Option UDC can perform this function. Please refer to the “Millimeter Wave Frequency Extenders From Virginia Diodes Inc. - Technical Overview”, literature number 5991-3161EN.

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