Wireless technology has been evolving at a breakneck speed. The total number of
cell-phones in use (as of 2011) was over 6 billion for a 7 billion world population [1]
constituting 87% of the world population. Additionally, with user convenience be-
coming paramount, more and more functions are being implemented wirelessly.
The book you’re holding, physically or electronically, is the result of a very
interesting, challenging but also rewarding research project. The research was
carried out in different contexts and cooperations but it was centered around the
following question: how can we make the RF transmitters of our modern com-
munication systems (WiFi, GSM, LTE, and so on) more flexible and more efficient
at the same time.
In recent years, the research and developments in the area of RF and microwave
technologies have progressed significantly due to the growing demand for applica-
bility in wireless communication technologies. Starting from 1992, wireless com-
munication technologies have become quite mature. In the modern era of electronic
developments, design of wireless handsets is an example of integration of many di-
verse skill sets. Classical books in the areas of microwave technology provide us
with an in-depth knowledge of electromagnetic fundamentals.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology enables high data-rate short-range communica-
tion, in excess of hundredmegabit-per-secondsand up to multi-gigabit-per-seconds,
over a wide spectrum of frequencies, while keeping power consumption at low lev-
els. This low power operation results in a less-interfering co-existence with other
existed communication technologies (e.g., UNII bands).
In addition to carrying a huge amount of data over a distance of up to 230 feet
at very low power (less than 0.5mW), the UWB signal has the ability to penetrate
through the doors and other obstacles that tend to reflect signals at more limited
bandwidths and higher power densities.
Over many years, RF-MEMS have been a hot topic in research at the technology
and device level. In particular, various kinds of mechanical Si-MEMS resonators
and piezoelectric BAW (bulk acoustic wave) resonators have been developed. The
BAW technology has made its way to commercial products for passive RF filters,
in particular for duplexers in RF transceiver front ends for cellular communica-
tions. Beyond their use in filters, micromachined resonators can also be used in
conjunction with active devices in innovative circuits and architectures.
This manual describes omniidl, the omniORB IDL compiler. It is intended for developers
who wish to write their own IDL compiler back-ends, or to modify existing
ones. It also documents the design of the compiler front-end for those poor souls
who have to track the IDL specification.
