Nonlinear Electronics Research
Current externally supported projects conducted by CNERF are summarized below.Overcoming Transistor Performance Issues for Emerging Millimetre-Wave Applications
The operation of transistors for emerging millimeter-wave applications, such as point-to-point communications and automotive radar, will be researched. The aim is to develop circuit design methodologies that extract better performance from a given fabrication process, thus giving a competitive advantage to local industry, which shares the process with other international companies. Transistor operating range, linearity and characterisation will be enhanced. New models and demonstrator circuits will be produced. Postgraduates will be skilled in microwave theory and techniques applied to the development of high performance circuits.
Contact: Prof Anthony Parker
Partners: Dr Simon Mahon, Mimix Broadband Inc
Funding: ARC - $640,000
Student Prospects and
Positions Vacant
Achieving high linearity over broad bands in transistor circuits for communication applications
This project will deliver techniques for designing transistor circuits with low distortion for broadband microwave and millimetre-wave applications, such as wireless networks, telemetry, and communications. The challenge is achieving wide bandwidths with good distortion performance, so distortion generated by complicated device properties will be researched to deliver methodologies to solve the problem. This will contribute to a significant area of wireless communications, which is a goal in the designated priority area of frontier technologies for Australian industry. New design methods and circuits will be produced. Postgraduates will be skilled in microwave theory and techniques applied to the development of high performance circuits.Contact: Prof Anthony Parker
Partners: Dr James Rathmell, The University of Sydney
Funding: ARC - $243,000
Student Prospects and
Positions Vacant
High Performance Transistor Characterisation Using Pulse Techniques
This project consists of several avenues of investigation toward the development of a commercial instrument. Some Gallium Nitride microwave devices, with very interesting dynamic behaviour, will be investigated and modelled. Amplifiers will be developed to drive pulses that test transistors with a current sensing for measurement during the pulse. This will lead to the development of exotic new model architectures in SPICE and Microwave Office.
Contact: Dr James Rathmell, The University of Sydney
Partners: Prof Anthony Parker
Dr Jonathan Scott, Agilent Technologies, CA
Dr Dominique Schreurs, ESAT-TELEMIC, Belgium
Student Prospects
Millimetre Wave Communication Systems for Consumer Applications
The key outcome of this cross-disciplinary project will be a prototype single-chip (RF section), short-range, 1Gigabit/second, wireless network operating at 60 GHz. This will employ new Silicon Germanium technology in a "system on chip" methodology that will pave the way for low-cost consumer applications of such technology. A new design flow will be developed to support this project, which will enable first silicon pass correct design of complete mm-wave millimetre wave radios on a single chip, a feat that has yet to be demonstrated. A new communication system will be developed to support the high data rates proposed. The significance will be application in very-high-speed high-bandwidth wireless local networks.Contact:
Prof Anthony Parker
Partners:
Prof Neil Weste, NHEW R&D Pty Ltd,
Prof Dereck Abbott, The University of Adelaide,
Prof William Cowley, University of South Australia
Funding: ARC - $1,300,000
Past Projects
Characterisation and Modelling of the Dynamic Behaviour of Microwave Transistors
This project seeks to measure, quantify, anlayse and explain the rich dynamic behaviour that is exhibited by high performance microwave Field Effect Transistors (FETs). This behaviour is too complicated to measure by conventional means, thus sophisticated pulse, time-domain, and radio frequency techniques will be employed. The project will utilise these novel measurement systems, which have become recently available to Macquarie University (through collaboration with Hewlett Packard and CSIRO). The result will be a breakthrough in the understanding of microwave transistors that is being sought by many international research and industrial groups.Contact: Prof Anthony Parker
Partners: Dr James Rathmell, The University of Sydney
Funding: ARC - $144,800
Modelling and characterisation of CMOS transistors in thin silicon on sapphire
Silicon-on-sapphire transistor technology has the potential to revolutionise the communications infrastructure by combining high-frequency analog and digital systems on a single-chip. The technology provides the established CMOS process for digital circuits, offers microwave frequency operation with a greater choice of circuit architectures, and supports passive microwave components. To take full advantage of this emerging capability, circuit designers need transistor models that have an equally broad range of capability. The research will develop characterising and modelling techniques and produce the required circuit simulation models. These models will be able to predict non-linearity for radio applications and scale for digital applications.Contact: Prof Anthony Parker
Funding: ARC - $132,000
previous research activity prior to 1996