Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

This proposal exploits a novel technology, namely the Field Programmable Microwave Substrate (FPMS) with great potential to directly meet the requirements of new generation, ultrahigh data rate, millimeter-wave application needs for Internet of Things (IoT). FPMS is well suited to be transposed to modern wireless devices to instantly reconfigure them according to real-time dynamic operational requirements. Given the unprecedented level of programmability, the FPMS has the potential to affect microwave/millimeter-wave component design in a similar manner as the FPGA affected digital circuit design. To demonstrate this potential, the research plan is divided into three different work packages. In the first work package the unit cell (basic building block of FPMS) is optimized using an analytical model which can be universally used for any component design at a later stage. In the second stage the mediums on which the designs are to be realized will be studied. Two different platforms, i.e. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Low Temperature Cofied Ceramic (LTCC) will be studied for the realization of high frequency designs. Using the first two packages, design of antennas and circuits will be implemented initially at 10 GHz. The concept will be validated for the reconfigurable performance of the microwave components. The final step will be to extend the designs at millineter wave frequencies while realizing similar antennas and circuits. Furthermore, the concept of FPMS will be evaluated for a phased array application which is currently under investigation at ORBCOMM (industrial partner). The proposed research on PHY/MAC layer communication technologies addresses important wireless network challenges and will have high impact in the field of reconfigurable electronics. Indeed, it is expected this project will yield the world's first practical demonstration of a completely definable/programmable antennas and circuits for millimeter wave communications. Further, this project is done in partnership with Carleton University, ANR and French institutes i.e. University of Rennes I and University of Limoges.