Silicon Technologies and Circuits for RF and mm-Wave Applications

The presentation will start with an overview of the features and capabilities of state-of-the-art SiGe-BiCMOS and RF-amplifier technologies for applications such as high-data-rate communications, phased-arrays and pro-active safety systems like identification and e-safety. The capabilities offered by SiGe-BiCMOS and microwave packaging enable the integration of complete multichannel transceivers on a chip or in a package even including the antennas. The criteria and trade-off's for the technology selection and system partitioning will be discussed in part two of the presentation. In addition to the electrical components performance, major criteria such as high reliability, long lifetime and high yield fabrication will be addressed. Advanced packaging technologies will be presented as well, including embedded passive components and package co-design. Finally existing circuit design examples and future solutions for pro-active safety systems will be presented, followed by power-amlifiers and high-speed transceivers for communications and point-to-point links.