Solid State Circuits Society

May 17, 2007

Our speaker was   Mr. Allen Podell (Teranetics), and the topic of his presentation was ” Active Filters, NICs and NACs. “

Abstract

As circuit designers close in on their goal of putting the entire universe on a chip, there still remains a problem with filtering. The environment, ever denser with signals of uncoordinated, diverse modulation schemes, demands that reliable techniques for separating out the desired signals be used. Often these filters take more space than the remaining circuitry. IC designers are legislating that the laws of physics be rewritten to enable their miniaturization quest to be realized, and the government is listening. NICs, NACs, and various active filter techniques enable lossless filters and wideband antennas that fit on the head of a pin. Are there limitations to these active techniques, or will technology conquer all? Is conservation of energy out of date? Using a little mathematics and basic theory, the talk will try to convey an intuitive understanding of active filter limitations. Finally, a harmonic balance simulator will be used to validate the ideas presented, and to show how close to the limits we can come in practice.
BiographyAllen Podell, an IEEE Life Fellow, has designed monolithic and discrete circuits on gallium arsenide, silicon, sapphire, and plastic. With a solid foundation in device-circuit interaction, he specializes in the practical realization of modern circuit techniques. An author of over 70 technical papers, he founded three companies (Anzac Electronics, Podell Associates, and Pacific Monolithics) and he holds 60 US patents ranging from IMPATT diodes, silicon power transistors, and 3-decade bandwidth microwave components to stereo demodulators, food processors, pasta makers, antennas, gallium arsenide integrated circuits- and more recently, high power, wideband components. Previously, as VP of Technology at Besser Associates and later at Podell Consulting, he has taught advanced wireless design courses and provided consulting services from Turkey to Taiwan.

Some photos from the event.

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