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Research

The iNcs2 research group conducts research in the areas of RF and millimeter-wave (mmWave) circuits and systems for wireless communications, imaging, and radar applications. Specific research topics include phased-array transceivers, software-defined radios, N-path filters, 6G communications and sensing, digital beamforming, built-in self-test and calibration of radios and arrays, mmWave imagers, mmWave MIMO radar, AI approaches to RF design, 3D heterogeneous integration (3DHI), and wireless technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Die micrograph of a 20 GHz beamforming receiver element in GlobalFoundries 45RFSOI technology, designed by Y. Chang as part of a SATCOM research project funded by MaXentric Technologies.

List of current sponsored research projects:

  1. Scalable Antenna-in-Package Approaches Supporting Heterogeneous Integrated Arrays
    Sponsor: Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC)
    Dates: 2024-2026
  2. RINGs: WISECOM–Wireless Integrated Sensing, Learning & Communication Networks
    Sponsor: NSF
    Dates: 2022-2025 (joint with Profs. Gonzalez-Prelcic & Heath)
  3. Energy-Synchronous Direct Antenna Modulation Transmitters
    Sponsor: IARPA
    Dates: 2022-2026 (joint with Profs. Adams & Bhattacharya)
  4. Millimeter-Wave Arrays: Design, Test, and Calibration
    Sponsor: Analog Devices Inc. (ADI)
    Dates: 2014-2025
  5. AERPAW: Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced Wireless
    Sponsor: PAWR Project Office and NSF
    Dates: 2019-present (joint with Profs. Guvenc, Sichitiu, & Dutta)
Photograph of one of the iNcs2 measurement labs, showing a wafer-probing setup.

List of completed research projects:

  1. EPIC: Extendable phased-array Platform ICs
    Sponsor: Army STTR Phase 1 and 2, MaXentric Technologies
    Dates: 2020-2024
  2. CoMET: Code-Modulated Embedded Test of Multifunctional Arrays
    Sponsor: Texas Instruments
    Dates: 2019-2024
  3. MIDAS: Tunable RF to Millimeter-Wave Receivers and Filters
    Sponsor: DARPA
    Dates: 2018-2022
  4. Multi-Modal Communications for Reliable UAV and UGV Connectivity
    Sponsor: Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) through BWAC
    Dates: 2021-2022 (joint with Profs. Guvenc & Sichitiu)
  5. High Dimensional Optimization and Inverse Methods for Electronic Design
    Sponsor: CAEML
    Dates: 2021-2022 (joint with Prof. Franzon)
  6. Intellectual Property Re-use through Machine Learning
    Sponsor: NSF I/UCRC, Center for Advanced Electronics and Machine Learning (CAEML)
    Dates: 2017-2019 (joint with Prof. Franzon)
  7. W-band Imaging System Using Repurposed Communication and Radar Chipsets
    Sponsor: Army SBIR Phase 1 and 2, MaXentric Technologies
    Dates: 2015-2019
  8. EARS: Compact Adaptive MIMO Receivers
    Sponsor: NSF
    Dates: 2013-2019 (joint with Profs. Hughes & Adams)
  9. EPIC: Extendable phased-array Platforms In Silicon
    Sponsor: DARPA
    Dates: 2016-2018 (joint with Prof. Ricketts)
  10. STTR Phase 1,2,2B: Fully-Integrated Universal Channel-Selection Filters
    Sponsor: NSF and Physical Devices LLC
    Dates: 2012-2018
  11. Radios and Arrays for 5G Millimeter-Wave Systems
    Sponsor: Integrated Device Technologies (IDT)
    Dates: 2017-2018
  12. Radio Design for 5G Mobile Millimeter-Wave Broadband
    Sponsor: Samsung
    Dates: 2012-2017
  13. Built-In Test for Power-Efficient mmWave Phased Arrays
    Sponsor: Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC)
    Dates: 2011-2014
  14. Imaging with Repurposed arrays In Silicon (IRIS)
    Sponsor: NCSU Chancellor’s Innovation Award
    Dates: 2015-2016
  15. Imaging using Reconfigurable millimeter-wave phased arrays In Silicon (IRIS)
    Sponsor: DARPA Young Faculty Award
    Dates: 2011-2014
  16. Advanced Silicon Circuits and Systems for mmWave Vehicular Radar
    Sponsor: AKM Semiconductor
    Dates: 2011-2014
  17. Efficient Linearized All Silicon Transmitters
    Sponsor: DARPA and MIT
    Dates: 2013-2014 (joint with Prof. Ricketts)
  18. DIVA: D-band Integrated with V-band Architecture for sub-THz wireless communications
    Sponsor: Army and MaXentric Technologies
    Dates: 2011-2012
  19. IBM Faculty Award
    Sponsor: IBM
    Dates: 2015-2016