L'évolution des nœuds technologiques dans l'industrie des semi-conducteurs se traduit de nos jours, dans le domaine des radiofréquences, par une miniaturisation des front-ends et une amélioration des performances électriques des émetteurs-récepteurs à des fréquences de plus en plus hautes. Cette évolution a conduit à la diversification des applications en bandes millimétriques (30 – 300 GHz) dans les secteurs des télécommunications, du divertissement multimédia, de l'automobile et de la sécurité. Plus particulièrement, le secteur des télécommunications connaît aujourd'hui une réelle révolution avec la création de nouveaux standards pour les liens sans-fil millimétriques à courte portée (comme WiGiG et IEEE 802.11ad) et l'apparition de nouvelles architectures basées sur des liaisons point-à-point qui constitueront dans les prochaines années la colonne vertébrale de la cinquième génération des réseaux mobiles. Dans le cadre de ces travaux de thèse, un intérêt particulier sera porté sur les modules intégrés sans fils et à faible consommation opérant dans la bande 57 – 66 GHz (dite généralement 60 GHz). A ces fréquences, la longueur d'onde en espace libre est comparable aux dimensions caractéristiques des boitiers standards utilisés pour l'encapsulation des transceivers. Il devient donc envisageable d'intégrer les antennes ainsi que d'autres composants passifs directement dans l'empilement technologique du circuit ou dans le boitier. Cette nouvelle génération de dispositifs électroniques, destinés au marché des terminaux portables, introduit de nouveaux défis en termes de performances électriques, de fiabilité mécanique, de coût et de possibilités d'industrialisation. Le packaging microélectronique joue dans ce cas un rôle principal dans la définition des performances globales du système qui s'étend au-delà de la simple protection de circuits intégrés pour couvrir d'autres fonctions d'intégration de divers dispositifs actifs et passifs. L'axe principal d'étude adopté ici porte sur le packaging d'un module SiP (System-in-Package) intégré en 3D et réalisé en technologie interposer silicium. Le mémoire de thèse s'articule en quatre chapitres : Le premier chapitre donne dans un premier temps une brève introduction aux bandes millimétriques et aux conditions de propagation spécifiques à ces bandes avant de présenter des exemples d'applications relevant de divers domaines civils et militaires. Ensuite, nous dressons un état de l'art des modules SiP millimétriques intégrés selon différentes approches technologiques. Le second chapitre est consacré à l'étude d'un module 60 GHz intégré sur silicium haute-résistivité en technologie interposer silicium. Nous nous intéressons aux méthodes de caractérisation adaptées aux diverses briques technologiques du back-end silicium spécifique aux applications RF-millimétriques et notamment les interconnexions, les matériaux diélectriques ainsi que les antennes intégrées. La caractérisation inclut également un test d'émission-réception entre deux modules 60 GHz. Dans le troisième chapitre, nous proposons d'améliorer le module grâce à un nouveau design d'antennes utilisant le concept de Surface Haute-Impédance (SHI). Ce design est destiné à octroyer plus de compacité et plus de fiabilité au module tout en conservant ses performances électriques. Finalement, le quatrième chapitre détaille les étapes de fabrication du véhicule de test antennaire ainsi que des résultats de caractérisation des antennes et des nouveaux matériaux diélectriques utilisés pour l'empilement technologique. / The evolution of semi-conductor technology nodes has led to a significant miniaturization of today's RF front-ends and to the enhancement of the electrical performance of transceivers at higher frequencies. This leads to the diversification of RF/millimeter-wave (30 – 300 GHz) applications in the fields of telecommunications, multimedia entertainment, automotive and security. More specifically, telecommunications are going through a real revolution with the creation of new standards (such as WiGiG and IEEE 802.11ad) and the introduction of new network architectures based on point-to-point links as the backbone of the 5th generation of mobile networks. In this PhD work, we will focus on integrated wireless and low consumption modules operating in the 57 – 66 GHz band (generally designated as the 60 GHz band). At these frequencies, the free-space wavelength is comparable to the characteristic dimensions of most standard transceiver packages. This opens an opportunity to integrate the antennas as well as other passive components directly to the metal/dielectric stack or in the package. This new generation of electronic devices which are dedicated to the nomad terminal market brings new challenges in terms of electrical performance, mechanical reliability, cost and manufacturability. Microelectronic packaging plays in this case a key role in defining the global performance of the system. Its functions extend beyond the protection of the IC and cover other schemes with opportunities to integrate passive and active devices. This work focuses on the study of an SiP module (System-in-Package) featuring 3D integration on Silicon interposer. The dissertation comprises four chapters and is structured as follows: In the first chapter, a brief introduction of millimeter-waves and their propagation conditions is given. Then, examples of current and emerging civilian and military applications are addressed. State of the art of SiP/mmW modules is then presented according to different technology approaches proposed by industrial and academic contributors. The second chapter is dedicated to the study of a 60 GHz integrated module on a high-resistivity silicon interposer chip. We focus on electrical characterization methods which are adapted to different building blocks of the silicon back-end technology. These include interconnects, dielectrics and integrated antennas. The characterization steps also include full-scale and standard-compliant tests of two communicating 60 GHz modules. In the third chapter, we propose to improve the existing module with a novel antenna design based on a High-Impedance Surface (HIS) reflector. This design is intended to bring more compactness and higher reliability to the original one while conserving the overall electrical performance. Finally, the fourth chapter deals with the fabrications and experimental validation of the antenna test vehicle as well as the wideband characterization of the dielectrics used for the new stack.

La croissance sans cesse de la demande des débits de données élevés durant ces dernières décennies, soutenue par le déploiement des réseaux optiques permettant un débit de l’ordre de plusieurs Gbit/s a conduit naturellement vers l’intérêt de développement des applications à 60 GHz dans les réseaux locaux. Des normes telles que l’IEEE 802.15.3c et IEEE 802.11ad pour la transmission sans fil en bande millimétrique ont été proposées. A de telles fréquences, les pertes en espace libre sont très élevées et les ondes radios ne traversent pas les murs. Les liaisons radio sur fibre (RoF), utilisées comme déport optique d’une pièce vers une autre, permettent ainsi la distribution des signaux très haut débit dans toute la maison ou dans l’ensemble du bâtiment, en palliant le défaut de faible distance de propagation en espace libre. L’accès, par la modélisation des circuits électriques équivalents de chacun des composants du système considéré, à la simulation de ces systèmes RoF permet une optimisation du système en termes de qualité de transmission. Ainsi, les caractéristiques optiques et électriques des composants constituant les systèmes RoF sont étudiées et analysées conjointement ce qui offre la possibilité de la conception de circuits intégrés photonique-RF. Cette thèse concerne l’étude et simulation des liaisons RoF à l’aide de circuits électriques équivalents de composants photoniques. Cette étude est destinée aux applications sans fil à 60 GHz de grande bande passante permettant un très haut débit de transmission. La technique de modulation d’intensité directe ou externe et détection directe est privilégiée à une fréquence intermédiaire afin d’assurer la simplicité et le bas coût du système. Le signal radio est ensuite transposé sur une porteuse dans la bande 60 GHz. Dans un premier temps, pour valider les modèles des circuits électriques équivalents développés, les caractéristiques mesurées des composants optoélectroniques sont comparées aux résultats de simulation. Ensuite, l’étude de caractérisation est menée à l’échelle système par analyse des paramètres analogiques comme le gain, le bruit et non-linéarité. La dynamique de différentes liaisons RoF peut ainsi être déterminée. La transmission des signaux numériques complexes de type OFDM est finalement réalisée par une méthode de co-simulation numérique/analogique. La qualité de transmission est étudiée par évaluation de l’amplitude du vecteur d’erreur (EVM) des constellations des signaux numériques. L’étude est effectuée et validée dans un premier temps conformément à la norme ECMA-368 dédiée à la bande centimétrique et ensuite étendue à la bande millimétrique conformément à la norme IEEE 802.15.3c. Pour finir, l’effet du canal en espace libre à 60 GHz est considéré afin d’analyser la transmission de bout en bout / The growth continually demand of higher data rates in recent decades, supported by the deployment of optical networks allowing a flow of the order of several Gbit/s naturally leads to application development interest on 60 GHz local networks. Standards such as IEEE IEEE 802.15.3c and 802.11ad for millimeter-band wireless transmission have been proposed. At such frequencies, the free space loss is very high and the radio waves do not penetrate walls. The radio over fiber links (RoF), used as optical link from one room to another and enable the distribution of high-speed signals throughout the home or throughout the building, overcoming the failure for low distance free space propagation. Access, by modeling the electrical equivalent of each component of the system considered circuits, simulation of the RoF systems enables optimization of the system in terms of transmission quality. Thus, the optical and electrical characteristics of components of RoF systems are studied and analyzed together which offers the possibility of designing integrated photonic-RF circuits. This thesis concerns the study and simulation of RoF links using electrical equivalent circuits of photonic components. This study is intended for wireless applications at 60 GHz of bandwidth for a high transmission rate. The modulation technique of direct or external intensity and direct detection is preferred at an intermediate frequency in order to ensure simplicity and low cost of the system. The radio signal is then transposed onto a carrier in the band 60 GHz. First, to validate the models developed electrical equivalent circuit, the measured characteristics of optoelectronic components are compared with simulation results. Then, the characterization study is conducted to the scale by analysis of analog parameters such as gain, noise and non-linearity. The dynamics of different RoF links can thus be determined. Transmitting OFDM complex digital signal is finally achieved by a method of digital / analog co-simulation. The transmission quality has been studied by evaluation of the magnitude of the error vector (EVM) constellations digital signals. The study is conducted and validated as a first step in accordance with the ECMA-368 standard dedicated to the centimetric band and then spread to the millimeter band from IEEE 802.15.3c standard. Finally, the channel effect in free space at 60 GHz is considered to analyze the transmission end to end

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 22-25, 2001 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / This project investigates the feasibility of position detection in an office or industrial setting. The objective is to design a low-cost positioning system that uses the unlicensed 5.7 GHz ISM band, with centimeter accuracy and limited range. During the conceptual design phase of the system, indoor channel models will be investigated to determine which of a variety of architectures will be useful. For triangulating the position, an array of widely spaced stationary receivers and a mobile transmitter is proposed.

The accuracy of ozone measurements in the middle atmosphere is of great importance when determining its diurnal variation. A high time resolution of the measured data is desirable and depends on the sensitivity of the receiver used to detect the ozone. This thesis aims to improve the sensitivity of a groundbased 142 GHz microwave radiometer used for measuring atmospheric ozone data. This is done by replacing the previous receiver components with a series of new components and arranging them in different setups for comparison purposes. Mechanics and wiring were changed in order to install the setups along with changes in the optics. Each test setup could be implemented as a first step towards improving the sensitivity of the radiometer. The result show that the optics contribute with an unexpected addition of noise to the measurements and hence the overall performance and improvement of the radiometer could not be determined. Suggestions are made for further work which include improving the optics and performing cryo-measurements.

To meet the ever increasing demand of high data rate, millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless communication has become an area of intense research due to the capability of offering very broad bandwidth. However, the propagation losses increase as a function of operation frequency. Therefore, there is need for antenna systems with high gain and beam-steering capability at elevated frequencies, which comes at the expense of high cost and increased complexity. This dissertation demonstrates the design, micro-fabrication, and characterization of two different antennas and two different antenna arrays. A broadband patch antenna operating within (57-66) GHz band, which works as a building block to create a multifunctional reconfigurable antenna (MRA) that is capable of beam steering in three directions pertaining to θ ∈{-30°, 0°, 30°}; Φ=90°. These standalone antennas were then put in a linear formation to create a 2x8 planar array and a 4x1 multifunctional reconfigurable antenna array (MRAA) to increase the gain further and to offer wider bandwidth. The proposed novel MRA and MRAA possess variable element factors, which potentially can feature as the main building blocks of mm-wave reconfigurable wireless communication systems with reduced cost and complexity.

Οι ασύρµατες τοπολογίες εσωτερικού χώρου (Indoor propagation topologies) είναι πιο σύνθετες από τη φύση τους και απαιτούν µια πιο λεπτοµερή µαθηµατική περιγραφή, δεδοµένου ότι οι διαστάσεις των διαφόρων εµποδίων που παρεµβάλλονται µε το εκπεµπόµενο σήµα είναι συγκρίσιµες µε το µήκος κύµατος του σήµατος. Επιπλέον, οι µηχανισµοί διάδοσης (ανάκλαση-reflection, σκέδαση- scattering, περίθλαση-diffraction) έχουν ακόµα µεγαλύτερη επιρροή σε ένα εσωτερικό περιβάλλον όπου οι παράµετροι καναλιού είναι πολύ ευαίσθητοι και εξαρτώνται άµεσα µε τα ενδογενή χαρακτηριστικά της τοπολογίας. Ως αποτέλεσµα, στα µοντέλα εσωτερικού χώρου, πρέπει να λαµβάνονται υπόψη όλοι οι παράγοντες που συµβάλλουν στην παρεµπόδιση και εξασθένηση του σήµατος. Το µοντέλο εσωτερικών χώρων απώλειας διαδροµής της ITU (ITU indoor path loss model) κατατάσσει τους εσωτερικούς χώρους σε τρεις κύριες 7 κατηγορίες: Σπίτι, Γραφείο και Εµπορικές τοπολογίες. Η σπουδαιότητα που έχουν τα χαρακτηριστικά της τοπολογίας, όταν λαµβάνονται υπόψη στην επίδραση του ασύρµατου καναλιού, γίνεται εµφανής όταν εξετάζουµε τα Wi-Fi/WLAN συστήµατα. Τα τελευταία χρόνια, το ενδιαφέρον για µοντελοποίηση των απωλειών όδευσης έχει αυξηθεί σηµαντικά για τη συχνότητα 2,4 GHz, λόγω του γεγονότος ότι αυτή είναι η συχνότητα που λειτουργούν οι σύγχρονοι Wi-fi routers και άλλα ασύρµατα ηλεκτρονικά συστήµατα. Ο σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι να παρουσιάσει µια µελέτη περίπτωσης µιας εµπορικής εσωτερική τοπολογία διάδοσης, τη ∆ηµόσια Βιβλιοθήκη του Πανεπιστηµίου Πατρών, καθώς και µιας ιδιωτικής οικίας και την επικύρωση της αξιοπιστίας των εσωτερικών µοντέλων RF. / Models for indoor propagation prediction at 2.4GHz frequency.

Ingeniero Civil Eléctrico / Los metamateriales han revolucionado la forma de diseñar antenas, principalmente por lograr propiedades difíciles de obtener por técnicas tradicionales. El presente trabajo muestra el diseño, fabricación y caracterización de tres antenas de microcinta operando en la banda de 2.4 GHz para explorar el efecto de estructuras de metamateriales, en busca de un mejor desempeño en términos de ancho de banda, eficiencia de radiación y ganancia. La metodología utilizada comprende el diseño por software de análisis electromagnético, manufactura con técnicas de impresión de circuitos utilizando FR4, un insumo de propósito general, y el despliegue de un montaje experimental para la medición de pérdidas por retorno (S11) y patrones de radiación. Se han realizado experimentos de caracterización del parámetro S11 entre 1 GHz y 10 GHz, y seis cortes del patrón de radiación por antena, para 3 puntos de frecuencia, en co-polarización y polarización cruzada en cada uno. Las tres antenas construidas han mostrado anchos de banda excepcionales, del 49 %, 107 % y 29 %, eficiencias superiores al 75 % y ganancias totales sobre 3 dB. Se ha comparado el desempeño de cada una, utilizando figuras de mérito tales como: tamaño del haz de media potencia, eficiencia, ancho de banda, nivel de polarización cruzada, tamaño eléctrico y ganancia máxima. Asimismo, los dispositivos presentados pueden ser utilizados en variadas aplicaciones de la banda de 2.4 GHz. En particular, enlaces de gran alcance, comunicación multibanda e integración en sistemas compactos.

This master thesis presents the design and implementation of a super heterodyne 5.8 GHz receiver system for wireless transmission of phase alternating line (PAL) composite video signals. The system is implemented using surface and hole mounted devices on four separate printed circuit board (PCB) stages. These stages include a 5.8 GHz radio front-end, a 480 MHz intermediate frequency (IF) stage, a local oscillator (LO) block and frequency demodulation circuit for frequency modulation (FM) signals. Each receiver stage is interconnected using sub-miniature version A (SMA) connectors. The radio front-end PCB consists of a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a 5.8 GHz distributed element pre-select filter and a passive double-balanced mixer. This mixer uses seven discrete injection frequencies at 5260-5380 MHz that are provided by the LO block using a programmable phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer device. The IF stage uses an automatic gain control (AGC) feedback loop with a dynamic range of 60 dB. This AGC loop is implemented using a directional coupler, a detector device, a tuning circuit and a variable gain amplifier/attenuator (VGA). The IF at 480 MHz is selected with a 25 MHz surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter. The IF is demodulated to a PAL composite video format using a PLL FM discriminator device intended for direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) signals. This device is fitted to a separate demodulation stage in conjunction with a picture adjustment circuit and a FM de-emphasis network. The output of the demodulator stage is a 75 Ω PAL composite video signal.

This study focus on trying to understand what factors regarding bumper materials and coatings affect the radar transparency at 77 GHz. Dielectric spectroscopy was done at 25 unique samples, consisting of various plastic substrates, primers, basecoats and clearcoats with the Free-spaced method in the 60-90 GHz region. The plastic substrate consisted of Polypropylene-blend with different fillers such as talc, carbon black and metal flakes. The basecoats analyzed were 2 solid factory coatings (one black and one white), 5 factory coating containing different effect pigments such as metal flakes, Xiralic, and Mica, 1 factory PVD coating and 2 aftermarket basecoats. All samples were provided by a Volvo Cars’ supplier, however, some samples were repainted with the aftermarket coatings. The complex permittivites were calculated for each PP-blend and coating from the curve fitting of the measured S-parameters from the Free-spaced method. Material analysis such as thickness measurements of the plastic substrate and coatings, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and DSC were done at all plastic substrates. The plastic substrates and the coating were also observed in optical microscope and in SEM. The calculated permittivities were compared with the results from the material analysis and correlations between increased metal content in the basecoat and higher real permittivity were found. Some relationship between the size of the metal flakes and the radar transparency could also be observed. Further, correlations between higher real permittivity with higher concentration of talc and carbon black were detected. MATLAB was used to provide an example for optimization of the plastic thickness for a given basecoat in order to have minimal reflection at 77 GHz.

In this study, the properties of the reflected paths and scattering phenomena were investigated in the LMDS band (28 GHz). We used the newly developed sampling swept time delay short pulse (SSTDSP) sounder to collect field data in certain locations on the Virginia Tech campus. The sounder collected the channel impulse response analog waveform, sampled, digitized and reconstructed it. The stored data were used to produce the power delay profile and other channel parameters. In particular, we collected scattered and reflected data regarding the channel response with different incident angle and distance set-ups from brick and limestone walls. We used the reflected pulse width and maximum excess delay derived from each power delay profile to analyze the rough surface scattering phenomena. We found that limestone and brick walls exhibited some diffuse scattering. The reflected pulse of a limestone wall had more maximum excess delay spread than did a brick wall at -15dB power threshold. The mean maximum excess delay for the reflected pulse of the limestone wall measurement set-ups was more than two times that of the brick wall. With equal transmitter and receiver distances to the wall, we found that as the incident angle increased, the maximum excess delay decreased but the perpendicular reflection coefficient increased. It is recommended that for future study, a second generation SSTDSP sounder will replicate the measurement with larger distance and angle set-ups as well as in non-line-of-sight areas. / Master of Science