연구처

융합 회로 및 전자 연구실

All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab (ACELab)

All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab은 차세대 정보통신, 고속 데이터 전송, 인공지능 하드웨어, 저전력 집적회로 분야의 핵심 원천 기술을 개발하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 본 연구실은 아날로그, 디지털, RF, 광학, 전력관리 등 다양한 회로 분야를 아우르며 시스템 수준에서 요구되는 성능과 효율을 만족시키기 위해 새로운 회로 아키텍처와 설계 방법론을 제안하고 있습니다. 연구의 첫 번째 축은 고성능 클록 생성기 개발입니다. 6G 이동통신과 Tbps급 데이터 전송을 위한 W/D-대역 PLL, 초저잡음 fractional-N PLL, 그리고 injection-locked clock multiplier를 연구하여 고주파 대역에서도 낮은 위상잡음과 정밀한 시간 동기화를 달성하고자 합니다. 두 번째 축은 고속 아날로그-디지털 변환기 연구로, 초고속 데이터 수집과 인공지능 연산을 지원할 수 있는 저전력·고해상도 ADC를 설계함으로써 차세대 통신망과 연산 시스템의 핵심 기반을 마련하고자 합니다. 세 번째로는 전력관리 집적회로 연구로, 아날로그 및 디지털 LDO를 설계하여 빠른 응답성과 높은 PSRR을 동시에 확보하고 SoC와 RF 시스템에 안정적인 전력 공급을 제공하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 또한 인공지능 기반 아날로그 및 RF IC 자동화 연구를 통해 설계자의 경험에 크게 의존하던 기존의 회로 설계 방식을 강화학습 기반 자동화로 대체하여 회로 최적화, 레이아웃 검증, 포스트 시뮬레이션까지 아우르는 새로운 설계 패러다임을 구축하고 있습니다. 마지막으로 RF 프런트엔드 연구를 통해 초고주파 무선통신과 위성통신 응용에 필요한 저잡음, 고효율, 고선형성을 갖춘 송수신 모듈을 개발하며, 통신과 센싱이 융합된 ISAC 시스템을 위한 기반 기술을 마련하고자 합니다.
향후 연구 확장 분야로는 광 트랜시버와 뉴로모픽 하드웨어가 있습니다. 광 트랜시버 분야에서는 전기-광 집적회로와 초고속 프런트엔드 설계를 통해 차세대 데이터센터 및 광통신 네트워크에 적합한 Tbps급 전송 기술을 연구할 예정이다. 뉴로모픽 컴퓨팅 분야에서는 혼합신호 기반 회로를 활용하여 뇌신경망을 모사하는 저전력 인공지능 하드웨어 아키텍처를 탐구하고자 합니다.
이처럼 본 연구실은 클록 생성기, 데이터 변환기, 전력관리, RF 프런트엔드, 그리고 향후 확장될 광 및 뉴로모픽 연구까지 다양한 영역을 포괄하고 있습니다. 단일 회로 블록 수준의 연구를 넘어 시스템 통합 수준에서 새로운 성능과 효율을 창출하는 것을 목표로 하며, 다방면의 연구를 유기적으로 연결해 차세대 반도체 산업과 정보통신 기술 발전을 선도하고자 합니다. All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab은 다양한 회로 분야를 아우르는 종합 연구실입니다.
The All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab aims to develop core technologies for next-generation information and communication systems, high-speed data transmission, artificial intelligence hardware, and low-power integrated circuits. Our research spans a wide range of circuit domains, including analog, digital, RF, optical, and power management, and we propose novel circuit architectures and design methodologies to achieve the performance and efficiency required at the system level.

A primary research thrust is the development of high-performance clock generators. We investigate W/D-band PLLs for 6G communications and Tbps data transmission, low-jitter fractional-N PLLs, and injection-locked clock multipliers, targeting low phase noise and precise timing synchronization even at high frequencies. Another major focus is high-speed analog-to-digital converters. We design low-power, high-resolution ADCs capable of supporting ultra-fast data acquisition and AI computing, thereby laying the foundation for next-generation communication and computing systems. A third key area is power management ICs, where we develop both analog and digital LDOs that achieve fast transient response and high PSRR, ensuring stable power delivery for SoCs and RF systems.

We also pursue AI-driven automation for analog and RF IC design. By leveraging reinforcement learning, we replace the traditional experience-dependent design process with an automated optimization framework that spans schematic design, layout verification, and post-layout simulation, thus establishing a new paradigm for IC design automation. In addition, we are actively developing RF front-end circuits. Our research focuses on low-noise, high-efficiency, and highly linear transceiver modules for millimeter-wave wireless communication and satellite applications, as well as foundational technologies for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems.

Future research directions include optical transceivers and neuromorphic hardware. In the optical domain, we plan to investigate energy-efficient electro-optical ICs and ultra-high-speed front-end designs to enable Tbps-level data transmission for next-generation data centers and optical networks. In neuromorphic computing, we aim to explore mixed-signal circuit architectures that emulate neural networks, paving the way for low-power AI hardware.

In this way, the All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab encompasses diverse research areas ranging from clock generation, data conversion, power management, and RF front-ends to emerging directions in optical and neuromorphic systems. Our goal is to go beyond the level of individual circuit blocks to realize integrated system-level performance and efficiency, thereby leading advancements in the semiconductor industry and information and communication technologies. The All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab stands as a comprehensive research group that embraces a wide spectrum of circuit technologies.

The All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab aims to develop core technologies for next-generation information and communication systems, high-speed data transmission, artificial intelligence hardware, and low-power integrated circuits. Our research spans a wide range of circuit domains, including analog, digital, RF, optical, and power management, and we propose novel circuit architectures and design methodologies to achieve the performance and efficiency required at the system level.

A primary research thrust is the development of high-performance clock generators. We investigate W/D-band PLLs for 6G communications and Tbps data transmission, low-jitter fractional-N PLLs, and injection-locked clock multipliers, targeting low phase noise and precise timing synchronization even at high frequencies. Another major focus is high-speed analog-to-digital converters. We design low-power, high-resolution ADCs capable of supporting ultra-fast data acquisition and AI computing, thereby laying the foundation for next-generation communication and computing systems. A third key area is power management ICs, where we develop both analog and digital LDOs that achieve fast transient response and high PSRR, ensuring stable power delivery for SoCs and RF systems.

We also pursue AI-driven automation for analog and RF IC design. By leveraging reinforcement learning, we replace the traditional experience-dependent design process with an automated optimization framework that spans schematic design, layout verification, and post-layout simulation, thus establishing a new paradigm for IC design automation. In addition, we are actively developing RF front-end circuits. Our research focuses on low-noise, high-efficiency, and highly linear transceiver modules for millimeter-wave wireless communication and satellite applications, as well as foundational technologies for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems.

Future research directions include optical transceivers and neuromorphic hardware. In the optical domain, we plan to investigate energy-efficient electro-optical ICs and ultra-high-speed front-end designs to enable Tbps-level data transmission for next-generation data centers and optical networks. In neuromorphic computing, we aim to explore mixed-signal circuit architectures that emulate neural networks, paving the way for low-power AI hardware.

In this way, the All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab encompasses diverse research areas ranging from clock generation, data conversion, power management, and RF front-ends to emerging directions in optical and neuromorphic systems. Our goal is to go beyond the level of individual circuit blocks to realize integrated system-level performance and efficiency, thereby leading advancements in the semiconductor industry and information and communication technologies. The All-round Circuits and Electronics Lab stands as a comprehensive research group that embraces a wide spectrum of circuit technologies.