MIDAS: Automated Approach to Design Microwave Integrated Inductors and Transformers on Silicon

The design of modern radiofrequency integrated circuits on silicon operating at microwave and millimeter-waves requires the integration of several spiral inductors and transformers that are not commonly available in the process design-kits of the technologies. In this work we present an auxiliary CAD tool for Microwave Inductor (and transformer) Design Automation on Silicon (MIDAS) that exploits commercial simulators and allows the implementation of an automatic design flow, including three-dimensional layout editing and electromagnetic simulations. In detail, MIDAS allows the designer to derive a preliminary sizing of the inductor (transformer) on the bases of the design entries (specifications). It draws the inductor (transformer) layers for the specific process design kit, including vias and underpasses, with or without patterned ground shield, and launches the electromagnetic simulations, achieving effective design automation with respect to the traditional design flow for RFICs. With the present software suite the complete design time is reduced significantly (typically 1 hour on a PC based on Intel® Pentium® Dual 1.80GHz CPU with 2-GB RAM). Afterwards both the device equivalent circuit and the layout are ready to be imported in the Cadence environment

Merged simulation procedure for W-band imaging systems

This article presents and discusses a unifying simulation procedure aimed at providing more realistic performance prediction of basic imaging systems, combining 3D EM (3 Dimensions Electro-Magnetic) simulations and nonlinear receiver circuit simulation. New methods are proposed to emulate the radiated emissivity profile of a target body and to use harmonic balance simulation to emulate nonlinear circuit/system response to a broadband noisy stimulus. The procedure focuses mainly on passive imaging, but active imaging including illuminated passive imaging is dealt with and some elemental experiments are presented and discussed for comparisons. The method enables the extrapolation of the frequency response of a single pixel detector to an array with more elements suitable for providing a complete set of pixels and can help in evaluating the most suitable bandwidth according to the operation mode (passive/active), frequency range of operation, desired resolution, and the pixel number-image resolution tradeoff.Spanish Ministry of Economy Science and Innovation, CONSOLIDER‐INGENIO CSD2008‐00068 (TERASENSE), Excellence network SPATEK, Project TEC2014‐58341‐C4‐1‐R., Project TEC2017‐83343‐C4‐1‐R,; University of Cantabria Industrial Doctorate programme 2014, Project: “Estudio y Desarrollo de Tecnologías para Sistemas de Telecomunicación a Frecuencias Milimétricas y de Terahercios con Aplicación a Sistemas de Imaging en la Banda 90 GHz‐100GHz

NASA Tech Briefs, November 2012

The topics include: Visual System for Browsing, Analysis, and Retrieval of Data (ViSBARD); Time-Domain Terahertz Computed Axial Tomography NDE System; Adaptive Sampling of Time Series During Remote Exploration; A Tracking Sun Photometer Without Moving Parts; Surface Temperature Data Analysis; Modular, Autonomous Command and Data Handling Software with Built-In Simulation and Test; In-Situ Wire Damage Detection System; Amplifier Module for 260-GHz Band Using Quartz Waveguide Transitions; Wideband Agile Digital Microwave Radiometer; Buckyball Nucleation of HiPco Tubes; FACT, Mega-ROSA, SOLAROSA; An Integrated, Layered-Spinel Composite Cathode for Energy Storage Applications; Engineered Multifunctional Surfaces for Fluid Handling; Polyolefin-Based Aerogels; Adjusting Permittivity by Blending Varying Ratios of SWNTs; Gravity-Assist Mechanical Simulator for Outreach; Concept for Hydrogen-Impregnated Nanofiber/Photovoltaic Cargo Stowage System; DROP: Durable Reconnaissance and Observation Platform; Developing Physiologic Models for Emergency Medical Procedures Under Microgravity; Spectroscopic Chemical Analysis Methods and Apparatus; Low Average Sidelobe Slot Array Antennas for Radiometer Applications; Motion-Corrected 3D Sonic Anemometer for Tethersondes and Other Moving Platforms; Water Treatment Systems for Long Spaceflights; Microchip Non-Aqueous Capillary Electrophoresis (MicronNACE) Method to Analyze Long-Chain Primary Amines; Low-Cost Phased Array Antenna for Sounding Rockets, Missiles, and Expendable Launch Vehicles; Mars Science Laboratory Engineering Cameras; Seismic Imager Space Telescope; Estimating Sea Surface Salinity and Wind Using Combined Passive and Active L-Band Microwave Observations; A Posteriori Study of a DNS Database Describing Super critical Binary-Species Mixing; Scalable SCPPM Decoder; QuakeSim 2.0; HURON (HUman and Robotic Optimization Network) Multi-Agent Temporal Activity Planner/Scheduler; MPST Software: MoonKomman

TERASENSE: THz device technology laboratory: final summary

The use of THz frequencies, particularly W and G band allows reaching higher resolution and deeper penetration in emerging applications like imaging, sensing, etc. The development of those new applications lays on reliable technologies, background of expertise and know-how. The CDS2008-00068 TERASENSE CONSOLIDER project has given the opportunity to extent upwards in frequency the previous background of the microwaves research group partners. This article summarizes the developments of the TERASENSE work package “THz Device Technology Laboratory”.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación through the CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 program reference CSD2008-00068 TERASENSE

Modelado y simulación realista del módulo posterior de un radiómetro: aplicación al instrumento a 31 GHz del experimento QUIJOTE

In the reported work, an efficient modelling method is applied to the circuits of the 30 GHz Back End Module of the QUIJOTE experiment radiometer. In particular, efficient models of two LNAs, a band pass filter and a detector has been obtained. These models allow realistic time-domain BEM simulation by using Gaussian noise excitation signals. Simulation results have been reported, showing good agreement with the BEM expected operation. On the other hand, time-domain realistic simulations will provide valuable information about BEM behaviour previously to the receiver definitive implementation

Caracterización de la compresión en LNAs para aplicaciones de astronomía

In this work, system level modelling and realistic simulation and measurement results of a 31 GHz Back-End Module (BEM) Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA), designed for the QUIJOTE CMB (Q U I JOint TEnerife CMB) experiment radiometer, are reported. The signals received by radiometers can be identified as continuous spectre gaussian white noise signals. This makes necessary time-domain simulation techniques and appropriate models for the realistic analysis of radiometers behaviour. The measured-based modelling of one BEM´s LNA, its simulation in nominal conditions and the measurement of the nonlinear characteristic by using filtered white noise excitation signals, will be shown. Typically, in the LNAs design process the linearity is not taken into account but, as we will see, in the radiometers case, the nature of Gaussian noise excitation signals makes amplifiers to present higher nonlinearity in their characteristics than when using single tone excitation signals. Therefore, in order to analyze the suitability of the LNAs nominal operation, linearity figures of merit have to be obtained, but using realistic excitation signals. In this paper, the LNAs nonlinear characteristics with gaussian noise excitation signals have been obtained

A 12GHz 30mW 130nm CMOS Rotary Travelling Wave Voltage Controlled Oscillator

This paper reports a 12GHz Rotary Travelling Wave (RTW) Voltage Controlled Oscillator designed in a 130nm CMOS technology. The phase noise and power consumption performances were compared with the literature and with telecommunication standards for broadcast satellite applications. The RTW VCO exhibits a -106dBc/Hz@1MHz and a 30mW power consumption with a sensibility of 400 MHz/V. Finally, requirements are given for a PLL implementation of the RTW VCO and simulated results are presented

Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Based on Subharmonic Self-Oscillating Mixing

RÉSUMÉ Le sujet général de la thèse de doctorat présentée réside dans la recherche sur des nouvelles méthodes dans le domaine de l’imagerie aux micro-ondes, en particulier l’imagerie passive aux ondes millimétriques, qui est aussi connue sous le nom d’imagerie radiométrique. Cette dernière technique est utilisée pour former une image d’une scène particulière en capturant la radiation électromagnétique émise naturellement par chaque objet à la bande de fréquence des micro-ondes / ondes millimétriques, similaire à la façon dont une photographie est prise en capturant la radiation aux fréquences optiques. De cette façon, une image d’ondes millimétriques peut être formée et utilisée pour tracer différentes caractéristiques de la scène ou de l’objet, qui sont implicites à la bande de fréquences des micro-ondes / ondes millimétriques. L’imagerie à ondes millimétriques représente un des sujets d’actualité des plus prometteurs dans le domaine de la conception des capteurs à haute fréquence. L’utilité de cette technique réside surtout dans les particularités des phénomènes de l’atténuation atmosphérique permettant aux ondes millimétriques de pénétrer à travers une grande variété de conditions de mauvaise visibilité, comme par exemple la brume, le brouillard, les nuages, la fumée et les tempêtes de sable, ainsi que la capacité de se propager à travers des vêtements et certains autres matériaux. Outre ces avantages par rapport aux systèmes infrarouges ou optiques, les systèmes à ondes millimétriques surpassent les systèmes micro-ondes à plus basse fréquence par leurs longueurs d’ondes plus petites permettant d’atteindre une plus haute résolution. Pour leur mise en application, des fenêtres de propagation à 35, 77, 94, 140 et 220 GHz ont été assignées. Les domaines d’application présents et futurs sont principalement associés aux infrastructures militaires et commerciales. Ceux-ci englobent la surveillance, la navigation et la technologie automobile, ainsi que l’atterrissage des avions et le suivi de la circulation dans le brouillard sur les autoroutes. De plus, la demande de plus en plus grande en systèmes de détection de sécurité aux aéroports et d’autres lieux publics crée une demande toujours plus grande en scanners automatisés en temps réel dotés des caractéristiques suivantes : ne présenter aucun risque pour la santé, générer un nombre réduit de fausses alertes et permettre la détection des armes cachées ou des objets dangereux à travers les vêtements.----------ABSTRACT The broad topic of the presented Ph.D. thesis consists in the research on novel methods in the field of microwave imaging, in particular the so-called passive millimetre-wave imaging, which is also referred to as radiometric imaging. This latter technique is used to form an image of a particular scene by means of sensing the natural electromagnetic radiation emitted by any object at microwave / millimetre-wave wavelengths, similar to the way in which a photograph is captured by sensing the radiation occurring at optical wavelengths. In this way, different characteristics of the observed scene or object, which are inherent to the microwave / millimetre-wave frequency range, can be mapped in the form of an image. Millimetre-wave imaging represents one of today’s most promising research topics in the field of high frequency sensor design. The usefulness of this technique lies in particular in the peculiarities of atmospheric attenuation phenomenologies allowing millimetre-waves to penetrate through a variety of low-visibility conditions such as haze, fog, clouds, smoke, and sandstorms and furthermore in the ability to propagate through clothing and a number of other materials. Together with these advantages over infrared and optical systems, moreover, millimetre-wave systems outperform imagers at the lower microwave frequency range due to their smaller wavelengths and the thus achievable higher resolution. For their implementation, propagation windows at 35, 77, 94, 140, and 220 GHz are generally allocated. Present and future applications consist in both military and commercial infrastructure fields such as in surveillance, navigation, and automotive technology, as well as aircraft landing or highway traffic monitoring in fog. Moreover, the ever increasing demand for security screening systems at airports and other public environments creates a growing need for health-hazardless automated real-time scanners with minimized false alarms, and millimetre-wave imaging offering the ability to detect concealed weapons or hazardous objects through clothing material represents an excellent choice for this purpose. Furthermore, millimetre-wave imaging is applied to biomedical imaging such as the location of hot spots, tumours, or other anomalies in the body. Additional applications consist in non-destructive material testing and geological examinations such as the sensing of the Earth’s atmosphere, oil spill detection, research on volcano activity, or meteorology