39.5-GHZ STATIC FREQUENCY-DIVIDER IMPLEMENTED IN ALINAS/GAINAS HBT TECHNOLOGY

A static divide-by-4 frequency divider operating at 39.5 GHz with a corresponding gate delay of 12.6 ps was implemented using InP-based HBT technology. The AlInAs / GaInAs HBT devices utilized in the divider incorporated a graded emitter-base (E-B) junction and had a unity gain cutoff frequency f(T), maximum frequency of oscillation f(max), and current gain beta of 130 GHz, 91 GHz, and 39, respectively. The divider was operated with a 3-V power supply and consumed a total power of 425 mW (77 mW per flip-flop). The divider functional yield was over 90%. The operating frequency of this circuit is the highest ever reported for a static divider.