Single chip MMIC downconvertors

This paper describes a family of downconvertors originally designed for DBS applications. The usable RF frequencies are discrete bands within the 10.95-12.75 GHz range. The IF output is 0.95-1.7 GHz for all bands. An on-chip local oscillator is stabilised by an external dielectric resonator. The circuits are completely RF-On-Wafer testable by injection of a synthesised local oscillator signal into the oscillator port. Conversion gains greater than 30 dB, and noise figures less than 7 dB have been measured.