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Overview of AlGaN/GaN HEMT technology for L- to Ku-band applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2010

Stéphane Piotrowicz*
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Erwan Morvan
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Raphaël Aubry
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Guillaume Callet
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Eric Chartier
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Christian Dua
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Jérémy Dufraisse
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Didier Floriot
Affiliation:
United Monolithic Semiconductors, Rd 128, 91401 Orsay, France.
Jean-Claude Jacquet
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Olivier Jardel
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Yves Mancuso
Affiliation:
THALES Systèmes Aéroportés, Avenue Gay-Lussac, Elancourt, France.
Benoit Mallet-Guy
Affiliation:
THALES Systèmes Aéroportés, Avenue Gay-Lussac, Elancourt, France.
Mourad Oualli
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Zineb Ouarch
Affiliation:
United Monolithic Semiconductors, Rd 128, 91401 Orsay, France.
Marie-Antoinette Di-Forte Poisson
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Nicolas Sarazin
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
Michel Stanislawiak
Affiliation:
THALES Air Systems, ZI du Mont Jarret, 76520 Ymare, France.
Sylvain Delage
Affiliation:
ALCATEL-THALES III-V Lab, Route de Nozay, 91461 Marcoussis, France.
*
Corresponding author: S. Piotrowicz Email: stephane.piotrowicz@3-5lab.fr
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Abstract

The present paper presents an overview of the AlGaN/GaN-based circuits realized over the years. Two technological processes with 0.25 and 0.7 μm gate length allowed one to address applications from L- to Ku-bands. Depending on the process development and frequency of the operation, results on hybrid or MMIC technology are presented. GaN technology is evaluated through the realization of high-power amplifiers, robust low-noise amplifiers, or power switches to prepare the next generation of Tx-Rx modules.

Information

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2010
Figure 0

Fig. 1. Typical layer structure of AlGaN/GaN HEMT.

Figure 1

Fig. 2. Cross-section of main steps of 0.7 µm gate length process.

Figure 2

Fig. 3. Photograph of coplanar 4 × 250 µm (left) and microstrip 12 × 100 µm power device (right).

Figure 3

Fig. 4. NFmin of 4 × 250 µm device versus frequency in L-band at different Vgs voltages (Vds = 10 V).

Figure 4

Fig. 5. Pulsed I–V characteristics of 12 × 100 µm device from quiescent point Vgs = 0 V and Vds = 0 V.

Figure 5

Fig. 6. Fmag and Ft evolution versus total gate width (Vds = 5 V, Ids = 100 mA/mm).

Figure 6

Fig. 7. Load-pull measurement of 12 × 100 µm device (Vds0 = 25 V, Ids0 = 290 mA, F0 = 10 GHz, 10 µs/10%).

Figure 7

Fig. 8. Power DPDT principle description.

Figure 8

Fig. 9. Power DPDT losses with Pin = 42 dBm.

Figure 9

Fig. 10. Power DPDT losses versus input power ranging 44–49 dBm.

Figure 10

Fig. 11. Low-noise two-stage amplifier photograph.

Figure 11

Fig. 12. Measured gain and noise figure of the LNA.

Figure 12

Fig. 13. Hybrid single-stage X-band LNA.

Figure 13

Fig. 14. Noise factor of hybrid single-stage X-band amplifier.

Figure 14

Fig. 15. Photograph of the second stage of the power amplifier (95 × 70 mm2) and power die in package.

Figure 15

Fig. 16. Output power, PAE, and gain over the 1–2 GHz frequency band (Pin = 19.5 dBm).

Figure 16

Fig. 17. Gain of the power stage versus input power for different load conditions.

Figure 17

Fig. 18. Load lines of one device at the intrinsic current source for various load conditions.

Figure 18

Fig. 19. Thirty-eight millimeter power die in CuW power package for S-band applications.

Figure 19

Fig. 20. Photograph of 18 mm2 X-band MMIC amplifier.

Figure 20

Fig. 21. Gain (dB), output power (dBm), and PAE (%) of amplifier at input power of 32 dBm (Vds0 = 25 V, Ids0 = 2.3 A).

Figure 21

Fig. 22. Photography of the balanced amplifier mounted in test jig.

Figure 22

Fig. 23. Output power measured at 3 dB of gain compression (Vds = 20 V, Ids0 = 200 mA).