DYNAMIC FREQUENCY DIVIDER CIRCUIT

摘要

The invention relates to a Frequency Divider Circuit for dividing an input RF signal to a frequency divided RF signal. The circuit comprises a RF pair, a switching-quad pair coupled in series with a transimpedance amplifier and a double pair of emitter followers. The circuit comprises coupling elements for providing first DC paths to first amplifier paths of the RF pair and for providing second DC paths to second amplifier paths of the series arrangement of the switching-quad pair and the transimpedance amplifier. The first DC paths are independent of the second DC paths. RF connections are provided to couple the first and the second amplifier paths for transferring a signal from the first amplifier paths to the second amplifier paths.

主权项

1. A dynamic frequency divider circuit for operating in a mm-wave band and for dividing an input RF signal to a frequency divided RF signal, the dynamic frequency divider circuit comprising:
an RF pair comprising a differential pair of first amplifier elements and first differential control terminals for receiving the input RF signal, the differential pair comprising first amplifier paths being response to the input RF signal; a switching-quad pair comprising a double differential pair of second amplifier elements in a cross-coupled arrangement and second differential control terminals for receiving a feedback signal, wherein the double differential pair comprises double second amplifier paths responsive to the feedback signal, and the switching-quad pair comprises differential output terminals connected with the double second amplifier paths; a transimpedance amplifier coupled in series with the switching-quad pair and configured to amplify the signal of the differential output terminals; a double pair of emitter followers configured to buffer the amplified signal received from the transimpedance amplifier, wherein the double pair of emitter followers comprises follower input terminals configured to receive the amplified signal from the transimpedance amplifier and further comprising output terminals for providing the feedback signal and the frequency divided RF signal; DC voltage supply rails; first coupling elements configured to provide the first amplifier paths with a first DC connection between the DC voltage supply rails; second coupling elements configured to provide the double second amplifier paths with a second DC connection between the DC voltage supply rails, wherein the second DC connection being parallel to the first DC connection; and RF connections between the first amplifier paths and double second amplifier paths configured to transfer a RF signal from the first amplifier paths to the double second amplifier paths.