Design Of Resonant Tunneling Diode Arrays For Parallel Image Processing

Processing of high-resolution images with high real-time requirements becomes a challenge to the traditional image processor framework. The traditional digital parallel image processor based on CMOS framework has reached the limit of scale, and cannot keep growing to meet the need.Tunneling phenomenon is a quantum mechanical explanation of physical phenomena, and have a negligible impact in the nano-scale electronic circuits. Tunneling devices are nano-scale devices based on tunneling phenomenon, and resonant tunneling diode (RTD) is one of the main tunnel devices, which has been proven to be practical with the development of semiconductor technology.Based on resonant tunneling diode array, which is similar to the Cellular Neural Networks (CNN), a new pixel-level parallel image processor framework has been proposed as a solution, and has attracted many researchers and concerns.The main content of this paper is modeling of the RTD on electronic design automation (EDA) platform. This paper has proposed a complete solution for researching RTD with EDA software, and explored the application of RTD in image processing. Additionally, this paper has proposed a quick calculation method for extracting the parameters of the physics-based equation when modeling on SPICE platform.Firstly, a new material structure of RTD is proposed and simulated under TCAD environment. DC characteristics data of the new RTD are extracted and used in subsequent chapters.Second, this paper focuses on the device modeling process for RTD on SPICE platform. Starting from discussion of the classification and selection of the RTD models and combining with the basic modeling methods on SPICE platform, this paper has constructed a RTD model using data extracted from the proposed RTD structure. As to extraction of parameters of Schulman’s physics-based model, a quick algorithm, NFP (Nonlinear Fitting based on Physical model) is proposed. At last a simple application circuit is built to validate the RTD model.Finally, this paper has constructed a RTD model on SIMULINK platform and built matrix grid circuits as a velocity-tuned filter. The velocity-tuned filter has been proven by emulation to be effective in application circuits.