SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Design and fabrication of BICMOS 90 nm SiGe 9HP circuit blocks leading to pulse width modulator (PWM) for laser modulation in optical communication and binary phase shift key (BPSK) modulator for rf communication. Both modulators require stable clock for reliable cold capable operation so highly stable reference clock is designed to enable reliable modulation and signal recovery. Designs of the circuits and functional blocks (such as Op Amp, Voltage reference, comparator, varactor diode, etc.) not only have direct role in the CCM variety, they offer individual component based solution to much wider rangenbsp;of cold capable and rad hard applications. Utilization of BICMOS 90nm SiGe 9HP process and HBD techniques are quite synergistic in enabling the widest range of high performance circuit blocks for deep space robotics and other wider scope of space application platforms. Low flicker noise in SiGe-HBT makes it the preferred choice for low phase noise clocks and oscillator used in radar and demanding high bit density DSP applications and extending tonbsp;space based navigation and guidance systems. A highly valuable outcome of the investigation is to have a clear approach to clean spectrum, highly stable signal sources that offers very low phase noise and RMS jitter thus making it quite suitable for in-situ and agile DSP for robotic systems, highly precision sensors in harsh environment and software defined radio (SDR). Furthermore, in addition to being a basic rugged and rad-hard modulator, it is directly and efficiently adaptable to be used as a highly stable frequency source without the need for thermal stabilization. It directly addresses applications relying sub ppm stability with no size, weight or power penalty. An example of the application could be a local oscillator for autonomous robotic navigation and also in the signal chain that is typically used in mobile and agile radar.
