An Ultra-High-Speed GaAs Prescaler Using a Dynamic Frequency Divider

A high-speed, low-power-consumption prescaler for a phase lock stable oscillator is designed and fabricated with a GaAs MESFET BFL circuit. The prescaler of a 1/32 frequency divider is composed of a dynamic frequency divider for the prescaler first stage, a newly developed dual-phase signal generator, and master-slave T-type flip-flops for the presealer post stages. The fabricated 1/32 prescaler operated up to 8.5 GHz at only 540 mW. The 1/2 dynamic frequency divider corresponding to the prescaler first stage shows a maximum operation frequency of 13.2 GHz at only 115 mW.