Wireless and photonic high-speed communication technologies, circuits and design tools

Wireless and Ethernet communications aim at millimeter-wave frequency operation and gigabit-per-second data transmission. Increased data rates in wireless systems can only be achieved at frequencies beyond 60 GHz or 80 GHz and in 100 Gbit/s (100-G) data transmission over fibre. Both systems are fundamental to emerging consumer and professional applications. These systems start to emerge as near future applications and are subject of ongoing research activities in Europe, for example within the EU FP6 GIBON project. Wireless systems with over 100 GHz carriers as well as first over 100-G fibre systems were reported. These communication systems present new challenges for circuit designers. The presentation will be devoted to technologies and various aspects of circuit design for 100 G applications. We will present overview on wired and wireless systems demonstrating the challenges of this research including design challenges, relevant trade-offs and the present bottlenecks. Different system architectures will be presented with their impact on component requirements. Similarities and differences of wired and wireless applications will be pointed out. Design methodologies, necessary tools and circuit performances obtained in various technologies (Si, SiGe, GaAs and InP) will be presented and discussed. Finally, modeling, measurements and packaging problems at such high frequencies/speeds will be also addressed.