IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Winter 2021 - 4

EDITOR'S NOTE

Leo Belostotski

Welcome to the Winter 2021 Issue of
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine!

This first 2021 issue of IEEE Solid-State
Circuits Magazine marks the end of
Jacob (Jake) Baker's tenure as editorin-chief (EiC). During his six years as
EiC, Baker was instrumental in publishing high-quality content in the IEEE
Solid-State Circuit Society (SSCS) field
of interest and increasing the magazine's readership by more than 50%.
Frequent readers of the magazine will
also notice that Marcel Pelgrom has
decided to step down as associate editor after contributing 33 columns. We
would like to thank Jake and Marcel
for their contributions and dedication
to the magazine. I have learned a great
deal about the magazine shadowing
Jake during the last year, and I expect
a smooth transition as I take over his
position. Although Marcel's column
will be missed, his departure opens an
opportunity to hear new voices from
those willing to take over the currently
vacant associate editor positions.
In 2013, IEEE Solid-State Circuits
Magazine dedicated its summer issue
to Paul Brokaw, one of the true pioneers of analog IC technology, who
has created many of its foundational
circuit topologies over the last four
decades. We are delighted to again
dedicate this issue of the magazine
to Brokaw, recipient of the 2021 IEEE
Donald O. Pederson Award in SolidState Circuits " for leadership in the
design of voltage references, amplifiers, and power management, and
for contributions to the principles of
analog circuit design. "
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MSSC.2020.3036142
Date of current version: 25 January 2021

W I N T E R 2 0 2 1

Beyond his circuit innovation,
been driven by the goal of making
Br ok aw 's p ubl ic at ion s , w r it i ng,
better products, and his direct prodand mentoring have helped establish
uct revenue contribution at Analog
an entire school of thought around
Devices is well over US$1 billion. He
analog circuit design that combines
has more than 200 U.S. and interengineering and science into an art
national patents covering a variety
form and emphasizes the depth of
of circuit areas, including voltage
understanding needed to achieve
references, temperature sensors,
engineering elegance. Brokaw is best
amplifiers, regulators, analog-to-digknown for his work involving temital and digital-to-analog converters,
perature transducers and voltage
accelerometers, magnetic sensors,
references. Bandgap structures based
automotive application-specified
on Brokaw's approach have become
ICs, and e v e n r a d i o - f r e q u e n c y
the dominant reference/
circuits. Brokaw has
bias source for analog and
presented five papers
In recognition of
mixed-signal circuits. Broat t h e I E E E I nte r Brokaw's thought
kaw was an important connational Solid-State Cirleadership on the
tributor in the early years of
cuits Conference (ISSCC)
principles of analog
integrated data converter
and five more as a coaucircuit design, IEEE
development. In the 1970s
thor as well as a dozen
has established the
and 1980s, Brokaw helped
other p ap e r s for I EEE
Brokaw Award for
move data converters
Journal of Solid-State CirCircuit Elegance.
from multi-die hybrid
cuits and other IEEE confermodules to fully monoences. He has also served on
lithic implementations that integrated
numerous panels, often on the topic of
circuit design philosophy. His observoltage reference, clock, sample-andvations and guidance continue to be
hold, and digital register functionalities.
highly valued more than four decades
Consistent with his eternal curiosity
after his first ISSCC paper.
about circuits and transistor fundaIn recognition of Brokaw's thought
mentals, Brokaw was frequently drawn
leadership on the principles of anainto the domain of solid-state sensors
log circuit design, IEEE has estaband sensor-interface circuits. Brokaw
lished the Brokaw Award for Circuit
also did important work in magnetic
Elegance, to " enhance appreciation
sensors and is the coauthor of some of
and encourage innovation of simple,
Analog Devices' foundational patents on
smart and elegant circuit design, "
solid-state accelerometers.
reminding us that even in these days
His impact goes well beyond the
of ultra-large-scale integration, cirprojects that he worked on directly.
cuit innovation is still an important
Brokaw was one of the founding
force in our industry.
fathers of analog IC design at AnaGuest Editor David Robertson
log Devices and across the industry.
has coauthored one tribute and
Brokaw's technical pursuits have

IEEE SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS MAGAZINE

IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Winter 2021

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