No description available.

The advent of high-fT silicon CMOS/BiCMOS technologies has led to a dramatic upsurge in the research and development of radio and microwave frequency integrated circuits (ICs) in silicon. The integration of silicon-germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGe HBTs) into established "digital" CMOS processes has provided analog performance in silicon that is not only competitive with III-V compound-semiconductor technologies, but is also potentially lower in cost. Combined with improvements in silicon on-chip passives, such as high-Q metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and monolithic spiral inductors, these advanced RF CMOS and SiGe BiCMOS technologies have enabled complete silicon-based RF integrated circuit (RFIC) solutions for emerging wireless communication standards; indeed, both the analog and digital functionalities of an entire wireless system can now be combined in a single IC, also known as a wireless "system-on-a-chip" (SoC). This approach offers a number of potential benefits over multi-chip solutions, such as reductions of parasitics, size, power consumption, and bill-of-materials; however, a number of critical challenges must be considered in the integration of such SoC solutions. The focus of this research is the application of SiGe BiCMOS technology to on-going challenges in the development of receiver components for high speed wireless data networks. The research seeks to drive SoC integration by investigating circuit topologies that eliminate the need for off-chip components and are amenable to complete on-chip integration. The first part of this dissertation presents the design, fabrication, and measurement of a 5--6GHz sub-harmonic direct-conversion-receiver (DCR) front-end, implemented in the IBM 0.5um 5HP SiGe BiCMOS process. The design consists of a fully-differential low-noise amplifier (LNA), a set of quadrature (I and Q)x~2 sub-harmonic mixers, and an LO conditioning chain. The front-end design provides a means to address performance limitations of the DCR architecture (such as DC-offsets, second-order distortion, and quadrature phase and amplitude imbalances) while enabling the investigation of high-frequency IC design complications, such as package parasitics and limited on-chip isolation. The receiver front-end has a measured conversion gain of ~18dB, an input second-order intercept point of +17.5dBm, and a noise figure of 7.2dB. The quadrature phase balance at the sub-harmonic mixer IF outputs was measured in the presence of digital switching noise; 90<degree> balance was achieved, over a specific range of LO power levels, with a square wave noise signal injected onto the mixer DC supply rails. The susceptibility of receiver I/Q balance to mixed-signal effects in a SoC environment motivates the second part of this dissertation --- the design of a phase and amplitude tunable, quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator (QVCO) for the on-chip synthesis of quadrature signals. The QVCO design, implemented in the Freescale (formerly Motorola) 0.18um SiGe:C RFBiCMOS process, uses two identical, differential LC-tank VCOs connected such that the two oscillator outputs lock in quadrature to the same frequency. The QVCO designs proposed in this work provide the additional feature of phase-tunability, i.e. the relative phase balance between the quadrature outputs can be adjusted dynamically, offering a simulated tuning range of ~90<degree>+/-10â ¹degree> in addition, a variable-gain buffer/amplifier circuit that provides amplitude tunability is introduced. One potential application of the QVCO is in a self-correcting RF receiver architecture, which, using the phase and amplitude tunability of the QVCO, could dynamically adjust the IF output quadrature phase and amplitude balance, in near real-time, in the analog-domain. The need for high-quality inductors in both the DCR and QVCO designs motivates the third aspect of this dissertation --- the characterization and modeling of on-chip spiral inductors with patterned ground shields, which are placed between the inductor coil and the underlying substrate in order to improve the inductor quality factor (Q). The shield prevents the coupling of energy away from the inductor spiral to the typically lossy Si substrate, while the patterning disrupts the flow of induced image currents within the shield. The experimental effort includes the fabrication and testing of a range of inductors with different values, and different types of patterned ground shields in different materials. Two-port measurements show a ~50% improvement in peak-Q and a ~20% degradation in self-resonant frequency for inductors with shields. From the measured results, a scalable lumped element model is developed for the rapid simulation of spiral inductors with and without patterned ground shields. The knowledge gained from this work can be combined and applied to a range of future RF/wireless SoC applications. The designs developed in this dissertation can be ported to other technologies (e.g. RF CMOS) and scaled to other frequency ranges (e.g. 24GHz ISM band) to provide solutions for emerging applications that require low-cost, low-power RF/microwave circuit implementations. / Ph. D.

Avec l'ouverture de la bande 57-66 GHz en Europe, de nouvelles technologies de communication sans fil à haut débit sont en cours de développement. De nombreux avantages liés à cette bande de fréquence ont notamment conduit à envisager la transposition du principe de l'identification par radiofréquence (RFID) en bande millimétrique : la MMID. Les réglementations internationales font notamment apparaître une bande passante commune de 5 GHz qui permettrait la mise en place de solutions universelles. De plus la sécurisation des communications point-à-point et la directivité des réseaux d'antennes offrent des perspectives intéressantes.Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse visent à contribuer au développement de la MMID. Ils soulignent les principaux verrous de cette technologie et présentent les différentes solutions proposées qui couvrent de multiples aspects : conception d'antennes et de réseaux d'antennes, conception de prototypes de tags MMID passifs, caractérisation et méthodologie de mesure dont la conception intégrale d'un banc de mesure en bande V, amélioration des performances des tags, et étude de fonctionnalités de capteur intégrées aux tags. Les différents prototypes de tags MMID fabriqués ont permis de réaliser des communications passives de type rétro-modulation jusqu'à 20 cm. De plus, des fonctions de capteur d'humidité et capteur de pression intégrées aux tags MMID ont été montrées expérimentalement. L'ensemble de ces résultats ouvre la voie à de nouvelles perspectives pour les domaines des télécommunications et des réseaux de capteurs en bande millimétrique. / With the opening of the 57-66 GHz band in Europe, new high data-rate wireless communication technologies are currently under development. Numerous advantages linked to the frequency band conducted to consider the transposition of the radiofrequency identificaion (RFID) principle to the millimeter frequency band: the MMID. The international regulations provide a common bandwidth of 5 GHz allowing universal solutions. Moreover, the communication security of point-to-point networks and the directivities of the antennas present interesting perspectives.The presented work in this thesis looks for contributing to the development of MMID. The work underlines the principal locks of this technology and it presents the different proposed solutions covering multiple aspects: conception of antennas and antennas arrays, conception of MMID tags prototypes, characterization and measurement methodology including the complete conception of a measurement bench in V-band, improvement of the tags performances and study of sensing functionalities integrated in the tags. Different prototypes of MMID tags are fabricated and passive communications based on the backscattering of the tags were demonstrated up to 20 cm. In addition, humidity and pressure sensing functionalities were proved by experimentations. The overall of these results pave the way for new perspectives for the wireless communication domain and sensors networks in the millimeter-wave band.

Being able to keep track of ones assets is a very useful thing, from avoiding losing ones keys or phone to being able to find the needed equipment in a busy hospital or on a construction site. The area of localization is actively evolving to find the best ways to accurately track objects and devices in an energy efficient manner, at any range, and in any type of environment. This thesis focuses on the last aspect of maintaining accurate localization regardless of environment. For radio frequency based systems, challenging environments containing many obstacles, e.g., indoor or urban areas, have a detrimental effect on the measurements used for positioning, making them deceptive. In this work, a method for correcting range measurements is proposed for a narrowband sub-GHz radio frequency based localization system using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and Time-of-Flight (ToF) measurements for positioning. Three different machine learning models were implemented: a linear regressor, a least squares support vector machine regressor and a gaussian process regressor. They were compared in their ability to predict the true range between devices based on raw range measurements. Achieved was a 69.96 % increase in accuracy compared to uncorrected ToF estimates and a 88.74 % increase in accuracy compared to RSSI estimates. When the corrected range estimates were used for positioning with a trilateration algorithm using least squares estimation, a 67.84 % increase in accuracy was attained compared to positioning with uncorrected range estimates. This shows that this is an effective method of improving range estimates to facilitate more accurate positioning. / Att kunna hålla reda på var ens tillgångar befinner sig kan vara mycket användbart, från att undvika att ens nycklar eller telefon tappas bort till att kunna hitta utrustningen man behöver i ett myllrande sjukhus eller på en byggarbetsplats. Området av lokalisering utvecklas aktivt för att hitta de bästa metoderna och teknologierna för att med precision kunna spåra fysiska objekt på ett energieffektivt sätt, på vilken räckvidd som helst, och i vilken miljö som helst. Detta arbete fokuserar på den sista aspekten av att uppnå precis positionering oavsett miljö. För radiofrekvensbaserade system har utmanande miljöer med många fysiska hinder som till exempel inomhus och stadsområden en negativ effekt på de mätningar som används för positionering, vilket gör dem vilseledande. I detta arbete föreslås en metod för att korrigera avståndsmätningar i ett narrowband sub-GHz radiofrekvensbaserat lokaliseringssystem som använder Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)- och Time-of-Flight (ToF)-mätningar för positionering. Tre olika maskininlärningsmodeller har implementerats: en linear regressor, en least squares support vector machine regressor och en gaussian process regressor. Dessa jämfördes i sin förmåga att förutspå det sanna avståndet mellan enheter baserat på råa avståndsmätningar. De korrigerade avståndsmätningarna uppnådde 69.96 % högre nogrannhet jämfört med okorrigerade ToF-uppskattningar och 88.74 % högre nogrannhet jämfört med RSSI-uppskattningar. Avståndsuppskattningarna användes för positionering med trilateration och minsta kvadratmetoden. De korrigerade uppskattningarna gav 67.84 % mer precis positionering jämfört med de okorrigerde uppskattningarna. Detta visar att detta är en effektiv metod förbättra avståndsuppskattningarna för att i sin tur bidra till mer exakt positionering.

Bei der Anwendung von Radarsensoren zur Fahrzeug-Umfelderfassung müssen verwendete Blenden (Radome), welche den Sensor vor externen Einflüssen schützen und das Fahrzeugdesign unterstützen, die hochfrequente elektromagnetische Welle ohne Beeinflussung transmittieren. Allerdings werden beim Durchstrahlen eines Bauteils unterschiedliche Anteile der Welle absorbiert, reflektiert oder transmittiert. Mit dem Ziel die Transmission von Materialien zu erhöhen, werden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit die Einflüsse auf den Materialparameter Permittivität von Kunststoffen und Lacken untersucht. Dadurch kann auch die praktische Umsetzbarkeit der theoretisch hergeleiteten Kompensationsmethoden für hochreflektierende Lacke nachgewiesen werden. Zur Absicherung der Radarfunktion müssen darüber hinaus auch Einflussfaktoren aus Design, Fertigungsprozess und Umgebung bekannt sein.:1 Einleitung 2 Problemstellung und Zielsetzung 3 Stand der Wissenschaft 4 Elektromagnetische Eigenschaften von Kunststoffen 5 Einfluss elektromagnetischer Eigenschaften von Lacken 6 Radome im Gesamtaufbau 7 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick Anhang / When radar sensors are used for vehicle environment scanning, the cover (radome) used to protect the sensor from external influences and support the vehicle design must transmit the high-frequency electromagnetic wave without interference. However, when the wave passes through a component it is absorbed, reflected or transmitted. The range of the radar sensor can be reduced, the sensor can be blinded by reflections and inhomogeneous reflection distributions can lead to angular errors. To increase the transmission of materials, the influences on the material parameter permittivity of plastics and paints are investigated. Furthermore, the practical feasibility of the theoretically derived compensation methods for highly reflective paints can be demonstrated. To ensure the radar function, influencing factors, including the design, the manufacturing process and environment, must also be known.:1 Einleitung 2 Problemstellung und Zielsetzung 3 Stand der Wissenschaft 4 Elektromagnetische Eigenschaften von Kunststoffen 5 Einfluss elektromagnetischer Eigenschaften von Lacken 6 Radome im Gesamtaufbau 7 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick Anhang

No description available.

La réalisation d'objets intelligents de la taille du millimètre capables d'être sensibles à leur environnement, de réaliser des calculs pour traiter les données et de communiquer de façon autonome constitue une opportunité unique pour repenser l'interaction entre l'homme et son milieu environnant. Les systèmes émergeants de « Smart Dust» sont réalisés en associant massivement en réseaux distribués des centaines d'objets miniatures intelligents intégrant un système d'alimentation autonome, un ou plusieurs capteurs (lumière, température, vibration, acoustique, pression, champ magnétique, ...), des circuits analogiques et numériques pour réaliser des traitements de données et un système pour recevoir et transmettre des données. Pour faciliter la conception des systèmes radiofréquence RF ou millimétriques, l'intégration des dispositifs de système sur une même puce reste la solution souhaitée. <br /> Dans ce contexte, la première partie de ce manuscrit propose un état de l'art des différents composants d'un émetteur récepteur RF opérant à des fréquences millimétriques et intégré sur différentes technologies, ainsi l'étude de la faisabilité de la technologie CMOS SOI en réalisant un bilan de liaison à 60 GHz. Une étude sur les actifs et passifs de la technologie CMOS SOI montre les avantages du SOI et aussi les phénomènes spécifiques qu'il faut prendre en compte dans la phase de conception. La deuxième partie est consacrée à l'étude des structures d'interconnexion de la technologie SOI, notamment les lignes et les rubans coplanaires. Ainsi nous présentons les méthodes utilisées pour déterminer la permittivité effective et l'impédance caractéristique de ces lignes et un modèle analytique de la permittivité effective de l'antenne. <br /> La troisième partie traite le cas d'une antenne canonique de type dipôle intégré sur SOI et fonctionnant dans la bande millimétrique. Cette étude est basée sur les différents paramètres de la technologie SOI comme la permittivité, la résistivité et l'épaisseur de silicium. Ensuite, une étude de problématique de rayonnement des antennes intégrées en technologie SOI est présentée. Finalement un modèle des îlots métalliques « dummies » de la technologie SOI, basé sur le modèle dynamique de Tretyakov, est proposé. <br /> La dernière partie est consacrée à la conception, la réalisation, le test et la mesure de antennes intégrées sur SOI et fonctionnant dans la bande de 60 GHz. Quatre types d'antennes sont présentés notamment une antenne dipôle interdigitée, une antenne IFA, une antenne double fente et finalement une antenne spirale. Les paramètres électriques des antennes dipôles, IFA, et fente sont mesurés et sont conformes aux paramètres simulés. En plus, Nous avons présenté un dispositif de test pour mesurer le digramme de gain de ses antennes. La procédure de caractérisation a permis la validation expérimentale de ce dispositif et la récupération des diagrammes de gain des antennes au niveau de substrat SOI. Dans une optique de démonstrateur intégré, une conception conjointe d'un amplificateur faible bruit intégrée sur SOI avec une antenne intégrée, les deux fonctionnant à 60 GHz, permettant de s'affranchir de la contrainte 50 Ohms est conduite.

This dissertation presents a contribution to quantitative microwave imaging for breast tumor detection. The study made in the frame of a joint supervision Ph.D. thesis between University Paris-SUD 11 (France) and Mälardalen University (Sweden), has been conducted through two experimental microwave imaging setups, the existing 2.45 GHz planar camera (France) and the multi-frequency flexible robotic system, (Sweden), under development. In this context a 2D scalar flexible numerical tool based on a Newton-Kantorovich (NK) scheme, has been developed. Quantitative microwave imaging is a three dimensional vectorial nonlinear inverse scattering problem, where the complex permittivity of an object is reconstructed from the measured scattered field, produced by the object. The NK scheme is used in order to deal with the nonlinearity and the ill-posed nature of this problem. A TM polarization and a two dimensional medium configuration have been considered in order to avoid its vectorial aspect. The solution is found iteratively by minimizing the square norm of the error with respect to the scattered field data. Consequently, the convergence of such iterative process requires, at least two conditions. First, an efficient calibration of the experimental system has to be associated to the minimization of model errors. Second, the mean square difference of the scattered field introduced by the presence of the tumor has to be large enough, according to the sensitivity of the imaging system. The existing planar camera associated to a flexible 2D scalar NK code, are considered as an experimental platform for quantitative breast imaging. A preliminary numerical study shows that the multi-view planar system is quite efficient for realistic breast tumor phantoms, according to its characteristics (frequency, planar geometry and water as a coupling medium), as long as realistic noisy data are considered. Furthermore, a multi-incidence planar system, more appropriate in term of antenna-array arrangement, is proposed and its concept is numerically validated. On the other hand, an experimental work which includes a new fluid-mixture for the realization of a narrow band cylindrical breast phantom, a deep investigation in the calibration process and model error minimization, is presented. This conducts to the first quantitative reconstruction of a realistic breast phantom by using multi-view data from the planar camera. Next, both the qualitative and quantitative reconstruction of 3D inclusions into the cylindrical breast phantom, by using data from all the retina, are shown and discussed. Finally, the extended work towards the flexible robotic system is presented. / A dissertation prepared through an international convention for a joint supervision thesis with Université Paris-SUD 11, France / Microwaves in biomedicine

Frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) provide a variety of spatial filtering functions, such as band-pass or band-stop properties in a radome or other multilayer structure. This filtering is typically achieved through closely-spaced periodic arrangements of metallic shapes on top of a dielectric substrate (or within a stack of dielectric materials). In most cases, the unit cell size, its shape, the substrate parameters, and the inter-element spacing collectively impact the response of the FSS. Expanding this design space to include reconfigurable FSSs provides opportunities for applications requiring frequency agility and/or other properties. Tuning can also enable operation over a potentially wider range of frequencies and can in some cases be used as a loading mechanism or quasi-ground plane. Many technologies have been considered for this type of agility (RF MEMS, PIN diodes, etc.). This includes the recent use of microfluidics and dispersions of nanoparticles, or fluids with controllable dielectrics, which have entered the design space of numerous other EM applications including stub-tuners, antennas, and filters. In this work they provide a material based approach to reconfiguring an FSS. An FSS based on a four-arm spiral with tunable band-stop characteristics is presented in this work. A thin colloidal dispersion above each element provides this tuning capability. The radial expansion and contraction of this dispersion, as well as the variable permittivity of the dispersion, are used to load each element individually. This design incorporates thin fluidic channels within a PDMS layer below the substrate leading to individual unit cells that provide a closed pressure-driven subsystem that contains the dispersion. With the capability to individually control each cell, groups of cells can be locally altered (individually or in groups) to create gratings and other electromagnetically agile features across the surface or within the volume of a radome or other covering. Simulations and measurements of an S-band tunable design using colloidal Barium Strontium Titanate dispersed Silicone oil are provided to demonstrate the capability to adjust the stop-band characteristics of the FSS across the S-band.

Wireless communications have been an indispensable aspect of everyday life, and there is an increasing consumer demand for accessing several wireless communication technologies from a single, compact, mobile device. System-on-package (SOP) technology is an advanced packaging technology that has been proven to realize the convergence of multiple functions into miniaturized, high-performance systems to meet this demand. With the advancements in the SOP technology, the miniaturization of the front-end module has been achieved using embedded passives in multilayer packages. However, the integration of the antenna directly on the module package is still the barrier to achieve a fully-integrated, high-performance RF SOP system. The main reason for this missing link is that integrating the antenna on the package requires miniaturizing the antenna, which is a difficult task. The focus of this dissertation is to design high-performance antennas along with developing techniques for miniaturization and system-on-package (SOP) integration of these antennas to achieve fully-integrated SOP systems using advanced multilayer organic substrates and thin-film magneto-dielectric materials. The targeted spectrum for the antenna designs are 2.4/5 GHz WLAN/WiMAX and 60 GHz WPAN bands. Several novel antenna designs and configurations to integrate the antenna on the package along with the module are discussed in this dissertation. The advanced polymers used in this research are Liquid Crystalline Polymer (LCP), RXP, and thin-film magneto-dielectrics.