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Journal of Radio Electronics Online scientific journal · eISSN 1684-1719
2023, № 7 · RADIO ENGINEERING

Analysis and development of high-precision w-band frequency synthesizer with low spur levels

A. Shansho1, I.O. Dorofeev1, G.E. Dunaevskii1, Е.В. Емельянов1

1 National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
Full text (PDF) DOI: 10.30898/1684-1719.2023.7.9 UDC 621.373 EDN QCVNEU

Abstract

For millimeter waves applications in the W-band 93.5-95.5 GHz, improved frequency synthesizers are highly demanded. Improved frequency synthesizer should be tunable synthesizer with high step resolution and possess high phase noise performance, low spurious harmonic levels and short locking time. These parameters are conflicting parameters in developing a high precision frequency oscillator with a pure spectrum. Therefore, it's necessary to make a compromisation between them. In this paper we present a frequency synthesizer based on a Gunn diode, two stable finely tuned frequency sources, a phase locked loop, and a 10th order subharmonic mixer in the feedback loop is built. The phase noise, spurious levels, and tuning step size of the phase locked loop generator are then analyzed, and the effect of each parameter on the others is introduced. To test the performance of the proposed frequency synthesizer using a spectrum analyzer, the output spectrum of the intermediate frequency was measured on a subharmonic mixer, which corresponds to the spectrum of a phase-locked loop generator. The results show that the proposed phase-locked loop generator can be tuned in steps of less than 1 Hz, and the first two spurious harmonics are far from the fundamental harmonic. These results can be used for designing an enhanced high precision frequency synthesizer with a low level of spurious harmonics and high phase noise performance in millimeter waves applications such as CW RADAR.

  • phase noise
  • subharmonic mixer
  • spurious harmonics
  • local oscillator
  • Gunn diode
Аннотация (на русском)

Анализ и разработка высокоточного генератора частоты w-диапазона с низким уровнем паразитных гармоник

Для приложений миллиметрового диапазона в W-диапазоне 93,5-95,5 ГГц востребованы усовершенствованные синтезаторы частоты. Такой синтезатор частоты должен быть перестраиваемым, с высоким частотным разрешением и обладать низкими фазовыми шумами, низким уровнем паразитных гармоник и коротким временем синхронизации. Эти требования при разработке высокоточного генератора частоты с чистым спектром, являются противоречивыми. Поэтому необходимо найти оптимальные соотношения между ними. В данной работе построен синтезатор частоты на основе диода Ганна, двух стабильных перестраиваемых источников частот, контура ФАПЧ и субгармонического смесителя 10-го порядка в цепи обратной связи. Проанализированы фазовый шум, уровни паразитных гармоник и размер шага перестройки генератора ФАПЧ, и проведена оценка влияния каждого параметра на остальные. Для проверки работоспособности предлагаемого синтезатора частот с помощью анализатора спектра был измерен выходной спектр промежуточной частоты на субгармоническом смесителе, который соответствует спектру генератора с ФАПЧ. Результаты показывают, что предлагаемый генератор с ФАПЧ можно перестраивать с шагом менее 1 Гц, а первые две паразитные гармоники далеки от основной гармоники (200 МГц). Полученные результаты могут быть использованы для разработки усовершенствованного высокоточного синтезатора частоты с низким уровнем побочных гармоник и низкими фазовыми шумами в приложениях миллиметрового диапазона.

For citation

Shansho A., Dorofeev I.O., Dunaevskii G.E., Емельянов Е.В. Analysis and development of high-precision w-band frequency synthesizer with low spur levels // Journal of Radio Electronics. – 2023. – No. 7. https://doi.org/10.30898/1684-1719.2023.7.9

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