110–170GHz 25% Duty-Cycle Gilbert-Cell Frequency Doubler with 6.5dBm Peak Output Power in BiCMOS 55nm Technology

Frequency multipliers are key components for signal generation above 100 GHz. Push-push frequency doublers are popular but suffer from low conversion gain and limited fundamental rejection. Mixers with quadrature inputs offer higher gain and better fundamental suppression but need a bandwidth-limiting 90° phase shifter. This work leverages Gilbert-cells mixers driven by in-phase signals but operated at a reduced duty-cycle (δ), allowing to retain the superior conversion gain and fundamental rejection without the 90° phase shifter. A simple low-frequency loop controls δ and gives maximum conversion gain by suppressing the output DC component. The signal driving the mixer switching-quad is generated and routed by a transmission-line network which compensates for the undesirable phase shift introduced by transistors parasitics, critical in the sub-THz band. Realized in SiGe BiCMOS, the circuit proves Pout = 6.5dBm at 148GHz with 7.4% power efficiency and 8 dB conversion gain. With -3 dB bandwidth of 125–170 GHz, Pout > 0dBm from 110 to 170GHz and a fundamental rejection always above 40 dB, the frequency doubler compares favorably against previous works.