A millimetre-wave detector for short range applications

Abstract

In this paper, a GaAs millimetre-wave detector for positive bias is presented. The circuit uses a 0.20 /spl mu/m GM Schottky diode and achieves a state of the art sensitivity of approximately 1100 mV/mW under optimum conditions in the 65.5 GHz range. The bias is applied through a voltage divider, allowing for signals with very low frequencies to be detected. The detector has been integrated together with a patch antenna onto a single chip of 1.0/spl times/1.5 mm/sup 2/, exhibiting similar sensitivities to the stand alone version. The integration resulted in a very small, mass producible detector circuit for broadband broadcasting, millimetre-wave propagation measurements, and motion detection applications.