Associated Courses:
MMIC4U Chip Class    (Integrierte LV)
MMIC4U Chip Project  (Projekt)
MMIC4U Chip Lab       (Projekt im WiSe)

Contact Persons
Marcel Runge

Modules
MMIC4U Microwave Chip Project

ISIS Course
https://isis.tu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=33177

Where
EN 424 / EN 414

When
To participate, it is mandatory to be present for the first meeting and to sign up for the ISIS course.

SoSe 2023 (Class & Project)
Monday 08:00 - 10:00 (Integrierte LV)
Monday 10:00 - 12:00 (Projekt)
Start: 17.04.2023
WiSe 23/24 (Lab)
Dates will be announced in time

Description

Learning Outcome

The students are familiar with the essential concepts and, in particular, applied tools for integrated RF circuit design and analysis. Within the scope of a practically oriented training part, they have the ability to independently design, simulate and design (layout) the microchip for production as well as test them experimentally in the laboratory.

Teaching Content

Due to increasing chip-integration, especially in communication technology, a fundamental and design-oriented understanding of integrated monolithic high-frequency and ultra-high-frequency circuit systems is becoming increasingly important. Thus, modern receiver and transmitter modules are more frequently used in the microwave and millimeter wave range. For this purpose, classical transistor (MOS, bipolar) circuit design and high-frequency RF design are combined together and applied with industry-standard design software and technologies (CMOS, SiGe). In addition to the analysis, the course teaches and strengthens skills in design synthesis (i.e. the circuit implementation) of high-frequency amplifiers for radio front-ends, including receivers (low-noise amplifiers), and transmitters (power amplifiers). In this context, synthesis also means, in particular, the design flow for the optimization and validation of the mixed-signal RF circuit design, including the layout and post-layout verification methods, to finally give the designed circuits to a semiconductor Fab for production. This will indeed happen thanks to the support of IHP Leibniz Institute, Frankfurt (Oder).

MMIC4U (Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit for YOU): Together with the IHP Leibniz Institute, the three events are organized in such a way that the chip designs are produced between the two semesters (February to May). That is, each student group has their own chip design fabricated at the beginning of the second semester. The first semester focuses on applied theory including design calculations, circuit topologies, and design tool tutorials (MMIC4U Chip Class), as well as the actual design project with guidance in our student design lab (MMIC4U Chip Project) – the target is the design and implementation of a 5 GHz WiFi transceiver circuit completed for fabrication. The focus of the second semester is to conduct experimental lab evaluations under guidance. In a natural lab environment, basic analysis and measurement methods can be learned and practiced on their own chip. Thus, the students are getting the experience of a complete design, production and characterization cycle.