The integration of mixed-signal systems has long been a problem in the semiconductor industry. CMOS System-on-Chip (SOC), the traditional means for integration, fails mixed-signal systems on two fronts; the lack of on-chip passives with high quality (Q) factors inhibits the design of completely integrated wireless circuits, and the noise coupling from digital to analog circuitry through the conductive silicon substrate degrades the performance of the analog circuits. Advancements in semiconductor packaging have resulted in a second option for integration, the System-On-Package (SOP) approach. Unlike SOC where the package exists just for the thermal and mechanical protection of the ICs, SOP provides for an increase in the functionality of the IC package by supporting multiple chips and embedded passives. However, integration at the package level also comes with its set of hurdles, with significant research required in areas like design of circuits using embedded passives and isolation of noise between analog and digital sub-systems. A novel multiband balun topology has been developed, providing concurrent operation at multiple frequency bands. The design of compact wideband baluns has been proposed as an extension of this theory. As proof-of-concept devices, both singleband and wideband baluns have been fabricated on Liquid Crystalline Polymer (LCP) based organic substrates. A novel passive-Q based optimization methodology has been developed for chip-package co-design of CMOS Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA). To implement these LNAs in a mixed-signal environment, a novel Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) based isolation scheme has also been employed. The key contributions of this work are thus the development of novel RF circuit topologies utilizing embedded passives, and an advancement in the understanding and suppression of signal coupling mechanisms in mixed-signal SOP-based systems. The former will result in compact and highly integrated solutions for RF front-ends, while the latter is expected to have a significant impact in the integration of these communication devices with high performance computing.

Conventionally discrete passive components like capacitors, resistors, and inductors are surface-mounted on top of the printed circuit boards (PCBs). To match the ever increasing demands of miniaturization, cost reduction, and high performance in microelectronic industry, a promising approach is to integrate passive components into the board during PCB manufacture. Because they are embedded inside multilayer PCBs, such components are called embedded passives. This work focuses on the materials design, development and processing of polymer-based dielectric nanocomposites for embedded capacitor applications. The methodology of this approach is to combine the advantages of the polymer and the filler to satisfy the electric, dielectric, mechanical, fabrication, and reliability requirements for embedded capacitors. Restrained by poor adhesion and poor thermal stress reliability at high filler loadings, currently polymer-ceramic composites can only achieve a dielectric constant of less than 50. In order to increase the dielectric constant to above 50, effects of high-k polymer matrix, bimodal fillers, and dispersing agent are systematically investigated. Surface functionalization of nanofiller particles and modification of epoxy matrix with a secondary rubberized epoxy to form sea-island structure are proposed to enhance the dielectric constant, adhesion and high-temperature thermal stress reliability of high-k composites. To obtain photodefinable high-k composites, fundamental understanding of the photopolymerization of the novel epoxy-ceramic composite photoresist is addressed. While the properties of high-k composites largely depend on the polymer matrix, the fillers can also drastically affect the material properties. Carbon black- and carbon nanotubes-filled ultrahigh-k polymer composites are investigated as the candidate materials for embedded capacitors. Dielectric composites based on percolation typically show a high dielectric constant, and a high dielectric loss which is not desirable for high frequency applications. To achieve a reproducible low-loss percolative composite, a novel low-cost core-shell particle filled high-k percolative composite is developed. The nanoscale insulating shells allow the electrons in the metallic core to tunnel through it, and thereby the composites exhibit a high dielectric constant as a percolation system; on the other hand, the insulating oxide layer restricts the electron transfer between filler particles, thus leading to a low loss as in a polymer-ceramic system.

The investigation of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) technology to function as a low-cost next-generation organic platform for designs up to millimeter-wave frequencies has been performed. Prior to this research, the electrical performance of LCP had been characterized only with the implementation of standard transmission lines and resonators. In this research, a wide variety of passive functions have been developed on LCP technology and characterized for the first time. Specifically, we present the development of patch antenna arrays for remote sensing applications, the performance of compact low-pass and band-pass filters up to millimeter-wave frequencies, and the integration of passive elements for X-band and V-band transceiver systems. First, dual-frequency/dual-polarization antenna arrays have been developed on multilayer LCP technology and have been integrated with micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) switches to achieve real-time polarization reconfigurability. These arrays are conformal, efficient and have all the features desirable for applications that require space deployment. Second, a wide variety of filters with different physical and functional characteristics have been implemented on both single and multilayer LCP technology. These filters can be classified based on the filter type (low-pass/band-pass), the resonators used (single-mode/dual-mode), the response characteristics (symmetric/asymmetric), and the structure of the filter (modular/non-modular). Last, examples of integrated modules for use in transceiver systems are presented. This part of the research involves the development of duplexers, radiating elements, as well as their integration. The duplexers themselves are realized by integrating a set of band-pass filters and matching networks. The characterization of the individual components, and of the integrated system are included. This research has resulted in a thorough understanding of LCP's electrical performance and its multilayer lamination capabilities pertaining to its functioning as a material platform for integrated microwave systems. Novel passive prototypes that can take advantage of such multilayer capabilities have been developed.

The goal of the research in this dissertation is to design and characterize embedded passive components, interconnects, and circuits in inhomogeneous, multi-layer liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) substrates. The attenuation properties of inhomogeneous multi-layer LCP substrates were extracted up to 40 GHz. This is the first result for an inhomogeneous LCP stack-up that has been reported. The characterization results show excellent loss characteristics, much better than FR-4-based technology, and they are similar to LTCC and homogeneous LCP-based technology. A two-port characterization method based on measurements of multiple arrays of vias is proposed. The method overcomes the drawbacks of the one-port and other two-port characterizations. Model-to-hardware correlation was verified using multi-layer model in Agilent ADS and measurement-based via model using arrays of the vias. The resulting correlations show that this method can be readily applied to other vertical interconnect structures besides via structures. Comprehensive characterizations have been conducted for the efficient 3D integration of high-Q passives using a balanced LCP substrate. At two different locations from three different large M-LCP panels, 76 inductors and 16 3D capacitors were designed and measured. The parameters for the measurement-based inductor model were extracted from the measured results. The results validate the large panel process of the M-LCP substrate. To reduce the lateral size, multi-layer 3D capacitors were designed. The designed 3D capacitors with inductors can provide optimized solutions for more efficient RF front-end module integration. In addition, the parameters for the measurement-based capacitor model were extracted. Various RF front-end modules have been designed and implemented using high-Q embedded passive components in inhomogeneous multi-layer LCP substrates. A C-band filter using lumped elements has been designed and measured. The lumped baluns were used to design a double balnced-mixer for 5 GHz WLAN application and a doubly double-balanced mixer for 1.78 GHz CDMA receiver miniaturization. Finally, to overcome the limitations of the lumped component circuits, a 30 GHz gap-coupled band-pass filter in inhomogeneous multi-layer LCP substrates, and the measured results using SOLT and TRL calibrations have been compared to the simulation results.

No description available.

La métrologie de haute précision est une application des peignes de fréquences optiques. Typiquement, la sensibilité de mesure est limitée par le bruit classique des propriétés des peignes. Leur bruit d'amplitude et de phase a été largement étudié et jusqu'à présent. Pourtant, uniquement des bandes latérales de bruit proche de la porteuse ont été caractérisées pour des fréquences individuelles et le champs moyen.Cette thèse développe des méthodes de caractérisation de bruit d'amplitude et phase à la limite quantique. A cette fin, une cavité passive et large bande est développée. Elle filtre et inter-convertit les bruits d'amplitude et phase. L'analyse de son signal à l'aide d'une détection homodyne permet la mesure du bruit de phase avec une sensibilité à la limite quantique. L'application d'un façonnage des impulsions ultra brèves rend possible la mesure des corrélations spectrales du bruit. Tout en étant représentés par des matrices de covariance, l'ensemble des corrélations du bruit sur le spectre optique d'un oscillateur Ti:Sapph est caractérisé.Les corrélations mesurées montrent des structures spectrales, dites " modes ", qui sont en accord avec la prédiction théorique. Ce concept apparait comme analogue au formalisme décrivant des systèmes multi-partites en optique quantique. Il est par conséquent aussi un moyen de description de bruit classique. La connaissance des modes intrinsèques du bruit est susceptible de mener à une amélioration de la précision de mesures avec des peignes de fréquences optiques. / Precision metrology is one application of optical frequency combs. Classical noise in their properties typically limits achievable measurement sensitivity. Amplitude and phase noise in optical frequency combs have already been studied extensively. So far, noise sidebands close to the carrier of either individual optical frequencies or of the mean field were considered. This thesis develops methods to precisely characterize amplitude and phase noise down to the quantum limit. To this aim a transmissive, broadband passive cavity is developed. It filters and inter-converts amplitude and phase noise. The analysis of its signal by the use of homodyne detection provides a quantum limited measurement of phase noise. The application of ultrafast pulse shaping enables the measurement of the spectral correlations of amplitude and phase noise. Being represented by the use of covariance matrices, the entire noise correlations over the optical spectrum are characterized on the example of a Ti:Sapph oscillator. The measured noise correlations exhibit spectral structures, so-called “modes”. Their shape matches with the theoretical prediction. This concept known from multi-partite optical quantum systems is consequently applicable to classical noise in frequency combs. The knowledge of the intrinsic noise modes is likely provide an improvement of precision metrology experiments with combs.

La caractérisation du couvert nival en forêt boréale est un élément important pour la compréhension des régimes climatiques et hydrologiques. Depuis plusieurs années, l’utilisation des micro-ondes passives est étudiée pour l’estimation de l’équivalent en eau de la neige (SWE : Snow Water Equivalent) à partir de capteurs satellitaires. Les algorithmes empiriques traditionnels étant limités en forêt boréale, le couplage d’un modèle de transfert radiatif (MTR) micro-onde passive (qui prend en compte les contributions du sol, de la neige, de la végétation et de l’atmosphère) avec un modèle de neige pour l’inversion du SWE semble une avenue prometteuse. La thèse vise donc à coupler un MTR avec le schéma de surface du modèle climatique canadien (CLASS) dans une perspective d’application opérationnelle pour les estimations de SWE à partir de données satellitaires micro-onde à 10.7, 19 et 37 GHz. Dans ce contexte, certains aspects centraux du MTR, dont l’effet de la taille des grains ainsi que la contribution de la végétation sont développés et quantifiés. Le premier aspect étudié dans la thèse concerne l’adaptation du modèle d’émission micro-onde passive DMRT-ML (Dense media radiative transfer theory – multi layer) pour l’intégration d’une nouvelle métrique représentant la taille des grains (surface spécifique des grains de neige: SSA). L’étude basée sur des mesures radiométriques et de neige in situ, montre la pertinence de l’utilisation de la SSA dans DMRT-ML et permet d’analyser le sens physique de l’adaptation nécessaire pour amener le modèle à simuler les températures de brillance (T[indice inférieur B) de la neige avec une erreur quadratique moyenne minimale de l’ordre de 13 K. Dans un contexte du couplage entre le modèle de neige de CLASS et DMRT-ML, un modèle d’évolution de la SSA est ensuite implémenté dans CLASS. Les SSA simulées par le module développé sont validées avec des données in situ basées sur la réflectance de la neige dans l’infrarouge à courte longueur d’onde pour différents types d’environnement. Au niveau de la contribution de la végétation, le modèle γ-ω a été étudié à partir de différentes bases de données (satellite, avion et au sol) en forêt boréale dense. L’étude montre l’importance de la considération de la diffusion (ω) pour l’estimation de l’émission de la végétation, paramètre auparavant généralement négligé aux hautes fréquences. Ensuite, des relations entre les transmissivités et certains paramètres structuraux de la forêt, dont l’indice de surface foliaire (LAI), ont été établies pour des forêts boréales en été. Des valeurs d’albédo de diffusion (ω) ainsi que les paramètres définissant la réflectivité du sol (QH) en forêt boréale ont aussi été inversées. Finalement, les simulations de T [indice inférieur] B issues du couplage du MTR (DMRT-ML, modèle γ-ω, et modèle atmosphérique) avec CLASS (dont les SSA simulées) ont été comparées avec les données AMSR-E sur une série temporelle continue de sept ans. Les premières comparaisons montrent une différence entre les paramètres de végétation (γ-ω) d’été et d’hiver, ainsi qu’une importante contribution des croûtes de glace dans la neige au signal. Les simulations du modèle ajusté montrent une bonne correspondance avec les observations d’AMSR-E (de l’ordre de 3 à 7 K selon la fréquence et la polarisation). Des tests de sensibilité montrent par contre une faible sensibilité du MTR/CLASS au SWE pour des forêts denses et des couverts nivaux épais. Le MTR-CLASS développé pourrait permettre l’assimilation de températures de brillance satellitaires en forêt boréale dans des systèmes opérationnels pour l’amélioration de paramètres de surface, dont la neige, dans les modèles météorologiques et climatiques.

Les travaux effectués durant cette thèse portent sur l'étude et l'utilisation d'une méthode de mesure passive pour la télédétection de la fluorescence chlorophyllienne induite par le rayonnement solaire à l'échelle du couvert végétal. Cette méthode est basée sur la mesure de la déformation des bandes d'absorption du spectre solaire dans le spectre d'irradiance, après interaction avec la végétation. Dans ce cadre, un nouvel algorithme permettant de mesurer la fluorescence a été élaboré. Il s'applique à des mesures faites dans quelques canaux autour des bandes d'absorption de l'oxygène atmosphérique. Son originalité est qu'il permet de tenir compte des variations de réflectance de la végétation qui perturbent l'estimation de la fluorescence. Dans le cadre de mesures à grande distance, une modélisation à l'aide du code de transfert radiatif MODTRAN a permis l'étude des effets atmosphériques affectant la mesure de la fluorescence. Nous avons établi que MODTRAN pouvait être utilisé pour corriger ces effets. Il a par ailleurs été montré qu'en plus de la connaissance des conditions atmosphériques, il était essentiel de pouvoir caractériser l'environnement de la cible. En effet, sa contribution, qui peut être supérieure au signal de fluorescence, est fortement variable spatialement. Une méthode opérationnelle de corrections des effets atmosphériques a été définie à partir de cette étude et appliquée à des mesures avionnées effectuées pendant la campagne ESA-CEFLES2. Les résultats de cette campagne mettent en évidence la grande variabilité spatiale et temporelle du signal de fluorescence. Une plateforme de mesure de la fluorescence à l'échelle du couvert a été mise en place et un nouveau capteur développé. Cette plateforme a permis de conduire des mesures établissant que la fluorescence mesurée dans le proche infrarouge pouvait être utilisée comme indicateur de biomasse, et que le rapport des fluorescences rouge/proche infrarouge, était porteur d'informations sur la structure de la végétation.

Esta tese oferece uma análise para os verbos auxiliares em geral e para os auxiliares do português em particular. A nossa proposta é a de caracterizar universalmente os verbos auxiliares como uma classe de elementos verbais que apresentam as seguintes propriedades: pertencem à categoria verbal, apresentam um traço verbal não-valorado [uV], não atribuem papel temático e compõem, juntamente com o verbo principal, um mesmo domínio oracional. A presença do traço [uV] na estrutura dos verbos auxiliares tem como consequência o fato de esses verbos selecionarem uma projeção verbal como complemento. Dentro dessa projeção estará o alvo que vai valorar esse traço não-interpretável por meio da operação Agree (Chomsky 2000, 2001). A postulação dessas quatro propriedades nos permitiu a derivação de critérios de auxiliaridade, uma reinterpretação dos critérios comumente propostos na literatura. Com esse trabalho, chegamos a uma lista de oito critérios necessários e suficientes para a definição de um verbo como auxiliar no português. Da aplicação desses critérios resultou a composição dos membros da classe dos verbos auxiliares do português: ser, ter, estar e ir. Para a análise das passivas, foi adotado o sistema de derivação por smuggling, sugerido por Collins (2005) e o auxiliar ser foi analisado como um verbo funcional que valora o traço [perfectivo] do particípio passivo. Apontamos para a existência de um outro tipo de passiva, as passivas não-canônicas, que apresentam como traço característico a presença do verbo auxiliar ter. Argumentamos que esse verbo é um produto computacional que resulta da combinação dos traços do auxiliar ser com os traços do núcleo funcional v*. Na análise dos auxiliares ter perfectivo e estar progressivo, adotamos uma postura decomposicional, tal como proposta por Kayne (1993), que deriva esses verbos a partir da incorporação de elementos preposicionais aos traços de um verbo auxiliar abstrato. Com isso, temos três verbos auxiliares que resultam da computação sintática: o auxiliar passivo ter, que é a realização dos traços [vSER v*], o auxiliar perfectivo ter, que realiza os traços [vAUX PDEPOIS] e o verbo auxiliar progressivo estar, cujo conjunto de traços inclui [vAUX PDENTRO]. Por fim o auxiliar ir é tratado como um núcleo modal que, em combinação com os traços do núcleo T, gera a interpretação de futuro. / This dissertation puts forward an analysis of auxiliary verbs in general, and of Portuguese auxiliary verbs in particular. The proposal is to universally characterize auxiliary verbs as a class of verbal elements which (i) belong to the verbal category ; (ii) have a unvalued verbal feature [uV] ; (iii) do not assign theta roles ; and (iv), together with the main verb, compose one single phrasal domain. The presence of [uV] guarantees that the auxiliary verb will select a verbal projection as its complement, within which is the target that will value the uninterpretable [uV] feature by means of the operation Agree (Chomsky 2000, 2001). The four characteristics proposed to describe auxiliary verbs allowed for the derivation of criteria of auxiliarity, a reinterpretation of the criteria usually discussed in the literature. Eight necessary and sufficient criteria define an auxiliary verb in Portuguese. The composition of THE Portuguese auxiliary class with its four members ser, ter, estar and ir resulted from the application of these eight criteria. Passives were analysed by means of the smuggling system, proposed by Collins (2005) and the auxiliary ser was considered to be a functional verb which values the [perfective] feature of the passive participle. A non-canonical passive was found to co-exist with canonical passives, one which shows the auxiliary ter. We argue that ter is the computational product of features of the auxiliary ser with features of the functional node v*. For the analysis of perfective ter and progressive estar, we have adopted a decompositional view along the lines of Kayne (1993), which derives these verbs from the incoporation of prepositional elements to the features of an abstract auxiliary verb. So, three of the Portuguese auxiliary verbs result from syntactic computation: passive ter is the manifestation of the features [vSER - v*]; perfective ter is the manifestation of the features [vAUX - PDEPOIS]; and progressive estar includes the features [vAUX - PDENTRO]. And the auxiliary verb ir is treated as a modal head, which, when combined with features of the head T, generate a future reading.

Esta tese oferece uma análise para os verbos auxiliares em geral e para os auxiliares do português em particular. A nossa proposta é a de caracterizar universalmente os verbos auxiliares como uma classe de elementos verbais que apresentam as seguintes propriedades: pertencem à categoria verbal, apresentam um traço verbal não-valorado [uV], não atribuem papel temático e compõem, juntamente com o verbo principal, um mesmo domínio oracional. A presença do traço [uV] na estrutura dos verbos auxiliares tem como consequência o fato de esses verbos selecionarem uma projeção verbal como complemento. Dentro dessa projeção estará o alvo que vai valorar esse traço não-interpretável por meio da operação Agree (Chomsky 2000, 2001). A postulação dessas quatro propriedades nos permitiu a derivação de critérios de auxiliaridade, uma reinterpretação dos critérios comumente propostos na literatura. Com esse trabalho, chegamos a uma lista de oito critérios necessários e suficientes para a definição de um verbo como auxiliar no português. Da aplicação desses critérios resultou a composição dos membros da classe dos verbos auxiliares do português: ser, ter, estar e ir. Para a análise das passivas, foi adotado o sistema de derivação por smuggling, sugerido por Collins (2005) e o auxiliar ser foi analisado como um verbo funcional que valora o traço [perfectivo] do particípio passivo. Apontamos para a existência de um outro tipo de passiva, as passivas não-canônicas, que apresentam como traço característico a presença do verbo auxiliar ter. Argumentamos que esse verbo é um produto computacional que resulta da combinação dos traços do auxiliar ser com os traços do núcleo funcional v*. Na análise dos auxiliares ter perfectivo e estar progressivo, adotamos uma postura decomposicional, tal como proposta por Kayne (1993), que deriva esses verbos a partir da incorporação de elementos preposicionais aos traços de um verbo auxiliar abstrato. Com isso, temos três verbos auxiliares que resultam da computação sintática: o auxiliar passivo ter, que é a realização dos traços [vSER v*], o auxiliar perfectivo ter, que realiza os traços [vAUX PDEPOIS] e o verbo auxiliar progressivo estar, cujo conjunto de traços inclui [vAUX PDENTRO]. Por fim o auxiliar ir é tratado como um núcleo modal que, em combinação com os traços do núcleo T, gera a interpretação de futuro. / This dissertation puts forward an analysis of auxiliary verbs in general, and of Portuguese auxiliary verbs in particular. The proposal is to universally characterize auxiliary verbs as a class of verbal elements which (i) belong to the verbal category ; (ii) have a unvalued verbal feature [uV] ; (iii) do not assign theta roles ; and (iv), together with the main verb, compose one single phrasal domain. The presence of [uV] guarantees that the auxiliary verb will select a verbal projection as its complement, within which is the target that will value the uninterpretable [uV] feature by means of the operation Agree (Chomsky 2000, 2001). The four characteristics proposed to describe auxiliary verbs allowed for the derivation of criteria of auxiliarity, a reinterpretation of the criteria usually discussed in the literature. Eight necessary and sufficient criteria define an auxiliary verb in Portuguese. The composition of THE Portuguese auxiliary class with its four members ser, ter, estar and ir resulted from the application of these eight criteria. Passives were analysed by means of the smuggling system, proposed by Collins (2005) and the auxiliary ser was considered to be a functional verb which values the [perfective] feature of the passive participle. A non-canonical passive was found to co-exist with canonical passives, one which shows the auxiliary ter. We argue that ter is the computational product of features of the auxiliary ser with features of the functional node v*. For the analysis of perfective ter and progressive estar, we have adopted a decompositional view along the lines of Kayne (1993), which derives these verbs from the incoporation of prepositional elements to the features of an abstract auxiliary verb. So, three of the Portuguese auxiliary verbs result from syntactic computation: passive ter is the manifestation of the features [vSER - v*]; perfective ter is the manifestation of the features [vAUX - PDEPOIS]; and progressive estar includes the features [vAUX - PDENTRO]. And the auxiliary verb ir is treated as a modal head, which, when combined with features of the head T, generate a future reading.