Design and Realization of GaAs Digital Circuit for Mixed-Signal MMIC Implementation in AESA Applications

A complete design flow starting from the technological process development up to the fabrication of digital circuits is presented. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the GaAs Enhancement/Depletion (E/D) double stop-etch technology implementation feasibility for digital applications, aimed at mixed signal circuit integration. On the basis of the characterization of small E/D devices with different Gate peripheries, developed by the SELEX-SI foundry, and the analysis of several GaAs-based logical families, the most suitable logic for the available technology has been selected. Then, simple test vehicles (level shifters, NOR logic gates and D Flip-Flops) have been designed, realized, and measured to validate the design strategy applied to the GaAs E/D process. These logical circuits are preliminary to the design of a more complex serial-to-parallel converter, to be implemented onto the same chip together with RF analog blocks, such as stepped attenuators and phase shifters.

[1]  P.M. Asbeck,et al.  High speed GaAs integrated circuits , 1982, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[2]  A. P. de Hek,et al.  Mixed signal high integration MMIC phase control device for application in phased-arrays , 2002 .

[3]  G. Ghione,et al.  Compact GaAs HEMT D flip-flop for the integration of a SAR MMIC core-chip digital control logic , 2010, 2010 Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Circuits.

[4]  K. Mouthaan,et al.  GaAs Mixed Signal Multi-Function X-Band MMIC with 7 Bit Phase and Amplitude Control and Integrated Serial to Parallel Converter , 2000, 2000 30th European Microwave Conference.

[5]  A. K. Agrawal,et al.  Design and performance of octave S/C band MMIC T/R modules for multi-function phased arrays , 1991 .

[6]  G. Ghione,et al.  A compact high performance X-band core-chip with on board serial-to-parallel conversion , 2010, The 40th European Microwave Conference.

[7]  R. Tuyl,et al.  High-speed integrated logic with GaAs MESFET's , 1974 .

[8]  R.C. Eden,et al.  MSI High Speed Low Power GaAs ICs Using Schottky Diode FET Logic , 1979, 1979 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[9]  F.E. van Vliet,et al.  S-Band Sige Phase and Amplitude Control MMIC , 2006, 2006 European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference.

[10]  Michel Declercq,et al.  Pseudo-complementary FET logic (PCFL): a low-power logic family in GaAs , 1996, IEEE J. Solid State Circuits.

[11]  D. E. Fulkerson.  Feedback FET logic: a robust, high-speed low-power GaAs logic family , 1991 .

[12]  J. F. Naber,et al.  Integrated digitally controlled 6-bit phase shifter, 4-bit attenuator, and T/R switch using multifunction self aligned gate process , 1991, IEEE 1991 Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Monolithic Circuits Symposium. Digest of Papers.

[13]  Hao Jingchen,et al.  Direct Coupled FET Logic (DCFL) circuit for GaAs LSIC application , 1998, ICMMT'98. 1998 International Conference on Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technology. Proceedings (Cat. No.98EX106).

[14]  H. Thiesies,et al.  A phase and amplitude control front end chip in SiGe for phased-array C-band radar applications , 2005, IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, 2005..

[15]  G. Sidiropoulos,et al.  Silicon-Germanium for Phased Array Radars , 2008, 2008 European Microwave Integrated Circuit Conference.

[16]  T. Sudo,et al.  Analysis of High-Speed GaAs Source-Coupled FET Logic Circuits , 1984 .

[17]  G. LaRue,et al.  FET-FET logic: a high performance, high noise margin E/D logic family , 1990, 12th Annual Symposium on Gallium Arsenide Integrated Circuit (GaAs IC).

[18]  M. Tsunotani,et al.  A 390ps 1000-gate array using GaAs super-buffer FET logic , 1985, 1985 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference. Digest of Technical Papers.

[19]  L. Marescialli,et al.  A mixed-signal X-band SiGe multi-function control MMIC for phased array radar applications , 2009, 2009 European Microwave Conference (EuMC).

[20]  M. Priolo,et al.  Advanced MMIC T/R module for 6 to 18 GHz multifunction arrays , 1992, IEEE 1992 Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Monolithic Circuits Symposium Digest of Papers.

[21]  A. W. Livingstone,et al.  Capacitor-coupled logic using GaAs depletion-mode f.e.t.s , 1980 .