RF Power Amplification: Can CMOS Deliver? David J. Allstot Dept. of Electrical Engineering Univ. of Washington

Abstract:

The total energy consumed by cellular telephones in the United States is currently estimated at about 750,000 times the energy used by an average home in one year. Moreover, about 7,500 tons of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere.

The RF power amplifier dissipates a large fraction of the total power because of its low efficiency. Despite more than two decades of intensive research, the challenge of on-chip RF PAs with high efficiency in digital-friendly CMOS technologies has not been met.

Switching PA topologies with relatively high efficiency have gained momentum for use in CMOS RF transceivers, and relatively high output power is being delivered using power combining techniques with several PA cells. Supply regulation techniques have enabled higher efficiency when amplifying non-constant envelope modulated signals.

This talk will cite leading-edge designs and on-going research to assess the remaining challenges for CMOS RF power amplifiers.

Biography:

David J. Allstot received the B.S. from the Univ. of Portland in 1969, the M.S. from Oregon State Univ. in 1974 and the Ph.D. from the Univ. of California, Berkeley in 1979.

He has held several industrial and academic positions and has been the Boeing-Egtvedt Chair Professor of Engineering at the Univ. of Washington since 1999. He was Chair of the Dept. of Electrical Engineering from 2004 to 2007.

Dr. Allstot has advised approximately 100 M.S. and Ph.D. graduates, published about 275 papers, and received several awards for outstanding teaching and graduate advising. Awards include the 1980 IEEE W.R.G. Baker Award, 1995 IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (CASS) Darlington Award, 1998 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) Beatrice Winner Award, 1999 IEEE CASS Golden Jubilee Medal, 2004 IEEE CASS Technical Achievement Award, 2005 Semiconductor Research Corp. Aristotle Award, and 2008 Semiconductor Industries Assoc. University Research Award. His service includes: 1990-93 Assoc. Editor and 1993-95 Editor of IEEE TCAS II, 1990-93 Member of Technical Program Committee of the IEEE CICC Conference, 1992-95 Member, Board of Governors of IEEE CASS, 1994-2004, Member, Technical Program Committee, IEEE ISSCC, 1995-97, 2001, 2003-04, Member, Executive Committee of IEEE ISSCC, 1996-2000 Short Course Chair of IEEE ISSCC, 2000-2001 Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE CASS, 2001 and 2008 Co-General Chair of IEEE ISCAS, 2006-2007 Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society and 2009 President of IEEE CASS.

The Universal Connector:  RF Application Trends over the next decade Gregory L. Waters Executive Vice President and General Manager Skyworks Solutions Inc.

Abstract:

RF technology has enjoyed a significant expansion in consumer electronics and everyday appliances over the past two decades.   This presentation will outline key new opportunities and requirements for the RF industry to assume a much greater application reach.   This talk will outline why RF growth will accelerate in non-traditional markets, and the key technical and commercial problems that must be solved to enable this.   We will conclude with examples of how this growth will affect industry R&D practices, and result in a different business model for leading RF firms.

Biography:

Gregory L. Waters, 49, is executive vice president and general manager, front-end solutions for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. He joined the company in April 2003. Prior to joining Skyworks, he served as senior vice president of Strategy and Business development at Agere Systems, and previously held positions there as Vice president of the Wireless Communications business, and Vice president of the Broadband Communications business.  Prior to this, he held a variety of senior management positions within Texas Instruments, including director of Network Access Products and Director of North American sales.