Under the Australian Research Council's (ARC) Linkage-Projects Scheme, which seeks to encourage and develop long-term strategic research alliances between higher education institutions and industries, Houston, Texas-based Mimix Broadband Inc. and Australia's Macquarie University have been awarded more than U.S. $500K in research funding. Through 2007, ARC will fund Australian $640K to the project, which will include two Australian post-graduate award researchers and a post doctoral researcher. The research will be jointly led by Associate Professor Tony Parker, head of Macquarie's Department of Electronics, and Simon Mahon, director of MMIC design at Mimix Broadband Inc.

The research focuses on the operation of transistors for emerging millimeter-wave applications, such as point-to-point communications and automotive radar. The aim is to develop circuit design methodologies that extract increased performance from a given fabrication process, thereby creating a competitive advantage. Transistor operating range, linearity and characterization will be enhanced. New models and demonstrator circuits will be produced, and the models integrated into microwave CAD systems. The project will educate post-graduates in microwave theory and techniques applied to the development of high-performance circuits.

“Our collaborative effort with Macquarie University provides significant opportunities to improve the design and development of monolithic microwave integrated circuits, by enhancing design methodologies,” stated Rick Montgomery, CEO, Mimix Broadband Inc. “This research fits with our mission to provide the most highly integrated devices on the market today, reducing the cost and variability of millimeter-wave transceivers.”

For more information, visit www.mimixbroadband.com.