Title :
On the importance of chip-level EM-simulations for 60-GHz CMOS circuits
Author :
Cheema, Hammad M. ; Mahmoudi, Reza ; Van Roermund, Arthur
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Eindhoven Univ. of Technol., Eindhoven, Netherlands
Abstract :
This paper discusses the importance of chip-level EM-simulations required at millimetre wave frequencies for achieving correct results. The negative impact of interconnects on passive structures and the inability of the conventional RC-extraction to cater their effects necessitate alternative solutions. Furthermore during IC-measurements the number of probing points is limited; therefore chip-level simulations can provide insight into circuit behaviour at any point in the circuit. In this work, a non-oscillating 60 GHz transformer coupled I-Q VCO is used as a test-case and it is proved that carrying out EM-simulations for the complete circuit can provide valuable information during the design phase. Sonnet® and Advanced Design Systems® are utilized for EM-simulations and postprocessing functions, respectively.
Keywords :
CMOS integrated circuits; circuit simulation; integrated circuit measurement; millimetre wave integrated circuits; voltage-controlled oscillators; Advanced Design Systems; CMOS circuits; IC-measurements; Sonnet; chip-level EM-simulations; circuit behaviour; conventional RC-extraction; frequency 60 GHz; millimetre wave frequencies; nonoscillating transformer coupled I-Q VCO; passive structures; postprocessing functions; probing points; Coils; Couplings; Integrated circuit interconnections; Integrated circuit modeling; Layout; Transistors; Voltage-controlled oscillators;
Conference_Titel :
Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EuMIC), 2010 European
Conference_Location :
Paris
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-7231-4
