BWRC is a pioneer in a new wave of university-industry-government partnerships. The Center is focused on forging deep relationships with leading wireless companies so that industry can rapidly transfer new technologies and university researchers can benefit from industrial experience. BWRC provides an environment for research into the design issues necessary to support next generation wireless communication systems and expand the graduate research program in the wireless segment. The research focus is on highly-integrated CMOS implementations with the lowest possible energy consumption and advanced communication algorithms. Components are fabricated using state-of-the-art processes and evaluated in a realistic test environment. Center membership provides access to faculty and graduate students involved in a large interdisciplinary research effort with a modest investment. The critical-mass combination of UC Berkeley researchers, government funding agencies and leading companies in their respective areas has the potential of making truly significant advances possible.
BWRC consists of 60 graduate students and 12 faculty engaged in pre-competitive public domain research into the design issues supporting next generation wireless communication systems. Application areas of interest include: improved spectrum utilization, cognitive radios, ultra-low power sensor networks, advanced a/d and d/a converters, RF/mm-wave circuits and low-power digital circuits. Proof-of-concept prototypes are designed using BWRC's unique design flows and fabricated using state-of-the-art processes. The Center includes a complete laboratory for circuit and system evaluation from DC to 110 GHz.
