Design techniques for high performance optical wireless front-ends

Wireless optical networks usually have demanding specifications in terms of bandwidth, dynamic range and sensitivity. The front-end is a critical element for the fulfillment of these demands. This paper discusses several design aspects of front-ends for optical wireless communications, covering techniques for achieving high gains, high input dynamic ranges, improving noise performance, and reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). The paper further presents some experimental results of many of the techniques here described. The cumulative usage of those techniques significantly increases system performance, in terms of sensitivity, power and bandwidth even with low cost, CMOS technologies

Transceiver for an Unmanned Airborne Vehicle

This paper describes a transmission/reception (transceiver) system for the 456MHz - 459MHz band, which allows data communication between a ground station and an unmanned airborne vehicle. The transceiver makes use of quadrature frequency translation techniques, coherent indirect methods for signal generation and supports input signals with several types of modulation. The intermodulation products harmonics and spurious signals are 60dB below the carrier for an output power of 6dBm. The receiver has a sensitivity of -110dBm, a dynamic range of 80dB and an image rejection better than 28dB. The central frequency and the tune steps (100kHz) are digitally controlled by a PLL-based synthesizer. The transceiver draws 500mA from a ±12V supply. These characteristics were found to be good enough for the application referred above

On real time optical wireless communication channel emulator design with FPGAs

This paper discusses the implementation details of a channel emulator suited for optical wireless communications (OWC) systems. The channel emulator comprises functional blocks able to model the transmitter, the receiver and the channel. It is in this sense a valuable tool for system performance evaluation. The proposed design uses field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) as supporting hardware platform, enabling flexible and expedite interconnection with other system blocks. The achieved design operates in real time, allowing timely and realistic assessment of the channel and terminal equipment impairments on the overall system. Achieved results demonstrate the feasibility to address channel emulation with 500ps time resolution, with negligible quantization errors when compared to the predefined channel coefficients.publishe

A CMOS signal to noise measurement circuit for infrared sectored receivers

This paper describes a circuit able to measure Signal to Noise ratios developed for Infrared applications. The Signal to Noise ratio is of major importance in IR Sectored Receivers because it provides the basis of selection or combining of signals coming from different optical sectors. This circuit estimates the ratio of the average optical signal sensed in the photo-detector and the average noise power present in the same photo-detector, with a 50dB output dynamic range.Este artigo descreve um circuito capaz de medir a Relação Sinal Ruído em sistemas de comunicação por Infravermelhos. A relação Sinal Ruído desempenha um papel fundamental em Receptores Sectorizados por IR, pois é necessária para métodos de selecção ou combinação dos sinais vindos dos diferentes sectores ópticos. O circuito aqui descrito é capaz de estimar a razão entre a potência média do sinal adquirido pelo fotodetector e a potência de ruído presente no mesmo, apresentando uma gama dinâmica de 50dB

Folded-cascode transimpedance amplifiers employing a CMOS inverter as input stage

This paper presents the design and comparison of two shunt feedback transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) implemented in standard 350nm CMOS technology from Austria Microsystems. These transimpedance amplifiers are based on a folded cascode topology. The first one is a conventional folded-cascode (CFC-TIA) and the second is a modified version folded-cascod (MFC-TIA) employing a CMOS inverter at the input stage. The proposed MFC-TIA achieves a gain of 80dBΩ, 370MHz bandwidth and minimum input current noise of 1,6pA√Hz with 0.5pF total input capacitance. The achieved results show that MFC-TIAs can match the performance of CFC-TIAs with reduced implementation area, thus being a suitable solution for photo-detector array receivers

Deliverable D4.1: VLC modulation schemes

This report presents the analysis of different modulation schemes D4.1 for VLC systems of the VIDAS project. Considering the final prototype design and application, the deliverable D4.1 was projected. The detail analysis of various modulation schemes are carried out and a robust technique based on direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) is followed. DSSS technique though necessitates use of high bandwidth while minimizing the effect of noise. Since the final application does not require very high dat a rate of transmission but robustness against the noise (external lights) becomes necessary. The analysis is followed by model development using Matlab/Simulink. The performance of both of these systems are compared and evaluated. Some of the simulation results are presented

Medição de relação sinal ruído em receptores ópticos atmosféricos

Nesta dissertação discutem-se os problemas encontrados no projecto e implementação de um circuito capaz de efectuar a medição da relação sinal ruído em receptores ópticos, usando tecnologias de circuitos integrados CMOS. As várias estratégias estudadas para implementar a medição de relação sinal ruído possuem uma característica comum, são capazes de efectuar processamento analógico de sinais. Várias categorias foram investigadas, nomeadamente: circuitos de processamento em corrente, malhas translineares, multiplicadores de quatro quadrantes, divisores analógicos, amplificadores logarítmicos e current conveyors. É apresentado e descrito o sistema de referência para o qual foi desenvolvida uma unidade de medição de relação sinal ruído. Este sistema consiste num receptor óptico sectorizado com dois sectores de recepção e um sistema de selecção do tipo best sector. Cada um dos sectores de recepção compreende um amplificador de transimpedância de ganhos comutados e um medidor de relação sinal ruído, que processam o sinal e ruído gerados num fotodetector tipo PIN. Todo o sistema foi implementado num ASIC CMOS usando a tecnologia standard de 0.8μm da AMS. São ainda discutidos os resultados de simulação obtidos durante a fase de projecto do circuito, bem como os resultados obtidos em testes efectuados com o circuito real. No final tiram-se algumas conclusões e traçam-se algumas linhas de orientação para futuros desenvolvimentos do sistema. ABSTRACT: This thesis discusses the problems found during the project and implementation of a circuit capable of measuring the signal to noise ratio in optical receivers, using CMOS integrated circuit technologies. All the circuits that were investigated during the specification of this work have one common characteristic; they are capable of processing analogue signals in an analogue sense. Several circuit categories were investigated, namely: translinear loops, four quadrant multipliers, analogue dividers, logarithmic amplifiers, current conveyors and current processing circuits. The reference system designed to demonstrate correct operation of the signal to noise measurement circuit is presented and described. This system consists of an optical sectored receiver with two receiving sectors and a best sector selection unit. Each one of the receiving sectors comprises a switched gain transimpedance amplifier and a signal to noise measurement circuit, which are responsible for treatment of the signal and noise generated in a PIN fotodetector. This system was implemented in one CMOS ASIC using a standard 0.8μm technology from AMS. Simulated and measured results are presented and discussed. Some conclusions and future work guidelines are drawn at the end of this test

High gain and bandwidth current-mode amplifiers : study and implementation

Doutoramento em Engenharia ElectrotécnicaEsta tese aborda o problema do projecto de amplificadores com grandes produtos de ganho por largura de banda. A aplicação final considerada consistiu no projecto de amplificadores adequados à recepção de sinais ópticos em sistemas de transmissão ópticos usando o espaço livre. Neste tipo de sistemas as maiores limitações de ganho e largura de banda surgem nos circuitos de entrada. O uso de detectores ópticos com grande área fotosensível é uma necessidade comum neste tipo de sistemas. Estes detectores apresentam grandes capacidades intrínsecas, o que em conjunto com a impedância de entrada apresentada pelo amplificador estabelece sérias restrições no produto do ganho pela largura de banda. As técnicas mais tradicionais para combater este problema recorrem ao uso de amplificadores com retroacção baseados em configurações de transimpedância. Estes amplificadores apresentam baixas impedâncias de entrada devido à acção da retroacção. Contudo, os amplificadores de transimpedância também apresentam uma relação directa entre o ganho e a impedância de entrada. Logo, diminuir a impedância de entrada implica diminuir o ganho. Esta tese propõe duas técnicas novas para combater os problemas referidos. A primeira técnica tem por base uma propriedade fundamental dos amplificadores com retroacção. Em geral, todos os circuitos electrónicos têm tempos de atraso associados, os amplificadores com retroacção não são uma excepção a esta regra. Os tempos de atraso são em geral reconhecidos como elementos instabilizadores neste tipos da amplificadores. Contudo, se usados judiciosamente, este tempos de atraso podem ser explorados como uma forma da aumentar a largura de banda em amplificadores com retroacção. Com base nestas ideias, esta tese apresenta o conceito geral de reatroacção com atraso, como um método de optimização de largura de banda em amplificadores com retroacção. O segundo método baseia-se na destruição da dualidade entre ganho e impedância de entrada existente nos amplificadores de transimpedância. O conceito de adaptação activa em modo de corrente é neste sentido uma forma adequada para separar o detector óptico da entrada do amplificador. De acordo com este conceito, emprega-se um elemento de adaptação em modo de corrente para isolar o detector óptico da entrada do amplificador. Desta forma as tradicionais limitações de ganho e largura de banda podem ser tratadas em separado. Esta tese defende o uso destas técnicas no desenho de amplificadores de transimpedância para sistemas de recepção de sinais ópticos em espaço livre.This thesis addresses the problem of achieving high gain-bandwidth products in amplifiers. The adopted framework consisted on the design of a free-space optical (FSO) front end amplifier able to amplify very small optical signals over large frequency bandwidths. The major gain-bandwidth limitations in FSO front end amplifiers arise due to the input circuitry. Usually, it is necessary to have large area optical detectors in order to maximize signal reception. These detectors have large intrinsic capacitances, which together with the amplifier input impedance poses a severe restriction on the gain-bandwidth product. Traditional techniques to combat this gain-bandwidth limitation resort to feedback amplifiers consisting on transimpedance configurations. These amplifiers have small input impedances due to the feedback action. Nevertheless, transimpedance amplifiers have a direct relation between gain and input impedance. Thus reducing the input impedance usually implies reducing the gain. This thesis advances two new methods suitable to combat the above mentioned problems. The first method is based on a fundamental property of feedback amplifiers. In general, all electronic circuits have associated time delays, and feedback amplifiers are not an exception to this rule. Time delays in feedback amplifiers have been recognized as destabilizing elements. Nevertheless, when used with appropriate care, these delays can be exploited as bandwidth enhancement elements. Based on these ideas, this thesis presents the general concept of delayed feedback, as a bandwidth optimization method suitable for feedback amplifiers. The second method is based on the idea of destroying the impedance-gain duality in transimpedance amplifiers. The concept of active current matching is in this sense a suitable method to detach the optical detector from the transimpedance amplifier input. According to this concept, a current matching device (CMD) is used to convey the signal current sensed by the optical detector, to the amplifier’s input. Using this concept the traditional gainbandwidth limitations can be treated in a separate fashion. This thesis advocates the usage of these techniques for the design of transimpedance amplifiers suited for FSO receiving systems

VLCLighting - A Collaborative Research Project on Visible Light Communication

This paper describes a collaborative research project on Visible Light Communications for lighting infrastructures. It is being developed by the Integrated Circuits and Mobile Network groups in Instituto de Telecomunicações, Aveiro site, and expects to deliver a VLC demonstrator transmitting video and data in real-time by the end of 2016. Another main goal is to develop this system to be modular in order to enable collaboration with other groups with interest in this field, offering the academic community a real-time test bed to evaluate the performance of different modules, algorithms and optical front-ends, which is currently not available

Selective enumeration of propionibacteria in Emmental-type cheese using PetrifilmTM Aerobic count plates added to lithium glycerol broth

Propionibacteria derived from dairy products are relevant starter cultures for the production of Swiss and Emmental-type cheeses, and the monitoring of which is mandatory for proper quality control. This study aimed to evaluate an alternative procedure to enumerate propionibacteria, in order to develop a reliable and practical methodology to be employed by dairy industries. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) inhibitory activity was tested against five reference strains (CIRM 09, 38, 39, 40 and 116); TTC at 0·0025% (w/v) was not inhibitory, with the exception of one strain (CIRM 116). Subsequently, the four TTC-resistant strains, three commercial starter cultures (PS-1, PB-I, and CHOO) and twelve Emmental-type cheese samples were subjected to propionibacteria enumeration using Lithium Glycerol (LG) agar, and Petrifilm™ Aerobic Count (AC) plates added to LG broth (anaerobic incubation at 30 °C for 7 d). Petrifilm™ AC added to LG broth presented high counts than LG agar (P<0·05) for only two reference strains (CIRM 39, and 40) and for all commercial starter cultures. Cheese sample counts obtained by both procedures did not show significant differences (P<0·05). Significant correlation indexes were observed between the counts recorded by both methods (P<0·05). These results demonstrate the reliability of Petrifilm™ AC plates added to LG broth in enumerating select Propionibacterium spp., despite some limitations observed for specific commercial starter cultures