Abstract: The increasing demand for high-accuracy beamforming in modern active phased-array systems for radar, satellite communications, and emerging 5G/6G platforms requires compact, low-cost, and highly integrated transmit/receive modules (TRMs) with precise phase and amplitude control. This thesis presents the design, implementation, and experimental validation of multi-band TRM architectures and their constituent components in 65-nm CMOS technology, spanning the S-, X-, Ku-, and K-bands. The proposed designs incorporate digitally controlled phase shifters, digital attenuators, single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches, and low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), co-optimized for gain, noise figure, linearity, and impedance matching in transmit and receive operation. An on-chip serial-in parallel-out (SIPO) control interface enables real-time digital configuration, while a correction-bit-based phase calibration algorithm compensates for residual errors caused by process variations, temperature drift, and package parasitics. On-chip transmission-line and grounding techniques are investigated to minimize impedance discontinuities and insertion loss, while an FPGA-enabled automated measurement platform facilitates high-throughput characterization of all digital control states across the operating bandwidth. In addition, partially/fully 3D-printed packaging is explored as an alternative to conventional wire-bond packaging, demonstrating improvements in insertion loss, return loss, and phase/amplitude consistency. Collectively, these contributions establish an experimentally validated CMOS-based framework integrating multi-band RF front ends, digital control, phase calibration, RF interconnect optimization, automated characterization, and advanced packaging for high-performance phased-array TRMs.

Event Details
Title: System-Level Design and Implementation of Multi-Band 65-nm CMOS Transmit-Receive Modules for Scalable Electronically Beamforming Active Phased-Arrays
Date: August 04, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Venue: ESB244
Speaker: Ms. Arthi R (EE20D409)
Guide: Dr. David Koilpillai
Type: PHD seminar

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