Scientific results

The project did narrow-down focusing on the design and manufacturing of a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) at 60 GHz.

The main scientific events in connection with the bilateral project

- International common Workshop of scientists from Univ. of Pretoria, CEFIM and IMT Bucharest, in conjunction with the CAS Conference, at Sinaia, 11.10.2008.

- Tutorial presented by Andrei Muller (IMT) at University of Pretoria, Oct 2009, "Antennas for mm-wave range", elaborated in collaboration with dr Dan Neculoiu (IMT) and dr Saurab Sinha (Univ. Pretoria);

- Tutorial at IMT, in 19.11.2009, presented by Christo Jansen van Rensburg: "A SiGe BiCMOS LNA for mm wave applications", elaborated in collaboration with dr S. Sinha;

- Tutorial at Univ. Pretoria, Nov 2010, presented by dr Alexandra Stefanescu (IMT), "Design of a Slow–Wave Coplanar Waveguide structure based on 130nm IBM tehnology", elaborated in collaboration with cu dr S. Sinha (CEFIM)

- Tutorial presented by dr Alina Cismaru at Univ. Pretoria, Nov 2010, on Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs), entitled "Millimetre Wave Radio System Front end".

Scientific publications in Journals and proceedings of international conferences:

1. C. Coetzee, S. Sinha, M. Du Plessis, A. Muller «A 0.35 μm CMOS GPS receiver», Proceeding of CAS, Sinaia 2008, pp 411

2. Mladen Božanic, Saurabh Sinha, Monuko du Plessis and Alexandru Müller "Design flow for a SiGe BiCMOS based power amplifier" Proceeding of CAS, Sinaia 2009, pp 311

3. Marnus Weststrate, Saurabh Sinha and Dan Neculoiu "Limitations of a LC_Ladder and capacitive feedback LNA and scaling to mm wave frequencies", Proceeding of CAS, Sinaia 2009, pp315

4. A Müller, G Konstantinidis, D Neculoiu, A. Dinescu, A. Stavrinidis, D. Vasilache, M. Dragoman, M. Kayambaki, M Andrulidaki, G. Deligiorgis, A. Cismaru, K. Tsagaraki, C Buiculescu, I. Petrini, M Danila A. A. Müller "Acoustic Devices and UV Photodetectors based on Micromachining and Nanoprocessing of GaN/Silicon", Proc of Sensors, MEMS and Electro-Optic Systems – SMEOS, 5-7 Sept 2009

5. Andrei A. Muller "Antenna on package for 60 GHz frequency band applications", Proc of Sensors, MEMS and Electro-Optic Systems – SMEOS, 5-7 Sept 2009

6. M. Božanić, S. Sinha, "Design methodology for SiGe-based class-E power amplifier," Proceedings of South African Conference on Semi and Superconductor Technology, Stellenbosch, 8-9 April, 2009 p. 31.

7. J.W. Lambrechts, S. Sinha "Phase noise analysis of a tail-current shaping technique employed on a BiCMOS voltage controlled oscillator" Proceeding of CAS, Sinaia 2010, pp 509

8. A.A. Müller, S. Sinha, D. Neculoiu and D. Dascalu, "Modeling of antenna on package for the 60 GHz frequency band applications," Proceedings: IEEE CAS 2010 (International Semiconductor Conference), vol. 1, 11-13 Oct. 2010, Sinaia, Romania, pp. 295-298.

9. M. Weststrate, S. Sinha, D. Neculoiu "Design Trade-offs and Limitations of a LC-Ladder and Capacitive Feedback LNA and its Application at mm Wave Frequencies," Romanian Journal of Information Science and Technology (ROMJIST), Volume 13, Number 1, 2010, pp. 98-107. [ISI accredited journal]

10. M. Božanić and S. Sinha "Streamlined Design of SiGe Based Power Amplifiers" Romanian Journal of Information Science and Technology (ROMJIST), Volume 13, Number 1, 2010 [ISI accredited journal]

11. V.B. Bhana, J.W. Lambrechts, S. Sinha, "The design of a 5GHz VCO with phase noise performance analysis using MOSFET based current sources" Proceedings IEEE CAS 2011, 17-19 Oct, Sinaia, pp. 335-337

12. M.E.Goosen, S. Sinha, A.Muller "A Low Switching Time BiCMOS CML Transmitter for High Speed Adaptive Pre-Emphasis Serial Links" CAS 2011, 17-19 Oct, Sinaia

Staff and student exchange:

Name	Place visited /Location	Period of stay
Postgraduate students Univ. Pretoria to RO, 2008 Prof Monuko du Plessis, Director CEFIM, Dr. Saurabh Sinha, CEFIM_ Calvin Coetzee, student, Marnus Weststrate, student, Postgraduate students - 2009  (South African Side to RO.)  Marnus Weststrate  Marius Eugene Goosen  Mladen Božanić Christo Janse van Rensburg   Hosted researchers - 2009  (hosted in South Africa) Andrei Müller Prof. Dan Neculoiu Dr Alexandru Müller Hosted researchers - 2010  (hosted in South Africa) Dr Alexandra Stefanescu Dr Alina Maria Cismaru Postgraduate students - 2010 (South African Side to RO.) Johannes Wynand Lambrechts Lindani N. Tshibe To host researchers - 2011  (hosted in South Africa) Dr Alexandra Raluca Stefanescu* Ms Alina Bunea* Hosted researchers - 2011 (South African Side to RO.) Christo Jansevan Rensburg Deepa George	Bucharest (visit at IMT) and Sinaia (participation at CAS Conference)   Sinaia, Romania ( CAS 2009) Sinaia, Romania (CAS 2009) Sinaia, Romania (CAS 2009) IMT Bucharest, Romania Pretoria, Skukuza and Pretoria, Skukuza and Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Pretoria, South Africa IMT-Bucharest, Romania Sinaia, Romania ( CAS conf)   Pretoria, South Africa Pretoria, South Africa Bucharest, Romania Bucharest, Romania	9 -16 Oct.  2008     10-15 Oct. 2009 10-15 Oct. 2009 10-15 Oct. 2009 10Oct.-16 Dec. 2009   5 Sept. - 15 Nov. 2009 5 Sept.- 11 Sept. 2009 5 Sept. -15 Sept. 2009 24 Oct. - 4 Dec. 2010 17 Nov. - 4 Dec. 2010   9 .10 – 30.11. 2010 9 .10– 14 .10. 2010   04.09 – 23.09. 2011 16.08. – 23.09. 2011 22.08.-08.09.2011 05 -17.09.2011

 

This bilateral project had supported the master students Alina Bunea (IMT) and Christo Janse van Rensburg (Pretoria Univ.) to accomplishe their studies, by providing access to modeling software from Pretoria University and the characterization equipments in millimeter wave frequencies at IMT.

Also, the project had sustained, the PhD students Andrei Muller (IMT) at Pretoria University and Deepa George (Pretoria Univ.) at the Micromachined Structures, Microwave Devices & Circuits laboratory, IMT.