Varactor-tuned integrated Gunn oscillators

Electronic tuning of Gunn diodes in hybrid integrated circuits has been studied. Microstrip transmission lines were used to form resonant circuits into which a Gunn diode and a varactor diode were mounted to provide the microwave power and frequency tuning, respectively. Basically, two types of circuits have been investigated. The first is a half-wavelength open-circuited microstrip `cavity' with this transmission line and the varactor diode attached between the end of the cavity and an RF ground. The second is a lumped LC circuit in which the inductance of a short high-impedance microstrip line is resonated with the lumped capacitance of the varactor diode. The latter circuit provides a tuning range of over 10 percent at 7.5 GHz. The power output varies within 2 dB in the tuning range.