A 315-345 GHz quad-port balanced tripler with inherent suppressions on even-order harmonics using discrete Schottky diodes

A high-efficiency frequency tripler operating up to 330 GHz is developed based on a novel quad-port balanced configuration. The proposed circuit could inhibit the even-order harmonics with great idler loops, leaving out the lossy capacitors required in conventional triplers. Meanwhile, this topology employs two pairs of discrete Schottky diodes, which could increase the power-handling capability by a factor of 2. In this way, a 330 GHz balanced tripler is implemented with four discrete Schottky diodes mounted on a 30-mu m-thick quartz substrate. At room temperature, the implemented tripler module features a peak output power of 41.1 mW (@321.4 GHz) and a peak efficiency of 12.4%.