A low-noise amplifier for ultrasound imaging with continuous time-gain compensation

This work presents a low-noise amplifier (LNA) for ultrasound imaging with built-in continuous time-gain compensation (TGC), which compensates for the time-dependent attenuation of the received echo signal and thus significantly reduces its dynamic range (DR). The proposed design combines the LNA and TGC functions in a single variable-gain...

Dielectric Loss Measurements at Sub-K Temperatures and Terahertz Frequencies

On-chip spectrometers, such as DESHIMA and SuperSpec, require transmission lines with very low loss of tanδ < 10^-4 to achieve sufficient system efficiency. Transmission lines with higher loss would introduce too much signal attenuation in the line from antenna to filter and in the filters themselves. Data regarding the losses of...

MEMS Switches by Carbon Nanotubes with Silicon Carbide Coating

The research of advanced material such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) has attracted considerable attention in achieving high efficiency and good performance in the electrical and electronic system during the last few decades. In this research project, the designs and fabrication process for microswitches which are made by carbon nanotubes have been...

Design and Fabrication of on-chip Midinfrared Emitter and LVOF

In this thesis,two essential parts of microspectrometer are designed, fabricated and measured. They are a hot wire of polysilicon with constant temperature profile that used as the IR light source, and the LVOF which is aimed at IR spectral range. In order to have the desired IR source, the hot wire should have temperature distribution as...

Introduction of Zener Diodes, JFETs and DMOSTs in a BiCMOS Process and Implementation of OTP Memory

In this research a feasibility study was performed on introducing Zener diodes, junction field-effect transistors (JFETs) and double-diffused MOS transistors (DMOSTs) in an existing silicon 0.25 μm BiCMOS process. As a restriction, no changes to the process were allowed. Lateral polysilicon Zener diodes were designed and optimized for low...

Microstructure for Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy for Biofuel Composition Measurement

Biofuel sensors for measuring the ethanol and gasoline concentrations in bio-ethanol blends, have been studied worldwide and currently used in engine management in FlexFuel cars fabricated by amongst others, Ford Motor Company. However, water that results from ethanol sugar cane is inevitable present in the ethanol blend and requires a sensor...