Study and design of an impulse radio UWB synthesizer for 3.1-10.6 GHz band in 28 NM CMOS FD-SOI technology

Orientador: Prof. Ph.D. André Augusto MarianoCoorientador: Prof. Ph.D. Rémy VaucheDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Elétrica. Defesa : Curitiba, 21/03/2022Inclui referências: p. 107-110Resumo: Este trabalho de dissertação de mestrado apresenta o estudo e desenvolvimento de sintetizador de pulsos de radio ultra banda larga para a banda 3,1-10,6 GHz em tecnologia 28 nm CMOS FD-SOI. A primeira utilização dessa banda de frequência foi autorizada pela comissão federal de comunicações dos Estados Unidos em 2002. Visando a explorar essa banda de frequência, o padrão IEEE 802.15.4 escolheu as comunicações baseadas em pulsos de radio em detrimento das comunicações tradicionais de banda estreita. Uma linha importante de pesquisa e o estudo e desenvolvimento de um transmissor ultra banda larga, capaz de endereçar múltiplas bandas e múltiplos padrões diferentes, que e consistido em um sintetizador de pulsos de radio devendo ter a capacidade de cobrir a banda 3,1-10,6 GHz. Para atingir tal objetivo, visa-se a implementação de uma arquitetura versátil baseada em um gerador de pulsos constituído principalmente por um oscilador controlado por tensão, e um circuito de formatação da envoltória do pulso, em que e possível fazer ajuste da duração e da frequência central dos pulsos, e compensar variações PVT (Processo, Tensão e Temperatura). O objetivo principal deste trabalho de dissertação de mestrado e estudo e desenvolvimento de um sintetizador de pulsos baseado nessa arquitetura em tecnologia 28 nm CMOS FD-SOI, de maneira que esse circuito seja capaz de cobrir toda banda 3.1-10.6 GHz e ao mesmo tempo cumprir os requerimentos espectrais estabelecidos pelos padrões IEEE 802.15.4 e IEEE 802.15.6. No projeto do circuito proposto, utilizou-se a técnica de síntese de pulso por transposição de frequência, constituído principalmente por um oscilador local comutado, permitindo a redução do consumo de energia, em que o sinal produzido pelo oscilador e modulado por um pulso em banda base. Em relação a metodologia do projeto, trata-se de um projeto totalmente personalizado, em que se utilizou as logicas CMOS e CML (Logica Diferencial), e se considerou capacitâncias parasitas estimadas no intuito de melhorar o dimensionamento dos transistores. A arquitetura do oscilador escolhida neste projeto foi o oscilador em anel, a qual permite de se obter uma banda de frequência suficientemente alta. Acerca da formatação do pulso, escolheu-se uma envoltória possível de se implementar com circuito digital reprogramável, visando a endereçar os diferentes canais do padrão IEEE 802.15.4 e IEEE 802.15.6. O sistema implementado, em nível de esquemático de transistor considerando capacitâncias parasitas estimadas, apresenta um desempenho satisfatório sobre a toda a banda de frequência de interesse, em que os pulsos gerados respeitam os gabaritos espectrais impostos pelos padrões IEEE, evidenciando a capacidade do circuito prosposto de ser multi-banda e cobrir toda a banda de frequência de interesse. Em relação ao consumo de potência, esse e influenciado pela duração do pulso e sua frequência central. Ademais, obteve-se um consumo de potencia estática 14 µW e um consumo de energia por pulso emitido máximo de 308 pJ, em que para esse caso, o pulso apresenta um energia transmitida de 11,7 pJ por pulso, assim apresentando uma eficiência de 3,8 %.Abstract: This dissertation work concerns the study and design of an impulse radio ultra-wide band synthesizer for 3.1-10.6 GHz frequency band in 28 nm CMOS FD-SOI technology. Indeed, this frequency band exploitation was initially authorized by the federal communications commission of United States in 2002. Targeting to exploit this frequency band, the IEEE 802.15.4 standard has chosen the communications based on impulse radio instead of the traditional narrowband communications. Besides, the impulse radio communications should respect communications standards, like the IEEE 802.15.4 for wireless personal networks, or IEEE 802.15.6 for wireless body networks. These IEEE standards define the generated pulse bandwidth and its central frequency. An important line of research is the study and design of a multi-standard or multi-band UWB transmitter, consisted by a pulse synthesizer that should be able to address all the standardized channels. To accomplish this, a proposed solution reposes on design of versatile architecture based on pulse generator and an envelope shaping circuit, where it is possible to tune the pulse duration and central frequency, and also to compensate PVT variations (Process, Voltage and Temperature). The dissertation work main goal is the study and design of a pulse synthesizer based on this architecture in 28 nm CMOS FD-SOI technology, such that the designed system is capable to cover all the 3.1-10.6 GHz and at same time to comply the spectral requirements established by IEEE 802.15.4 and 802.15.6 standards. In relation of the proposed circuit design, it is applied the pulse synthesis technique based on frequency transposition, that is mainly composed by a local oscillator that can be turned on and off, which allows to reduce the power consumption. The generated oscillation is modulated by a baseband pulse. Concerning the design methodology, it is a full-custom project, where CMOS and CML logics were used, and estimated parasitic capacitances were considered to achieve more reliable transistor sizing. The oscillator architecture chosen is based on ring oscillator, which allows to reach a frequency range sufficiently large. For the pulse shaping, it was chosen a envelope that is feasible to implement with fully digital circuit, targeting to address all IEEE 802.15.4 and IEEE 802.15.6 standard channels. The implemented system presents, in schematic levels considering parasitic capacitances, a satisfactory performance over all the 3.1-10.6 GHz band, where the generated pulses respect the spectral requirements imposed by the IEEE standards, therefore indicating that the proposed circuit is multi-band and able to cover all frequency band of interest. In terms of power consumption, it was achieved a power leakage of 14 µW and a maximal energy per pulse consumption of 308 pJ, where for this case, the pulse has an emitted energy of 11.7 pJ per pulse, therefore a efficiency of 3.8 %

Optically Powered Highly Energy-efficient Sensor Networks

In optically powered networks, both, communication signals and power for remotely located sensor nodes, are transmitted over an optical fiber. Key features of optically powered networks are node operation without local power supplies or batteries as well as operation with negligible susceptibility to electro-magnetic interference and to lightning. In this book, different kinds of optically powered devices and networks are investigated, and selected applications are demonstrated

Ultra-Low Power Transmitter and Power Management for Internet-of-Things Devices

Two of the most critical components in an Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensing and transmitting node are the power management unit (PMU) and the wireless transmitter (Tx). The desire for longer intervals between battery replacements or a completely self-contained, battery-less operation via energy harvesting transducers and circuits in IoT nodes demands highly efficient integrated circuits. This dissertation addresses the challenge of designing and implementing power management and Tx circuits with ultra-low power consumption to enable such efficient operation. The first part of the dissertation focuses on the study and design of power management circuits for IoT nodes. This opening portion elaborates on two different areas of the power management field: Firstly, a low-complexity, SPICE-based model for general low dropout (LDO) regulators is demonstrated. The model aims to reduce the stress and computation times in the final stages of simulation and verification of Systems-on-Chip (SoC), including IoT nodes, that employ large numbers of LDOs. Secondly, the implementation of an efficient PMU for an energy harvesting system based on a thermoelectric generator transducer is discussed. The PMU includes a first-in-its-class LDO with programmable supply noise rejection for localized improvement in the suppression. The second part of the dissertation addresses the challenge of designing an ultra- low power wireless FSK Tx in the 900 MHz ISM band. To reduce the power consumption and boost the Tx energy efficiency, a novel delay cell exploiting current reuse is used in a ring-oscillator employed as the local oscillator generator scheme. In combination with an edge-combiner PA, the Tx showed a measured energy efficiency of 0.2 nJ/bit and a normalized energy efficiency of 3.1 nJ/(bit∙mW) when operating at output power levels up to -10 dBm and data rates of 3 Mbps. To close this dissertation, the implementation of a supply-noise tolerant BiCMOS ring-oscillator is discussed. The combination of a passive, high-pass feedforward path from the supply to critical nodes in the selected delay cell and a low cost LDO allow the oscillator to exhibit power supply noise rejection levels better than –33 dB in experimental results

Wireless Power Transfer Techniques for Implantable Medical Devices:A Review

Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems have become increasingly suitable solutions for the electrical powering of advanced multifunctional micro-electronic devices such as those found in current biomedical implants. The design and implementation of high power transfer efficiency WPT systems are, however, challenging. The size of the WPT system, the separation distance between the outside environment and location of the implanted medical device inside the body, the operating frequency and tissue safety due to power dissipation are key parameters to consider in the design of WPT systems. This article provides a systematic review of the wide range of WPT systems that have been investigated over the last two decades to improve overall system performance. The various strategies implemented to transfer wireless power in implantable medical devices (IMDs) were reviewed, which includes capacitive coupling, inductive coupling, magnetic resonance coupling and, more recently, acoustic and optical powering methods. The strengths and limitations of all these techniques are benchmarked against each other and particular emphasis is placed on comparing the implanted receiver size, the WPT distance, power transfer efficiency and tissue safety presented by the resulting systems. Necessary improvements and trends of each WPT techniques are also indicated per specific IMD

LOW-POWER FREQUENCY SYNTHESIS BASED ON INJECTION LOCKING

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

State of the art in chip-to-chip interconnects

This thesis presents a study of short-range links for chips mounted in the same package, on printed circuit boards or interposers. Implemented in CMOS technology between 7 and 250 nm, with links that operate at a data rate between 0,4 and 112 Gb/s/pin and with energy efficiencies from 0,3 to 67,7 pJ/bit. The links operate on channels with an attenuation lower than 50 dB. A comparison is made with graphical representations between the different articles that shows the correlation between the different essential metrics of chip-to-chip interconnects, as well as its evolution over the last 20 years.Esta tesis presenta un estudio de enlaces de corto alcance para chips montados en un mismo paquete, en placas de circuito impreso o intercaladores. Implementado en tecnología CMOS entre 7 y 250 nm, con enlaces que operan a una velocidad de datos entre 0,4 y 112 Gb/s/pin y con eficiencias energéticas de 0,3 a 67,7 pJ/bit. Los enlaces operan en canales con una atenuación inferior a 50 dB. Se realiza una comparación con representaciones gráficas entre los diferentes artículos que muestra la correlación entre las distintas métricas esenciales de las interconexiones chip a chip, así como su evolución en los últimos 20 años.Aquesta tesi presenta un estudi d'enllaços de curt abast per a xips muntats en el mateix paquet, en plaques de circuits impresos o interposers. Implementat en tecnologia CMOS entre 7 i 250 nm, amb enllaços que funcionen a una velocitat de dades entre 0,4 i 112 Gb/s/pin i amb eficiències energètiques de 0,3 a 67,7 pJ/bit. Els enllaços funcionen en canals amb una atenuació inferior a 50 dB. Es fa una comparació amb representacions gràfiques entre els diferents articles que mostra la correlació entre les diferents mètriques essencials d'interconnexions xip a xip, així com la seva evolució en els darrers 20 anys

Optically Powered Highly Energy-efficient Sensor Networks

In optically powered networks, both, communication signals and power for remotely located sensor nodes, are transmitted over an optical fiber. Key features of optically powered networks are node operation without local power supplies or batteries as well as operation with negligible susceptibility to electro-magnetic interference and to lightning. In this book, different kinds of optically powered devices and networks are investigated, and selected applications are demonstrated

RF Circuits and Systems Design and Technologies Enabling IoT Applications

Internet of Things (IoT) is the paradigm used nowadays to summarize what is expected form the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) that is the connectivity of a huge number of “smart” objects disseminated in dissimilar scenarios. This concept is foreseen for practically any possible application domain: from home to transportation, from industry plants to health care, and for space monitoring. Long-term and self-sustainability of these smart thinks (people, objects, tools, etc.) becomes the most relevant aspect for the implementation of such a complex vision. In this framework, my PhD activities have been concentrated. The common goal is to investigate advanced solutions for energy-aware systems and circuits cooperating to enable the IoT paradigm. In particular, I have studied, designed and experimentally demonstrated quite a few novel solutions able to overcome some of the energy limitations existing in IoT. The first project I have developed is an energy-autonomous power relay node at 2.45 GHz that is able to harvest energy from ambient-available or from dedicated RF sources and either use it for operating the node or for supplying power to other nodes. Both a hybrid and a monolithic implementation of the relay system have been implemented. Then I was dedicated to the design of a system enabling Wake-Up Radio (WuR) operation at ultra-low power. The ambitious goal of WuR radios is to reduce the communication power consumption in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and IoT. With this scope in mind, I have proposed and implemented a multi-band WuR architecture. The flexibility of using frequency diversity in WuR enables a more reliable and robust communication channel. From the source side, analytical and experimental studies have been carried out to define the optimum Power Optimized Waveform (POW) excitation to push the WuR sensitivity down to power as low as -65 dBm