Cornell University

California Institute of Technology

Ehsan Afshari

Yahya Tousi

Harish Bhat

Seyed Ali Hajimiri

Ruonan Han

Omeed Momeni

Wooram Lee

Seyed Ali Hajimi{grave Over (r)}i

A device and method for terahertz signal generation are disclosed. Oscillators are arranged in a two-dimensional array, each oscillator connected to a corresponding antenna. Each oscillator is unidirectional connected to its adjacent oscillators by a phase shifter. A method for generating a steerable terahertz signal utilizes an array of oscillators connected by corresponding phase shifters. A terahertz signal having a fundamental frequency is generated using the array. The phase shift of one or more of the phase shifters is varied in order to vary the fundamental frequency and/or steer the signal generated by the array.

Scalable terahertz phased array and method

A high-power transmitter with a fully-integrated phase Iocking capability is disclosed and characterized. Also provided herein is a THz radiator structure based on a return-path gap coupler, which enables the high-power generation of the disclosed transmitter, and a self-feeding oscillator suitable for use with the transmitter.

Device for terahertz signal generation and transmitter

A high-power broadband radiation system and method are disclosed. The system includes an array of harmonic oscillators with mutual coupling through quadrature oscillators. Based on a self-feeding structure, the presently disclosed harmonic oscillators simultaneously achieve optimum conditions for fundamental oscillation and 2nd-harmonic generation. The signals at the second harmonic radiate through on-chip slot antennas, and are in-phase combined inside a hemispheric silicon lens attached at the backside of the chip. In some embodiments, the radiation of the system can also be modulated by narrow pulses generated on chip, thereby achieving broad radiation bandwidth.

System and method for signal generation

The present disclosure provides a tunable signal source having a plurality of oscillator cores having a coupling input, a coupling output, and a power output that is common to each of the plurality of oscillator cores. Also included is a plurality of tunable phase shifters wherein corresponding ones of the plurality of tunable phase shifters are communicatively coupled between the coupling input and the coupling output of corresponding ones of the plurality of oscillator cores, thereby forming a loop of alternating ones of the plurality of oscillator cores and alternating ones of the plurality of tunable phase shifters.

Tunable signal source

A passive frequency divider in a CMOS process. More specifically, an electrical distributed parametric oscillator to realize a passive CMOS frequency divider with low phase noise. Instead of using active devices, which are the main sources of noise and power consumption, an oscillation at half of the input frequency is sustained by the parametric process based on nonlinear interaction with the input signal. For example, one embodiment is a 20 GHz frequency divider utilizing a CMOS varactor and made in a 0.13 &#x3bc;m CMOS process. In this embodiment: (i) without any dc power consumption, 600 mV differential output amplitude can be achieved for an input amplitude of 600 mV; and (ii) the input frequency ranged from 18.5 GHz to 23.5 GHz with varactor tuning. In this embodiment, the output phase noise is almost 6 dB lower than that of the input signal for all offset frequencies up to 1 MHz. Also, a resonant parametric amplifier with a low noise figure (NF) by exploiting the noise squeezing effect. Noise squeezing occurs through the phase-sensitive amplification process and suppresses one of two quadrature components in input noise. When the input signal is only in the direction of the non-suppressed quadrature component, squeezing can lower that NF by almost 3 dB. The resonant structure of the proposed amplifier achieves the squeezing effect using a low number of LC elements.

Resonator circuit and amplifier circuit

An apparatus and method for outputting high-frequency, high-power signals from low-frequency, low-power input is disclosed. The apparatus and method may provide a two-dimensional nonlinear lattice having a plurality of inductors and voltage-dependent capacitors intersecting at a plurality of nodes. Two or more adjacent boundaries of the nonlinear lattice may be provided with input signals which constructively interfere to output a signal of substantially higher amplitude and higher frequency than those of the input signals.

Generation of high-frequency, high-power electrical signals from low-frequency, low-power lattice network structures as sources

Filters and methods which may be used with millimeter-wave and terahertz frequency range are disclosed. The filter is formed as an electrical prism which may include a first lattice forming an interface with a second lattice. Each lattice may include a plurality of passive elements, such as inductors, capacitors, and the like. The first lattice may include an input disposed at an input boundary thereof, while the second lattice may include an output disposed at an output boundary thereof. Furthermore, the first and second lattices may be configured to receive a signal at the input of the first lattice, propagate the signal to the interface, and direct the signal to the outputs of the second lattice.

Electrical prism: a high quality factor filter for millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies

Doppler-inspired methods for signal generation and frequency up-conversion are provided that are compatible with CMOS technology. In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit is provided that includes two input signals that can propagate on artificial transmission lines in opposite directions, resembling the relative movement of source and observer in Doppler frequency shift; and an output signal combiner. By controlling the characteristics of the transmission lines and the input signal frequencies, the harmonic generation of active devices is utilized and combined to provide the desired high-frequency component at the output.

Doppler-inspired, high-frequency signal generation and up-conversion

An electrical signal transformation device configured for emulation of physical, for example, optical, phenomena and/or a mathematical or logical process. The device employs a first plurality, second plurality and third plurality of electrical components each having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first plurality and second plurality of electrical components are arranged along a first direction and a second direction respectively, to form a planar two dimensional lattice. The first plurality of electrical components are configured to provide at least one of a constant signal propagation velocity and/or amplitude while the second plurality of electrical components are configured to provide at least one of a varying signal propagation velocity and/or amplitude. The lattice includes at least two input signal nodes and at least one output signal node and is configured to transform and communicate a plurality of input signals from the input node to the output node.

Electrical funnel: a novel broadband signal combining method

A power combiner comprising an LC lattice structure is shown, together with a method for generating a planar wave front. The LC structure can comprise constant or voltage dependent capacitors. Either the delay or the characteristic impedance of the two-dimensional transmission line formed by the LC lattice structure are kept constant. A planar wave propagating along one direction of the transmission line gradually experiences higher impedances at the edges, creating a lower resistance path for the current in the middle. This funnels more power to the center as the wave propagates.

Growing community of inventors

Ithaca, NY, United States of America

Ehsan Afshari