Electrical Engineering and Control Systems / WICS 2nd year

The goal of this teaching module is to understand the digital modulation techniques used in radio communication systems and high data rate wireline systems, and to learn the design knowledge of analog and mixed integrated functions for signal processing applied to radio communications. Radiocommunication system design will be practically illustrated during labwork sessions. 

This teaching module will be divided into 4 parts

- Wireless communications – 18 hours – 2.5 ECTS

Understanding of the modulation techniques for fixed (WiFi, UWB, Zigbee, DVB...) and mobile (2G, 3G, 4G) radio communication systems. Impact of the radio channel on digitally modulated signals is introduced, advanced modulations formats and techniques are described, impact of the different RF front-end components on the digitally modulated waveforms is discussed.

- Analog and Mixed Systems for signal processing – 20 hours – 2.5 ECTS

Design knowledge of analog and mixed integrated functions for signal processing applied to radiocommunications. Optimal filtering in an RF analog receiver chain before conversion. Continuous time analog filter (GmC). Switched capacitor filter. Fully differential integrated Operators (Amplifiers). Oversampling converters Sigma Delta

- High data rate wireline systems – 8 hours – 1 ECTS

Introduction to high data rate wireline communication systems and short range interconnections. Basics on baseband digital modulations. Interconnection systems. Silicon based integrated technologies for interconnections

Visit the full page about this course

The goal of this teaching is to acquire a good understanding of:

• Analog RF integrated circuit design,
• Analog Signal Processing in RF,
• Basic concepts in RF design.
• RF Front End Architectures for integration.
• Technology and modeling of integrated devices for RF.
• Design principles of basic RF blocks (LNA, Mixers, VCO, Power Amplifiers).

This teaching module will be divided into 2 parts

- Radiofrequency Integrated Circuits (course) – 14 hours – 3 ECTS

-  Lab work: Design of integrated RF circuits – 24 hours – 3 ECTS

Visit the full page about this course

The goal of this course is to explore the theory, design and characterization techniques of the main passive circuits appearing in wireless communication systems: power dividers, matching networks, couplers, baluns, filters, …
Only passive circuits based on distributed approach (transmission lines) will be addressed, in PCB, CMOS/BiCMOS and alternative technologies, from RF to mm-wave circuits. The circuits are based on classical transmission lines like microstrip, coplanar or SIW (Substrate Integrated Waveguide), but a large focus will be done on new transmission lines based on slow-wave concepts, including slow-wave CPW, slow-wave microstrip and slow-wave SIW.
The design of tunable passive circuits will also be discussed.
The characterization techniques will be explored in theory and in practical labs.

Content: S parameters, ABCD, Y & Z matrices. Smith chart, matching networks. Signal-flow diagram. Classical low-profile transmission lines: microstrip, coplanar (CPW & CPS). Substrate integrated waveguides (SIW). Slow-wave structures. Design of power dividers, matching networks, couplers, baluns, filters, phase shifters. Characterization and de-embedding techniques.

This teaching module will be divided into 2 parts

- Microwave passive circuits (course) – 24 hours – 3 ECTS

-  Lab work: Design and characterization of microwave passive circuits – 24 hours – 3 ECTS

Visit the full page about this course

The goal of this teaching module is to understand the electromagnetic radiation mecanisms.

This teaching module will be divided into 2 parts

- Antennas – 16 hours – 2 ECTS

The aim is to understand how to design and characterize antennas. The following contents will be studied:

• Radiation of a dipole 
• Main antenna parameters: radiation pattern, directivity, ...,
• Antennas such as microstrip patch, Antennas network, beamsteering/beamforming antenna array

- Signal integrity – 10 hours – 1 ECTS

Basic principles will be explained such as:

• Digital signals: spectral distribution of signals and knee frequency, rise time, overshoot, ringing, crosstalk
• Transmission lines modelling
• Coupling, crosstalk (amplitude, delay), SSN, substrate coupling
• Packaging (processes, single and hybride dies, influence of the package)

Visit the full page about this course

The goal of this course is to give a general view on the fabrication processes that exist in microelectronics.

This teaching module will be divided into 2 parts

- Standard and alternative microelectronics technologies – 20 hours – 2 ECTS

Focus is made on integrated silicon applications. Various standard technologies will be presented in CMOS bulk, BiCMOS, FD SOI, interposers. Special attention will be paid on RF and millimeter waves constraints. Weighing between the pros and cons will enable to enface a specific technology for a specific application, digital and/or analog, RF and/or millimeter waves. An overview of potentially future trends will be drawn also with alternative technologies: MEMS vs varactors for tunability, graphene for very high mobility channels.

- Clean room based fabrication – 8 hours – 1 ECTS

An 8-hour tutorial in the cleanroom of the CIME-Nanotech will illustrate this class.It will be dedicated to the clean-room presentation and the fabrication of diodes or MOM capacitors.

In the framework of these courses, the following topics will be presented: Fabrication process in clean-room. From sand to silicon wafer. Cleaning techniques. Material deposition: epitaxy, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition. Material transformation: wet and dry oxidation. Doping: diffusion, ionic implantation. Lithography. Chemical etching,  physical etching, chemical mechanical polishing. Standard technologies front-end and back-end, CMOS for digitals and low-frequencies, FD SOI for low consumption, BiCMOS for high frequencies and millimeter waves analogs, silicon interposers for taking advantage of various technologies. Specific constraints for RF and millimeter waves consideration: dummies, coupling, back-end thickness. Alternative technologies: MEMS vs varactors. Alternative technologies: graphene and high mobility channels

Visit the full page about this course

In the framework of the Research Lab work, the students are integrated in a research laboratory one-day-per-week (in the first semester of Master WICS). Supervised by a researcher, they work on a research topic to acquire a first experience of research world.

At the end of this Lab work, a publication writing based on the obtained results must be done by taking into account the standard scientific publication rules (title, authors, abstract, introduction, content with several sections (i.e. Theory, Simulation…), conclusion, and references).

Visit the full page about this course

This teaching module will be divided into 4 parts :

- Design for test - 8 hours - 0.75 ECTS

This teaching module provides a comprehensive description of test methods for RF ICs.Content: Introduction to RF production testing (What is test? Characterization vs. verification vs. production testing; IC testing methodology, objectives, challenges; Modeling the cost of test); Current industrial practice for RF testing (Testing RF stand-alone ICs: basic measurements such as power, noise, gain, linearity, S-parameters for low noise amplifiers, mixers, power amplifiers, etc; Testing RF transceivers: receiver and transmitter tests); Advanced test techniques (Design for Test (DfT) solutions; Built-In Self-Test (BIST) solutions; Practical case studies: loopback test, RF power detectors, envelope detectors, current sensors, non-intrusive process monitors, temperature sensors, etc); State-of-the-art research papers reading and discussion.

- Radio Frequency IDentification Technologie - 8 hours - 0.75 ECTS

This teaching module allows understanding the problematic of the integration of sensors in RFID systems : use and implementation of a UHF RFID system; Realization of a RFID system from basic electronic bricks; Design and characterization of a RFID tag.

Content: Introduction, history and use case of the RFID technology; Basics of RFID; RF concepts of UHF RFID : Radar cross section, backscattering wave, load modulation; UHF RFID reader : modulation, transceiver, smart antenna; UHF RFID tag : design, energy harvesting, sensor; UHF RFID protocol : communication protocol between the reader and the tag; The future of RFID.

- Electrooptic sensors & Bio electromagnetism - 8 hours - 0.75 ECTS

The aim of this module is to give an overview of the existing techniques related to the electric field analysis within harsh environments. More precisely, this course will explain both the fundamentals of optical modulations in non-linear crystals and how to exploit this phenomena to develop suitable sensors. A focus will be dedicated to the influence of the ambient media on the sensor behavior. Examples of measurements in biological media and in ionized media with specific electro-optic sensors will be given.

Content: Introduction and context: why measuring the electric (E) field ? requirements for E-field measurement; definition of relevant characteristics for E-field sensors; benchmarking of exiting sensors; Optical sensor for the E-field vectorial analysis; Active sensors : principles & perfomances; Example of field assessment; Passive sensors: principles & perfomances; Example of field assessment in air, in biological media; Example of intense field assessment associated to partial or total discharge; Example of intense field assessment in the vicinity of plasmas for biomedical applications.

- Tunable RF - Technologies & Applications - 8 hours
- 0.75 ECTS

The need for wireless devices with improved battery life, smaller form factor, and reduced cost is driving research towards flexible RF Front-End Modules (FEM) with a high integration level to efficiently afford multimode multi-band requirements. Today’s RF FEM are mostly addressed by multiple modules using a large set of technologies which lead to large and costly solutions. As the push for further cost and size reduction goes on, many research activities and industrial efforts are currently on going to improve RF FEM integration level by introducing new technologies and design techniques. The proposed teaching module will provide an overview of technologies and advanced design techniques for the implementation of high performance tunable RF building blocks and RF FEM.

Content: Design and analysis of reconfigurable RF circuits (PA, Filter,…) and RF FEM.  Topics Include: RF FEM and PA architectures; Technologies for tunable RF design; Tunable PA architecture and design; Tunable RF Filter architecture and design; Tunable matching design; Antenna tuning.

Visit the full page about this course

Five to six-months research internship in a laboratory, an in-firm R&D center or in a scientific research organization.

Visit the full page about this course

In the framework of the Research Lab work, the students are integrated in a research laboratory one-day-per-week (in the first semester of Master WICS). Supervised by a researcher, they work on a research topic to acquire a first experience of research world.

At the end of this Lab work, an oral presentation based on the obtained results must be done by taking into account the scientific communication rules in international conferences (1 slide per minute (not more), title, authors, context, brief state-of-the-art, scientific approach..., theory, simulation…, conclusion and prospects).

Visit the full page about this course

Visit the full page about this course

Justify or obtain level B2 (oral comprehension, oral expression, written proficiency) in a foreign language. During this module, students on work-linked training will also develop their ability to take notes and give oral presentations in English.

Visit the full page about this course