Spiral inductors are a key component of mixed-signal and analog integrated circuits (IC's). Such circuits are often fabricated using silicon-based technology, owing to the inherent low-cost and high volume production aspects. However, semiconducting substrate materials such as silicon can have adverse effects on spiral inductor performance due to the lossy nature of the material. Since the operating requirements of many high performance IC's demand reactive components that have high Quality Factor's (Q's), and are thus low loss devices, the need for accurate modeling of such structures over lossy substrate media is key to successful circuit design. The Q's of commonly available off-chip inductors are in the range of 50- 100 for frequencies ranging up to a few gigahertz. Since off-chip inductors must be connected through package pins, solder bumps, etc., which all contribute additional loss and thus lower the apparent Q of an external device, the typical on-chip Q requirement for a given RFIC design is generally lower than that for an off-chip spiral solution. However, a spiral inductor that was designed and fabricated originally in a low loss technology such as thin-film alumina may have substantially worse performance in regard to Q if it is used in a silicon-based technology, owing to the conductive substrate. For this reason, it is imperative that semiconducting substrate effects be accurately accounted for by any modeling effort for monolithic spirals in RFICs. This thesis presents a complete modeling solution for both single and multi-level spiral inductors over lossy silicon substrates, along with design considerations and methods for mitigation of the undesirable performance effects of semiconducting substrates. The modeling solution is based on Spectral Domain Approach (SDA) solutions for frequency dependent complex capacitive (i.e. both capacitance and conductance) parasitic elements combined with a quasi-magnetostatic field solution for calculation of the frequency dependent complex inductive (i.e. both inductance and resistance) terms. The effects of geometry and process variations are considered as well as the incorporation of Patterned Ground Shields (PGS) for the purpose of Q enhancement. Proposals for future extensions of this work are discussed in the concluding chapter. / Graduation date: 2006

This thesis presents algorithms and tools for the automated design of RF LC CMOS voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) with low phase noise given a set of specifications. The electromagnetic solver, ASITIC, combined with the circuit simulator, SpectreRF, allows optimization of the VCO circuit parameters and inductor layout. This approach gives a phase noise improvement of up to 20 dBc/Hz in the flicker noise region and up to 5 dBc/Hz in the thermal noise region. An optimization program for the computer-aided design of on-chip spiral inductors has also been developed. This program allows the designer to obtain the layout of an inductor with a required inductance value and maximal quality factor, thus enabling a reduction in the phase noise of the VCO being designed. The circuit simulator SPICE3 has been extended to handle phase noise analysis based on a non-linear perturbation analysis for oscillators. The implemented technique allows for an accurate simulation of phase noise due to devices described either by analytical or numerical models. With this extension, the automated design of RF LC oscillators can be performed within the SPICE3 framework. Furthermore, the technique is available in a public domain software and can be extended to other application domains. / Graduation date: 2004

The objective of the proposed research is to use MEMS technology to develop low profile power inductors with minimized eddy current losses to be used in high power density compact switching converters. Eddy currents arise in high-flux density metallic cores as increased switching frequencies of DC-DC converters cause the skin depth to be small compared with the core thickness. Laminations can reduce the eddy current losses but converters operating with switching frequencies in the MHz regime may require submicron laminations. Previous research has been done to fabricate inductors with micron-scale laminated cores for high frequency switching converters. To optimize the previous fabrication technique, an automated electroplating system was developed for the fabrication of thick magnetic cores comprising large number of submicron laminations without human intervention. Inductors with higher inductance, quality factor and power handling capacity have been realized compared to previously developed inductors. The inductors are characterized in terms of saturation behavior and power handling capability. A miniaturized DC-DC converter with power conversion capacity of 10 Watts has been demonstrated using the fabricated inductor.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. Directed by Mark G. Allen. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-166).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-109).

One of the chief components in a RF/microwave circuit is the inductor. The performance of the inductor affects the performance of widely used circuits such as the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), low noise amplifier, and filter in the RF front end. It is very important to design inductors for accurate values of inductances and sufficiently high quality factors for these microwave applications. A key challenge in achieving high unloaded Q for an inductor in a thin substrate is the ground separation. This thesis aims at addressing this issue and achieving high unloaded Q's in the range 150 - 200 for a ground separation of about 100 - 140 microns in the frequency range of 1 - 15 GHz. One port and inductors will be designed using Electromagnetic field solvers. Various topologies will be explored for 2D and 3D inductors with the aim of achieving the desired inductance density and Q parameters in a minimum area possible. In order to address the issue of ground separation, design modifications will include the use of patterned grounds to take advantage of the reduced parasitic capacitive coupling which enables a high Q factor. The objective of the thesis also includes demonstration of the usefulness of these high quality inductors in RF front ends. To this effect, proof of concept designs of LC band pass filters will be presented. To enable this design, capacitors will also be designed. An extensive library of the designed inductors will be presented as a part of the thesis. The designed components will be fabricated at the Packaging Research Center (PRC), Georgia Tech using organic substrate compatible processes. High frequency measurements will be made with the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) along with suitable de - embedding to demonstrate the correlation between designed and fabricated results. Following this, circuit models will be built for the characterized inductors.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-250). Also available via the Internet.

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There are two important issues about a spacecraft power conversion system: low ripple current flowing through both battery and bus, and bi-directional power flow to and from the battery. This thesis introduces a novel low ripple current bi-directional battery charge/discharge converter using coupled-inductor. Bi-directional switch structures and proper control scheme make it possible for the power to flow through the same converter in both directions: charging and discharging the battery. Meanwhile, the coupled-inductor is designed in such a way that all the magnetizing current (ripple current) is confined within the converter, yielding "zero-current-ripple" (ZCR) on both battery side and bus side. ZCR condition analysis, topological comparison with similar approach, and circuit design guide line are given in this thesis. Circuit operation and performance, bi-directional control strategy, and small signal characteristics of the converter are also presented along with experimental verification. / Master of Science

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