New Methods and Microelectronics for Wireless Communication Systems. Global demand for high quality wireless communications poses significant challenges. The so-called "physical layer" is crucial, as this is where the vagaries of the wireless channel, including interference and limited bandwidth, are mitigated by sophisticated signal processing.
This project will conduct applied research to meet these physical layer challenges, providing solutions that feed directly into next generation wirel ....New Methods and Microelectronics for Wireless Communication Systems. Global demand for high quality wireless communications poses significant challenges. The so-called "physical layer" is crucial, as this is where the vagaries of the wireless channel, including interference and limited bandwidth, are mitigated by sophisticated signal processing.
This project will conduct applied research to meet these physical layer challenges, providing solutions that feed directly into next generation wireless communication systems.
Uniquely, this project focuses on the transfer of research from theoretical genesis, through to realisation of silicon integrated
circuit "chips". This will maximise both the impact of the research
and the potential for significant national economic benefits to accrue.Read moreRead less
Tools and techniques for cost effective creation of new, reliable and efficient microwave transistors for millimetre wave and wireless applications. Shifting the circuit design paradigm to the requirements of a circuit will provide a low-cost design solution for application with tight size, performance and lifetime constraints. This will enhance the international competitiveness of Mimix Broadband in the microwave wireless, aerospace, and radar markets, which will contribute to Australia's high ....Tools and techniques for cost effective creation of new, reliable and efficient microwave transistors for millimetre wave and wireless applications. Shifting the circuit design paradigm to the requirements of a circuit will provide a low-cost design solution for application with tight size, performance and lifetime constraints. This will enhance the international competitiveness of Mimix Broadband in the microwave wireless, aerospace, and radar markets, which will contribute to Australia's high performance circuit design sector. New knowledge and skilled researchers provided by this project will foster growth of the microwave and wireless industry. The local research community will be advantaged in international reputation and in its efforts to develop future high performance wireless systems.Read moreRead less
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, lin ....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. The project will skill postgraduates in microwave theory and techniques applied to the development of high performance circuits.Read moreRead less
Surface Integrity Characterization of Sapphire Wafers for Wireless and Fibre Optic Semiconductor Industry. This project aims to uncover the mechanism of surface integrity in sapphire wafers and thus to establish its relationship with the quality processing of integrated circuits. The project will comprehensively consider surface damage, residual stresses, thermal shock and dislocation evolution as an organic whole to provide an effective solution to the problems in the current production practic ....Surface Integrity Characterization of Sapphire Wafers for Wireless and Fibre Optic Semiconductor Industry. This project aims to uncover the mechanism of surface integrity in sapphire wafers and thus to establish its relationship with the quality processing of integrated circuits. The project will comprehensively consider surface damage, residual stresses, thermal shock and dislocation evolution as an organic whole to provide an effective solution to the problems in the current production practice. Problems caused by unsatisfactory surface integrity represent a major outlay for the wireless and fibre optic semiconductor industry. The proposed research holds the very real possibility of reducing the capital cost and enhancing the quality of the integrated circuits of high capacity.Read moreRead less
Integrated energy conversion and management systems in silicon-on-sapphire. The aim of this research is to develop specialised "power-supply-on-a-chip" integrated circuits (ICs) for efficient conversion and management of electrical energy. The project will utilise and develop the unique local expertise and IC fabrication capability in silicon-on-sapphire technology in partnership with Sapphicon Semiconductor Pty. Ltd. The ICs developed will be used to improve the performance of small-scale elect ....Integrated energy conversion and management systems in silicon-on-sapphire. The aim of this research is to develop specialised "power-supply-on-a-chip" integrated circuits (ICs) for efficient conversion and management of electrical energy. The project will utilise and develop the unique local expertise and IC fabrication capability in silicon-on-sapphire technology in partnership with Sapphicon Semiconductor Pty. Ltd. The ICs developed will be used to improve the performance of small-scale electric power and transport systems based on alternative energy sources, thereby assisting energy self-sufficiency in rural and remote communities and reducing Australia's dependence on fossil and other non-renewable fuels. Sales of the ICs will also generate export income for Australian industry.Read moreRead less
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increas ....STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SILICON ON SAPPHIRE THIN FILMS GROWN USING SOLID-PHASE EPITAXIAL TECHNIQUES. Devices based on silicon-on-sapphire processing are potentially faster and are prepared with fewer processing steps than those based on conventional silicon processing technology. However, silicon-on-sapphire films prepared by traditional methods are unsatisfactory due to the high densities of defects they contain. The development of solid phase epitaxial processing has lead to significant increases in performance. This project will characterize the structures of films grown by this new process, and relate them to both the processing conditions and device performance. A greater understanding of the relationship between processing, structure and properties will assist the commercial development of these devices.Read moreRead less
Circuit-based monitoring and characterisation of high performance semiconductor processes. As a frontier technology, this project extends Australia's leadership in wireless communications. Potentially this project provides the key enabling method for integrated circuits to take full advantage of future generations of semiconductor technology. National Research Priorities safeguarding Australia and promoting and maintaining good health will also be impacted through more capable circuits for def ....Circuit-based monitoring and characterisation of high performance semiconductor processes. As a frontier technology, this project extends Australia's leadership in wireless communications. Potentially this project provides the key enabling method for integrated circuits to take full advantage of future generations of semiconductor technology. National Research Priorities safeguarding Australia and promoting and maintaining good health will also be impacted through more capable circuits for defence electronics and anti-terrorism, medical remote sensing and networking. The innovations here will make Sapphicon, Australia's only commercial integrated circuit manufacturer, more competitive and indirectly benefit National ICT Australia (NICTA), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), the National Broadband Network and a host of other high-performance electronics concerns.Read moreRead less
Development of a molecular flash memory for long-term, extremely high-capacity, unpowered data storage. This collaborative project with INTEL will demonstrate an array of Flash-RAM molecular-memory cells capable, at room temperature, of storing a terabit of data on an area of 2 square mm. This data density is more than four orders of magnitude greater than any commercially available technology and unattainable by conventional silicon-based electronics. We will design and optimize the memory cel ....Development of a molecular flash memory for long-term, extremely high-capacity, unpowered data storage. This collaborative project with INTEL will demonstrate an array of Flash-RAM molecular-memory cells capable, at room temperature, of storing a terabit of data on an area of 2 square mm. This data density is more than four orders of magnitude greater than any commercially available technology and unattainable by conventional silicon-based electronics. We will design and optimize the memory cell, develop the synthesis method, synthesize arrays of the memory cells, and develop new molecular addressing technologies.Read moreRead less
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 d ....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-bandwith wireless local networks.Read moreRead less
Heat conduction characterisation of buried insulation layers in silicon-on-insulator systems. This project aims to establish a new technique for the accurate characterisation of thermal conduction in buried insulation layers in advanced silicon-on-insulator (SOI) systems. The success of the project will enable the Australian semiconductor industry to develop high performance SOI systems.