50-to-110-GHz high-performance millimeter-wave source modules

Hewlett-Packard Journal, April, 1991 by Mohamed M. Sayed, Giovonnae F. Anderson

If better flatness than this is required either across the entire waveguide band or over a smaller subset of frequencies one can choose to implement the user flatness correction. The user flatness capability allows the operator to set the user correction array start/stop frequencies with up to 505 frequency points. The user flatness correction is performed at the current output power setting, allowing the operator the choice of output power level. With an HP 437B power meter connected to the HP 8360 over the HP-IB interface and the power sensor connected to the output of the millimeter-wave module, the HP 8360 can measure the power and store the flatness offset data into its user flatness array automatically. Alternatively, a user-written calibration program and any power meter can be used. Once the calibration is complete the operator can choose any subset of frequencies within the user flatness correction array and continue to use that portion of the user correction array.

High-Power W-Band Source Module

The output power of the W-band source module is a function of the sum of the conversion losses of the R-band amplifier doubler, the W-band amplifiertripler, and the coupler detector. Since these conversion or insertion losses are optimum in the middle of the W-band region, high output power can be obtained in this region. The HP 83558A Option H03 source module was created to satisfy the need for high power around the 94-GHz atmospheric window. The output power is maximized by optimizing the W-band amplifier tripler between 88 to 98 GHz and is higher than 3 dBm. The 5/6 and 7/6 harmonics are out-of-band for this model. The flatness is also better for this frequency range. Fig. 1 shows the output power and flatness of the HP 83558A Option H03.