Facility | Yao Zheng@UHM

Microelectronic Design, Emulation, Fabrication & Validation

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:14:54 -0800

Executive Summary

This facility supports an end-to-end microelectronic workflow—from IC/RF front-end design and pre-silicon emulation, through fabrication handoff, to post-silicon validation and correlation.

Tool pillars

EM & high-frequency verification: ANSYS Electronics Desktop / HFSS
Custom IC schematic-to-layout: Cadence Virtuoso (PDK-based)
System/channel realism for wireless experiments: Remcom Wireless InSite

New project? Start with , then follow the .

Capabilities

Design

Analog / mixed-signal / RF IC schematic design and simulation
RF/microwave modeling (antennas, passives, packages, interconnects)
Co-design of circuits + EM structures + system constraints

Emulation

Pre-silicon exploration using behavioral/compact models
Parameter sweeps and sensitivity studies to de-risk tapeout
“What-if” studies on corners, parasitics, and layout-dependent effects

Fabrication handoff

Layout readiness checks (DRC/LVS/PEX workflows via PDK)
Tapeout package preparation (GDS + documentation)
Coordination for MPW/shuttle or foundry pathways (availability depends on project and partner access)

Validation

Post-silicon comparison: measured vs simulated
S-parameter correlation, de-embedding planning, and model updates
Reproducible reporting for publications and future tapeouts

Quick Start

Pick your entry point
- EM/RF components & antennas →
- IC schematic-to-layout →
- Propagation / RIS / channel realism →
Build a minimal, reviewable baseline (aim for 1–2 days)
- One schematic or EM model that reproduces a known reference
- One plot that becomes your golden regression (S-parameters, gain, NF, phase noise, etc.)
Decide your validation target early
- What will be measured? what fixtures? what calibration/de-embedding approach?

Tool map

Tool	Best for	Typical outputs
ANSYS AEDT / HFSS	3D EM simulation of antennas, passives, packages, interconnects	S-parameters, radiation patterns, fields, loss/Q, EM co-sim models
Cadence Virtuoso	IC design from schematic → layout → verification → sign-off	Schematics, simulations, layout, DRC/LVS/PEX reports, GDS
Remcom Wireless InSite	Site-specific channel realism via ray-tracing / empirical models	Coverage maps, channel impulse response, path loss, multipath statistics

ANSYS Electronics Desktop & HFSS

Best for: EM simulation and validation of RF/microwave components, antennas, and high-frequency structures using 3D FEM workflows.

Self-paced resources

ANSYS Academic Learning Resources:
Intro course (HFSS workflows & fundamentals):
Antenna learning track:
Student Version (non-commercial):
Learning Library & Forum:

Structured / premium resources

ANSYS Learning Hub:
SimuTech EMAG102 (3D EM design):
Rescale batch/HPC tutorial:

Research-oriented learning path

Install AEDT (student version where appropriate).
Complete the Intro HFSS course.
Reproduce at least one reference antenna/passive example.
Modify: substrate, port type, mesh/convergence settings.
Capture convergence evidence and solver settings.
Add parametric sweeps and HPC workflows as needed.

Practical tips

Ports/boundaries + mesh/convergence dominate result quality—treat them as first-class design artifacts.
Save convergence plots and solver settings for paper-quality reproducibility.
Consider related AEDT tools (Q3D, SIwave, Icepak) when SI/PI/thermal coupling matters.

Cadence Virtuoso

Best for: custom IC design (analog, mixed-signal, RF) from schematic capture to layout, verification, and simulation.

Official training

Virtuoso Schematic Editor S1 (schematics):
Virtuoso Layout Design Basics:
Online Training Library:
SKILL programming:

University and open tutorials

University at Buffalo tutorial:
Virginia Tech tutorial:
UBC inverter design (45 nm):
Community playlist (YouTube):

Academic/community access

CMC Microsystems (academic suite access):

From zero to tapeout-ready

Reproduce a “hello world” design (e.g., inverter/op-amp) in a standard PDK.
Learn simulation flows: DC/AC/transient, corners, and basic Monte Carlo.
Transition to layout and run DRC/LVS.
Add PEX, then compare pre/post-layout results.
Automate repetitive tasks with SKILL only after the manual flow is stable.

Practical tips

Define sign-off checks early (DRC/LVS/PEX/corners/Monte Carlo) and keep them consistent.
Maintain a versioned tapeout checklist (schematic, layout, verification reports, notes).

Remcom Wireless InSite

Best for: RF propagation modeling via 3D ray-tracing and empirical models to predict coverage, channel characteristics, and system performance in realistic environments. We often use it for testbed planning and RIS-assisted communications studies.

Official tutorials and videos

Indoor Propagation Analysis tutorial:
Intro series (floor plans / geometry):
Dynamic mobility simulation:
Product overview & features:

Documentation and support

Remcom simulation support & training:
Reference PDF (User’s Guide 2.7.1):

Channel realism learning path

Run the indoor tutorial to understand the ray-tracing workflow.
Build/import a simple environment and assign materials.
Generate coverage maps and channel outputs; sanity-check with simplified baselines.
Add mobility/time variation if your experiment needs it.
Export results for MATLAB/Python post-processing (plots, statistics, comparisons).

Practical tips

Treat geometry + material definitions as the model—document them like a circuit schematic.
Record frequency bands, antenna patterns, and material properties for reproducibility.

Recommended end-to-end workflow

Concept + requirements
- Target frequency, bandwidth, power, sensitivity, interfaces, and measurement plan
Pre-silicon modeling / emulation
- Behavioral models → schematic simulations → early EM checks
Layout + verification
- DRC/LVS/PEX + correlation against schematic intent
EM co-simulation (as needed)
- Packages/interconnects/antennas/passives + parasitics
Fabrication handoff (project-dependent)
- GDS + documentation + sign-off checklist + versioned deliverables
Post-silicon validation
- Calibration/de-embedding + measured vs simulated correlation
Documentation
- Store tool versions, scripts, and “golden” plots to ensure publishable, repeatable results

Checklists & best practices

Tapeout-readiness (typical)

✅ DRC clean + reports archived
✅ LVS clean + connectivity assumptions documented
✅ PEX completed + pre/post-layout deltas reviewed
✅ Corner coverage defined (PVT, mismatch/Monte Carlo as appropriate)
✅ Foundry deliverables packaged (GDS + runsets + README + version tags)

Measurement-correlation (typical)

✅ Fixture and calibration plan (SOLT/TRL/etc.) selected before the first measurement run
✅ De-embedding approach defined (structures, reference planes, uncertainty notes)
✅ Measured vs simulated plots use the same reference planes and same conditions
✅ Model updates are traced to measurements (revision history + rationale)

Reproducibility basics

Keep a lab notebook + version control for projects, scripts, and plots.
Save tool versions, PDK versions, and solver settings with every “golden” plot.

Notes for students and new lab members

Start small: one reproducible result beats ten half-working models.
Ask for help with: tool version, screenshots, the smallest reproducing case, and expected vs observed behavior.
Treat setup details (ports, boundaries, runsets, fixtures) as part of the design—not an afterthought.

Access & support

Who this is for

Students and researchers doing IC/RF design, EM validation, and post-silicon correlation
Projects that need a documented path from simulation assumptions → fabrication deliverables → measured results

When requesting help, include

Tool + version (and PDK version if using Virtuoso)
The smallest reproducing case (project archive or screenshot series)
What you expected vs what you observed
Any “golden” plot you are trying to match (and how it was generated)

Recommended project folder skeleton

00_requirements/ (spec, interfaces, measurement plan)
10_models/ (behavioral/compact models)
20_schematic/ (schematic + sims)
30_layout/ (layout + DRC/LVS/PEX reports)
40_em/ (HFSS projects, ports/boundaries notes, convergence evidence)
50_fab/ (GDS, runsets, README, sign-off checklist)
60_measurement/ (fixtures, calibration notes, raw data)
70_correlation/ (measured vs simulated plots, model updates)

Collaboration norms

Assume every result should be reproducible by someone else in 6 months.
Treat runsets, ports/boundaries, and calibration steps as design artifacts.
If a project is headed toward tapeout, plan a review gate for: spec freeze → pre-layout sign-off → post-layout sign-off → handoff package.

Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) with Digital Twin

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 04:14:54 -0800

Executive Summary

This lab-scale mmWave AI-Based RAN testbed integrates OAIBox, NVIDIA Aerial RAN, NI USRP X410, TMYTEK mmWave beamformers, and a high-fidelity Digital Twin pipeline using Remcom Wireless InSite and ANSYS HFSS SBR+ to create a flexible, programmable, and AI-native 5G/6G research environment. It enables real-time prototyping of mmWave physical layers, AI-driven beam management, hybrid beamforming, AI-enhanced MAC scheduling, and joint communication–sensing (ISAC) experiments. The platform supports end-to-end 5G NR PHY/MAC stacks, GPU-accelerated baseband processing, and mmWave RF front-ends for high-bandwidth OTA testing, while the Digital Twin provides physics-accurate ray-tracing, EM-based antenna modeling, and virtual–to–real co-simulation for channel prediction, beam optimization, and AI dataset generation.

Core Components

OAIBox – OpenAirInterface RAN Framework

The testbed uses OAIBox as a compact and modular implementation of the full OAI RAN stack. It provides:

Support for 5G SA/NSA gNB and UE
Flexible PHY–MAC integration
Customizable scheduling, HARQ, and protocol features
Real-time experimentation with RAN procedures and RRC signaling

OAIBox acts as the protocol and control anchor of the testbed.

NVIDIA Aerial RAN (cuPHY + cuMAC)

The NVIDIA Aerial platform provides GPU-accelerated baseband processing and AI-native PHY/MAC capabilities:

cuPHY for NR physical-layer DSP on GPUs
cuMAC for dynamic MAC scheduling on GPU
TensorRT for real-time neural inference
Support for multi-cell, multi-user, and high-throughput pipelines

Aerial enables experiments in:

AI-driven beam selection and prediction
Neural channel estimation
Predictive link adaptation and blockage detection

NI USRP X410 – Wideband Software-Defined Radio

The USRP X410 serves as the flexible transceiver frontend with:

Up to 400 MHz instantaneous bandwidth
Four synchronized TX/RX channels
10/1588 PTP synchronization
Digital IF for integration with NVIDIA Aerial

It supports:

mmWave IF/baseband experimentation
Real-time CSI acquisition
Multi-subarray MIMO and wideband waveform prototyping

TMYTEK mmWave Beamformers (BBox, UD-Box, Beamform Modules)

TMYTEK hardware provides programmable mmWave RF front-ends:

UD-Box for 24–32 GHz up/down-conversion
BBox One / BBox Lite beamforming arrays
API-driven phase/gain control
Rapid beam steering and codebook-based operation

These modules enable:

Hybrid or analog beamforming
Electronic steering up to ±60°
Multi-beam and multi-focus mmWave experimentation

Digital Twin

A full Digital Twin framework integrates high-fidelity electromagnetic simulation with the physical testbed. This enables reproducible channel modeling, data augmentation, and virtual-to-real RAN optimization.

Remcom Wireless InSite – Ray Tracing Propagation

Wireless InSite provides a large-scale propagation environment supporting:

GPU-accelerated 3D ray tracing
Detailed mmWave diffraction, reflection, and scattering
Urban, indoor, and open-field scenario modeling
Material-dependent loss and blockage effects
Beam-level channel prediction

ANSYS HFSS SBR+ – Full-Wave EM Modeling

HFSS SBR+ enables full-wave modeling of:

Antenna arrays, including TMYTEK beamformers
Reflectarrays, metasurfaces, and RIS
Realistic gain patterns for hybrid beamforming
Complex EM interactions under mmWave frequencies

Capabilities

AI-Enhanced RAN Intelligence

Neural beam prediction and tracking
AI-based MAC scheduling
CSI-driven link adaptation models
Blockage prediction and proactive beam switching

mmWave PHY/MAC Research

Hybrid and digital beamforming
Channel sounding and dataset generation
Evaluation of mobility, rotation, and blockage
5G NR waveform prototyping

Flexible RAN Architecture

O-RAN 7.2 split between OAIBox and Aerial
Multi-RU and multi-sector emulation
Edge-cloud cooperative intelligence

ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) Extensions

Joint radar–communication waveform experiments
2D/3D angle estimation
Passive sensing with GPU-accelerated FFT pipelines

Digital Twin–Driven Insights

Predictive channel statistics and blockage maps
Virtual scenario pre-testing
Dataset augmentation for AI training
Virtual beam codebook optimization

Holographic Intelligent Surface (HIS)–Enabled Smart Wireless Environment

Mon, 19 May 2025 04:14:54 -0800

Executive Summary

This lab-scale Holographic Beamforming Surface–Enabled Smart Wireless Environment testbed enables controlled experimentation on environment-aware and RIS-assisted mmWave propagation. Operating at 28 GHz, the platform integrates a programmable reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), active mmWave beamforming, and a flexible RF measurement backend to dynamically manipulate electromagnetic wavefronts at both the transmitter and environmental levels. The testbed supports experimental research on holographic beamforming, surface-assisted channel shaping, and smart wireless environments for future 5G/6G and ISAC systems.

Core Components

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS)

A programmable RIS functions as a spatial electromagnetic aperture, enabling dynamic control of reflection phase and amplitude for wavefront shaping, beam redirection, and holographic focusing.

TMYTEK BBox One mmWave Beamformer

The TMYTEK BBox One provides programmable beamforming at 28 GHz with electronic phase and gain control, supporting rapid beam steering and codebook-based operation.

Directive mmWave Illumination

A 28 GHz horn antenna delivers stable, high-gain illumination of the RIS and measurement region, enabling repeatable and well-characterized propagation experiments.

RF Switching and Measurement

A custom RF switch matrix and Keysight FieldFox microwave analyzer support flexible signal routing and wideband channel measurement for systematic RIS-assisted characterization.

Spatial Probing

Calibrated monopole antennas mounted on precision positioning stages enable spatial channel sampling and beam profiling.

Capabilities

Holographic and RIS-Assisted Beamforming

Programmable wavefront synthesis and spatial focusing
Environment-level beam steering and reflection control

mmWave Channel Characterization

Wideband channel response measurement
Spatial field mapping and repeatable benchmarking

Smart Wireless Environment Research

Environment-aware propagation control
Foundations for AI-driven and surface-assisted wireless systems

ISAC-Oriented Extensions

Surface-assisted sensing and localization
Joint communication–environment manipulation

Facility | Yao Zheng@UHM

Microelectronic Design, Emulation, Fabrication & Validation

Executive Summary

Navigation

Capabilities

Design

Emulation

Fabrication handoff

Validation

Quick Start

Tool map

ANSYS Electronics Desktop & HFSS

Self-paced resources

Structured / premium resources

Research-oriented learning path

Practical tips

Cadence Virtuoso

Official training

University and open tutorials

Academic/community access

From zero to tapeout-ready

Practical tips

Remcom Wireless InSite

Official tutorials and videos

Documentation and support

Channel realism learning path

Practical tips

Recommended end-to-end workflow

Checklists & best practices

Tapeout-readiness (typical)

Measurement-correlation (typical)

Reproducibility basics

Notes for students and new lab members

Access & support

Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) with Digital Twin

Executive Summary

Core Components

OAIBox – OpenAirInterface RAN Framework

NVIDIA Aerial RAN (cuPHY + cuMAC)

NI USRP X410 – Wideband Software-Defined Radio

TMYTEK mmWave Beamformers (BBox, UD-Box, Beamform Modules)

Digital Twin

Remcom Wireless InSite – Ray Tracing Propagation

ANSYS HFSS SBR+ – Full-Wave EM Modeling

Capabilities

AI-Enhanced RAN Intelligence

mmWave PHY/MAC Research

Flexible RAN Architecture

ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) Extensions

Digital Twin–Driven Insights

Holographic Intelligent Surface (HIS)–Enabled Smart Wireless Environment

Executive Summary

Core Components

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS)

TMYTEK BBox One mmWave Beamformer

Directive mmWave Illumination

RF Switching and Measurement

Spatial Probing

Capabilities

Holographic and RIS-Assisted Beamforming

mmWave Channel Characterization

Smart Wireless Environment Research

ISAC-Oriented Extensions