Raafat Mansour

Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Canada Research Chair in Micro and Nano Integrated RF Systems

Research interests: RF MEMS/NEMS; atomically precise manufacturing; scanning probe microscopy; RF-CMOS technology; multiplexers; superconductive microwave devices

Biography

Professor Raafat Mansour is a Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo and holds an Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Industrial Research Chair on Radio Frequencies (RF) Engineering. In 2010, Mansour was appointed a Tier I Canada Research Chair Holder. He is the founding Director of the Center for Integrated RF Engineering (CIRFE) at the University of Waterloo. Mansour currently leads a research group consisting of 25 PhD, MSc graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Prior to joining the University of Waterloo in 1999. Mansour was with COM DEV Cambridge, Ontario, over the period 1986-1999, where he progressed through various technical and management positions in COM DEV’s Corporate R&D Department. He has been a pioneer in employing emerging materials and technologies such as high temperature superconductor and Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) to build novel devices with unprecedented performance.

Mansour holds 29 U.S. and Canadian patents to his credit (25 awarded and 4 pending) and has published has more than 200 papers. He is a co-author of a 20-chapter Wiley book published in July 2007, and has contributed 4 chapters to other two books. He has received several Best Paper Awards and outstanding research performance awards from both COM DEV and the University of Waterloo. Mansour’s excellence in research has been recognized internationally through Fellowship in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario and is a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC).

Mansour established a MEMS infrastructure facility funded by Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT) at the University of Waterloo. The facility houses a dedicated clean room for MEMS fabrication and a characterization laboratory having state-of-the-art RF and MEMS test equipment.

Education

  • PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 1986

  • MSc, Electrical Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, 1981

  • BSc, Electrical Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, 1977

Raafat Mansour

Research

Successful exploitation of nanotechnology-enabled products requires new advances in instrumentation for measurement, characterization, and fabrication of nano-scale structures.

Scanning Probe Microscopy is the most widely used technique for imaging surfaces and studying their atomic structure. More recently, SPM’s have emerged as tools that enable the fabrication of nanostructures. These tip-based SPM instruments are the most promising candidates for attaining atomically precise manufacturing (APM) and are the keys to unlocking the full potential of nanotechnology. Part of Dr. Mansour’s research is to investigate “bottom-up” manufacturing techniques that rely heavily on chip-scale Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPMs).

Professor Mansour leads a large group in emerging RF technologies including RF Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), miniature RFID, wireless intelligent systems, filters & multiplexers, superconductivity, novel materials, computer-aided circuit diagnosis, simulation and modeling.

Research interests

  • MEMS technology

  • RF devices and intelligent adaptive RF integrated systems

  • Integrated MEMS/CMOS circuits

  • Wireless sensors for industrial and biomedical applications

  • Microelectrodes for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Systems

  • Superconductive devices

  • RF-CMOS components

  • Electromagnetic band gap structures

  • Analysis of integrated RF systems (components, packaging and interconnect)

Publications

Recent publications include:

  • A.M.M. Mohamed, S. Boumaiza, R.R. Mansour, “Doherty Power Amplifier With Enhanced Efficiency at Extended Operating Average Power Levels”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 61(12), pp.4179-4187, December 2013

  • M. Azizi, N. Sarkar, R.R. Mansour, “Single-Chip CMOS-MEMS Dual Mode Scanning Microwave Microscope”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 61(12), pp.4621-4629, December 2013

  • S.R.I. Gabran, M.T. Salam, J. Dian, E. Youssef; J.L.P. Velazquez, R. Genov, P.L. Carlen, M.M.A. Salama, R.R. Mansour, “High-Density Intracortical Microelectrode Arrays With Multiple Metallization Layers for Fine-Resolution Neuromonitoring and Neurostimulation”, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering,21(6), pp.869-879, November 2013

  • Bagheri, S.R.I. Gabran, M.T. Salam, J.L.P. Velazquez, R.R. Mansour, M.M.A. Salama, R. Genov, “Massively-Parallel Neuromonitoring and Neurostimulation Rodent Headset With Nanotextured Flexible Microelectrodes”, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems, 7(5), pp.601-609, October 2013

  • P. Lin, C.W. Lin, R. Mansour, F. Gu, “Improving biocompatibility by surface modification techniques on implantable bioelectronics”,Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 47, pp.451-460, September 2013

  • S. NazariNejad, A.A. Fomani, R. Mansour, “Giant Magneto-Impedance Thin Film Magnetic Sensor”, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 49(7), pp.3874-3877, July 2013

  • S.S. Attar, R.R. Mansour, “Low Temperature Superconducting RF MEMS Devices”, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity”, 23(3), June 2013

  • S. Setoodeh, R.R. Mansour, D. Gupta, “Miniaturized Superconducting K-Band Bandpass Filter”, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity”, 23(3), June 2013

  • A.M.M. Mohamed, S. Boumaiza, R.R. Mansour, “Reconfigurable Doherty Power Amplifier for Multifrequency Wireless Radio Systems”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 61(4), pp.1588-1598, April 2013

  • A.M.M. Mohamed, S. Boumaiza, R.R. Mansour, I. Zine-El-Abidine, “High Power GaN Monolithically Integrated RF MEMS Switches”,2013 8th European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EUMIC), pp.348-351, 2013

  • M. Fall, S. Fouladi, F. Domingue, C. Dieppedale, B. Reig, R.R. Mansour, “High Capacitance Ratio RF MEMS Dielectric-Less Switched Capacitor”, 2013 8th European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EUMIC), pp.356-359, 2013

  • M. Bakri-Kassem, R.R. Mansour, “A Novel Self Collapsed Corrugated MEMS Phase Shifter”, 2013 8th European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EUMIC), pp.360-363, 2013

  • A.M.M. Mohamed, S. Boumaiza, R.R. Mansour, I. Zine-El-Abidine, “High Power GaN Monolithically Integrated RF MEMS Switches”,2013 European Microwave Conference (EUMC), pp1319-1322, 2013

  • M. Fall, S. Fouladi, F. Domingue, C. Dieppedale, B. Reig, R.R. Mansour, “High Capacitance Ratio RF MEMS Dielectric-Less Switched Capacitor”, 2013 European Microwave Conference (EUMC), pp.1327-1330, 2013

  • M. Bakri-Kassem, R.R. Mansour, “A Novel Self Collapsed Corrugated MEMS Phase Shifter”, 2013 European Microwave Conference (EUMC), pp.1331-1334, 2013

  • R.R. Mansour, “RF MEMS-CMOS Device Integration”, IEEE Microwave Magazine, 14(1), pp.39-56, Jan-Feb2013

  • S. Fouladi, F. Huang, W. Dong, R.R. Mansour, “High-Q Narrowband Tunable Combline Bandpass Filters Using MEMS Capacitor Banks and Piezomotors”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 61(1), pp.393-402, January 2013

  • J.A. Ruiz-Cruz, M.M. Fahmi, R.R. Mansour, “Triple-Conductor Combline Resonators for Dual-Band Filters With Enhanced Guard-Band Selectivity”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 60(12), pp.3969-3979, December 2012

  • Con, R. Dey, M. Ferguson, J. Zhang, R. Mansour, M. Yavuz, B. Cui, “High Molecular Weight Polystyrene as Very Sensitive Electron Beam Resist”, Microelectronic Engineering, 98, pp.254-257, October 2012

  • N. Friedrich, R.R. Mansour, “Inside Track with Raafat R. Mansour 2012 IMS Technical Program Chairperson”, Microwaves & RF, 51(5), pp.32-33, May 2012

  • R.R. Mansour, C.D. Sarris, “The IMS2012 Technical Program Renewal, Innovation, and Globalization”, IEEE Microwave Magazine, 13(3), pp.26-28, May 2012

  • S.R.I. Gabran, R.R. Mansour, M.M.A. Salama, “Maskless pattern transfer using 355 nm laser”, Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 50(5), pp.710-716, May 2012

  • N. Sarkar, K. Trainor, R.R. Mansour, “Temperature compensation in integrated CMOS-MEMS scanning probe microscopes”, Micro & Nano Letters, 7(4), pp.297-300, April 2012

  • K.Y. Chan, R. Ramer, R.R. Mansour, “Novel Miniaturized RF MEMS Staircase Switch Matrix”, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, 22(3), pp.117-119, March 2012

  • S. Forouzanfar, R. Mansour, E. Abdel-Rahman, “Lorentz-force transduction for RF micromechanical filters”, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 22(3), March 2012

  • M. Bendame, K. Elrayes, M. Mahmoud, E.M. Abdel-Rahman, E. El-Saadany, R. Mansour, “Vertically-aligned Springless Energy Harvester”, Proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference 2011, Vol.1, Pts A and B: 23rd Biennial Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Noise, pp.309-315, 2012

  • Khodadad, L. Ball, R. Bhagat, I. Shafieloo, E.M. Abdel-Rahman, E. El-Saadany, R. Mansour, A. Hajian, “Optimization of a Micro Power Unit”, Proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference 2011, Vol.1, Pts A and B: 23rd Biennial Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Noise, pp.325-332, 2012

  • K. El-Rayes, A. Abdel-Aziz, E.M. Abdel-Rahman, R. Mansour, E. El-Saadany, “Prototypes of a Field Disruption Energy Harvester”,Proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, Vol 5, pp.273-280

  • M. Bakri-Kassem, R.R. Mansour, “A Novel Latching RF MEMS SPST Switch”, 2012 7th European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EUMIC), pp.28-31, 2012

  • Bagheri, S.R.I. Gabran, M.T. Salam, J.L.P. Velazquez, R.R. Mansour, M.M.A. Salama, R. Genov, “1024-Channel-Scalable Wireless Neuromonitoring and Neurostimulation Rodent Headset with Nanotextured Flexible Microelectrodes”, 2012 IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BIOCAS): Intelligent Biomedical Electronics and System for Better Life and Better Environment, pp.184-187, 2012

  • M. Daneshmand, R.R. Mansour; Ed.: M.J. Dean, “RF MEMS Devices for Communication Systems”, Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics, Vol.174: Silicon-based Millimeter-wave Technology Measurement, Modeling and Applications, pp.349-390, 2012

  • K.Y. Chan, S. Fouladi, R. Ramer, R.R. Mansour, “RF MEMS Switchable Interdigital Bandpass Filter”, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, 22(1), pp.44-46, 2012

  • M.M. Fahmi, J.A. Ruiz-Cruz, R.R. Mansour, K.A. Zaki, “Recent Advances in Filter Topologies and Realizations for Satellite Communications”, Journal of Communications and Networks, 13(6), pp.625-632, 2011

  • J.A. Ruiz-Cruz, M.M. Fahmi, R.R. Mansour, “Generalized Multiport Waveguide Switches Based on Multiple Short-Circuit Loads in Power-Divider Junctions”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 59(12), pp.3347-3355, 2011

  • J.A. Ruiz-Cruz, M.M. Fahmi, S.A. Fouladi, R.R. Mansour, “Waveguide Antenna Feeders With Integrated Reconfigurable Dual Circular Polarization”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 59(12), pp.3365-3374, 2011

  • F. Huang, S. Fouladi, R.R. Mansour, “High-Q Tunable Dielectric Resonator Filters Using MEMS Technology”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 59(12), pp.3401-3409, 2011

  • A.A. Fomani, R.R. Mansour, C.M. Florez-Quenguan, P.L. Carlen, “Development and Characterization of Multisite Three-Dimensional Microprobes for Deep Brain Stimulation and Recording”, Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 20(5), pp.1109-1118, 2011

  • T.B. Oogarah, M. Daneshmand, R.R. Mansour, S. Chang, “Novel low-temperature variable inductors using porous anodic alumina”, IET Microwaves Antennas & Propagation, 5(11), pp.1274-1279

  • A.A. Fomani, R.R. Mansour, “Fabrication and Characterization of the Flexible Neural Microprobes with Improved Structural Design”, Sensors and Actuators A-Physical, 168(2), pp.233-241

  • N. Zahirovic, R. R. Mansour, and M. Yu, “Piezoresistive Position Sensing for the Detection of Hysteresis and Dielectric Charging in CMOS-MEMS Variable Capacitors”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, pp. 3961-3970, December 2010

  • N. Zahirovic, R. R. Mansour, and M. Yu, “Scalar Measurement-Based Algorithm for Automated Filter Tuning of Integrated Chebyshev Tunable Filters”,   IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,   pp. 3749-3759, vol 58, December 2010.

  • R. Al-Dahleh, R. R. Mansour, “High-Capacitance-Ratio Warped-Beam Capacitive MEMS Switch Designs” IEEE/ASME Journal Microelectromechanical Systems, Vol. 19, pp. 538 – 547 Issue:3, June 2010.

  • S. Fouladi, and R. R. Mansour,  “Capacitive RF MEMS Switches Fabricated in Standard 0.35- CMOS Technology”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Technique, Vol, 58, Issue 2, pp.478-486, Feb. 2010.

  • Fouladi, F.  Domingue, N.  Zahirovic, and R. R. Mansour, “Distributed MEMS Tunable Impedance-Matching Network Based on Suspended Slow-Wave Structure Fabricated in a Standard CMOS Technology”, Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on Vol. 58,1056 – 1064, April, 2010.

  • P. D. Laforge, R. R. Mansour, and M. Yu, “The Design of Miniaturized Superconducting Filters With the Reflected Group Delay Method”, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 4(20), pp.2265-2271, August 2010.

  • Fomani and R. R. Mansour,” Monolithically integrated multiport RF MEMS switch matrices”, IEEE  Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,  Vol 57, pp. 3434 – 3441, December 2009.

  • M. Memarian and R. R. Mansour, ”Quad-node and dual-mode dielectric resonator filters”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol 57, pp. 3418 – 3426, December  2009.

  • M.  Daneshmand, S. Fouladi, R. R. Mansour, M. Lisi, and T. Stajcer,” Thermally-Actuated Latching RF MEMS Switch and Its Characteristics”, IEEE   Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,  Vol 57, pp. 3229 – 3238, December  2009.

  • F. Domingue, S. Fouladi, A.  Kouki and R.  R. Mansour, “Design Methodology and Optimization of Distributed MEMS Matching Networks for Low Frequency Applications”, IEEE   Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol 57, pp.3030 – 3041, December 2009.

  • M. Fahmi, J.Ruiz-Cruz, R. R. Mansour, and K.Zaki, “Compact ridge waveguide filters with arbitrarily placed transmission zeros using non-resonating nodes”, IEEE  Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol 57, pp. 3354 – 3361, December 2009.

  • M.  Soliman, E. Abdel-Rahman, E.  EL-Saadany and R. R. Mansour, “A design procedure for wideband micropower generator”, IEEE/ASME Journal of Micro-electromechanical Systems, pp.1288 – 1299 Dec 2009.

  • R. R. Mansour “ High-Q tunable dielectric resonator filters”, IEEE Microwave Magazine, Vol 10, Issue 6 pp. 84-98, Oct. 2009

  • R. Zhang and R. R. Mansour,” Dual-Band Dielectric-Resonator Filters”, IEEE  Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,  Vol 57,  pp. 1760-1766, July 2009.

  • K. Chan, M.  Daneshmand, R. R. Mansour and R. Ramer, “Scalable RF MEMS switch matrices: methodology and design”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,  Vol 57, pp.1612-1621, June 2009.

  • P. Laforge, R. R. Mansour, and M.Yu, “Diplexer design implementing highly miniaturized superconducting hybrids and filters”, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol 19, pp.47-54, April 2009..

  • M. Baker-Kassem and R. R. Mansour, “Linear Bilayer ALD Coated MEMS Varactor with High Tuning Capacitance Ratio”, IEEE/ASM Micro-electromechanical Journal, vol, 18, pp.147-153, Feb 2009.

  • P. Laforge, R. R. Mansour, and M.Yu, “Diplexer Design Implementing Highly Miniaturized Superconducting Hybrids and Filters”, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 9 pages, accepted November 2008.

  • G. Coutts, R. R. Mansour and S. Chaudhuri, “Microelectromechnical systems tunable-selective surfaces and electromagnetic –bandgap structures on ridge-flux”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,  vol 56, pp.1737 -1746,  July  2008

  • V. Miraftab and R. R. Mansour “ Fully Automated RF/Microwave Filter Tuning by Extracting Human Experience Using Fuzzy Controllers”, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems.,  vol, 55, pp, 1357-1367, June 2008.

  • M. EL Sabbgah and R. R. Mansour, “ Ultra wide band suppression band of surface waves using periodic microstrip-based structures”, IEEE   Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,  vol 56, pp. 671-683,  March 2008

  • M. Bakri-Kassem and S. Fouladi and R. R. Mansour ,” Novel High-Q MEMS curled-plate variable capacitor fabricated in 0.35 mm CMOS technology”, IEEE   Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,  vol 56, pp. 530-541, Feb 2008.

  • G. Coutts, R. R. Mansour and S. Chaudhuri, “Analysis Technique for Frequency-Switchable and MEMS-Based Multi-Mode Parasitic Patch Arrays”,  IET Transactions, pp. 374-375, April 2008.

  • M. S. M. Soliman, E. M. Abdel-Rahman, E. F. EL-Saadany and R. R. Mansour, “A Wideband Vibration-Based Energy Harvester”, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 18 (2008)

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