This group specialises in the design of CMOS integrated circuits, as well as the design and manufacture of novel silicon-based semiconductor devices.
In the IC design research, emphasis is placed on the analogue design of RF CMOS integrated circuits, for fabrication in submicron technologies. We are currently able to design circuits in the leading 90 nm and 65 nm processes.
The realisation of silicon-based optoelectronic and nano-explosive devices are also investigated. The use of silicon as a light emitter is researched, and may eventually lead to integrated silicon photonic circuits.
This group specialises in the design of CMOS integrated circuits, as well as the design and manufacture of novel silicon-based semiconductor devices.
In the IC design research, emphasis is placed on the analogue design of RF CMOS integrated circuits, for fabrication in submicron technologies. We are currently able to design circuits in the leading 90 nm and 65 nm processes.
The realisation of silicon-based optoelectronic and nano-explosive devices are also investigated. The use of silicon as a light emitter is researched, and may eventually lead to integrated silicon photonic circuits.
Under certain circumstances conducive to avalanche effects photons will be emitted by silicon components. This effect is investigated experimentally and theoretically to determine the technological dependence of the light energy and spectrum. In 2010 emphasis was placed on the design and manufacture of SOI and Si:Ge structures and multi-terminal devices for improved light intensity and light pattern modulation. The South African Intellectual Property Fund (SAIP) financially supported this program in 2010 with a R15 million investment over three years. The applications that will be investigated include near-the-eye display, lab-on-chip, and fast optical links.
Term: 1992-2014
Co-workers:
Prof. M. du Plessis
Mr. P.J. Venter (PhD student) (CMOS optical sources and Si:Ge devices)
Mr. A.W. Bogalecki (Research engineer) (SOI optical sources)
Mr. M. Goosen (Research engineer) (Optical interconnect)
Miss. I.J. Nel (M.Eng student) (lab-on-chip application)
The initiative has also lead to a high-tech spin-off company, INSiAVA (Pty) ltd
DEV. Design of novel integrated devices.
The primary focus is on the analysis and design of novel devices for use in integrated circuits.
DEV1 Nano-explosive devices on silicon
The integration of nano-explosive devices onto silicon chips are being investigated. The devices are realised by impregnating porous silicon structures with an oxidant, and initiating an explosion via optical or electronic means.
Term: 2004-2010
Co-worker: Prof. M. du Plessis
DEV2 CMOS microbolometers
The development of room temperature integrated infrared sensors in CMOS technology wasl be pursued. This project was funded by AMTS (Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy), a government agency in the Department of Science and Technology, with R1.08 million over a period of three years. Microbolometer technology using vanadium oxide, as sensor material and CMOS surface MEMS engineering were investigated. The CEFIM team is part of a consortium led by Denel Aerospace Systems. During 2010 various uncooled bolometer devices were developed with different topologies and geometries. Additional device characterisation was also done in 2010 after a new set of devices have been designed and developed. Furthermore, additional characterisation techniques were investigated and employed. The AC characterisation method has shown great potential for various extremely low frequency signal processing applications that cannot be developed on-chip with traditional analogue CMOS circuits due to excessive component dimensions. These techniques were further explored and refined in 2010, while new devices were also be designed and developed.
Term: 2007-2012
Co-workers:
Prof. M. du Plessis
Mr. J. Schoeman
Mr. W. Maclean (M.Eng student) (Development of low-cost CMOS based bolometers)
ANA. Design of analog CMOS circuits.
The primary focus is on the design and analysis of analog CMOS circuits with an emphasis on low supply-voltage and high-speed applications, as well as mm-wave applications in CMOS.
Co-workers:
Prof. S. Sinha
Mr J.W. Lambrechts (PhD(Eng) student) (Modelling of transceiver propagation characteristics through an analogue SiGe BiCMOS circuit)
Ms D. George (PhD student) (SiGe based VCO for mm-wave frequencies)
Mr S. Chawane (M.Sc student) (Inductors and transformers in RF CMOS)
Mr J. Sebastian (M.Eng student) (Temperature stabilized CMOS VCO)
Mr B.C. Mabuza (M.Eng student) (EEPROM switches for post-assembly tuning)
Mr C. Janse van Rensburg (M.Eng student) (A SiGe BiCMOS LNA for mm-wave applications)
Mr J. Valliarampath (M.Eng Student) Improving linearity utilising analogue predistortion for power amplifiers at mm-wave frequencies
Mr. A.C. Alberts (M.Eng student) (Enhanced flicker noise cancellation techniques for zero IF receivers)
Mr. R. Reddy (M.Eng student) (Spurious free dynamic range enhancement of high speed integrated digital to analogue converters using BiCMOS technology)
Mr. N.M. Fauré (M.Eng student) (A power efficient high speed analogue-to-digital converter in SiGe BiCMOS)
Mr. J. Venter (M.Eng student) (Gated infra-red integrated detector)
Mr. A. Bimana (PhD(Eng) student) (Wideband LNA for Highly Sensitive SKA Receivers)
COM1 Investigation of the effect of sparse data on demodulation.
Under certain circumstances transmitted data will not have a equiprobable distribution, introducing some error in typical demodulation structures. This effect was investigated theoretically as well as with simulation. With the completion of the simulation platform in 2009 for uncoded transmission, the study moved forward to coded systems. In 2010, emphasis was shifted to investigate the employment of estimated sparseness to improve the decoders of forward error correcting codes (LDPC in particular).
Olivier K, Celliers JE & Du Plessis M, “Design and performance of wideband DRFM for radar test and evaluation”, Electronics Letters, Vol. 47, No. 14, pp. 824-825, 7 July 2011.
Bozanic M & Sinha S, “Switch-Mode Power Amplifier Design Method,” accepted for publication in Microwave and Optical Technology Letters.
Du Plessis M, Schoeman J, Maclean W & Schutte C, “The electrothermal properties of integrated circuit microbolometers”, Accepted for publication in the SAIEE Africa Research Journal, May 2011.
Goosen ME, Sinha S & Müller A, “A Low Switching Time BiCMOS CML Transmitter for High Speed Adaptive Pre-Emphasis Serial Links”, accepted for publication for - Romanian Journal of Information Science and Technology (ROMJIST), Volume 14, Number 2, 2011.
Goosen ME & Sinha S, “Reducing data dependent jitter utilising adaptive FIR pre-emphasis in 0.18 μm CMOS”, Microelectronics Journal, Elsevier, accepted for publication in August 2011.
Weststrate M & Sinha S, “Wideband LNA design using the LC-Ladder and Capacitive Shunt-Shunt Feedback Topology”, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, accepted for publication in July 2011.
Foty D, Smith B, Sinha S & Schröter M, “The Wireless Bandwidth Crisis and the Need for Power-Efficient Bandwidth,” (Invited Paper), Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Signals, Circuits, and Systems (ISSCS), Iasi, Romania, 30 June – 1 July, 2011, pp. 275 - 279.
Goosen ME, Venter PJ, Du Plessis M, Nell IJ, Bogalecki AW & Rademeyer P, “High speed CMOS optical communication using silicon light emitters”, Proceedings of the Optoelectronic Interconnects and Component Integration XI conference, Proc. SPIE 7944, Paper 79440X, SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, California, USA, 22-27 January 2011.
Sinha S, Foty D, Golovins E, Božanić M, Janse van Rensburg C, George D, Lambrechts JW, Fauré NM, Tshibe LN, Alberts AC & Valliarampath J, “RF and mm-Wave Integrated Circuits - work at the Carl & Emily Fuchs Institute for Microelectronics, University of Pretoria,” IEEE AP/MTT/EMC Conference, 14-15 Apr. 2011, Stellenbosch.
Sinha S, Horak R & Venter J, “Essential E-Scientia for Sci-Enza, South Africa” (Invited Presentation), E-Scientia Around the World Symposium, Montevideo, Uruguay, 6-8 July 2011.
Venter PJ, Bogalecki AW, Du Plessis M, Rademeyer P, Goosen ME & Nell IJ, “High speed CMOS optical communication using silicon light emitters”, Optoelectronic Interconnects and Component Integration XI conference, SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, California, USA, 22-27 January 2011.
Venter PJ , Bogalecki AW, Du Plessis M, Goosen ME & Nell IJ, “CMOS dot matrix microdisplay”, Advances in Display Technologies conference, SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, California, USA, 22-27 January 2011.
Venter PJ, Du Plessis M, Bogalecki AW & Rademeyer P, “An all-CMOS microdisplay utilizing integrated novel avalanche light-emitting sources”, Proceedings of the SID (Society for Information Display) Display Week Conference, SID 2011, pp. 1512-1515, Los Angeles, California, USA, 15-20 May 2011.
Mnr. A.W. Bogalecki, 'n MIng student van Prof. M. du Plessis, het die S2A3 brons medalje aan UP gewen vir die beste M-graad verhandeling in Wetenskap en Ingenieurswese aan UP vir die jaar 2010.
Prof. M. du Plessis en Mnr. A.W. Bogalecki het die prys gewen vir die beste artikel gepubliseer in die SAIEE Africa Research Journal in 2010. Die artikel is: A.W. Bogalecki and M. du Plessis “Design and manufacture of quantum-confined Si light sources”, Africa Research Journal, Vol. 101, No. 1, pp. 11-16, March 2010.
Prof. Saurabh Sinha partook in an advanced accreditation training workshop held at the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) on 4 July 2011.
The CEFIM advisory board met as part of the CEFIM Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 14 July 2011, and was chaired by prof. Tinus Pretorius (Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology). Prof. du Plessis (Director: CEFIM) and Prof. Sinha (Group Head: Electronics & Microelectronics) served as the key representatives of CEFIM during this meeting.
Dr Daniel Foty visited CEFIM (11-15 August 2011); Dr Foty collaborates with CEFIM (UP) for our mm-Wave research undertaking. Dr Foty also presented some lectures for EDG780.
Prof. Sinha attended the IEEE Region 8 Meeting and the Section's Congress; the events were held back-to-back in San Francisco, and he was therefore away for the period: 16-23 Aug. 2011.
Prof. Sinha was also an invited presenter at Section's Congress, where he gave two talks: “Teacher in-service programme (TISP)” and “Conference Best Practices.”
During the region 8 meeting:
The Region 8 committee (consisting of, amidst others, around 50+ Section chairs) voted in favour of prof. Sinha providing overall leadership in IEEE Technical Activities for IEEE Region 8 (i.e. he'll serve as Vice-Chair: Technical Activities, IEEE Region 8, supported by several sub-committees).
The Region 8 committee also endorsed the R8 Nominations and Appointment (N&A) slate, which carried prof. Sinha's name as a candidate for the upcoming Region 8 elections (for 2013-2014 Director-Elect, 2015-2016 Director (and member of IEEE Board of Directors (BoD), 2017-2018 Past-Director).
The IEEE Region 8 Nominations and Appointment (N&A) committee endorsed Prof. Saurabh Sinha to continue service (for a final year) as volunteer – 2012 IEEE Vice-Chair for Technical Activities (IEEE Region 8, constituting Europe, Middle-East and Africa).
The IEEE Region 8 N&A met in Turkey (mid-July 2011) and converged towards a major resolution: Two candidates for IEEE Region 8 Director-Elect (2013/4) were selected to contest in the regional elections (Aug.-Sept. 2012); the candidates: Costas Stasopoulos (SMIEEE) and Prof. Saurabh Sinha (SMIEEE). The successful incumbent will serve as IEEE Region 8 Director-Elect (2013/4), 2015-2016 Regional Director (and member of IEEE Assembly and IEEE BoD) and past Director (2017-2018).
Prof. Saurabh Sinha and Johan Venter (part-time junior lecturer in the Dept.) attended (on invitation) “Essential E-Scientia for Sci-Enza, South Africa,” held in Montevideo, Uruguay: 6-8 July 2011.
Prof. Saurabh Sinha attended two meetings in the USA:
22-23 July 2011: IEEE EAB Pre-University Coordination Committee (PECC) meeting, New Jersey (USA)
24-25 July 2011: IEEE EAB Editorial Board for Engineering, Technology and Computing Portals (ETCP) meeting, New Jersey (USA)
Prof. M. du Plessis woon die IEEE NEWCAS konferensie by in Bordeaux, Frankryk vanaf 26 tot 29 Junie 2011.
Dr Phil Mjwara, Director General of the Dept. of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology) visited the Department on the evening of 21 June 2011. During this visit, proff. Maharaj and Sinha presented various research activities of our dept. to him.
Prof. Sinha was an invited (plenary) speaker: GEO/EGIDA “Connecting GEOSS and its stakeholders in Science and Technology” workshop, 9-11 May 2011, Bonn, Germany.
Prof. Sinha chaired a meeting of Engineering Council President(s) and Participants from 9 countries. The meeting took place in Manzini, Swaziland – 21 May, 2011.
Prof. m du Plessis woon die SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing konferensie by in Orlando, VSA vanaf 24 tot 29 April 2011 by.
Prof. M. du Plessis woon die CLEO (Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics) konferensie by in Baltimore, VSA vanaf 1 tot 6 Mei 2011.
Prof. Enrico Bellotti van die Boston University, VSA besoek CEFIM vanaf 12 -15 April 2011 vir gesamentlike navorsing oor Si-Ge heterovlak glimdiodes.
Prof. M. du Plessis is in Duitsland en Belgie vanaf 28 Maart tot 1 April 2011 en besoek die maatskappye AMS en IMS (Duitsland) sowel as die navorsingsinstituut IMEC (Belgie) oor gesamentlike navorsing.
Prof. Saurabh Sinha was invited to a series of IEEE Educational Activities meeting in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia (22-24 Apr. 2011 / Easter weekend)
Prof. Sinha attended the IEEE Region 8 committee meeting (25-27 Mar., London), where he serves as the Vice-Chair: Technical Activities (IEEE Region 8).
Prof. Sinha attended the IEEE Region 8 Operating Committee Meeting - 22/23 January 2011, Vienna, Austria
Prof. Sinha commenced his major IEEE volunteer leads:
* Vice-Chair: Technical Activities, IEEE Region 8
* Chair: Committee on Global Accreditation Activities
(Board member of Educational Activities Board)
Prof. Monuko du Plessis woon die SPIE Photonics West konferensie by in San Francisco, VSA vanaf 21 tot 26 Januarie 2011. Prof. Monuko du Plessis besoek ook die Boston University in Boston, VSA vanaf 31 Januarie tot 2 Februarie 2011 vir simulasies van halfgeleierkomponente.
