System Simulation and Integration Analysis of Non-ideal RF MEMS

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Georg Fischer
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: from 2012 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 169536409

The main focus of Part A1 lies in the creation of the concepts for the design and simulation of the heterogeneous built-up overall system, as well as of the sub-systems at the communication system layer. Thereby, the focus is on the investigation of the influence of non-ideal, especially non-linear electronic and temperature dependent characteristics of the MEM-functional groups at the transmission characteristics on the considered multiphysical-transceiver; nonlinearities are particularly for the transmitter path of relevance. The system concept, simulation and optimization are based on the library of RF MEMS components developed in Phase 1, which will be extended and employed for the implementation of new concepts and functionalities (e.g. MEMS Mixler). Another relevant research topic constitutes the combination of the different simulation environments (Keysight ADS and Cadence Virtuoso), the nature of the implemented models (behavioral models, network- finite Elements or Measurement model), as well as the characterization through X-parameters of the implemented MEMS components and functional groups. In this way, the harmonics and intermodulation products that were not part of the behavioral model can be incorporated. The direct integration of the XParameter models in the system simulation (ADS), and the possibility of analyzing their influence at the communication system layer will be targeted. The third focus is the analysis of the exchangeability of the single modules with conventional, non-MEMS based devices, enabling the benchmark with RF MEMS based systems at the simulation layer.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 1522: Multi-physical Synthesis and Integration of Complex Radio Frequency Circuits - MUSIK
• Co-Investigator: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Amelie Hagelauer