Large-Signal Technique for Designing Single-Frequency and Voltage-Controlled GaAs FET Oscillators

A systematic procedure is described for designing fixed-frequency and voltage-tuned GaAs FET oscillators for optimum large-signal performance. The approach is based on the use of a large-signal FET model for de-embedding dominant device nonlinearities, leading to a method which is both accurate and simple to apply. The viability of the technique is demonstrated with a 17-GHz fixed-frequency oscillator and a 7.4 to 13.1-GHz varactor-tuned oscillator. Design considerations as well measured performance characteristics are discussed in detail.