Compact Low Frequency Tripler With Integrated Filter for Space Applications

In this paper, design and development of an active low frequency tripler with an integrated filter is presented for space applications. The proposed active tripler is designed using bipolar junction transistor (BJT) embedded with both lumped and distributed networks as harmonic terminations, to achieve better than 50dBc harmonic suppression along with good return loss which is the cornerstone of the design. The frequency tripler is fabricated on 25mil Rogers TMM10i substrate and has dimensions of 65mm$\times$50mm. The fabricated tripler provides conversion loss of 7dB with 248MHz typical input frequency and return loss of better than 13dB and has stable performance over −15°C to 55°C temperature range. The reported tripler has extremely good return loss and harmonic suppression when compared to state-of-the-art designs and has been successfully used in Ka band radar altimeter system of Chandrayaan mission.