The microwave and millimeter wave industry is one whose products form the backbone to the development of space/satellite communication, guidance and control, broadcasting, remote-sensing and navigation systems. Its application areas are therefore broadly-based. Advance in microwave is recognized by many as being critically important to our nation's interest because of its defense system applications as well as commercial applications. As a nation, we are faced with the challenge as to how we can maintain a lead in R&D, increase the output of U.S. engineers, and more importantly, build a strong infrastructure in microwave and millimeter wave engineering. The University of Colorado and industry recognize this challenge and are cooperating to establish an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Microwave and Millimeter Wave Computer-Aided Design. The Center already has $350,000 support from industry and $100,000 support from government laboratories. Five additional companies have also indicated their intention to join the Center at $50,000/year each. The University of Colorado has agreed to forego its overhead charges (approximately $200,000/per year). In addition, there are adequate computers, laboratory space and instruments for the proposed research at the university. One of the sponsors, NBS/Boulder Laboratories, has agreed to have their facilities used for some of the required research. The proposed research includes: (1) Loss Mechanisms in Planar Lines (2) A Highly-Accurate Numerical Modeling of Microstrip Junction Discontinuities (3) In-Situ Sampling of Microwave/Millimeter-Wave Waveforms (4) Parasitic Coupling Models for CAD (5) A Generalized Program for Two-Dimensional Analysis of Microstrip Circuits (6) Discontinuity Reactance Compensation by Geometrical Modification of Discontinuity Configuration in GaAs Microstrip Circuits (7) Evaluation of Radiation from Microstrip Discontinuities in Gallium Arsenide Circuits. The principal investigator, Dr. David C. Chang, is chairman of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has assembled a balanced group of strong senior, intermediate and junior faculty who have the capability to establish and run an I/UCR Center. An NSF continuing grant of $50,000 per year for five years is recommended. For years 2-5, $50,000 will be awarded on an annual basis. The Program Director will review annually the progress of the Center on a number of criteria, including: (1) the extent to which university/industry interaction and collaboration are developing; (2) the extent to which the support base for the center is expanding; and (3) the extent to which a robust research program is developing.
