Examination Committee

Prof Man WONG, ECE/HKUST (Chairperson)
Prof Man Sun CHAN, ECE/HKUST (Thesis Supervisor)
Prof Patrick YUE, ECE/HKUST (Thesis Co-supervisor)
Prof Kevin J CHEN, ECE/HKUST

Abstract

Inductors and transformers are essential building blocks in many circuit applications, from acting as receiver and transmitter in wireless power transfer, to impedance matching in Radio Frequency (RF) Integrated Circuits (IC). However, their design process is often unsystematic and tedious, as they involve many possible types of structures as well as many design variables. Furthermore, due to the wide range of variety in the device structure, models are often not available in the Process Design Kit (PDK). Thus, electromagnetic (EM) simulators are often used as a complement to general circuit design environment during the design and verification process, leading to back-and-forth iterations between the two environments.
 
This thesis addresses inductor and transformer design problems using design strategies and tools developed using analytical inductor and transformer models along with EM-simulations. An optimization method is proposed to design the inductors in a wireless power transfer system involving PCB and on-chip inductors, with measurement results to verify the models used. A design methodology for transformer in impedance matching network is also discussed to aid the design of on-chip transformers, consisting of three design tools: an impedance matching circuit design tool to select the ideal parameters of the transformer, an EM-simulator based transformer synthesis tool for generating a structure that match the desired parameters, and a design verification tool that simulate a two-dimensional layout in a three-dimensional field solver automatically to extract network parameters. The proposed design methodology is applied in the design of a baseband-over fiber system that includes a 32 GHz transmitter with 50% fractional bandwidth that impose a stringent requirement to the matching network.