Bring the system down — To a chip

Abstract

Nanoscale CMOS Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology is a design environment suitable for integrated circuits and systems. Watt-level stacked power amplifiers (PAs) implemented in CMOS SOI technology operating from RF to mm-wave frequencies have been demonstrated. The challenge is to improve PA efficiencies to the level achieved by GaAs and GaN technologies. CMOS SOI technology also offers a unique opportunity to implement ultra-low power circuits, integrated antennae and post-processed integrated sensors and actuators. Examples of CMOS SOI circuits and integrated devices are presented and characteristics of future single-chip systems are discussed.