Synthesizing artificial dielectric in CMOS with digitally controlled permittivity for Radio-on-a-chip applications

The talk will describe the principle in design and implementation of artificial dielectric with digitally controlled permittivity by using periodic metal strips and active CMOS switches under differential microwave transmission lines in deep-scaled standard CMOS process. The talk will also address its demonstrated circuit/system applications by using implemented digitally controlled artificial dielectric (DiCAD) in direct carrier signal modulation and broadband frequency synthesis for high linearity/efficiency power amplifications. We will also discuss its potentials and limitations in realizing multi-band and software defined microwave/mm-wave radios with dynamic/agile band/mode selection capabilities.