Abstract: Systems and method for near-field millimeter wave imaging are provided, in particular, near-field millimeter wave imaging systems and methods that enable sub-wavelength resolution imaging by scanning objects with sub-wavelength probe elements and capturing and measuring phase and intensity of reflected energy to generate images.

Abstract: A system and method is shown for receiving microwave/millimeter-wave signals. The system and method are balanced and can be effectively implemented on a silicon substrate using single pole double throw switches.

Abstract: Array packages and methods for forming large-scale antenna arrays. One method includes aligning two or more array packages. The two or more array packages each include one or more bottom dielectric layers, an array of antennas arranged in a plane above the one or more bottom dielectric layers, a ground plane layer above the one or more bottom dielectric layers, and a conductive surface on at least a part of an outside surface of the array package and orthogonal to the plane of the array of antennas. The conductive surface is electrically connected to the ground plane layer.

Abstract: There is provided a tank based oscillator. The oscillator includes one or more active devices, one or more passive devices, and a tank circuit decoupled from the active devices using at least one of the one or more passive devices. A coupling ratio between the tank circuit and the one or more active devices is set such that a maximum value of an oscillation amplitude of the tank circuit is limited based upon a breakdown of only the one or more passive devices.

Abstract: A polarimetric transceiver front-end includes two receive paths configured to receive signals from an antenna, each receive path corresponding to a respective polarization. Each front-end includes a variable amplifier and a variable phase shifter; a first transmit path configured to send signals to the antenna, where the transmit path is connected to the variable phase shifter of one of the two receive paths and includes a variable amplifier; and a transmit/receive switch configured to select between the first transmit path and the two receive paths for signals, where the transmit/receive switch includes a quarter-wavelength transmission line that adds a high impedance to the transmit path when the transmit/receive switch is in a receiving state.

Abstract: A phased-array receiver that may be effectively implemented on a silicon substrate. A receiver includes multiple radio frequency (RF) front-ends, each configured to receive a signal with a given delay relative to the others such that the gain of the received signal is highest in a given direction. The receiver also includes a power combination network configured to accept an RF signal from each of the RF front-ends and to pass a combined RF signal to a down-conversion element, where the power distribution network includes a combination of active and passive components. Each RF front-end includes a phase shifter configured to delay the signal in accordance with the given direction and a variable amplifier configured to adjust the gain of the signal.

Abstract: Antenna devices, antenna systems and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. One such antenna device includes a semiconductor chip and a chip package. The semiconductor chip includes at least one antenna that is integrated into a dielectric layer of the semiconductor chip and is configured to transmit electromagnetic waves. In addition, the chip package includes at least one ground plane, where the semiconductor chip is mounted on the chip package such that the ground plane(s) is disposed at a predetermined distance from the antenna to implement a reflection of at least a portion of the electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: Wafer-scale packaging structures and methods are provided for integrally packaging antenna structures with semiconductor RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuit) chips to form compact integrated radio/wireless communications systems for millimeter wave (mmWave) and Terahertz (THz) applications. For example, a chip package includes an RFIC chip, an antenna structure and an interface layer. The RFIC chip includes a semiconductor substrate having an active surface and an inactive surface, and a BEOL (back end of line) structure formed on the active surface of the semiconductor substrate. The antenna structure includes an antenna substrate and a planar antenna radiator formed on a surface of the antenna substrate, wherein the antenna substrate is formed of a low loss semiconductor material. The interface layer connects the antenna structure to the BEOL structure of the RFIC chip.

Abstract: Provision of gigabit-rate data transmission over wireless radio links, using carrier frequencies in the millimeter-wave range (>30 GHz). More specifically, a circuit for detection of amplitude-shift keyed (ASK) or other amplitude modulations (AM) which can be easily incorporated into an integrated circuit receiver system is described, making the receiver capable of supporting both complex IQ modulation schemes and simpler, non-coherent on-off or multiple-level keying signals. Several novel radio architectures are also described which, with the addition of a frequency discriminator network, have the capability of handling frequency shift keyed (FSK) or other frequency modulations (FM), as well as AM and complex IQ modulation schemes. These radio architectures support this wide variety of modulations by efficiently sharing detector hardware components.

Abstract: Provision of gigabit-rate data transmission over wireless radio links, using carrier frequencies in the millimeter-wave range (>30 GHz). More specifically, a circuit for detection of amplitude-shift keyed (ASK) or other amplitude modulations (AM) which can be easily incorporated into an integrated circuit receiver system is described, making the receiver capable of supporting both complex IQ modulation schemes and simpler, non-coherent on-off or multiple-level keying signals. Several novel radio architectures are also described which, with the addition of a frequency discriminator network, have the capability of handling frequency shift keyed (FSK) or other frequency modulations (FM), as well as AM and complex IQ modulation schemes. These radio architectures support this wide variety of modulations by efficiently sharing detector hardware components.

Abstract: A phased-array transmitter and receiver that may be effectively implemented on a silicon substrate. The transmitter distributes to front-ends, and the receiver combines signals from front-ends, using a power distribution/combination tree that employs both passive and active elements. By monitoring the power inputs and outputs, a digital control is able to rapidly provide phase and gain correction information to the front-ends. Such a transmitter/receiver includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) front-ends and a power splitting/combining network that includes active and passive components configured to distribute signals to/from the front-ends.

Abstract: Provision of gigabit-rate data transmission over wireless radio links, using carrier frequencies in the millimeter-wave range (>30 GHz). More specifically, a circuit for detection of amplitude-shift keyed (ASK) or other amplitude modulations (AM) which can be easily incorporated into an integrated circuit receiver system is described, making the receiver capable of supporting both complex IQ modulation schemes and simpler, non-coherent on-off or multiple-level keying signals. Several novel radio architectures are also described which, with the addition of a frequency discriminator network, have the capability of handling frequency shift keyed (FSK) or other frequency modulations (FM), as well as AM and complex IQ modulation schemes. These radio architectures support this wide variety of modulations by efficiently sharing detector hardware components.

Abstract: Wafer-scale packaging structures and methods are provided for integrally packaging antenna structures with semiconductor RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuit) chips to form compact integrated radio/wireless communications systems for millimeter wave (mmWave) and Terahertz (THz) applications. For example, a chip package includes an RFIC chip, an antenna structure and an interface layer. The RFIC chip includes a semiconductor substrate having an active surface and an inactive surface, and a BEOL (back end of line) structure formed on the active surface of the semiconductor substrate. The antenna structure includes an antenna substrate and a planar antenna radiator formed on a surface of the antenna substrate, wherein the antenna substrate is formed of a low loss semiconductor material. The interface layer connects the antenna structure to the BEOL structure of the RFIC chip.

Abstract: A circuit includes an amplifier having an input and an output; and at least one transistor comprising at least one terminal and at least one isolated well. The input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one terminal of the transistor; and the output of the amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one isolated well of the at least one transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus, imager elements, and a method for detecting a radio frequency image using phased array techniques. An example apparatus includes an array of radio frequency antennas fabricated on one or more packaged integrated circuits. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to selectively phase shift radio frequency signals from the antennas such that the at least a portion of the radio frequency image is focused.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices and apparatuses directed to transceiver devices are disclosed. In accordance with one method, a first set of antenna positions in a first section of a set of sections of a circuit layout for the circuit package is selected. The method further includes selecting another set of antenna positions in another section of the circuit layout such that an arrangement of selected antenna positions of the other set is different from an arrangement of selected antenna positions of a previously selected set of antenna positions. The selecting another set of positions in another section is iterated until selections have been made for a total number of antennas. The selecting the other set is performed such that consecutive unselected positions in the other section do not exceed a predetermined number of positions. In addition, antenna elements are formed at the selected positions to fabricate the circuit package.

Abstract: There is provided a tank based oscillator. The oscillator includes one or more active devices, one or more passive devices, and a tank circuit decoupled from the active devices using at least one of the one or more passive devices. A coupling ratio between the tank circuit and the one or more active devices is set such that a maximum value of an oscillation amplitude of the tank circuit is limited based upon a breakdown of only the one or more passive devices.

Abstract: Provision of gigabit-rate data transmission over wireless radio links, using carrier frequencies in the millimeter-wave range (>30 GHz). More specifically, a circuit for detection of amplitude-shift keyed (ASK) or other amplitude modulations (AM) which can be easily incorporated into an integrated circuit receiver system is described, making the receiver capable of supporting both complex IQ modulation schemes and simpler, non-coherent on-off or multiple-level keying signals. Several novel radio architectures are also described which, with the addition of a frequency discriminator network, have the capability of handling frequency shift keyed (FSK) or other frequency modulations (FM), as well as AM and complex IQ modulation schemes. These radio architectures support this wide variety of modulations by efficiently sharing detector hardware components.

Abstract: Provision of gigabit-rate data transmission over wireless radio links, using carrier frequencies in the millimeter-wave range (>30 GHz). More specifically, a circuit for detection of amplitude-shift keyed (ASK) or other amplitude modulations (AM) which can be easily incorporated into an integrated circuit receiver system is described, making the receiver capable of supporting both complex IQ modulation schemes and simpler, non-coherent on-off or multiple-level keying signals. Several novel radio architectures are also described which, with the addition of a frequency discriminator network, have the capability of handling frequency shift keyed (FSK) or other frequency modulations (FM), as well as AM and complex IQ modulation schemes. These radio architectures support this wide variety of modulations by efficiently sharing detector hardware components.

Abstract: Provision of gigabit-rate data transmission over wireless radio links, using carrier frequencies in the millimeter-wave range (>30 GHz). More specifically, a circuit for detection of amplitude-shift keyed (ASK) or other amplitude modulations (AM) which can be easily incorporated into an integrated circuit receiver system is described, making the receiver capable of supporting both complex IQ modulation schemes and simpler, non-coherent on-off or multiple-level keying signals. Several novel radio architectures are also described which, with the addition of a frequency discriminator network, have the capability of handling frequency shift keyed (FSK) or other frequency modulations (FM), as well as AM and complex IQ modulation schemes. These radio architectures support this wide variety of modulations by efficiently sharing detector hardware components.