Integrated mm-wave imaging/sensing systems

Background:

We have created a new passive imager structure, which features a fully differential architecture, a low insertion loss electrical Dicke switch, and a flicker noise insensitive structure with digital multipliers and integrators. Unlike previous single-ended structures, the fully differential architecture facilitates single chip integration with digital baseband circuits by providing high immunity to common-mode and supply/ground noises. The proposed digital multiplier and integrator significantly mitigate the CMOS inherent flicker noise issues by calibrating out the flicker noise contributions from all the RF/analogue/mixed-signal circuits. This is critical for the detection of the noise level of black body radiation. The low insertion loss switch further boosts receiver sensitivity with negligible noise figure degradation. The innovative system architecture leads to the highest responsivity of over 100 MV/W to date on silicon, along with the best noise equivalent power of 26 fW/√Hz on CMOS. We have published 9 papers and filed 3 patent applications in this area.

The highlight from IET Electronics Letter states: “Portable millimeter-wave passive imaging applications are a step closer with an innovative CMOS imaging chip architecture” from Dr. Gu’s group and her collaborators. The excerpt says “Passive millimeter/sub-millimeter-wave imaging has great potential in both military and civilian applications. By detecting black body radiation rather than needing a radiation source, a passive system is simpler and more flexible in its design. And the unique capability of millimeter/sub-millimeter-wave imaging to see through fog, dust and concealed objects, along with its high sensitivity to water content and its non-ionizing nature, enables it to be applied in many fields such as defense, security, astronomy, environmental sensing, medicine and chemistry.

With a wealth of potential applications for both passive and active imaging, the team is concentrating their efforts on the development of integrated solutions with reduced power consumption for portable and embedded functions. The success of these solutions will not only benefit existing applications, but will also open up new ones such as point-of-care medical diagnosis which could revolutionize today’s medical diagnosis procedures. ”

PassiveImage

Publication:

  1. H. Cheng, Q. J. Gu, Y. Cheng, S. Li, H. Sun, “Multi-Section Auto-Focus Millimeter-Wave Holography,” IEEE International Microwave Symposium 2016
  2. A. Tang, T. Reck, R. Shu, L. Samoska, Yangyho Kim Y. Ye, Q. Gu, B.J. Drouin, J. Truettel, R. Al Hadi, Y. Xu, S. Sarkozy, R. Lai, M-C Chang & Imran Mehdi, “A W-Band 65nm CMOS/InP-Hybrid Radiometer & Passive Imager”, IEEE International Microwave Symposium 2016
  3. A. J. Tang, Y. Kim, Q. J. Gu, “A 0.43K NEΔT 100 GHz Dicke-Free Radiometer with 100% Time Efficiency in 65nm CMOS Technology,” 2016 IEEE ISSCC
  4. A. Tang, Q. Jane Gu, “A High-Precision Millimeter-Wave Navigation System for Indoor and Urban Environment Autonomous Vehicles”, IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, June 2013
  5. A. Tang, G. Virbila, D. Murphy, F. Hsiao, Y.-H. Wang, Q. J. Gu, Z. Xu, Y.-C. Wu, M. Zhu, and F. Chang, “A 144GHz 0.76cm-Resolution Sub-Carrier SAR Phase Radar for 3D Imaging in 65nm CMOS,” 2012 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), February 2012
  6. A. Tang, G. Virbila, Y.-H. Wang, Q. J. Gu, Z. Xu, L. Du, N. Yan, Y.-H. Wu, Y.-C. Wu, M.-C. F. Chang, “A 200 GHz 16-pixel Focal Plane Array Imager using CMOS Super Regenerative Receivers with Quench Synchronization,” 2012 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, June 2012, Student Paper Award Finalist
  7. A. Tang, Q. J. Gu, Z. Xu, G. Virbila and M.-C. F. Chang, “A 349 GHz 18.2mW/Pixel CMOS Inter-modulated Regenerative Receiver for Tri-Color mm-Wave Imaging,” 2012 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, June 2012, Third Place – Best Student Paper
  8. A. Tang, Q. Jane Gu, “A High-Precision Millimeter-Wave Navigation System for Indoor and Urban Environment Autonomous Vehicles”, IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, June 2013
  9. A. Tang, D. Murphy, F. Hsiao, Q. J. Gu, Z. Xu, G. Virbila, Y.-H. Wang, H. Wu, L. Nan, Y.-C. Wu, and M.-C. F. Chang, “A CMOS 135-150 GHz 0.4 dBm EIRP Transmitter with 5.1dB P1dB Extension Using IF Envelope Feed-Forward Gain Compensation,” 2012 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, June 2012, Honorable Mention of the Best Student Paper
  10. J. Gu, Z. Xu, H.-Y. Jian, A. Tang, M.-C. F. Chang, C.-Y. Huang, and C.-C. Nien, “A 100 GHz Integrated CMOS Passive Imager with >100MV/W responsivity, 23fW/sqrt(Hz) NEP,” IET Electronics Letters, vol. 47, issue 9, pp. 544-545, 2011 , Featured Paper
  11. J. Gu, Z. Xu, H.-Y. Jian, and M.-C. F. Chang, “A CMOS Fully Differential W-Band Passive Imager with <2 K NETD,” IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium (RFIC) 2011
  12. Q. J. Gu, Z. Xu, and M.-C. F. Chang, “Millimeter Wave and Sub-millimeter Wave Circuits for Integrated System-On-a-Chip,” 2011 IEEE International Symposium on Radio-Frequency Integration Technology(RFIT), Best Paper Award
  13. J. Gu, Z. Xu, A. Tang, and M.-C. F. Chang, “A D-band Passive Imager in 65nm CMOS,” IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, vol.22, no. 5, pp. 263-265, May 2012
  14. J. Gu, K. Yang, Y. Xue, Z. Xu, A. Tang, C. C. Nien, T. H. Wu, J. H. Tarng and M.-C. F. Chang, “A CMOS Integrated W-Band Passive Imager,” IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Systems II, vol. 59, no. 11, November 2012

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