IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2015 - 106

Abstract
Transceivers for wireless communications at millimeter waves are becoming pervasive in several commercial
fields. Taking advantage of a cut-off
frequency of hundreds of GHz, CMOS
technology is rapidly expanding from
radio frequency to millimeter waves,
thus enabling low-cost compact solutions. The question we raise in this talk
is whether scaling is just providing
advantages at millimeter waves or not.
We present experimental data of single

devices, comparing 65-nm and 32-nm
nodes in a wide-frequency range. In
particular, switches used in VCOs for
tank components tuning, MOM and
AMOS capacitors, and inductors fT
and fMAX increase, though slower
than in the past, ron * Coff , a figure
of merit for switches, improves correspondingly. As a consequence, wideband circuits benefit from scaling to
32 nm. As an example, a frequency
divider-by-four based on differential pairs used as dynamic latches,

realized in both technology nodes
and able to operate up to 108 GHz, is
discussed. On the contrary, passive
components do not improve and eventually degrade their performances.
As a consequence, a conventional LC
VCO, relying on tank quality factor, is
not expected to improve. In this work,
we discuss a new topology for VCOs
based on inductor splitting, showing
low noise and wide tuning range in
ultrascaled nodes.
-Abira Sengupta

A 2015 IC Design and Challenge Workshop
in Bangkok Organized by SSCS-Thailand

The 2015 IC Design and Challenge
Workshop in Bangkok was organized by the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS)-Thailand Chapter. The workshop attracted about
30 students from six universities:
Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart
University, Mahanakorn University
of Technology, Prince of Songkla
University, King Mongkut Institute
of Technology Lardkrabang, and
King Mongkut University of Technology North Bangkok. Students
attended the free three-day workshop on 31 January, 1 February, and
7 February 2015.
The workshop was held in a computer-friendly room. Each student was
given an instruction manual on how to
use the software. Students were also
provided with illustrations of circuit
examples such as inverters, transconductance amplifiers, and oscillators.
On the final day of the workshop, students were divided into
groups and two design challenge
problems were raised. The students
were evaluated on how many specifications were met and their oral

University professors and engineers from industry (from left): ekachai Leelarasmee (chulalongkorn University), amorn Jiraseree-amornkun (Mahanakorn University of technology),
chumnarn punyasai (Nectec), Woradorn Wattanapanich (Kasetsart University), and Karn
Opaschumruskit (silicon craft technology).

participants closely listening and learning about Ic design.

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MSSC.2015.2474282
Date of publication: 2 December 2015

106

fa l l 2 0 15

student participants at the 2015 Ic Design and challenge Workshop.

IEEE SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS MAGAZINE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine - Fall 2015