A new 5-13 GHz slow-wave SPDT switch with reverse-saturated SiGe HBTs

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/LMWC.2017.2701328

This letter describes the analysis, design, and measured results of a fully integrated single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch developed in 0.25-mu m silicon-germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS process technology, which features SiGe HBTs with peak f(T) / f(max) of 110/180 GHz. The switch is designed based on a shunt-shunt topology with a combination of various design and layout optimization approaches to improve the insertion loss (IL), isolation, and power handling capability. The designed switch including the applied techniques results in a measured IL of 2.3 dB and isolation of 32 dB at 8 GHz. The switch is able to attain a state-of-the-art input referred 1-dB compression point (IP1 dB) up to 30 dBm while drawing a current of 3 mA from a 6 V supply. The die has an area of only 775 mu m x 820 mu m. To the author's knowledge, the presented work is the first SPDT switch ever reported, that incorporates slow-wave transmission lines and reverse-saturated heterojunction bipolar transistors at the specified frequency range.