What I bring
End to end experience from specification, architecture and feasibility studies to transistor level design, layout, verification, EM modeling and measurements.
Freelance Consulting
Analog and RFIC design support
I support semiconductor teams in moving from early feasibility studies and RF system definition to circuit implementation, EM modeling, and laboratory validation. My work spans automotive, radar, phased-array, RFIC, MMIC, and mixed-signal ICs up to 120 GHz. In addition to system and circuit design, I am a co-founder of Conifer Electronics, where we develop EDA tools for RF IC design that enable faster design cycles and improved silicon performance.
- Experience
- 13+ years
- Frequency range
- Up to 120 GHz
- Base
- Stuttgart, Germany
What I do
Typical engagement
I support teams in analog/RF system analysis and in the development of critical analog/RF building blocks. I also advise companies that are planning custom IC development but rely on external design houses or semiconductor partners. This includes support with technology selection, system and specification definition, feasibility and risk assessment, architecture reviews, tracking and evaluating external development activities, and ensuring that the final solution meets technical, performance, cost, and manufacturability targets.
Consulting areas
RFIC and MMIC Design
Design of LNAs, PAs, mixers, VGAs, phase shifters, attenuators, oscillators, power dividers and combiners, frequency multipliers and dividers, PLLs, power detectors, RF signal monitors for functional safety, calibration and debugging, and other active and passive building blocks.
Analog Mixed-Signal Blocks
Bandgaps, LDOs, TIAs, op-amps, filters, bias circuits, analog monitors for functional safety, calibration and debugging, and other analog support building blocks.
System and Feasibility Work
RF system concepts, link budget analysis, topology selection, block specification, technology evaluation and quotation support.
EM Simulation and Validation
EM simulation driven design flow, passive structures modeling and measurement support.
Project examples
120 GHz FMCW radar IC development
System-level translation of requirements into circuit specifications, design and layout of RF building blocks, analog support circuits and digital control elements in 28 nm CMOS, with measurement support.
Bi-directional variable gain 60 GHz MMIC amplifier
Design and layout of a 60 GHz MMIC with LNA, switch, attenuator and PA in SiGe technology, with measurement support.
Automotive sensors
Design and layout of analog building blocks for ultrasonic distance sensor in 180 nm SOI technology, and speed and position sensor in 180 nm BCD technology including LDOs, bandgaps, current references, oscillators, filters, amplifiers and power-on-reset circuits.
UWB communication system from 3 up to 9 GHz
RF and analog supporting blocks in 130 nm CMOS technology.
Contact
If you need senior support for architecture, RF system analysis, block design or EM modeling, contact me directly.