Project A07: Design of Broadband Integrated Circuits for Energy-Adaptive Optical Onboard Links for Inter-Chip Communication
A07 is about the design of compact high-speed energy-adaptive and -efficient integrated circuits for optical onboard links up to 100 Gbit/s. This includes key components such as laser and modulator drivers, transimpedance amplifiers and clock-/data-recoveries partially co-integrated with optical modulators and photodiodes. Methods like multilevel modulation schemes, pre-/de-emphasis or equalization will be applied in the circuits and fastest available semiconductor technologies, novel high-speed peaking and voltage multiplier concepts as well as vertical inductor structures are used.
Role within the CRC 912
The interaction between the projects A07 (Ellinger/Wolter) and A04 (Nagel/Müller) consists of exchanging system requirements, link budget constraints and simulation models. Project A04 (Nagel/Müller) is responsible for specifying link parameters in terms of data rates, energy constraints and load conditions, whereas project A07 (Ellinger/Wolter) delivers precise link models of the optical connections for the simulation and benchmarking environment.
Within this context, the projects A07 (Ellinger/Wolter) and A03 (Jorswieck) cooperate similarly. Project A03 (Jorswieck) is in charge of specifying the link parameters of the optical onboard communication with respect to optimum network coding design. On the contrary, project A07 (Ellinger/Wolter) determines precise link models, which can be incorporated in network graph approach of A03 (Jorswieck).
Projects A07 (Ellinger/Wolter) and A05 (Plettemeier) cooperate in terms of assembling, packaging and interconnection modeling. Both projects demand for precise models of device parasitics and interconnects, and advanced assembly is required for low losses. Simulation tools and results are shared among both projects.
Projects A07 (Ellinger/Wolter) and A06 (Schröter) exchange results regarding precise models of the used IC technology. For circuit optimization, e.g. operation at low collector-emitter voltages, precise RF HBT models are investigated by A06 (Schröter) for low-voltage and high-current/high-power applications. In turn, A07 (Ellinger/Wolter) provides feedback on the impact of important physical effects and the technology selection on circuit performance and limitations by measurements.
Staff
Principal Investigator
Postdoc
PhD Students
| Project | Project | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A07 | -> | A03 | Investigation of channel models; definition of link budget, optimum link parameters/configuration with respect to actual traffic load |
| A07 | -> | A04 | Load and traffic requirements; analysis of optimum energy scaling levels; performance parameters and link model for system simulation |
| A07 | -> | A05 | Investigation of packaging and assembling; modeling of interconnects;field simulations of wirebonds/ flip-chip |
| A07 | -> | A06 | Modeling of passive structures and parasitics; precise, low voltage and high current/power-density RF models; verification of models |