mmics for multi pixel receivers a. cremonini · mmics for multi pixel receivers a. cremonini i n a...

Workshop on Receivers & Arrays 2010 -19,20 September 2010, MPIfR/Bonn

INSTITUTE of RADIOASTRONOMY

I N A F

MMICs for multi pixel receivers

A. Cremonini

I N A F



I N A F

Outline

o Introduction

o MMICs

o Semiconductor technology

o Scenario

o Examples of MMICs used in array receivers for radioastronomy

o Projects in progress

o Remarks on MMIC based devices

o Conclusions



I N A F

The evolution of instruments for radioastronomical observation is nowadays strongly

oriented on developing and exploiting the array concept.

Array of antennas

Introduction

VLA ATCA ALMA SKA

Array of receivers

C-band Ka-Band K-band



I N A F

Several aspects of this concept are attractive:

Focal plane array receivers

Improve antenna observing efficiency allowing faster surveys

Increase Sensitivity especially for radiometric purposes

Phase Array receivers

Increase System Flexibility allowing beamforming and steering

Allow the generation of more than one beam

Introduction



I N A F

In the technologies applied to radioastronomy interest in MMICs

grows as the needs of low cost, small scale production,

high integrated solution.

Hybrid devices, created with discrete components provide paramount

performances, but the realisation on large scale has high

cost, assembling time, reliability strictly related on

manufacturing.

MMICs



I N A F

MMICs performances are less human skills dependant

MMICs developing cost is higher

MMICs is less expensive for small mass production

MIC vs MMIC

Active devices are manufactured using the same process

Active device

selection is possible

MMICs selection is

possible

Passive Catalog is the

entire market

Passive Catalog is

limited by foundry

process

MMIC is a MUST for mass

production

And

MIC “fine Art” Skills are a MUST in

order to maximize MMICs

performances exploitation



I N A F

MMIC technology allows to include in a single chip several active

and passive components in order to realise a function or a

set of functions.

Fundamental requirements are:

Low power consumption

Low noise

An asset for radioastronomical application : CryoREL

Assets:

Lower cost

Fast production

Higher repeatability and reliability



I N A F

Semiconductor technology

InP HEMT

o Best consolidated process for noise and cryo applications

o State of the art at 35nm with applications up to 350 GHz

InP mHEMT

o InP on GaAs : one more degree of freedom in the process

o EU foundries, no ITAR , no geopolitical availability dependency

o Preliminary cryo results in Q and W band

InSb HEMT Extremely Low power consumption .

Could be the future for Large arrays cryogenic applications



I N A FScenario

InP HEMT

NCG

HRL

InP mHEMT

IAF (D)

OMMIC (F)

InP , InSb HEMT

Chalmers Univ. (S)

OPTEL (I)

UMAN (UK)

ETH (CH)



I N A F

Some examples of MMICs

used on Array receivers for

radioastronomy



I N A F

Medicina

VLBI 32m

Designed By INAF-IRA

Tested on 32 mt Medicina radiotelescope

Final Destination 64mt SRT

FARADAY

• Multifeed Focal Plane Array

• 7 Horns - 14 Channels

• Working from 18-26 GHz

• For Secondary Focus

• Heterodyne architecture

• Cryogenically cooled



I N A FMMICs application :LNAs

NGC 0.1 InP HEMT

14 Cryo LNAs

14 “warm” LNAs

Noise Performances 4245-020 22LNA_07A

60

100

140

180

220

260

300

340

15,5

16,5

17,5

18,5

19,5

20,5

21,5

22,5

23,5

24,5

25,5

26,5

Frequency [GHz]T

e [

K]

020201 020201 High Accuracy Simulated

5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35

Frequency (GHz)

Spar 22LNA07A 020201

-60

-40

-20

0

20

-30

-15

0

15

30

DB(|S[1,1]|) (R)

020101 1V35-18mA

DB(|S[2,1]|) (L)

020101 1V35-18mA

DB(|S[2,2]|) (R)

020101 1V35-18mA

Cryo LNA

“Warm” LNA



I N A F

MMICs Extra results

NGC 0.1 InP HEMT

7 Cryo LNAs Designs between 4 to 120 GHz

4-8 Ghz

8 - 12 Ghz

26 - 40 Ghz

33-50 Ghz

70 - 100 Ghz60-85 Ghz



I N A FOCRA-F

• Multifeed Focal Plane Array receiver

• 8 (later 16) Beams

• Working from 26-36 GHz

• Pseudo correlation Direct Detection Architecture


Designed By JBO (UK)

Final Destination Torun (PL)



I N A F

MMICs application :LNAs, Phase switches

NGC 0.1 InP HEMT

8 Cryo LNAs

8 Cryo phase switches

FARADAY MMIC LNA #1. Noise temperature and gain

measurements Tlna = 15 K 27.08.04

0

20

40

60

80

100

26 28 30 32 34 36

Frequency GHz

Te K

Te K

MMIC Phase switch #2 @ 18 K. phase shift between states.

08.10.04

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

26 28 30 32 34 36

Frequency GHz

deg

s

-45

-35

-25

-15

-5

5

15

25

35

45

dB

phase diff

magnitude diff

average across

10Ghz BW =

170degs



I N A F

Facilities : JBO

Design :Pharos Consortioum leaded by ASTRON

Pharos

• Vivaldi Dense Phased Array

• 4 beams electronically formed and steered

• Single polarisation

• Working from 4 to 8 GHz

• For Primary Focus




I N A F

Facilities : JBO

MMICs application :LNAs, Phase switches

OMMIC ED02H GaAs HEMT Process

24 Cryo LNAs (20K)

52 Buffers Amplifiers (77K)

52 Phase controller (77K)

52 Amplitude controller (77K)



I N A FPharos MMICs Extra results

OMMIC D007IH 70 nm InP on GaAs mHEMT Process

Q-band LNA

W-band LNA

30 35 40 4525 50

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0

40

freq, GHz

|S2

1| (d

B)

30 35 40 4525 50

-15

-10

-5

0

5

-20

10

freq, GHz

|S1

1| (d

B)

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

75 85 95 105

[dB

]

freq. [GHz]

GaAs 70nm LNA, Flanged, 300KIRL

ORL

Gins



I N A F

Projects in Progress



I N A F

Apricot (All Purpose Radio Imaging Cameras on Telescopes)

Design a MMIC Q band heterodyne receiver chipset using mHEMT

foundry process available at OMMIC and IAF

LNA

Mixing

Multiplier

FP7 Project funded within Radionet

Partners: UMAN, MPfIR,IRA,UTV, CAY, TCfA, FG-IGN

Aim : Define architecture and validate technologies for multi

purposes large format focal plane “radio camera”

Frequency range : 33-50 GHz (Q-Band).



I N A F

ASImm

Design W-band devices radiometric purposes using OMMIC MMIC

mHEMT foundry process and IAF mHEMT foundry process

Improve Packaging and Assembling Techniques

Project funded by ASI (Italian Space Agency)

Partners: Thales (as prime contractor), Officine Pasquali

INAF, UNI-MI, UNI-GE, UNIROMA1,CNR

Aim : Validate technologies for future space experiments

Frequency range : W-band



I N A F

Remarks on MMIC based

devices



I N A F

MMIC Design

MMIC is a ensemble of active

and passive elements

MMIC is NOT a receiver

COMPONENT but a PART OF

IT

This could be a MMIC designer

trap

Noise Performances 4245-020 22LNA_05A

60

100

140

180

220

260

15,5

16,5

17,5

18,5

19,5

20,5

21,5

22,5

23,5

24,5

25,5

26,5

Frequency [GHz]

Te [

K]

050201 050201 High Accuracy Simulated



I N A F

Wiring

100 Dual Polarization channels at WR-22

200 four stages LNAs

1800 Wires

Separate stage biasing is

important in order to compensate

the temperature effect and find

the best trade off between noise,

gain , match and... Oscillations100 Dual Polarisation channels at WR-10

200 + 200 five stages LNAs

4400 Wires

Embed a cryogenic bias supply

“remotely controlled”

Improve cryomodels and

Foundry process

Release flexibility specifications



I N A F

MMIC Packaging

Housing could waste most of efforts devoted in MMIC design in order to obtain

state of the art results

Housing has influence on

Self resonances

Matching (Gain and Noise)

Reliability

For Cryogenic MMICs devices,

Differential CTE between all the

joined elements MUST be

carefully taken into account ,

because STRESS between

components can DAMAGE them

Crucial Aspects are:

Housing Alloys

Attaching method

The choice is not unique BUT is

APPLICATION DEPENDANT



I N A F

Conclusion

o Array receiver architecture make the MMIC opportunity more than

attractive. Several examples of array receivers already prove it.

o Semiconductor scenario give several opportunity to exploit MMIC

potentiality

o Excellent MMIC design is a necessary starting point but it is not

SUFFICIENT

o MIC designers experiences and manufacturer skillness are

NECESSARY in order to realise the devices

o Radioastronomy can get many advantages by MMICs

o Developing an MMIC foundry process oriented to cryogenic

radioastronomical applications is NOT a foundry mainstream

o MMICs R&D on foundry process and on devices is EXPENSIVE

o Radioastronomical community MUST SYNERGICALLY INVEST on it



I N A F

Research Groups involved in the described activities

I N A F

PHAR S

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Escudo_Unican.svg



I N A F

Thanks

For your attention

A. Cremonini

mmics for multi pixel receivers a. cremonini · mmics for multi pixel receivers a. cremonini i n a...

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