HIGH-FREQUENCY DEVICES

Optoelectronics Integrated Circuits for Receivers

M. Feng,* D. Barlage, W. H. Chang, J. S. Wang, D. Chan, H. Hsia
National Science Foundation, ECD 89-43166
(In conjunction with the Center for Compound Semiconductor Microelectronics)

This program is to study MSM and PIN detectors and their integration with transimpedance amplifiers. The baseline approach for a short wavelength 0.85 µm MSM detector will use direct ion-implanted GaAs MESFETs to achieve a bandwidth of 20 GHz. The baseline approach for long wavelength (1.3=N1.6 µm) detectors will use junction FET and PIN approaches. The process and design rules will be established for high-speed ICs.


High-Frequency Measurement Project on High-Tc Superconductor

M. Feng,* J. Kruse, F. Gao, Z. Zhou
National Science Foundation, DMR 89-20539
(In conjunction with the Science and Technology Center for Superconductivity)

This project has contributed to the study of BKBO and YBCO film characterization at microwave and terahertz frequencies. A parallel-plate resonator (10 GHz) was built to characterize sheet resistance in the microwave frequency. A noncontact coherent time-domain spectroscopy (THz) was used to characterize real and imaginary parts of conductivity. An on-wafer cryogenic microwave probing technique (1=N40 GHz, 15=N300°K) is employed to establish patterned film scattering parameter. This work also aims to development engineering model parameters using a GHz on-wafer probe technique.


Monolithic Millimeter-Wave Integrated Circuits Technology


M. Feng,* J. Kruse, D. Barlage
Northrop Corp.

This project is a joint effort with Northrup for developing 0.25 µm gate and 0.1 µm gate GaAs FET-based technology for the application in monolithic millimeter wave ICs (MMWICs). Based on the high-frequency device characterization, an equivalent circuit model will be generated. This model will then be used for MMWIC design. The fabrication of the MMWICs will be demonstrated.


S-Parameter and Noise Parameter Measurements at Cryogenic Temperatures

M. Feng,* D. Scherrer, J. Laskar
Jet Propulsion Laboratory

This project is aimed at measuring noise and gain properties of GaAs MESFETs and HEMTs at cryogenic temperature for space application.


Low-Cost Millimeter-Wave Monolithic Integrated Circuits by Direct Ion Implantation into LEC Substrate

M. Feng,* D. Scherrer, J. Middleton, P. Apostolakis
ARPA and Wright-Patterson AFB, F33615-92-C-1039

This work is aimed at developing 0.1 µm gate GaAs MESFETs for low-cost millimeter-wave IC. ft = 110 GHz was achieved; a noise figure less than 0.8 dB was measured at 18 GHz. This work will enhance cost-effective millimeter-wave IC technology.


Fundamental Speed Limitation of InGaAs HEMTs and MESFETs


M. Feng,* P. Apostolakis
National Science Foundation, ECE 93-13936

This program is to study the fundamental speed difference of 2-DEG and 3-DEG FETs. We will investigate the fundamental issues to improve or degrade the speed performance of device operation. Furthermore, we will determine the reduction of 1-DEG and 0-DEG in FETs device performance and the fundamental speed limitation of different gate lengths of InGaAs FETs.


MOCVD HEMT Technology


M. Feng*
Sumitomo Chemical America, Inc.

We will investigate the performance of MOCVD grown P-HEMT and HEMT technology and its performance comparison between MESFETs and MBE-grown HEMTs.


DC-110 GHz Characterization and Modeling of Transistors and Integrated Circuits


M. Feng,* J. Kruse
University of Illinois

The objective of this research project is the characterization and experimental determination of high-field transport properties in an InGaAs alloy system that will result in the establishment of a fundamental speed limitation of InGaAs FETs.


Noise Characterization of Self-Aligned Gate GaAs MESFETs


M. Feng,* D. Scherrer
ITT Corp.

This project aims to reduce the minimum noise figure on the direct ion-implanted self-aligned GaAs MESFETs based on the design of experiments in terms of dose and gate overlay.


YBCO Superconducting Transmission Line Characterization


M. Feng,* J. Kruse
Superconductor Technology Inc.

This project studies the design rule of MCM using a superconductor as an interconnect line. Loss and phase delay are compared between gold and the superconductor line. Bit-error-rate and crosstalk will also be examined.


10 to 20 GHz OEIC Receivers

M. Feng,* G. E. Stillman, W. H. Chang, N. Gardner
Northrop Corp.

This project is aimed at the design and fabrication of 20-GHz OEIC receivers. Long-wavelength 15-GHz PIN detectors are designed and fabricated using InGaAs/InP from G. E. Stillman's group. The 17-GHz transimpedance amplifier is designed and fabricated by M. Feng's group. The PIN will be flip-chip bonded to a transimpedance amplifier.


Intelligent Vehicle Highway System Chip Sets (IVHS)

M. Feng,* J. Kruse, P. Apostolakis, J. Middleton, D. Scherrer, R. Shimon
Northrop Corp.

This project is a joint development effort between UIUC and Northrop on millimeter-wave IC chip sets for IVHS. We will design transmitter, receiver, mixer, and oscillator millimeter-wave ICs using co-planar technology. The mask and fabrication will use UIUC ion implanted, superlow-noise GaAs MESFETs and a monolithic IC process.


AlGaAs/GaAs HBT Modeling

M. Feng,* P. Mares, M. Hein
Rockwell Microelectronics, Inc.

This project aims to establish a useful SPICE model for HBT integrated circuits application. Our approach is based on 45 MHz to 50 GHz bias-dependent microwave data collection on an HBT device using HP-ICCAP. Temperature-dependent microwave data collection will be included in the model.


GaAs- and InP-based HBT Reliability

M. Feng,* G. E. Stillman,* R. Shimon, D. Barlage
U.S. Army Research Office, DAAH04-94-0369

This project is to set up an HBT reliability test. HBT reliability has become a major issue because of hetero structure interface and fast diffuse p-type impurities in both InP- and GaAs-based HBTs. We will test HBT devices from Rockwell, Hughes, and TRW for the basic failure mechanism.


Hybrid and Monolithic OEIC Receivers

M. Feng,* D. Airola, C. C. Teng, S. H. Chan, P. Apostolakis, J. Middleton, J. S. Wang
DARPA Center for Optoelectronics Science and Technology

This project is aimed at hybrid integration of a PIN/GaAs transimpedance amplifier at 20 GHz operation. The monolithic IC is involved in design and fabrication of 4-channel OEIC receivers using GaAs MESFET technology.


III-V Detector Technology
G. E. Stillman,* M. Feng,* K. C. Hsieh,* S. L. Chuang,* D. K. Sengupta, C. Rowe, P. Apostolakis, J. I. Malin, S. P. Wu
Wright-Patterson AFB, F336154-91-C-1805

This program is aimed at developing infrared detector technology in the 3 to 5 µm and 8 to 12 µm windows. The application involves the next generation of satellite sensors and thermal imagers. The approach uses a quantum-well detector and its intersubband transitions using AlGaAs/GaAs and InGaAs/InP material systems. The spectral response, dark current, quantum efficiency, and noise are characterized using FTIR and diode characteristics. A device model will be generated to predict all the detector parameters.


Ka-Band Ion-implanted GaAs MESFET

M. Feng,* J. Middleton, D. Chan
Hughes Aircraft Co.

This project is aimed at developing low-cost ion-implanted GaAs MESFET technology for 38.5 GHz LNA, PA, oscillator, and mixer.