A low-cost, wide-band 60 GHz down-converter module for multi-gigabit per second wireless communication

This paper presents a low-cost down-converter module for 60 GHz short-range multi-gigabit per second wireless applications. The 60 GHz down-converter IC, consisting of a mixer, a VCO, a frequency doubler and a PLL, is realized in a low-cost SiGe HBT technology and packaged using low-cost substrate material and wire-bonding techniques with compensated interconnect structures. The packaged module shows 2.5 dB conversion gain at 60 GHz and a very wide IF bandwidth of 10 GHz, covering the complete 60 GHz ISM band. The module has been tested in a short range 60 GHz system with up to 2 Gbit/s data rate and error-free transmission have been achieved.