Presentation: Bio-inspired Polarization Imagers - Making the invisible
visible, Prof. Jan Van der Spiegel, University of Pennsylvania
Abstract
Biology provides us with fascinating examples of intelligent, low power, and
highly efficient sensory systems. With the advances in CMOS technology, it has
become feasible to build microelectronic systems that mimic some of the key
features found in biology. This talk will focus on CMOS vision sensors for
polarization imaging. We will review briefly the concepts of polarization and
how it is used by various species in nature to enhance their vision or to aid
with navigation and communication. Inspired by the biology we have explored
polarization for a variety of applications to detect features that are hard to
see or even invisible to the human eye. More recent results from the literature
including the use of polarization imaging for disease detection will be
reviewed. Motivated by the potential advantages of polarization imaging, we
have developed a CMOS imager that combines the pixel array with micropolarizers
and on-chip processing. Details of the design and polarizer optimization will
be described.
Presentation: On the design of circuits for frequency synthesizers at
MM-waves in ultra-scaled CMOS, Prof. Francesco Svelto, Università di Pavia,
Italy
Abstract
Transceivers for wireless communications at millimeter-waves are becoming
pervasive in several commercial fields. Taking advantage of a cut-off frequency
of hundreds of GHz, CMOS technology is rapidly expanding from Radio Frequency
to Millimeter-Waves, thus enabling low-cost compact solutions. The question we
raise in this talk is whether scaling is just providing advantages at mm-waves
or not. We present experimental data of single devices, comparing 65nm and 32nm
nodes in a wide-frequency range. In particular, switches used in VCOs for tank
components tuning, MOM and AMOS capacitors, inductors. fT and fMAX increase
though slower than in the past, ron*Coff, a figure of merit for switches,
improves correspondingly. As a consequence, wide-band circuits benefit from
scaling to 32nm. As an example, a frequency divider-by-4, based on differential
pairs used as dynamic latches, realized in both technology nodes and able to
operate up to 108GHz, is discussed. On the contrary, passive components do not
improve and eventually degrade their performances. As a consequence, a
conventional LC VCO, relying on tank quality factor, is not expected to
improve. In this work we discuss a new topology for Voltage Controlled
Oscillators, based on inductor splitting, showing low noise and wide tuning
range in ultra-scaled nodes.
Details
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