Designing antennas and RF components for upper millimeter frequencies using advanced substrate technology

Abstract. When shifting towards high frequency range, integration in the RF-front end becomes crucial. The ongoing planning of 6G communications systems causes a need to explore the possibilities beyond current 5G systems. To address the compactness and smaller sizes of the RF circuit components, the Integrated Passive Devices (IPD) multilayer technology provides us one solution to this problem. There are options already being tested in terms of implementing on-chip components, especially Antenna-in-Package (AiP) designs with a variety of different substrates. Among these technologies, Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) can be seen as a choice offering the freedom of multiple metal layers. IPD can be used for providing AiP solutions, as well as passive components such as baluns, filters, and power dividers. The main target of this thesis is to explore the possibilities and limitations for high frequency designs offered by IPD technology developed by (VTT) Technical Research Centre of Finland. The technology has already been tested at 20 GHz, but the focus was to reach the D-band (110–170 GHz) frequency range and subsequently up to even G-band (220–330 GHz). The technology utilizes 3 metal layers and a high resistivity silicon substrate (a lossy material). Starting off with simple transmission line structures (microstrip lines, strip lines and coplanar waveguides), the designs up to 330 GHz, provided information on the possibilities offered by this technology. After that, different AiP options were simulated with frequencies ranging from D- band to G- band. In addition to single elements, also antenna arrays were studied. Additionally, bandpass filters were designed. The dielectric thickness and the width and thickness of 3 the metal layers play a pivotal role in defining the performance of all the RF components designed using this technology. Furthermore, the size and pitch of the RF probe pads used to excite the structures show an impact on the overall behavior of the transmission lines.Antennien ja RF-komponenttien suunnittelu ylemmille millimetritaajuuksille edistynyttä substraattitekniikkaa käyttäen. Tiivistelmä. Siirryttäessä korkeammille taajuuskaistoille RF-etupään integrointi on entistä tärkeämpää. Käynnissä oleva kuudennen sukupolven (6G) viestintäjärjestelmien suunnittelu edellyttää nykyisiä 5G-järjestelmiä edistyksellisempien teknologisten mahdollisuuksien tarkastelua. Entistä pienempien RF-piirikomponenttien toteuttaminen vaatii uusia teknisiä ratkaisuja, ja yksi mahdollisuus komponenttien pienentämiseen on käyttää integroituihin passiivirakenteisiin (Integrated Passive Devices, IPD) pohjautuvaa monikerrosteknologiaa. Eri vaihtoehtoja on jo testattu sirulle sijoitettavien komponenttien toteuttamiseen eri substraattimateriaaleilla, etenkin paketoitujen antenniratkaisujen (Antenna-in-Package, AiP) suunnittelemiseksi. Eräs vaihtoehto IPD:lle on matalan lämpötilan yhteissintrattava keraamiteknologia (Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic, LTCC), joka mahdollistaa useamman metallikerroksen hyödyntämisen suunniteltaessa AiP-rakenteita sekä muita passiivikomponentteja (kuten symmetrointimuuntajia, suodattimia sekä tehonjakajia). Tämän opinnäytetyön päätavoitteena on tarkastella Valtion teknillisen tutkimuskeskuksen (VTT:n) kehittämän IPD-teknologian mahdollisuuksia ja rajoitteita korkean taajuuden rakenteiden suunnitteluun. IPD-teknologiaa on tähän mennessä testattu 20 GHz:n taajuudelle asti, mutta tässä työssä tarkoituksena on tutkia teknologiaa 110–170 GHz:n taajuuksille (D-kaista) sekä myöhemmin aina 220–330 GHz:iin saakka (G-kaista). Teknologia hyödyntää kolmea metallikerrosta sekä häviöllistä korkean ominaisvastuksen piisubstraattia. Yksinkertaisten siirtojohtorakenteiden (mikroliuskajohto, liuskajohto, koplanaarijohto) suunnittelu aina 330 GHz:n taajuudelle asti antoi tietoa teknologian mahdollisuuksista, minkä jälkeen erilaisia AiP-rakenteita simuloitiin D- ja G-kaistoilla. Yksittäisten antennielementtien ohella tarkasteltiin antenniryhmiä. Työssä suunniteltiin myös kaistanpäästösuodattimia. Käytettävissä olevien metalli- ja substraattikerrosten paksuudella sekä niiden mahdollistamilla liuskanleveyksillä on keskeinen rooli IPD-teknologialla suunniteltujen komponenttien suorituskyvyn kannalta. Lisäksi RF-mittapäiden kontaktikohtien koko ja välimatka vaikuttavat siirtojohtojen ominaisuuksiin

Optimalisasi Peranan Pegawai Pencatat Nikah dalam Pelaksanaan Perkawinan (Studi di Kantor Urusan Agama Kecamatan Krian Kabupaten Sidoarjo)

Ketidakoptimalan Pegawai Pencatat Nikah (PPN) dalam pelaksanaan perkawinan dibuktikan dengan adanya Putusan Pembatalan Perkawinan Pengadilan Agama Sidoarjo Nomor: 1175/Pdt.G/2014/PA.Sda., didalamnya dikatakan, bahwa PPN sebagai Termohon III pernah melaksanakan perkawinan sesama kaum jenis antara seorang perempuan dengan perempuan di KUA Krian. Ketidakoptimalan tersebut diakibatkan, karena PPN tidak memiliki wewenang untuk memeriksa fisik Calon Pengantin (Catin) yang diberikan pemerintah. PPN hanya diberi wewenang memeriksa berkas nikah secara administrasi berdasarkan pada formulir pemberitahuan kehendak nikah dari Model-N1 s/d Model-N9 yang tertera pada Pasal 9 Peraturan Menteri Agama Nomor 11 Tahun 2007 Tentang Pencatatan Nikah. Demikian atas kendala yang pernah dialami PPN harus segera dioptimalisasikan, dengan begitu PPN dapat menjalankan tugasnya dalam urusan perkawinan dengan baik. Dalam penelitian ini, upaya yang dapat ditempuh ialah mengadakan hubungan kerja sama yang dilakukan dengan instansi pemerintah maupun unit kerja terkait yang dapat membantu kelancaran dalam pelaksanaan perkawinan, dengan begitu PPN dapat melakukan/menjalankan persyaratan baru untuk mencegah terjadinya pelanggaran seperti yang dibuktikan adanya Putusan Pengadilan Agama diatas.Kata Kunci : Optimalisasi, Peranan PPN, Pelaksanaan Perkawinan

Sumpah Mubahalah (Studi Tentang Pandangan Majelis Fatwa Kebangsaan Malaysia dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam)

 Sumpah adalah salah satu alat bukti di Pengadilan Agama ketika buktibukti lain tidak mampu menyelesaikan kasus. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis masalah mubahalah sumpah yang menjadi masalah utama dalam kasus Anwar Ibrahim dengan membandingkan pandangan dari perspektif Islam serta dalam pandangan Dewan Fatwa Kebangsaan Malaysia. Dengan menggunakan metode kualitatif, ditemukan bahwa sumpah mubahalah dapat digunakan sebagai alat bukti. Namun, meskipun Islam tidak menetapkan pasti di mana sumpah tersebut harus dilakukan, harus merupakan nama Allah atau salah satu dari sifat-Nya, sangat diperlukan bahwa hal itu harus dilakukan di dalam pengadilan dan bukan di luar pengadilan. &nbsp

A New Weighting Scheme in Weighted Markov Model for Predicting the Probability of Drought Episodes

Drought is a complex stochastic natural hazard caused by prolonged shortage of rainfall. Several environmental factors are involved in determining drought classes at the specific monitoring station. Therefore, efficient sequence processing techniques are required to explore and predict the periodic information about the various episodes of drought classes. In this study, we proposed a new weighting scheme to predict the probability of various drought classes under Weighted Markov Chain (WMC) model. We provide a standardized scheme of weights for ordinal sequences of drought classifications by normalizing squared weighted Cohen Kappa. Illustrations of the proposed scheme are given by including temporal ordinal data on drought classes determined by the standardized precipitation temperature index (SPTI). Experimental results show that the proposed weighting scheme for WMC model is sufficiently flexible to address actual changes in drought classifications by restructuring the transient behavior of a Markov chain. In summary, this paper proposes a new weighting scheme to improve the accuracy of the WMC, specifically in the field of hydrology

Perception Analysis of Silver Jubilee Grade-Separated Intersection in Kano Metropolis Using Context Sensitive Solutions

This study explores the users’ perception on operational performance of Silver Jubilee Grade Separated Intersection (SJGSI) in Kano Metropolis using Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS). The CSS seeks to provide a transportation facility that fits its setting, leading to the preservation and enhancement of scenic, aesthetic, environmental and community resources while maintaining safety, mobility and comfort. A structured questionnaire enquired the opinion of respondents, among others, on the optimal performance of SJGSI and its determinants. Three correlation analyses and two regression analyses were generated. The results showed that most of the correlating and regressing variables are weakly correlated by chance. The degree of familiarity correlated with number of motorists (users) has an R-value of 0.125; the optimal performance correlated with its cost worthiness has an R-value of 0.166. The general and Context Sensitive (CS) optimal performance model has an R-values of 0.415 and 0.374, respectively. Some of the weak correlations could be attributed to the facility not planned based on CSS approach. A CS facility could have received a higher optimal performance rating, approval rating and CS features’ rating with increased efficiency and effectiveness. Most respondents opined that a better facility would have been constructed if all relevant stakeholders were involved in the development processes

Resolving Nigeria's ‘Boko Haram’ insurgence: What role for the media?

Nigeria has no doubt witnessed and is still witnessing several forms of conflicts in both the North and the Southern divides.One of such devastating insurgence that currently ravaged the peaceful and harmonious living in the country is the present conflicts in the North, involving the Islamic sect group – Boko Haram.The sect (which forbid western education) come to limelight in 2009 after the arrest and subsequent murder of the former leader Late Muhammed Yusuf.Since then however, the group have successfully launched attacks that have claimed lives and properties worth billions of Naira, most of which were attributed to the way and manner in which media handles them.The mass media are blamed in several occasions on inflaming the conflict, particularly regarding the nature of their reportage.The critical question is can Nigerian media play any role in resolving the Boko – Haram insurgence? This form the fulcrum in which this paper revolved