From CMOS Circuit Innovation to Semiconductor Engineering Education: Research Trends in Comparators, ADCs, and Integrated Systems

July 1st, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Istituto TeCIP, Blu Room

Prof. Fadi Nessir Zghoul, Jordan University of Science and Technology

Seminar Title
From CMOS Circuit Innovation to Semiconductor Engineering Education: Research Trends in Comparators, ADCs, and Integrated Systems

Short Bio
FADI NESSIR ZGHOUL received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, in 2003 and 2007, respectively. In 2007, he joined the Hashemite University, Jordan, as an Assistant Professor. After that, he joined Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan, in 2008, as an Assistant Professor.

In 2009, he was appointed as the Dean Assistant of the Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University. Since 2010, he has been an Associate Professor with the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid. In 2014, he was appointed as the Dean Assistant of the Faculty of Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology. In 2019, he spent one academic year with The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, as a Visiting Scholar, sponsored by Fulbright. His current research interests include mixed signal circuit design, power management systems, and improving simulation techniques for nonlinear circuits.

Abstract
This presentation provides an overview of my academic journey, research contributions, and perspective on emerging trends in circuit design education. The talk begins with a brief personal and professional introduction, highlighting my education, teaching experience, academic leadership, and research development in electrical and mixed-signal circuit design. It then traces the evolution of my research from early work on micro-battery power management systems and nonlinear circuit simulation to more recent contributions in CMOS comparators, analog-to-digital converters, offset calibration, low-power circuit design, and CMOS-based arithmetic hardware.

A major focus of the presentation is the role of comparator design as a critical building block in modern analog and mixed-signal systems. Several research directions will be discussed, including gain and offset analysis, bisection-theorem-based circuit modeling, foreground and hybrid offset calibration techniques, low-power single-ended comparator topologies, and enhanced comparator structures for SAR and stochastic ADCs. The talk will also connect these analog and mixed-signal themes to broader CMOS design research, including high-speed decimal adders, optimization-based CMOS inverter and Schmitt trigger design, and power-electronics control using analog feedback circuits.

The final part of the presentation addresses education trends in circuit design and semiconductor engineering. It discusses the growing need to prepare students with stronger foundations electronic design automation, verification, physical design, and hands-on semiconductor design flows. The presentation concludes by reflecting on how research, teaching, and curriculum development can be integrated to support the next generation of engineers in semiconductor and integrated circuit design.

Prof. Fadi Nessir Zghoul, will give a seminar while visiting TeCIP Institute within the Erasmus+ exchange program with the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Organizer & Contacts:  Dott.ssa Anna Lina Ruscelli annalina.ruscelli@santannapisa.it