Title:  Broadband Silicon-Germanium Integrated Circuits for Millimeter-Wave Communications Systems

Committee:

Dr. John Cressler ECE, Chair, Advisor

Dr. Farrokh Ayazi, ECE

Dr. Shaolan Li, ECE

Dr. Gregory Durgin, ECE

Dr. Brian Gunter, AE

Abstract: The objective of this research is to investigate new circuit topologies for millimeter-wave and sub-millimeter wave integrated communications systems. To overcome the high free space path loss, emerging applications at millimeter-wave and sub-millimeter wave frequencies are driving the need for highly scalable systems. These systems require sub-circuits to operate power efficiently and with low loss. In addition, for high data rate communications, the circuits must maintain their performance over wide bandwidths. To overcome these strict requirements, we investigated novel circuit topologies uniquely suited to millimeter-wave frequencies for a variety of fundamental building blocks in a millimeter-wave transceiver. The circuits include a highly efficient D-band frequency doubler, a wideband V and W-band transformer-based distributed attenuator, a high power and efficient D-band power amplifier, D-band phase shifter, and D-band SPDT switch.