A 1.5-GHZ PROGRAMMABLE DIVIDE-BY-N GAAS COUNTER

A GaAs divide-by-N programmable counter has been fabricated for use in microwave frequency synthesizers and other applications. The counter uses a 1- mu m depletion-mode MESFET process. The counter is typically capable of dividing an input frequency of DC to 1. 5 GHz by any divisor from 3 to 64 over a temperature range of minus 60 to 100 degree C. Input and output translators are incorporated to render the device fully compatible with emitter-coupled logic (ECL) logic levels. Power dissipation for the chip is 1. 4 W. A custom gigahertz-rate automated digital IC tester has been used to characterize the counter. Reliability data to date indicate a minimum mean time to failure (MTTF) of 1. 8 multiplied by 10**6 h at 100 degree C.