Very-Large-Scale-Integration Circuit Techniques in Internet-of-Things Applications

Heading towards the era of Internet-of-things (IoT) means both opportunity and challenge for the circuit-design community. In a system where billions of devices are equipped with the ability to sense, compute, communicate with each other and perform tasks in a coordinated manner, security and power management are among the most critical challenges. Physically unclonable function (PUF) emerges as an important security primitive in hardware-security applications; it provides an object-specific physical identifier hidden within the intrinsic device variations, which is hard to expose and reproduce by adversaries. Yet, designing a compact PUF robust to noise, temperature and voltage remains a challenge. This thesis presents a novel PUF design approach based on a pair of ultra-compact analog circuits whose output is proportional to absolute temperature. The proposed approach is demonstrated through two works: (1) an ultra-compact and robust PUF based on voltage-compensated proportional-to-absolute-temperature voltage generators that occupies 8.3× less area than the previous work with the similar robustness and twice the robustness of the previously most compact PUF design and (2) a technique to transform a 6T-SRAM array into a robust analog PUF with minimal overhead. In this work, similar circuit topology is used to transform a preexisting on-chip SRAM into a PUF, which further reduces the area in (1) with no robustness penalty. In this thesis, we also explore techniques for power management circuit design. Energy harvesting is an essential functionality in an IoT sensor node, where battery replacement is cost-prohibitive or impractical. Yet, existing energy-harvesting power management units (EH PMU) suffer from efficiency loss in the two-step voltage conversion: harvester-to-battery and battery-to-load. We propose an EH PMU architecture with hybrid energy storage, where a capacitor is introduced in addition to the battery to serve as an intermediate energy buffer to minimize the battery involvement in the system energy flow. Test-case measurements show as much as a 2.2× improvement in the end-to-end energy efficiency. In contrast, with the drastically reduced power consumption of IoT nodes that operates in the sub-threshold regime, adaptive dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) for supply-voltage margin removal, fully on-chip integration and high power conversion efficiency (PCE) are required in PMU designs. We present a PMU–load co-design based on a fully integrated switched-capacitor DC-DC converter (SC-DC) and hybrid error/replica-based regulation for a fully digital PMU control. The PMU is integrated with a neural spike processor (NSP) that achieves a record-low power consumption of 0.61 µW for 96 channels. A tunable replica circuit is added to assist the error regulation and prevent loss of regulation. With automatic energy-robustness co-optimization, the PMU can set the SC-DC’s optimal conversion ratio and switching frequency. The PMU achieves a PCE of 77.7% (72.2%) at VIN = 0.6 V (1 V) and at the NSP’s margin-free operating point

Osciladores de ultra-baixa-tensão com aplicação em circuitos de captação de energia

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Elétrica, Florianópolis, 2014Abstract: This thesis describes the analysis and design of oscillators and charge pumps that can operate with very low supply voltages. The focus is on operation of the MOS transistor in the triode region owing to the limited voltage options available. Special attention has been given to the properties of the zero-VT transistor due to its high drive capability at low voltage. In order to investigate the minimum supply voltage for MOSFET oscillators, three topologies were studied. Two of them, namely the enhanced swing ring and the enhanced swing Colpitts oscillators, can operate with supply voltages below the thermal voltage, kT =q. Simplified theoretical expressions for the minimum supply voltage, oscillation frequency and minimum transistor gain of the oscillators were derived. Measurement results obtained using prototypes built with zero-VT transistors verified the operation of the oscillators for a supply voltage as low as 30 mV and 3.5 mV with high swing amplitude for arrangements built with integrated and off-theshelfinductors, respectively. The application of the ultra-low-voltage oscillators to energy harvesting circuits was addressed in this work. In order to convert the ac signal of the oscillator into a dc signal, the popular Dickson charge pump converter was employed. Expressions for the output voltage, input resistance and power converter efficiency of the Dickson charge pump operating at ultra-low voltages were derived. Experimental results obtained with prototypes built with the enhanced swing ring oscillator and the Dickson charge pump confirmed the feasibility of obtaining a dc output equal to 1 V at current consumptions of 100 nA and 1 µA from input voltages of 10 mV and 23 mV, respectively.O presente trabalho apresenta a análise, projeto e experimentação de osciladores e conversores dc-dc elevadores operando a muito baixas tensões de alimentação. Devido aos baixos valores de tensão de alimentação de interesse deste trabalho, especial atenção foi dada à operação do transistor MOS na região triodo e às propriedades do transistor zero-VT, graças a sua alta capacidade de corrente para baixas tensões. Com o objetivo de investigar a mínima tensão de alimentação de osciladores a MOSFET, três topologias foram estudadas. Duas delas, chamadas de oscilador em anel com elevada excursão desinal e oscilador Colpitts com elevada excursão de sinal, podem trabalhar com tensões de alimentação inferiores à tensão térmica, kT /q. Expressões simplificadas para a mínima tensão de alimentação, frequência de oscilação e mínimo ganho do transistor foram derivadas para cada topologia. Resultados experimentais obtidos com protótipos implementados com transistores zero-VT comprovam a operação dos osciladores com tensões tão baixas quanto 30 mV e 3,5 mV em circuitos construídos com indutores integrados e discretos, respectivamente. A aplicação dos osciladores a circuitos de captação de energia (energy harvesting circuits) a partir de fontes de alimentação de ultra-baixa-tensão foi estudada neste trabalho. Com o propósito de converter tensões ac geradas pelos osciladores em sinais dc, o clássico conversor Dickson foi utilizado. Expressões para a tensão de saída, resistência de entrada e eficiência de conversão de potência do conversor Dickson operando a ultra-baixas-tensões foram derivadas. Resultados experimentais obtidos com protótipos construídos com o oscilador em anel com elevada excursão de sinal e com o conversor Dickson, provaram a possibilidade de se obter uma tensão dc na saída de 1 V para correntes de carga de 100 nA e 1 µA a partir de tensões de entrada de 10 mV e 23 mV, respectivamente

Characterization of 28 nm FDSOI MOS and application to the design of a low-power 2.4 GHz LNA

IoT is expected to connect billions of devices all over world in the next years, and in a near future, it is expected to use LR-WPAN in a wide variety of applications. Not all the devices will require of high performance but will require of low power hungry systems since most of them will be powered with a battery. Conventional CMOS technologies cannot cover these needs even scaling it to very small regimes, which appear other problems. Hence, new technologies are emerging to cover the needs of this devices. One promising technology is the UTBB FDSOI, which achieves good performance with very good energy efficiency. This project characterizes this technology to obtain a set of parameters of interest for analog/RF design. Finally, with the help of a low-power design methodology (gm/Id approach), a design of an ULP ULV LNA is performed to check the suitability of this technology for IoT

Platform Independent, Illumination aware Reconfigurable Switch Capacitor based 3.3 Volt Energy Harvester IC

This dissertation presents a platform independent illumination aware fully on chip microscale energy harvester for powering 3.3V sensor nodes and smart IOT devices. The programmable switched capacitor DC-DC converter for fully on chip applications is discussed and implemented

Low power CMOS IC, biosensor and wireless power transfer techniques for wireless sensor network application

The emerging field of wireless sensor network (WSN) is receiving great attention due to the interest in healthcare. Traditional battery-powered devices suffer from large size, weight and secondary replacement surgery after the battery life-time which is often not desired, especially for an implantable application. Thus an energy harvesting method needs to be investigated. In addition to energy harvesting, the sensor network needs to be low power to extend the wireless power transfer distance and meet the regulation on RF power exposed to human tissue (specific absorption ratio). Also, miniature sensor integration is another challenge since most of the commercial sensors have rigid form or have a bulky size. The objective of this thesis is to provide solutions to the aforementioned challenges

Energy autonomous systems : future trends in devices, technology, and systems

The rapid evolution of electronic devices since the beginning of the nanoelectronics era has brought about exceptional computational power in an ever shrinking system footprint. This has enabled among others the wealth of nomadic battery powered wireless systems (smart phones, mp3 players, GPS, …) that society currently enjoys. Emerging integration technologies enabling even smaller volumes and the associated increased functional density may bring about a new revolution in systems targeting wearable healthcare, wellness, lifestyle and industrial monitoring applications

Power Management Circuits for Energy Harvesting Applications

Energy harvesting is the process of converting ambient available energy into usable electrical energy. Multiple types of sources are can be used to harness environmental energy: solar cells, kinetic transducers, thermal energy, and electromagnetic waves. This dissertation proposal focuses on the design of high efficiency, ultra-low power, power management units for DC energy harvesting sources. New architectures and design techniques are introduced to achieve high efficiency and performance while achieving maximum power extraction from the sources. The first part of the dissertation focuses on the application of inductive switching regulators and their use in energy harvesting applications. The second implements capacitive switching regulators to minimize the use of external components and present a minimal footprint solution for energy harvesting power management. Analysis and theoretical background for all switching regulators and linear regulators are described in detail. Both solutions demonstrate how low power, high efficiency design allows for a self-sustaining, operational device which can tackle the two main concerns for energy harvesting: maximum power extraction and voltage regulation. Furthermore, a practical demonstration with an Internet of Things type node is tested and positive results shown by a fully powered device from harvested energy. All systems were designed, implemented and tested to demonstrate proof-of-concept prototypes

Low-Power Energy Efficient Circuit Techniques for Small IoT Systems

Although the improvement in circuit speed has been limited in recent years, there has been increased focus on the internet of things (IoT) as technology scaling has decreased circuit size, power usage and cost. This trend has led to the development of many small sensor systems with affordable costs and diverse functions, offering people convenient connection with and control over their surroundings. This dissertation discusses the major challenges and their solutions in realizing small IoT systems, focusing on non-digital blocks, such as power converters and analog sensing blocks, which have difficulty in following the traditional scaling trends of digital circuits. To accommodate the limited energy storage and harvesting capacity of small IoT systems, this dissertation presents an energy harvester and voltage regulators with low quiescent power and good efficiency in ultra-low power ranges. Switched-capacitor-based converters with wide-range energy-efficient voltage-controlled oscillators assisted by power-efficient self-oscillating voltage doublers and new cascaded converter topologies for more conversion ratio configurability achieve efficient power conversion down to several nanowatts. To further improve the power efficiency of these systems, analog circuits essential to most wireless IoT systems are also discussed and improved. A capacitance-to-digital sensor interface and a clocked comparator design are improved by their digital-like implementation and operation in phase and frequency domain. Thanks to the removal of large passive elements and complex analog blocks, both designs achieve excellent area reduction while maintaining state-of-art energy efficiencies. Finally, a technique for removing dynamic voltage and temperature variations is presented as smaller circuits in advanced technologies are more vulnerable to these variations. A 2-D simultaneous feedback control using an on-chip oven control locks the supply voltage and temperature of a small on-chip domain and protects circuits in this locked domain from external voltage and temperature changes, demonstrating 0.0066 V/V and 0.013 °C/°C sensitivities to external changes. Simple digital implementation of the sensors and most parts of the control loops allows robust operation within wide voltage and temperature ranges.PHDElectrical EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138743/1/wanyeong_1.pd

Design, analysis and implementation of voltage sensor for power-constrained systems

PhD ThesisThanks to an extensive effort by the global research community, the electronic technology has significantly matured over the last decade. This technology has enabled certain operations which humans could not otherwise easily perform. For instance, electronic systems can be used to perform sensing, monitoring and even control operations in environments such as outer space, underground, under the sea or even inside the human body. The main difficulty for electronics operating in these environments is access to a reliable and permanent source of energy. Using batteries as the immediate solution for this problem has helped to provide energy for limited periods of time; however, regular maintenance and replacement are required. Consequently, battery solutions fail wherever replacing them is not possible or operation for long periods is needed. For such cases, researchers have proposed harvesting ambient energy and converting it into an electrical form. An important issue with energy harvesters is that their operation and output power depend critically on the amount of energy they receive and because ambient energy often tends to be sporadic in nature, energy harvesters cannot produce stable or fixed levels of power all of the time. Therefore, electronic devices powered in this way must be capable of adapting their operation to the energy status of the harvester. To achieve this, information on the energy available for use is needed. This can be provided by a sensor capable of measuring voltage. However, stable and fixed voltage and time references are a prerequisite of most traditional voltage measurement devices, but these generally do not exist in energy harvesting environments. A further challenge is that such a sensor also needs to be powered by the energy harvester’s unstable voltage. In this thesis, the design of a reference-free voltage sensor, which can operate with a varying voltage source, is provided based on the capture of a portion of the total energy which is directly related to II the energy being sensed. This energy is then used to power a computation which quantifies captured energy over time, with the information directly generated as digital code. The sensor was fabricated in the 180 nm technology node and successfully tested by performing voltage measurements over the range 1.8 V to 0.8 V

Remote powered system for passive optical networks

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrónica e TelecomunicaçõesAs redes passivas são cada vez mais uma realidade. Os standards estão a desenvolver-se rapidamente (NG-PON, G-PON, etc), e cada vez mais o consumidor final tem maior necessidade de largura de banda, que, numa primeira fase, irá certamente, ser distribuída por redes passivas integralmente ópticas. As redes passivas são, por si, uma solução interessante para os operadores, pois, sendo passivas minimizam os custos de manutenção. No entanto, o reverso desta passividade e transparência, é que estas podem ser alteradas por simples aumento do número de ramais de uma forma independente e potencialmente incontrolada. Um aumento do tráfego, bem como um crescente de procura de novos serviços e larguras de banda, vêm forçar o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias que permitam um redimensionamento e redefinição da rede, nomeadamente nós ópticos transparentes. O objectivo principal deste trabalho é estudar os processos de alimentação remota de sistemas de comutação e reconfiguração para utilização em redes ópticas passivas, e fazer uma implementação de alguns modelos para teste. De salientar que este projecto enquadra-se no projecto Europeu “SARDANA” e nas redes de excelência “BONE” e “Euro-FOS”. ABSTRACT: The passive networks are becoming a reality. The Standards are evolving rapidly (NG-PON, G-PON, etc), and now, the consumer, more than ever, has a major necessity for bandwidth, which, in a first stage, will certainly be distributed by fully passive optical networks. The passive networks are, on their own, an interesting solution for operators, because, being passive, minimize the maintenance costs. However, the other side of the passiveness and transparency is that it can be altered by simple increase of the number of branches in a independent way and potentially uncontrolled. An increase of traffic, as an increasing search of new services and bandwidth, are forcing the development of new technologies which will allow a network resizing and redefinition, in particular, the transparent optical nodes. The main objective of this work is study the remote powering processes for commutable and reconfigurable systems, to be used in passive optical networks, and implementing some models for testing. Note that this Project falls within the European project “SARDANA” and in the networks of excellence “BONE” and “Euro-FOS”