II-NEW: Acquisition of Test and Measurement Equipment Enabling Design of Wireless Networks-On-Chip for Multi-Core Systems

片上网络（NoC）范式已经成为现代多核芯片的可扩展互连基础设施。然而，随着集成度的提高，传统的NoC由于传统的基于金属/电介质的互连而在片上数据传输中遭受高延迟和能量耗散。无线NoC（WiNoC）通过用高带宽单跳远程无线信道代替多跳有线链路，同时解决了传统NoC的延迟、功耗和互连路由问题。最近的研究已经表征了在50-110 GHz的毫米（mm）波范围内工作的硅集成片上天线，并且这现在是一种可行的技术。再加上毫米波收发器设计的重大进展，这一发展为WiNoCs开辟了新的研究机会。如果基于仿真的可行性研究与合适的原型开发相结合，WiNoC研究的成功执行是可能的。为了准确评估和表征毫米波收发器电路和片上天线的性能，需要使用高频网络和频谱分析仪、信号发生器、误码率测试仪和毫米波晶圆探针台。为了补充这些研究工作，收购的设备将被集成到一个实验室，以支持在华盛顿州立大学和爱达荷州大学的多核架构，毫米波电路和通信系统的本科生和研究生课程。这些课程将为学生提供工业级测试和测量工具的基本实践培训。最终，这种培训将培养出一批训练有素的B.S.干部，M.S.和博士毕业生谁将有利于工业界和学术界。

The Network-on-chip (NoC) paradigm has emerged as a scalable interconnection infrastructure for modern multi-core chips. However, with growing levels of integration traditional NoCs suffer from high latency and energy dissipation in on-chip data transfer due to conventional metal/dielectric based interconnects. The wireless NoC (WiNoC) simultaneously addresses the latency, power consumption and interconnect routing problems of conventional NoCs by replacing multi-hop wired links with high-bandwidth single-hop long-range wireless channels. Recent investigations have characterized silicon integrated on-chip antennas operating in the millimeter (mm)-wave range of 50-110 GHz, and this is now a viable technology. Coupled with significant advances in mm-wave transceiver design, this development opens up new research opportunities for WiNoCs. Successful execution of WiNoC research is possible if simulation-based feasibility studies are combined with suitable prototype development. For accurate performance evaluation and characterization of mm-wave transceiver circuits and on-chip antennas, high frequency network and spectrum analyzers, signal generators, a bit error rate tester and mm-wave on-wafer probe stations are required. To complement these research efforts, the acquired equipment will be integrated into a laboratory to support undergraduate and graduate courses in multi-core architectures, mm-wave circuits and communication systems at the Washington State University and the University of Idaho. These courses will provide students with essential hands-on training with industrial grade test and measurement tools. Eventually, this training will produce a cadre of well-trained B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. graduates who will benefit both industry and academia.