RF/Microwave Low Noise Oscillators

Liang Zhou, Yiming You, Marc Salin, C. Broomfield, J K A Everard
Theories have been developed which show how minimum sideband noise can be obtained in oscillators. It is shown that there are a number of optimum coupling coefficients between the resonator and amplifier as illustrated in the figure below. Typically the optimum noise performance occurs when QL/Q0 is 1/2 or 2/3 dependent on the definition of power within the oscillator. In General QL/Q0 = 1/2 is optimum. Low noise oscillators operating from 1 MHz to 10 GHz have been built which use Inductor Capacitor (LC), crystal, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW), Dielectric, Helical and Transmission Line Resonators. These oscillators demonstrate noise performance usually within 1 dB of the predicted minimum. MMIC low noise oscillators have been designed and fabricated. Tunable low noise oscillators (both hybrid and MMIC) have been built and are under further investigation. Non linear modelling techniques, using Volterra Series, have been developed which accurately predict the output power and the operating frequency. Ultra-low noise reference standards for operation up to 20 GHz are being developed using sapphire dielectric resonators. Present performance at 7.5 GHz exceeds -143dBc/Hz @ 10 kHz offset. Improvements of around 35dB are currently under investigation. New techniques have just been developed (Sept. 2000 see publications, patent applications and book below) which suppress the flicker noise by 20dB down to the thermal limits for offsets above 10kHz. The phase noise results are now within 1/2 dB of the theoretical minimum noise performance set by thermal noise. This is achieved by using feedforward amplifiers as the oscillator sustaining stage and incorporating the limiting elsewhere.

Supported by EPSRC

Phase noise in oscillators: Noise power versus Q_L/Q_Ofrom theory (solid curve) and experiment (points x).

Flicker Noise Measurement and Reduction

J K A Everard, P Dallas
Flicker noise causes considerable degradation to the performance of oscillators and dividers which use GaAs. A system for measuring the low frequency Flicker noise on the gate and drain of a GaAs FET and the AM and PM components that these Flicker noises transpose onto a carrier has been developed as shown below. This system has been used to measure the cross correlation between the low frequency and the demodulated high frequency noises by measuring all the components simultaneously on a digitizing oscilloscope. These measurements can be used to determine the Flicker noise sources in GaAs FETs and the correlation between them. Flicker noise reduction techniques in GaAs FET oscillators are being investigated. Transposed Gain Oscillators offer -143 dBc/Hz @ 10 kHz offset at 7.5 GHz. New techniques have just been developed (Sept. 2000 see publications, patent applications and book below) which suppress the flicker noise by 20dB down to the thermal limits for offsets above 10kHz. The phase noise results are now within 1/2 dB of the theoretical minimum noise performance set by thermal noise. This is achieved by using feedforward amplifiers as the oscillator sustaining stage and incorporating the limiting elsewhere. Low frequency feedback for flicker noise suppression is now being re-investigated and optimised.

Supported by EPSRC

Noise measurement system.

Typical cross correlation between drain noise and AM component.

Tunable Resonators and Low Loss Filters

J K A Everard
New design techniques have been applied to microwave bandpass filters to demonstrate compact low cost filters using transmission lines, helical resonators and capacitors. Stripline filter structures which demonstrate very low radiation loss have been developed as shown. These filters do not require screening boxes and have the inherent high Qs of the materials used. Unloaded Qs of 520 have been obtained at 5 GHz in unscreened filters and unloaded Qs of 80 have been achieved at 21GHz on microwave resonators. New resonators (both hybrid and MMIC) which can tune over a near octave frequency range have been developed for use in tunable microwave oscillators and filters. New high Q (235 at 2GHz) very compact resonators and filters base on printed helical resonators have been developed. These have been designed to ensure that the standing wave current is near zero through the via hole. Resistive loading has been used to suppress even order responses.

Ultra high Q resonators operating at room temperature are currently under investigation. Room temperature Qs of 24,000 and 60,000 are readily achieved with simple structures using BaTiO3 and Sapphire respectively. New structures with a 10 fold improvement in Q (at room temperature) are currently being modelled and investigated.

Supported by EPSRC

Low loss 4.5 GHz bandpass filter.

Frequency response (insertion loss) of unscreened bandpass filter.

Broadband Power Efficient RF and Microwave Amplifiers

J K A Everard
Broadband power efficient Class E amplifiers have been developed for use from 120 to 180 MHz. New CAD techniques were developed to implement the rapid design and evaluation of such circuits. New circuits which present the optimum complex impedance to the active device over a broad frequency range have been developed. These design techniques are now being extended to produce hybrid, microstrip and MMIC versions operating above 900 MHz for use in mobile telephones and communications systems. Distributed load networks have been developed which produce efficiencies greater than 75% with 500 mW output power at 1 GHz. A 'real time' load network simulator has been written which allows full tuning of the component values and frequency while observing the waveforms at all the nodes in 'real time' on an oscilloscope like display.

Microwave Broadband Negative Group Delay Circuits

C Broomfield, J K A Everard
Microwave negative group delay circuits offering octave bandwidths have recently been produced - see Electronics letters November 2000, Vol. 36, No33.

Dynamic Self Routing All Optical Switches

J K A Everard, M Page-Jones
All optical Switches have been developed which automatically route optical data signals where the data, destination address and optical power are all contained within the single optical laser beam. This is the optical equivalent of the old Strowger Exchange. A new all optical system with one input and three outputs has recently been demonstrated at the Royal Society using an input optical power of 300 micro-watts. This is believed to be the first all optical switch which contains the data, destination address and power all within the same 300 microwatt I/P laser beam. The switch operates by automatically producing a diffraction grating within an non linear crystal which rotates according to the destination address. The coding is carried within the autocorrelation of the input signal which in this case is the distance between adjacent pulses.

All optical switching.

Demonstration of switching between

O/P 1

and

O/P 2

Picosecond Opto-Electronics

J K A Everard, N Ghogomu
Ultra-fast opto-electronic detectors and mixers have been developed with bandwidths extending from DC to 50 GHz (5 ps rise time). Most recently a 3-wave opto-electronic mixer has been demonstrated which detects two optical signals spaced 33 GHz apart. These signals are detected and downconverted to 500 MHz all within the same device. MMIC versions, as illustrated below, have been fabricated and shown to work. Analysis predicts performance often better than ideal photodiodes. These devices are being used for coherent detection and downconversion and as phase detectors for phase locking semiconductor lasers. Current devices demonstrate a sensistivity of -60dBm @ 33GHz in a 1MHz bandwidth with a S/N=1. Shot Noise limited subpicosecond devices are currently being investigated.

33 GHz 3-wave opto-electronic mixer.

Optical Fibre Spectrum Analysers

J K A. Everard, M Page-Jones
An optical fibre spectrum analyser has been built which uses a Michelson fibre interferometer to measure the autocorrelation function and hence the spectrum of optical signals. The autocorrelation function is obtained by using the stretching of polarisation maintaining fibre in a balanced configuration. Differential delays of 3 cms in a scan time of 50 ms have been achieved. Techniques for joining Andrews single mode elliptically cored fibre to D fibre with transmission greater than 80% have been developed. This allowed all fibre systems to be built. These systems can also be used for fibre sensors and for programming the all optical self-routing switches

Supported by EPSRC

Optical Fibre Sensors

J K A Everard, N Ghogomi, R Thomas, M Page-Jones
Microwave radar techniques (Spread Spectrum Raman OTDR) have been used to develop a distributed optical fibre temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature distribution over a Kilometre of fibre with degree sensitivity and metre spatial resolution as shown below. Coherent Brillouin temperature sensors have been demonstrated and are under further investigation. New sensors with sub meter resolution are being developed.

Supported by EPSRC and University of York

Measurement of temperature over 1 km using an optical fibre sensor.

MMIC Implementations of Opto-Electronic and Microwave Circuits

J K A Everard
Oscillators, tunable resonators, filters, high efficiency amplifiers and photoconductive three wave optical mixers and detectors have been built on hybrid and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC's). Currently complete radio transmitters (including the power efficient RF amplifier) and receivers are being designed on monolithic microwave integrated circuits and have already been built in hybrid form. A microwave Doppler Radar is shown below. Coherent optical receivers and downconverters incorporating the microwave oscillators are being designed.

Supported by EPSRC

Microwave Doppler Radar.

Future Projects

RF and Microwaves:
Ultra Low Noise Tunable Reference Oscillators with Phase Noise ~ -180dBc at 10kHz offset at X band
Broad Tuning Low Noise VCOs
Highly Power Efficient Low Noise Oscillators
Linear Broadband Highly Efficient Power Amplifiers
High Q Printed Filters and Resonators

Optoelectronics:
High Resolution Distributed Temperature Sensing using Brillouin Backscatter From Optical Fibres
Sub-picosecond Optoelectronic Detectors operating above 1 Tera-Hertz
Waveguide All Optical Self-routing Switches

Teaching

RF and Microwave Circuit Design: 4th year MEng course, Part of Masters MSc in Communications and 1week courses for industry as part of the Integrated Graduate Development Scheme (IGDS). These courses can also be taken individually or within a part time MSc. <>
The course reviews the fundamentals of RF circuit theory, and then describes the detailed design principles used in RF receiver and transmitter design. These include:
Component models including: bipolar transistors, FETs, diode detectors, printed and wirewound inductors, surface mount resistors and capacitors
S,Y,Z parameter definition, conversion manipulation and calculation. - Equiivalent circuit model extraction using parameter manipulation.
Low noise small signal amplifiers including: matching, (matching network Q), noise matching and noise measurement techniques and biasing.
Broadband small signal amplifiers, feedback for optimum input and output impedance
Low Phase Noise Oscillators
Frequency Synthesizers
Power amplifiers - Real time time Large signal modelling
Mixers
Filters

To support the design process active/passive device models and construction techniques are described.

Practical design and measurement techniques are included in the extensive laboratory classes. Highlights include the design, construction and measurement of a low noise amplifier, a filter and a low phase noise oscillator. Frequency response measurements are performed on the amplifier and filter. Noise measurements are performed on the amplifier. Open loop characterization and closed loop phase noise measurements are performed on the oscillators. The results are compared with theory. Modern CAD techniques (using HP/EESOF Series IV software) will be introduced.

Recommend Course text: 'Fundamentals of RF Circuit Design with Low Noise Oscillators', Jeremy Everard, Wiley, ISBN: 0-471-49793

Analogue Circuit Design - e.g. design of silicon based opamp integrated circuits
9 lecture course on the internal design of operational amplifiers (1 lecture/week)
3 Tutorials/workshops in weeks 3, 6, 9
Year 2/3, Term two

Syllabus: The monolithic operational amplifier - internal construction and circuit topologies. T and pi transistor models - gain and impedance variation with current at LF, frequency response, hybrid parameters, fT, Miller Effect, common base and cascode. Difference amplifier - differential and common mode gain. Current sources/mirrors (Wildar/Wilson) – Early voltage, active loads, O/P impedance, calculation of Voltage Offsets. Output stages: Class A - Emitter follower + current source; I/P and O/P impedance, transfer characteristics and distortion. (Complementary output stages, Class B, Class A/B). Some Op-Amp
circuits - effect of feedback on I/P and O/P impedance and stability.

Recommended Text Book: Analysis and Design of Analogue Integrated Circuits, Paul R. Gray and Robert G. Meyer - Wiley
Additional Reading: Fundamentals of RF circuit design with low noise oscillators, Jeremy Everard - Wiley

Provisional Timetable:

Lecture 1 + 2
Aims of course
Introduction to operational amplifiers
Ideal op amp; high I/P, Low O/P impedance, effect of feedback on input and output resistance for inverting/non inverting opamps.
Gain Bandwidth product - compensation.

Application circuits: Adder and D to A, Integrator, Schmitt Trigger, Logarithmic Amplifier – Triangular Waveform generator with SPICE simulation.

Lecture 3 + 4
Circuit Topologies
T and pi transistor models: gain and impedance variation with current at LF
Frequency response - Hybrid parameters and fT - Miller Effect/capacitance - component value multipliers/dividers
Common Base
Cascode

Lecture 5 + 6
O/P impedance of common emitter amplifier with external emitter resistor
O/P impedance of Cascode

Difference amplifier:
Large Signal Performance
Emitter degeneration for linearisation
Differential and Common Mode Gain

Lecture 7 + 8
Current sources/mirrors (Wildar/Wilson)– Early Voltage
Active Loads – Small Signal Gain
Gain and O/P impedance of emitter coupled difference amplifier with active loads
Calculation of Voltage Offsets

Lecture 9
Output stages: Class A, Emitter follower + current source; I/P and O/P impedance,
transfer characteristics and distortion.
(Complementary output stages, Class B, Class A/B)

Additional notes available on request – not in exam
Modern IC Processes

Analogue Filter Design (3rd year)
9 lecture course, 3 workshops and two labs (Sallen and Key)
Approximation: Butterworth and Chebyshev functions and Pole positions
Synthesis: RC Sallen and Key: LC ladder networks, calculation of normalised values using Darlington insertion loss technique and Cauer expansion
Frequency and impedance denormalisation. Low pass to high pass and bandpass conversion.

Former Teaching:
Electromagnetism and Engineering Physics
Opto-electronics

Typical Final year (third and fourth year) projects:
Low noise oscillators
High Q printed resonators and filters
High Efficiency amplifiers
Radio Receivers - FM tuners, amateur radio
Transceivers - Amateur radio
TV Satellite Receivers (10 GHz)
Printed Doppler Radar modules using patch Antennas and dielectric resonators (10.67GHz).
Miniature radio controlled aircraft
Steam powered radio controlled aircraft

Optical fibre lasers
Fourier Transform optical spectrum analyser
Optical fibre LIDAR for distributed temperature sensing using Raman Backscatter
Holographic movie projector
Optical fibre intercom

INTENSIVE 1 WEEK COURSE FOR INDUSTRY ON RF CIRCUIT DESIGN
The course reviews the fundamentals of RF circuit theory, and then describes the detailed design principles used in RF receiver and transmitter design. These include:
Component models including: bipolar transistors, FETs, diode detectors, printed and wirewound inductors, surface mount resistors and capacitors
S,Y,Z parameter definition, conversion manipulation and calculation
Low noise small signal amplifiers including noise measurement techniques
Broadband small signal amplifiers, feedback for optimum input and output impedance
Low Phase Noise Oscillators
Frequency Synthesizers
Power amplifiers
Mixers
Filters

To support the design process active/passive device models and construction techniques are described.

Course Information from CPD Office

Typical Final year Projects

1. Ultra-stable Low Noise Oscillators
The aim of this project is to develop low noise tuneable oscillators operating at the theoretical minimum phase noise level or ultra-stable dielectric resonators oscillators using Bragg type structures with Qs around ½ million at 10GHz. These oscillators will incorporate:

1. Printed high Q resonators
2. Ultra-high Q dielectric resonators
3. Microwave amplifiers optimised for minimum flicker noise
4. Optimum varactor coupled resonators

The work will involve both analytical, experimental and CAD optimisation of circuits using HP EESOF software capable of both circuit and field-based analysis. Circuits will be based on microstrip and coplanar circuit design. This work is well supported with a new EPSRC grant and microwave test equipment operating up to 40GHz.

There is a good chance of publication in an academic journal. Previous years work has been published.

2. Printed Doppler Radar
The aim of the project is to develop a doppler radar module (10.675GHz) using patch antennas and Silicon Germanium based oscillators using printed or dielectric resonator oscillators.

This will require:
1. Design of Patch antennas at 10GHz
2. Design of low noise oscillators using printed or dielectric resonators
3. Design of microwave mixers
4. Design of low noise amplifiers and filters.
5. Use of advanced CAD tools.

3. RF/Microwave Spectrum Analyser
The aim of this work will be to develop a high performance spectrum analyser operating up to 3GHz using high technology low cost printed microwave boards.

This will involve the design of:
1. Low Noise Oscillators
2. low phase noise rapid tuning frequency Synthesisers
3. Low pass and band pass filters
4. amplifiers and mixers.

The designs will involve the use of analytical, experimental and CAD techniques using the latest software and microwave test equipment. There is a good chance of publication, of new oscillator circuits, in an academic journal .

4. Miniature Surveillance Aircraft
The aim of this work will be to develop very small radio controlled aircraft incorporating a camera. The project will involve the development of:

1 Very lightweight radio control
2. miniature aircraft design
3. Development of optimum thrust and flight duration.
4. Development of miniature camera and transmitter electronics.

The project will involve the use of modern RF/microwave circuit design techniques applied to miniature electronic circuits and the development of miniature avionics systems.

Highly Efficient Multi-band Power Amplifiers for Mobile Telephones
The aim of this project is to develop highly efficient power amplifiers operating between 900MHz and 1.8GHz. These amplifiers will incorporate:

1. Review of best designs currently on the market.
2. High Q resonators using printed transmission lines, coils and capacitors.
3. Non linear device modelling.
4. Optimisation of the amplifier for high efficiency.
5. Optimisation of the amplifier for linear and low spurious response during switch on and off.

The work will involve both analytical, experimental and CAD optimisation of circuits using HP EESOF software which is capable of both circuit and field-based analysis. Circuits will be based on microstrip and coplanar circuit design. This work is well supported with a new EPSRC grant and microwave test equipment operating up to 50GHz. There is a good chance of publication in an academic journal. Previous year’s work has been published. Sponsorship from companies is also possible.

Other projects in the RF and Microwave area and optoelectronics are also available.

Consultancies

RF and Microwave Circuit and System Design:
Low Phase Noise Oscillators; High Efficiency and Conventional Amplifiers; Printed Filters, Mixers and Antennas
Spectrum Analyser Design
Compact Microwave Dopplar Radars
Copyright Infringement of Electronic Circuits
Optoelectronic Design

Selected Publications

BOOKS
Jeremy Everard "Fundamentals of RF Circuit Design with Low Noise Oscillators" ISBN 0 47149793 2, Wiley - December 2000 reprinted Oct.2002.

Editors D. Haigh and J.K.A. Everard. "Gallium Arsenide Technology and its Impact on Circuits and Systems". Published by Peter Peregrinus Ltd., August 31st 1989. Chapter 8 (J.K.A. Everard) on Low noise oscillators, pp. 237-280.

Selected Academic Journal Papers (Most Recent First)

J.K.A. Everard and C. Broomfield, "High Q printed Helical Resonators for Low Noise Oscillators and Filters”, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, Vol. 54, No. 9, September 2007, pp 1741-1750. (PDF available from author or IEEE).

J.K.A. Everard and C. Broomfield, “Reduced Transposed Flicker Noise in Microwave Oscillators using GaAs based Feedforward Amplifiers”, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control. Vol. 54, No. 6, June 2007, pp.1108 – 1117. (PDF available from author or IEEE).

J.K.A. Everard and L. Zhou. “Non Linear Effects in varactor tuned resonators” IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2006, pp.853 – 861. (PDF available from author or IEEE).

A.J. Wilkinson and J.K.A. Everard. "Transmission Line Load-Network Topology for Class E Power Amplifiers". IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 49, No. 6, June 2001, pp.1202-1210. (PDF available from author or IEEE).

Jeremy Everard "Fundamentals of RF Circuit Design with Low Noise Oscillators" ISBN 0 47149793 2, Wiley - December 2000

CD Broomfield and J.K.A. Everard “Broadband negative group delay networks for compensation of oscillators, filters and communication systems". Electronics Letters, Vol.23, November 2000, pp1931 - 1933. (PDF Available from Author)

J.K.A. Everard and C.D. Broomfield “Transposed flicker noise suppression in microwave oscillators using feedforward amplifiers. Electronics Letters, Vol.20, September 28th 2000, pp. 1710-1711. (PDF available from Author)

J.K.A. Everard "A Tutorial on: "The Fundamental Theory of Low Noise Oscillators with Specific Reference to some Detailed Designs" IEEE Frequency Control Symposium, 130 slides, June 2000 Kansas City - Available at the UFFC website -.

P.A. Dallas and J.K.A. Everard, "Characterization of flicker noise in GaAs MESFETs for oscillator applications" IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 48, No. 2, February 2000, pp. 245-257. (PDF available from author or IEEE)

N.N. Ghogomu and J.K.A. Everard. “Coherent Photoconductive Detection of Brillouin Scattering for Temperature Sensing”. Electronics Letters, August 1995, Vol. 31, No. 18pp.1606-1607.

J.K.A. Everard and M.A. Page-Jones. “All Optical Remote Switching for Multiplexed Optical Fibre Sensors and Communications Systems” IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, July 1995, Vol. 13,No.7, pp. 1277-1281. (PDF available from author)

K.K.M. Cheng and J.K.A. Everard. “A New Technique for the Quasi-TEM Analysis of Conductor backed Coplanar Waveguide Structures”. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. September 1993, Vol. 41, Number 9, pp.1589-1592. (PDF available from author)

J.K.A. Everard and K.K.M. Cheng. “High performance Direct Coupled Bandpass filters on Coplanar Waveguide”.IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. September 1993, Vol. 41, Number 9, pp.1568-1573. (PDF available from author)

J.K.A. Everard, A.K. Powell, M. Page-Jones and T. Hall. “Self Routing Optical Interconnects” Electronics Letters 12th March 1992, Vol. 28 No. 6, pp. 556-558. K.K.M. Cheng and J.K.A. Everard. “Accurate Formulae for Efficient Calculation of the Characteristic Impedance of Microstrip Line. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. September 1991, Vol. 39, Number 9, pp.1658-1661.

K.K.M. Cheng and J.K.A. Everard."Noise Performance Degradation in Feedback oscillators with non zero phase error", Microwave and Optical Technology Letters. Vol.4, No.2, 20 Jan 1991, pp.64-66.

K.K.M. Cheng and J.K.A Everard "Semi-lumped Element Microwave Bandpass Filter". Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, June 1990, Vol.3, No.6, pp.212-214.

M. Page-Jones and J.K.A. Everard. "Optical Fibre Spectrum Analyser" Electronics Letters 18th January 1990.Vol.26, No.2. pp. 117-118.

J.K.A. Everard, K.K.M. Cheng and P.A. Dallas. "A High Q Helical Resonator for Oscillators and Filters in Mobile Communications Systems" Electronics Letters, 23rd November 1989, Vol. 25, No.24, pp. 1648-1650.

K.K.M. Cheng and J.K.A. Everard "X band Monolithic Tunable Resonator/Filter". Electronics Letters, 9th November 1989, Vol.25, No.23, pp.1587-1589.

E.J. Austin, A. Bar-lev, J.K.A. Everard. "Theoretical study of a Double Quantum Well Photoconductive Device" Journal of the Institute of Physics, Semiconductor Science and Technology, November 1st 1989, Vol.4, Issue 11, pp.931-937.

J.K.A. Everard and R. Thomas. "Coherent Detection of Stimulated Brillouin Backscatter on a Photo-conductive Three Wave Mixer for Sensing Applications". Electronics Letters 31st August 1989, Vol. 25, No.18 pp.1236-1237.

K.K.M. Cheng and J.K.A. Everard. "Novel varactor tuned transmission line resonator". Electronics Letters, 17th August 1989, Issue 17, Vol. 25, pp.1164-1165.

J.K.A. Everard and K.K.M. Cheng. "Novel Low noise 'Fabry Perot' transmission line oscillator". Electronics Letters, 17th August 1989, Issue 17, Vol. 25, pp.1106-1108.

J.K.A. Everard and R. Thomas "Distributed optical fibre temperature sensor using spread spectrum techniques" Elec. Letters, 19th January 1989 Vol.25, No. 2, pp.140-142.

J.K.A. Everard and A.J. King "Broadband Power Efficient Class E Amplifiers with a non Linear CAD Model of the Active Device". Journal of the IERE, March/April 1987, Vol. 57, No. 2, pp. 52-58.

J.K.A. Everard "Low Noise Power Efficient Oscillators: Theory and Design" IEE Proceedings Part G, Vol. 133, No.4, August 1986, pp. 172-180.

J.K.A. Everard and J.E.Carroll. "Practical Comparisons of Opto-electronic sampling systems and devices". IEE Proc. Vol.130, Part I,Feb. 1983. pp. 5-16.

Selected Conference Publications (Most Recent First)

Jeremy Everard and Keng Ng, ‘Ultra-Low Phase Noise Crystal Oscillators’, 2007 Joint European Frequency and Time Forum and the IEEE Frequency Control Symposium, Geneva, Switzerland, 29th May to 1st June 2007.

Jeremy K.A. Everard ‘Low Phase Noise Oscillators Including Some Detailed Designs’, 2007 Joint European Frequency and Time Forum and the IEEE Frequency Control Symposium, Geneva, Switzerland, 29th May to 1st June 2007. INVITED

Jeremy K.A. Everard and Konstantinos Theodoropoulos ‘Ultra-Low Phase Noise Ceramic based Dielectric Resonator Oscillators’, IEEE Frequency Control Symposium, Miami USA, June 2006.

Liang Zhou and Jeremy Everard , ‘Non-Linear Effects In Varactor Tuned Resonators’, Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium held jointly with the European Frequency and Time Forum, Tampa USA, May 2003, pp. 853 – 860.

Carl Broomfield and Jeremy Everard, ‘High Q Printed Helical Resonators And Filters’, Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium held jointly with the European Frequency and Time Forum, Tampa USA, May 2003, pp. 819 - 822.

Carl Broomfield, Yiming You, Richard Parsons and Jeremy Everard, ‘Broad Tuning Microwave Oscillators Utilising Multilayer Technology And Sige Devices’, Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium held jointly with the European Frequency and Time Forum, Tampa USA, May 2003, pp. 417 - 422.

Marc Sallin (Visiting from ETH), Liang Zhou, Carl Broomfield and Jeremy Everard, ‘Broad Tuning Ultra Low Noise Dielectric Resonator Oscillators operating At 10GHz Utilising Ceramic Based Resonators’, Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium held jointly with the European Frequency and Time Forum, Tampa USA, May 2003, pp. 411 - 416.

J. Everard and C. Broomfield, “Flicker Noise Removal in Microwave Oscillators using GaAs based Feedforward Amplifiers”. Proceedings of the IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium, June 4th - 8th, 2001, Seattle Washington, USA, pp.156-161.

J. Everard and C. Broomfield, “Reduced Flicker Noise in Microwave Oscillators using Feedforward Amplifiers”. Proceedings of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Symposium, May 20th - 25th, 2001, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, pp.1431-1434.

C.D.Broomfield and J,.K.A. Everard. “Flicker noise reduction using GaAs microwave feedforward amplifiers” Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium 7th –9th June 2000, Kansas City, pp525-530.

C. Broomfield, M.A. Page-Jones and J.K.A. Everard “Low Noise X-band Dielectric Resonator Oscillators using BaTiO3 and Sapphire Dielectric Resonators. IEE Colloquium on Microwave and mm-wave Oscillators and Mixers. 1st December 1998 pp. 6.1 - 6.6.

J.K.A. Everard “Low Noise Oscillators - A review” IEE Colloquium on Microwave and mm-wave Oscillators and Mixers. 1st December 1998 pp1.1 - 1.10.

J.K.A. Everard and J. Bitterling “Low Phase Noise Highly Power Efficient Oscillators” 1997 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium, May 27th-30th, Orlando, USA, pp919-924 (PDF available from the Author).

J.K.A. Everard “A Review of Low Noise Oscillator, Theory and Design” 1997 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium, May 27th-30th 1997, Orlando, USA, pp.909-918. (PDF available from author)

M.A. Page-Jones and J.K.A. Everard. “Enhanced Transposed Gain Microwave Oscillators”. European Frequency and Time Forum, 5th to 7th March, Brighton 1996, pp.275-278.

J.K.A. Everard. “Low Noise Oscillators, Theory and Design” Invited paper at the European Frequency and Time Forum, 5th to 7th March, Brighton 1996, pp.436-441.

J.K.A. Everard and M.A. Page-Jones, “Ultra Low Noise Microwave Oscillators with Low Residual Flicker Noise”, IEEE International Microwave Symposium, Orlando May 16th -20th 1995, pp. 693-696.

J.K.A. Everard and M.A. Page-Jones. “All Optical Remote Switching for Multiplexed Optical Fibre Sensors”. Post deadline paper, 10th International Optical Fibre Sensors Conference, OFS(10), Glasgow, October 11th to 13th, 1994.

N.N. Ghogomu and J.K.A. Everard. “Brillouin Temperature Sensing with a Photoconductive Mixer” Post deadline paper, 10th International Optical Fibre Sensors Conference, OFS(10), Glasgow, October 11th to 13th, 1994.

J.K.A. Everard, A.K. Powell, M. Page-Jones. “All Optical Self Routing Interconnects” Post deadline paper at CLEO 10th-15th May 1992.
J.K.A. Everard. “Low Noise Oscillators” IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Conference, Albuquerque New Mexico, 1-5th June 1992, pp.1077-1080.

P.A. Dallas and J.K.A. Everard. "Measurement of the Cross Correlation between Baseband and Transposed Flicker Noises in a GaAs MESFET". IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Conference, Dallas USA, May 1990, pp. 1261-1264.

J.K.A. Everard and R. Thomas "Microwave and mm Wave Photo-conductive Three Wave Mixers for Coherent Detection and Downconversion of Optical Signals". IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Conference, USA,1990,pp. 237-240.

Selected Patents and Patent Applications Self Routing Optical Interconnects" UK Patent GB2263371
Greatly Enhanced spatial detection of Optical Backscatter for Sensor Applications. UK Patent GB 2190186A
Laser Plasma and Optical Resonator Structures,GB8619017
Opto-electronic correlators and mixers, GB8816250,
Low noise transmission line oscillators, GB8816489
Optical Spectrum Analyser, GB8906702.9,
Helical Resonator" GB8919628.1
Optical Fibre Sensor" GB8919551
Microwave Alarm Sensor" GB 9002106.4
Low Noise Oscillator 0022308.1

Brief CV
Jeremy Everard obtained his degrees from the University of London (King's College) and the University of Cambridge in 1976 and 1983 respectively.

He worked in industry for six years at the GEC Marconi Research Laboratories, M/A-Com and Philips Research Laboratories on Radio and Microwave circuit design. At Philips he ran the Radio Transmitter Project Group.

He then taught RF and Microwave Circuit design, Opto-electronics and Electromagnetism at King's College London for nine years while leading the Physical Electronics Research Group. He became University of London Reader in Electronics at King’s College London in 1990 and Professor of Electronics at the University of York in September 1993.

In the RF/Microwave area his research interests include: The theory and design of low noise oscillators using inductor capacitor (LC), Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW), crystal, dielectric, transmission line, helical and superconducting resonators; flicker noise measurement and reduction in amplifiers and oscillators; high efficiency broadband amplifiers; high Q printed filters with low radiation loss, broadband negative group delay circuits and MMIC implementations.

His current research interests in Opto-electronics include:
All optical self-routing switches which route data-modulated laser beams according to the destination address encoded within the data signal, ultra-fast 3-wave opto-electronic detectors, mixers and phase locked loops and distributed fibre optic sensors.

He has published papers on: oscillators, amplifiers, resonators and filters; all optical switching, optical components, optical fibre sensors and mm-wave optoelectronic devices and most recently a new book on 'Fundamentals of RF Circuit Design with Low Noise Oscillators (Wiley). He has co-edited and co-authored a book on Gallium Arsenide Technology and its impact on Circuits and Systems and contributed to a book on Optical fibre sensors. He has filed Patent applications in many of these areas. He is a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, London and the Institution of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (USA).

Personal Interests

Miniature Radio Controlled Aircraft

Very lightweight electrically powered model aircraft have been built (34 - 80gms). This work has been the subject of many final year projects at York. These typically incorporate a 35MHz four channel FM receiver (2-3gms), speed controller (0.8gms), servos/actuators (1-3gms). The lightest aircraft is currently a 12 inch Biplane weighing 34gms with throttle and rudder control. The heavier aircraft have flight duration times of 1/2 hour. Recently Paul Gregory (who graduated from York in 2002) produced a full avionics package and surveyance aircraft which use a camera with a 2.45GHz downlink with the frequency controlled from the ground where servo and frequency control is achieved using a microprocessor.

Previous Open lecture

RADIO, MICROWAVE AND OPTOELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
Is variety still the spice of life?

Jeremy K.A. Everard
Department of Electronics
University of York

Thursday 30th October 2003 at 7.30pm, Room P/X001
Physics/Electronics Building, University of York

Radio, Microwave and Opto-electronic circuits share similar aims; i.e. the processing of electromagnetic waves to enhance communications and control systems which we now regard as essential for everyday life. These systems vary from mobile phones, radar, cars, air and spacecraft.

Differences between radio and optics arise because of the changes in wavelength of the wave, 3 metres to 0.3 microns, and the way that these signals interact with the lumped and distributed components within the circuit. The fundamental mathematics and physics however are the same; it is just the approximations that are different.

This talk will describe the work on Radio, Microwave and Optoelectronic Circuits at the Department of Electronics, University of York. It will be shown that new electronic, opto-electronic and optical developments occur when radio techniques are applied to optics and vice versa

Topics to illustrate these principles will include:

RF and Microwaves

1.    Low noise (low jitter) oscillators. Oscillators are the reference sine wave generator in most systems from human beings (the heart) to computers to radio and radar.

2.     High Q printed filters - There are always unwanted signals with the wanted signal so how do we remove them using printed copper shapes.

3.     Highly efficient broadband amplifiers - conversion of your battery into a signal that leaves the antenna without wasting power.

4.     Broadband negative group delay circuits - Circuits that appear to have an output before the input arrives.

Optoelectronics
1.    All optical self-routing switches and sensors - Use only light and fibres to pass information around in a controlled way.

2.    Distributed optical fibre temperature sensors - Measure the temperature along the whole channel tunnel using only a single optical fibre

3.    Optical radio

4.    Optical fibre spectrum analysers - Measure the characteristics of light using optical fibres

BACK TO TOP

jkae Sept 2007

Frequency	Oscillator Type	Phase Noise, 10kHz, dBc/Hz	Noise Floor dBc/Hz	Electronic Tuning	Modulation Bandwidth
10MHz	CRYSTAL	-121@1Hz -149@10Hz	<-163	few Hz
1.25GHz	DRO	-173	<-180 at 50kHz	Yes
1.5GHz	CRO	-127	<-165	3MHz	>2MHz
4GHz	DRO	-152	<-170	250kHz	>200kHz
8GHz	DRO	-123	<-170	Yes
10GHz	DRO	-135	<-170	300kHz	>200kHz

RADIO MICROWAVE AND OPTICAL CIRCUITS