In this paper, a microstrip lowpass filter with wide stopband and sharp roll-off is presented. The proposed filter consists of a modified radial stub resonator which is cascaded by four suppressing cells. To reduce the overall size, the transmission lines are folded. The cut-off frequency of the proposed filter is 1.19 GHz. The transition band is approximately 0.2 GHz from 1.19 to 1.39 GHz with corresponding attenuation levels of 3–20 dB. The stopband is from 1.39 to 19 GHz with attenuation level of <20 dB. The insertion loss and return loss in the passband from DC to 0.8 GHz are better than 0.26 and 14 dB, respectively. The proposed filter is fabricated and measured. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement.

Magnetic coupling resonance wireless power transfer technology has attracted worldwide attention in recent years due to its mid-range, non-radiative, and high-efficiency power transfer. However, in regard to its practical applications, there are still some issues that need to be considered and studied with respect to coil design, such as coil structure, and parasitic parameter extraction. This paper investigated the characteristics of magnetic coupling resonance wireless power transfer systems with different coil structures, including circular coils and rectangular coils arranged in parallel. We calculated the magnetic field distributions and mutual inductances by subdividing the receiving coils and computing the magnetic flux density of each subdivision. The proposed analysis was validated by means of the finite element analysis and the experimental results. We investigated the effects of the coil's structure, and topological structures, on the power transfer efficiency. The results demonstrate that using circular coils in parallel is more advantageous than using rectangular coils.

A new design of reconfigurable sub-nanosecond pulse generator (PG) with pulse shape selection ability is presented in this paper. Step recovery diode is used as the pulse sharpening device and the pulse shaping circuit consists of a controllable RC differentiator in which a single PIN diode is embedded, which provides two different switchable pulse shaping performances. The realized PG has a compact (10 × 12 mm2) simple structure and is easy to implement while generating Gaussian and monocycle pulses with 510 and 660 ps pulse width, respectively. The proposed pulse shaping method is versatile and can be effectively modified and reconfigured to generate more complicated pulse shapes such as polycycle signals. The measured results reveal that the proposed reconfigurable PG is suitable to be used in systems with pulse shape modulation that require sub-nanosecond pulses at low pulse repetition rates.

A compact dual-band bandpass filter using stub-loaded stepped impedance resonator (SLSIR) with cross-slots is presented. The symmetric SLSIR is analyzed using even- and odd-mode techniques. Design equations are derived and they are used to guide the design of the circuits. Two passbands can be easily tuned by cross-slots and open stubs. Transmission zeros among each passbands are created, resulting in high isolation and frequency selectivity. An experimental circuit is fabricated and evaluated to validate the design concept. The fabricated filter is compact with 19.76 × 12.7 mm2. The measurement results are in good agreement with the full-wave simulation results.

Voltage doubler rectifiers are usually applied to systems with high voltage and low current requirement. An X band voltage doubler rectifier has been developed with 72% conversion efficiency. To the best of our knowledge, the obtained rectifying efficiency is the maximum reported to date at X band with Schottky diodes. The working characteristics of the diodes in the voltage doubler rectifier are analyzed in detail. Closed-form equations of diode input impedance and rectifying efficiency are presented and validated using Advanced Design System simulations. The matching network design of the proposed rectifier is based on the closed-form equations. The preliminary rectifying efficiency is predicted by the closed-form equations as well. Measured and simulated results are in good agreement.

Two-dimensional scattering of a Gaussian beam by a homogeneous gyrotropic circular cylinder is presented. The incident Gaussian beam source is expanded as an approximate expression with Taylor's series. The transmitted field in the homogeneous gyrotropic cylinder is expressed in terms of the series of wave functions based on the integral equation. The unknown coefficients of the scattered fields are obtained with the aid of the boundary conditions of continuous tangential electric and magnetic fields. Some numerical results are presented and discussed. The result is in agreement with that available as expected when the Gaussian beam degenerates to a plane wave incidence case.

This paper deals with the concept of microliter sensing of human blood samples by waveguide dielectrometry at microwave frequency (39.5 GHz). The methods, research protocol, and basic results derived from the permittivity measurements are presented. Here we summarize the results of our 5-year research on developing a multidisciplinary approach to the characterization of erythrocytes dielectric response, in parallel with biochemical studies of their receptor-membrane activity, within the scope of a case–control study for in vitro diagnostics of acute and chronic neurological conditions.

A 10 × 10 μm2 SiGe heterojunction bipolar photo-transistor (HPT) is fabricated using a commercial technological process of 80 GHz SiGe bipolar transistors (HBT). Its technology and structure are first briefly described. Its optimal opto-microwave dynamic performance is then analyzed versus voltage biasing conditions for opto-microwave continuous wave measurements. The optimal biasing points are then chosen in order to maximize the optical transition frequency (fTopt) and the opto-microwave responsivity of the HPT. An opto-microwave scanning near-field optical microscopy (OM-SNOM) is performed using these optimum bias conditions to localize the region of the SiGe HPT with highest frequency response. The OM-SNOM results are key to extract the optical coupling of the probe to the HPT (of 32.3%) and thus the absolute responsivity of the HPT. The effect of the substrate is also observed as it limits the extraction of the intrinsic HPT performance. A maximum optical transition frequency of 4.12 GHz and an absolute low frequency opto-microwave responsivity of 0.805A/W are extracted at 850 nm.

High-performance SiGe HBTs and advancements in packaging processes have enabled system-in-package (SiP) designs for millimeter-wave applications. This paper presents a 122-GHz bistatic frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar SiP. The intended applications for the SiP are short-range distance and angular position measurements as well as communication links between cooperative radar stations. The chip is realized in a 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS technology and is based on a fully differential frequency-multiplier chain with in phase quadrature phase receiver and a binary phase shift keying modulator in the transmit chain. On-wafer measurement results show a maximum transmit output power of 2.7 dBm and a receiver gain of 11 dB. The chip consumes a DC power of 570 mW at a supply voltage of 3.3 V. The fabricated chip is integrated in an embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) package. Transmit/receive rhombic antenna arrays with eight elements are designed in two eWLB packages with and without backside metal, with a measured peak gain of 11 dBi. The transceiver chip size is 1.8 mm × 2 mm, while the package size is 12 mm × 6 mm, respectively. FMCW measurements have been conducted with a sweep bandwidth of up to 17 GHz and a measured range resolution of 1.5 cm has been demonstrated. 2D positions of multiple targets have been computed using two coherently linked radar stations.

Confocal microwave imaging for breast cancer detection relies on accurate knowledge of the average dielectric properties of the patient-specific breast. When accurately estimated, coherent addition will occur at the tumor site, producing a clear and sharp image thereof. Conversely, if the average dielectric properties are poorly estimated, a blurred, unfocused image will be reconstructed, potentially obscuring cancerous lesions. Several methods have been proposed to estimate the patient-specific average dielectric properties, for example, time-of-flight estimation. However, such methods are specific to the individual imaging hardware, can be susceptible to multipath propagation and assume the chosen paths are representative of the whole volume. In this paper, a novel method to estimate the patient-specific average dielectric properties is presented, based on focal quality metrics (FQMs); used historically to measure the clarity and focus of microscopic or digital photographic images. These FQMs are applied to confocal microwave breast images to assess their focus, and hence estimate the patient-specific average dielectric properties. In this way, FQMs can be used to generate the optimum microwave image of the breast. The performance and robustness of these FQMs for microwave breast imaging applications is examined in this paper and preliminary results are presented and discussed.

In this paper, a novel microstrip bandpass filter is proposed to enhance sideband selectivity, suppress harmonic frequency up to three-order as well as to keep a miniaturized size for frequency synthesizer application. The filter is constructed by four λ/4 folded stepped-impedance resonators (FSIRs) and two λ/2 stepped-impedance resonators at input/output ports to create three pairs of coupling paths and then to produce three cross-coupling transmission zeros (TZs) as well as to achieve a size miniaturization with 96% reduction compared with the conventional filter. By adding a common grounded metallized via hole among four λ/4 FSIRs of the filter, additional four mixed electric and magnetic coupling paths are set to generate extra four TZs. With these seven TZs, the proposed filter achieves a good sideband selectivity and harmonic suppression. Finally, the filter is designed, fabricated, and measured, its measured results are in well agreement with its simulated results.

A novel transmission line structure has been developed to facilitate the delivery of both adrenaline and microwave energy to achieve hemostasis. A proximal end impedance transformer and radiative tip have been designed and manufactured to provide good match between the novel hollow transmission line and the microwave source and tissue, respectively. Further consideration of the challenges and problems encountered along with evidence of successful microwave energy delivery at 5.8 GHz into porcine liver model providing a controlled and focused coagulation zone of approximately 5 mm.

A fully two-dimensional theoretical study of the electromagnetic wave propagation through Metal–Liquid Crystal–Metal (M–LC–M) waveguide structure is presented. Dispersion relations corresponding to both symmetric and antisymmetric-coupled surface plasmons polaritons modes in M–LC–M structure are derived and numerically solved. The effects of LC tilt angles on the effective refractive index and propagation length are proposed. The analytical method is in good agreement with those obtained from finite-difference time-domain simulation. The obtained analytic formula can be used as an efficient element in designing tunable ultrahigh nanoscale integrated plasmonic devices.

A wide-stopband bandpass-filtering power divider with high-frequency selectivity has been proposed in this paper. The input and output feeding lines and eight 1/4 wavelength resonators are used to realize the signal transmission. In order to obtain good frequency selectivity, source-load coupling transmission path is used to generate transmission zeros near the passband. A four-way power divider with bandpass-filtering response and high-frequency selectivity is designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured results agree with the simulated ones closely in the desirable frequency range. The measured center frequency of the power divider is 2.38 GHz with input return loss of 31.2 dB, while the measured insertion loss is about 1 dB (not including ideal 6 dB four-way power dividing insertion loss). Moreover, the measured 3-dB bandwidth is 12% and the measured stopband attenuation is >15 dB from 2.59 to 7.7 GHz. In addition, two transmission zeros of 1.9 and 2.8 GHz are located near the passband. The measured output isolations are all >15.7 dB.

Null steering has been a challenge in radar communications for the past few decades. In this paper, a novel cognitive null steering technique in frequency diverse array radars using frequency offset selection is presented. The proposed system is a complete implementable framework that provides precise and deep null placement in the range and angle locations of the interference source. The proposed system is cognitive such that the transmitter and receiver are connected via a feedback loop. System extracts interference source location parameters from the radar scene using Multiple Signal Classification, a super resolution direction of arrival estimation technique. Neural networks known for minimum computation time, and good non-linear and non-parametric approximation have been utilized for prediction of next location of the interference source. Simulation results validate the proposed frequency offset selection by demonstrating precise and deep nulls at the desired locations.

This paper presents the design and measurement results of a high-gain D-band broadband power amplifier (PA) implemented in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The topology of the PA is based on four differential cascode stages with interstage matching networks. A detailed analysis of the frequency behavior of the transimpedance-gain of the common-base stage of the cascode is presented by means of small-signal equivalent circuits, when the proposed four-reactance wideband matching network is used for output matching to the subsequent stage. The effect of the size of the active devices, in achieving a desired gain, bandwidth, and output power, is investigated. The fabricated D-band amplifier is characterized on-wafer demonstrating a peak differential gain and output power of about 25 dB and 11 dBm, respectively, while utilizing a DC power of 262 mW from a 2.7 V supply. The 3-dB small-signal bandwidth of the PA spans from 100 to 180 GHz (limited by the measurement setup), making it the first SiGe-based PA to cover the entire D-band frequency range. The PA achieves a state-of-the-art differential gain-bandwidth product of around 1.4 THz and the highest GBW/PDC ratio of 5.2 GHz/mW among all D-Band Si-based PAs.

Design method for band-stop filters (BSFs) that suppress a requested number of spurious bandstops and reduce ripples in the passbands below ~1 dB is proposed. BSF is designed in a form of a cascade of cells, each consisting of steps of equal electrical length, where the number of steps is used to control the number of suppressed spurious bandstops. Analytical formulas are developed that enable initial design of BSF for a given central frequency, depth, and bandwidth of the stopband. Varying the minimum characteristic impedances of initial cells, through an optimization using circuit simulation, the ripples in passbands are reduced below ~1 dB. Using the proposed theory, three filters in microstrip technology, with suppression of 3, 5, and 7 spurious stopbands respectively, were designed, fabricated, and measured. Good agreement between simulated and measured results has been observed. The proposed design can be recommended for filters having broad stop bandwidths, between 40 and 100%.

In this paper, the structure of a common field-effect transistor (FET)-based negative impedance converter (NIC) that behaves as a negative capacitor is presented. The nonlinear modeling, analysis, and simulation of this non-Foster structure are presented in the time domain and the transient response of the circuit can be used to study the stability of the circuit. For the analysis of the circuit performance, the linear time-dependent modeling approach is used. This method is based on determination of the circuit parameters at each step according to parameters of the previous steps, bias voltages, and the input signal. Results of the proposed method for analysis of non-Foster circuit are compared with those of nonlinear analysis using commercial software, which shows a good agreement together and the proposed method is validated. Based on the analysis, the nonlinear capacitance of non-Foster circuit is extracted and based on the simple second order model of current source of FET, the analytic model of negative capacitor is extracted and improved by curve fitting. The proposed model results have a good agreement with simulation results of NIC's circuit.

This paper presents the design of a compact, planar, single layer, tri-section ultra-wideband (UWB) branch-line (BL) coupler. The prototype offers 10 dB return loss characteristics from 3.1 to 13.7 GHz. Over a major portion of the band, phase imbalance of ±10° is achieved. The method of deploying multi stage impedance feed has been used to achieve improved bandwidth. To enhance the power output through the coupled port throughout the operating band, ring shaped slots have been introduced in the ground plane beneath the series arms. The performance of the fabricated prototype has also been validated experimentally.

In this study, we investigate a concept that can be used to improve the magnetic field homogeneity in a microwave cavity applied in a novel, high-performance atomic frequency standard. We show that by modifying the boundary conditions in the case of a loop-gap geometry, a good improvement of the field homogeneity can be obtained. Such a design demonstrates high potential to improve the frequency stability; it is compact and hence suitable for a future generation of compact, high-precision frequency standards based on vapor cells and a pulsed optical pumping (POP) regime (POP atomic clocks).