Co-sponsored by: Solid State Circuits Society (SSCS), Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT)

“Reflections On High-Performance Fractional-N Frequency Synthesis”

Prof. Peter Kennedy FIEEE, University College Dublin, Ireland

Event Organized By:

Circuits and Systems Society (CASS) of the IEEE Santa Clara Valley Section

Co-sponsors:

• Solid-State Circuits Society(SSCS)
• Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT)
• MEMS & Sensors Chapter

PROGRAM:

6:00 – 6:30 PM Networking & Refreshments
6:30 – 7:45 PM Talk
7:45 – 8:00 PM Q&A/Adjourn

Zoom broadcast may not be possible. In person attendance requested.

Abstract:

Fractional-N frequency synthesizers are widely used in electronic systems to generate carrier or clock frequencies that are not simple integer multiples of a reference frequency. As synthesizer architectures are pushed to the limits of their performance, new insights have been gained into underlying mechanisms for excess noise and spur generation. With these insights come strategies for addressing underlying causes. This lecture presents an overview of fractional-N frequency synthesis, highlighting fundamental architecture-related issues which can degrade performance, insights into the root causes of the problems, and some ideas which help to ameliorate the situation.

Bio:

Michael Peter Kennedy is Professor of Microelectronic Engineering at University College Dublin and President of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA). He received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991 and the DEng from the National University of Ireland in 2010. He has published over 390 technical articles, including monographs and patents, covering “blues skies” to applied research, from chaos theory to circuit design. He received the IEEE Millenium and Golden Jubilee Medals, and the inaugural RIA Parsons Award in Engineering Sciences. He was made a Fellow of the IEEE in 1998 for contributions to the theory of neural networks and nonlinear dynamics and for leadership in nonlinear circuits research and education. From 2005 to 2007, he was President of the European Circuits Society and Vice-President of the IEEE Circuits and Systems (CAS) Society. He was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE during 2012‒13. He is founding Director of the Microelectronics Industry Design Association and Microelectronic Circuits Centre Ireland. He has commercialized efficient test algorithms for data converters, behavioral simulation strategies for PLLs, and architectures for high-performance frequency synthesizers.

Venue:

Texas Instruments, Building E Conference Center, 2900 Semiconductor Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95051

Live Broadcast:

Live broadcast may not be available. In person attendance requested.

Admission Fee:

All admissions free. Suggested donations to cover food and water:

Non-IEEE: $5, Students (non-IEEE): $3, IEEE Members (not members of CASS or SSCS): $3

Online registration is recommended to guarantee seating.

Speaker(s): Michael Peter Kennedy,

Agenda:

Networked wireless microsensors can not only monitor and manage power consumption in small- and large-scale applications for space, military, medical, agricultural, and consumer markets but also add cost-, energy-, and life-saving intelligence to large infrastructures and tiny devices in remote and difficult-to-reach places. Ultra-small systems, however, cannot store sufficient energy to sustain monitoring, interface, processing, and telemetry functions for long. And replacing or recharging the batteries of hundreds of networked nodes can be labor intensive, expensive, and oftentimes impossible. This is why alternate sources are the subject of ardent research today. Except power densities are low, and in many cases, intermittent, so supplying functional blocks is challenging. Plus, tiny lithium-ion batteries and super capacitors, while power dense, cannot sustain life for extended periods. This talk illustrates how emerging microelectronic systems can draw energy from elusive ambient sources to power tiny wireless sensors.

Location:
Bldg: Building E Conference Center
Texas Instruments,
2900 Semiconductor Blvd.
Santa Clara, California
95051