What's New
SSCS Member Elevation Panel
Monday, December 6th, 2021 at 12:00 PM ET.
Please join us for an overview of the IEEE member elevation process with an emphasis on the elevation to fellow. Domine Leenaerts, chair of the SSCS fellow committee, will provide some details on the application process and nomination timeline. This will be followed by a panel discussion including Domine Leenaerts (F-2005), Wanda Gass (F-2007) and Terri Fiez (F-2005). While Domine & Terri come from academic backgrounds, Wanda comes from an industry background. Come prepared with questions to clarify any details around member elevation that you may have found confusing and learn insider tips from those who have been through the process!
Feature Article
Upcoming SSCS Webinar
Precision BAW oscillators for low power, high performance applications
The next SSCS monthly webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 30th at 11:00 AM ET.
The first crystal oscillator was designed approximately 100 years ago, and today there are few electronic devices without at least one crystal oscillator to generate an accurate clock reference. Despite being ubiquitous, crystal oscillators have drawbacks, including cost, large size, degraded frequency stability at temperature extremes, and sensitivity to shock and vibration. In the quest for further reducing the footprint of electronic systems to enable new applications, it is desirable have a high stability resonator that can be integrated into an SoC, while ideally also reducing some of the drawbacks of crystals. Bulk acoustic wave resonators (BAW) are one type of device that has been suggested for this application, with the first BAW oscillator built 40 years ago. The first prototypes suffered from inaccurate frequency and relatively large size. Since then, many advances have been made, and BAW oscillators are now a commercial reality. This presentation will cover the physics of BAW resonators, including frequency selection and passive temperature compensation, and circuits design considerations, such as oscillator topologies, frequency tunability, jitter reduction, and active temperature compensation. Finally, system level advantages will be presented, including improved security and resistance to tampering.
Did you miss a past SSCS webinar? Catch it on-demand on the SSCS Resource Center.
Technology Spotlight
Now Accepting Applications: IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society James D. Meindl Innovators Award
The IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS) James D. Meindl Innovators Award*, which honors the legacy and contributions of Professor Meindl, was established in 2021. Eligibility requirements and application instructions are below. If you or someone you know has an exciting proposal idea, please refer to the application package.
This award was created to support innovation in the field of solid-state circuits by funding projects that build excitement around the field among future generations, encouraging their participation, and awarding applicants whose project proposals are selected. Project examples include, but are not limited to: design activities that engage students at the pre-college or undergraduate level, and/or teams from under-represented groups; development of tools that provide broad access to design and simulation resources; and projects that expand the application of solid-state circuits technology to new areas.
To apply, you must be a current SSCS member in good standing, with an initial join date at least in the previous calendar year. Each recipient receives a development grant of up to $20,000 to support the recipient’s project proposal, plus a plaque and a $5,000 honorarium. The deadline for the inaugural award is December 15th; winners will be notified by January 15th.
More information about the Meindl Award, including eligibility and application instructions, are available here.
Professor Meindl, a giant in the world of semiconductors and among the founding fathers of Silicon Valley, passed away on June 7, 2020. Professor Meindl was an active member of the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Council, the predecessor of SSCS. He was a Chair of the Solid-State Circuits Council, served as the founding editor of the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, and chaired the 1966 and 1969 International Solid-State Circuits Conference.
Professor Meindl had an infectious spirit and was passionate about nurturing future generations of solid-state circuits innovators. Mentoring over 90 Ph.D. candidates during his time at Stanford, RPI, and Georgia Tech, Professor Meindl was a trusted confidante and had a profound impact on his students. To read more about Professor Meindl's legacy, click here. If you are interested in helping to expand this award program, you can do so through the IEEE Foundation.
*This award has been approved by IEEE TABARC, and is currently awaiting formal approval by IEEE TAB in November. Per IEEE Policies and Procedures, the award will become effective only after this formal approval.
