50GHz Double-Balanced Up-Conversion Mixer Using CMOS 90nm Process

Abstract

This paper reports the first millimeter-wave double-balanced up-conversion mixer that is realized using a standard CMOS 90nm process. The circuit integrates passive on-chip baluns for single-ended to differential-ended conversions at the high frequency LO and RF ports and an active balun at the IF port. The passive baluns use a stacked configuration and also provide impedance matching to improve conversion gain. The active balun employs the quasi-symmetric properties of the drain and the source of the MOSFET to provide a balanced output. The mixer has a measured 11dB conversion loss and a LO rejection of 26.5dB. The power consumption is 13.2mW.