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Abstract: Frequency multiplier is an electronic circuit which generates the output frequency which is an integer multiple of the applied
frequency. For this purpose, nonlinear devices such as BJT, FET, schottky diode, varactor diode, step recovery diode are used. The nonlinear
region of their characteristics is utilized to design frequency multiplier. In terahertz range stability and broad bandwidth are required factors to
design heterodyne receiver. For this purpose, only schottky diode is the best option because its cutoff frequency is so high and due to this reason
switching frequency of this diode is high compared to its other comparable. The design of frequency multiplier consists of three parts namely the
diode structure, input and output matching circuit. The detailed discussion about sources available at terahertz frequency range, different design
methods of frequency multiplier with active and passive devices, comparison of available passive frequency multiplier are presented in this
paper.
Keywords: frequency multiplier, doubler, tripler, schottky diode, antiparallel diode pair, LO, HEMT, HBV
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1. Introduction
Several recent articles have described the potential capability Imaging system: Its able to see through clothing to detect
of terahertz technology and how developing this technology contraband or weapons.
can lead to exciting scientific research for applications in Imaging RADAR: For this type of systems the signal to noise
variety of fields. One of most challenging aspects of Terahertz ratio and the standoff distance can be improved with higher
technology is the lack of compact, reliable efficient local power sources because spatial resolution is directly
oscillator (LO) sources in the terahertz range. proportional to the frequency for a given aperture size.
Sources available at Terahertz range and their limitations are Astrophysics: Heterodyne spectrometer is needed to measure
given below: Doppler velocities in the interstellar medium and star forming
regions with resolution around 1 km/s.
FIR laser pumped by the gas laser: The power generation
method for this type requires several tens of watts of DC Frequencies ranging from below 100 GHz to at least 5 THz are
power. It is bulky and works at discrete frequencies [1]. needed to identify the spectral signature of a wide range of
Limitation: It is used only at ground based applications where molecules, isotopomers, atoms and ions as well as
size and power are not an issue [1]. temperature, density pressure, mass and dynamics of the
QCLs (quantum Cascade Lasers): They are ultra-compact system observed
milliwatt-level terahertz solid state sources. CW mode This article will describe the technologies developed to build
frequency is lower than 1.2 THz [1]. frequency multiplier for solid state LO above 100 GHz for a
Limitations: It has tuning problem. It requires cryogenic space borne radio telescope. This will address some of the
cooling to approximately 40K for maximum output power [1]. most important questions in cosmology and galaxy evolution.
High frequency signals can be generated either using high
These two sources known as photonic sources are used to frequency oscillator or cascading a low frequency source with
generate LO in cryogenic heterodyne receiver. But the main frequency multipliers. It is difficult to build and realize a high
problem is that their output power is in 1-2 THz range which frequency oscillator due to degraded performance such as
is lower than the power produced by room temperature stability, accuracy and phase noise. To overcome these
frequency multiplier [1] problems low frequency low phase noise VCO in conjunction
with the frequency multiplier is the most preferred and the
Application of high frequency sources: proposed method [4][6] for our research work.
High speed wireless communication: It is used for high speed 2. Frequency Multiplier
wireless data communication. This requires open free space Frequency multiplier is an electronics circuit that generates an
path to high speed wireless communication system transferring output signal whose output frequency is a harmonic (multiple)
data at rates of several tens of Gigabytes per seconds [1] of its input frequency. Frequency multiplier consists of a
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International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication ISSN: 2321-8169
Volume: 5 Issue: 2 228 232
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nonlinear circuit that distorts the input signal and consequently fraction of the time that it is on, compared to the entire period
generates harmonics of the input signal. At output side called is its duty cycle. By adjusting the duty cycle we can
bandpass filter is used to select the desired harmonic maximize the desired output harmonics generated. The higher
frequency and remove the unwanted fundamental and other the harmonic, the shorter the duty cycle must be. For a
harmonics from the output [2] doubler, the optimum is around 30%, and for a tripler is about
20%. [3]
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International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication ISSN: 2321-8169
Volume: 5 Issue: 2 228 232
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Paper Input frequency Output frequency Input power Output power Conversion loss Efficiency
(GHz) (GHz) (dBm) (dBm) (dB) (%)
[7] 25-23 75-140 17 -2.4 19.5 1.12
[4] 25-37 75-110 16 -3.7 to 2 14 to 19.7 1.5
[11] 75 225 23.8 -12.3 11.4 7.3
[6] 20-35 60-110 12 -3 15 -
Table 3.1: summary of the performance of previously designed tripler and this work
Conclusion: Available frequency sources and their limitations sources based on Schottky diode frequency multiplier
are discussed in this paper. Frequency multiplier is used to chains. 2004 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave
Symposium Digest (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37535).
multiply low frequency LO source by any integer multiple and
doi:10.1109/mwsym.2004.1338884
convert it into the high frequency. Using frequency multiplier
[7] Tero Kiuru, Juha Mallat, Antti V. Risnen, and Tapani
all problems occurring in direct high LO source is removed. Nrhi. 2011. Compactbroadband MMIC Schottky
As per requirement of terahertz band only passive multiplier is frequency tripler for 75 140 GHz. In: Proceedings ofthe
used because stability and frequency bandwidth of passive 6th European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference
multiplier is better than the active multiplier. In multiplier (EuMIC 2011).Manchester, UK. 10-11 October 2011.
design we use diode structure to generate harmonics and to Pages 108-111. ISBN 978-2-87487-023-1.
select desired one bandpass filter used at the output side. This [8] Chen, G., Wu, Y., Chang, H., Hsin, Y., & Chiong, C.
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m MHEMT process. 2009 Asia Pacific Microwave
compact chip size
Conference. doi:10.1109/apmc.2009.5384527
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and G. Green,A novel Whiskerless Schottky diode for
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