A new modulation technique for high data rate low power UWB wireless optical communication in implantable biotelemetry systems

We report on the development of a novel modulation technique for UWB wireless optical communication systems for application in a transcutaneous biotelemetry. The solution, based on the generation of short laser pulses, allows for a high data rate link whilst achieving a significant power reduction (energy per bit) compared to the state-of-the-art. These features make this particularly suitable for emerging biomedical applications such as implantable neural/biosensor systems. The relatively simple architecture consists of a transmitter and receiver that can be integrated in a standard CMOS technology in a compact Silicon footprint. These parts include circuits for bias and drive current generation, conditioning and processing, optimised for low-volt age/low-power operation. Preliminary experimental findings validate the new paradigm and show good agreement with expected results. The complete system achieves a BER less than 10-7, with maximum data rate of 125Mbps and estimated total power consumption of less than 3mW

Bandwidth Optimisation and Frequency Tuning of Plasmonic Functionalised Metasurfaces for Optical Sensing of Chemical and Biological Substances

This paper reports on a method to optimise the sensitivity of plasmonics sensors based on functionalised metasurfaces of 2D-array of Al NanoAntennas (NA) deposited on a SiO2 substrate operating in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Moreover, we analysed the characteristics of a double layer metasurface configuration where two different NA 2D-arrays are separated by a dielectric spacer. The optical properties of both the metasurface configurations have been studied analysing how their maximum transmittance and Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum (FWHM) of the transmission curve are related to the variations of the NA geometrical parameters and dielectric spacer thickness. The tailoring of the FWHM is particular important for improving the plasmonic sensors sensitivity in probing the presence of chemical/biological substances absorbed on the NA surface when their absorption curve is superimposed with the metasurface transmission curve. In particular, better is this superposition better will be the plasmonic sensor sensitivity in probing variations of small concentrations of the adsorbed substances. The simulation results of the optical response of the designed plasmonic sensors suggest a methodology in choosing the NA parameters able to modify the bandwidth of the metasurface transmittance so fitting the absorption curve of chemical/biological substances absorbed on them. As a case-example, we simulated the response of a plasmonic sensor on which has been deposited a 3nm-thick layer of Rhodamine-6G (R6G) proving that is possible to increase the sensor detection sensitivity of about two orders of magnitude in the measurement of the R6G absorbance. Furthermore we proved the capability of the double layer plasmonic sensors to tune the transmission curve peak wavelength without changing the main optical characteristics

Optimisation of the Detection Sensitivity of Plasmonic Nanoantenna Based Sensors for Mid-infrared Spectroscopy

AbstractIn this paper we report on the optimisation of the optical characteristics of 2D-arrays of plasmonic gold nanoantennas (NA) that can be used as high sensitivity mid-infrared spectroscopic sensor for the detection of chemical/biological substances by using the Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption (SEIRA) technique. This approach allows to detect the presence of a substance adsorbed on the NA by measuring its optical absorption under the conditions for which the maximum of the reflectivity response of the 2D-array occurs at the same wavelength of the substance maximum absorption peak. In particular, by acting on the 2D-array periodicity, NA shape, size and thickness, numerical simulations of the 2D-array detection response, based on Finite Element Method (FEM), demonstrate that is possible to obtain an increase in the detection sensitivity of more than three orders of magnitude with respect to that one achievable if the same substance is deposited on an unstructured planar metal surface, independently from the wavelength at which the substance absorption occurs. Moreover, we present the results of an analysis of the dependence of the 2D-array maximum reflectivity and peak wavelength on the geometrical parameters characterising the NA and the 2D-array

Monolithic integration of Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) devices onto standard processed CMOS dies

Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) based technology is nowadays the preferred option for low magnetic fields sensing in disciplines such as biotechnology or microelectronics. Their compatibility with standard CMOS processes is currently investigated as a key point for the development of novel applications, requiring compact electronic readout. In this paper, such compatibility has been experimentally studied with two particular non-dedicated CMOS standards: 0.35 μm from AMS (Austria MicroSystems) and 2.5 μm from CNM (Centre Nacional de Microelectrònica, Barcelona) as representative examples. GMR test devices have been designed and fabricated onto processed chips from both technologies. In order to evaluate so obtained devices, an extended characterization has been carried out including DC magnetic measurements and noise analysis. Moreover, a 2D-FEM (Finite Element Method) model, including the dependence of the GMR device resistance with the magnetic field, has been also developed and simulated. Its potential use as electric current sensors at the integrated circuit level has also been demonstrated

A new optical UWB modulation technique for 250Mbps wireless link in implantable biotelemetry systems

We propose a new UWB modulation technique for wireless optical communications in transcutaneous biotelemetry. The solution, based on the generation of sub-nanoseconds laser pulses, allows for a high data rate link whilst achieving a significant power reduction (energy per bit) compared to the state-ofthe- art. These features make this particularly suitable for emerging biomedical applications such as implantable neural/biosensor systems. The relatively simple architecture consists of a transmitter and receiver that can be integrated in a standard CMOS technology in a compact Silicon footprint (lower than 1mm^2 in a 0.18μm technology). These parts, optimised for low-voltage/low-power operation, include coding and decoding digital systems, biasing and driving analogue circuits for laser pulse generation and photodiode signal conditioning. Experimental findings with prototype PCBs have validated the new paradigm showing the system capabilities to achieve a BER less than 10^-9 with data rate up to 250Mbps and estimated total power consumption lower than 5mW

Integrated Risk Management for Mega Events

The largest special events (mega events) such as World’s Fairs and Expositions, the FIFA World Cup Final, or the Olympic Games put a tremendous amount of pressure on the food production chain associated with these events, increasing the potential for food safety and security breaches. Any breach could have harmful consequences for both the people attending the event and the companies supplying the event. Evolving in such a context where normal operations take place on a much larger scale, both in terms of volume and visibility, requires a re-evaluation of standard risk management procedures. This report provides managers with an invaluable risk-analysis grid specific to the food industry, which identifies the main risk factors and undesirable outcomes associated with mega events. Once this is done, appropriate risk management strategies can be implemented. No date is fixed to share the complete version of the document. Les événements spéciaux de grande envergure (les méga-événements), tels que les expositions universelles, la finale de la Coupe du monde de la FIFA ou les Jeux Olympiques, exercent des pressions énormes sur la chaîne de production et de distribution alimentaire associée à ces événements. Les caractéristiques propres à ces méga-événements augmentent, par le fait même, les risques d’atteinte à la sûreté et à la sécurité des aliments. Toute défaillance dans la chaîne alimentaire pourrait entraîner des conséquences néfastes à la fois sur les participants et sur les entreprises reliées à l’événement. Le fait d’évoluer dans un tel contexte, où les activités normales se déroulent sur une échelle beaucoup plus grande, en termes de volume et de visibilité, nécessite une réévaluation des procédures normales de gestion des risques. Le présent rapport offre aux gestionnaires une grille indispensable d’analyse de risques. Celle-ci est spécifique à l’industrie alimentaire et définit les principaux facteurs de risque et les effets indésirables liés aux méga-événements. Une fois cette étape franchie, des stratégies adéquates de gestion des risques peuvent être adoptées. Aucune date n'a encore été fixée pour rendre disponible la version complète du document.Food Safety, Food Security, Food Supply Chain, Risk, Mega-Event, Risk Management, Risk Factor, Risk Analysis Grid, Sécurité alimentaire, sûreté alimentaire, chaîne d’approvisionnement (supply chain), risque, méga-événement, gestion du risque, facteur de risque, grille d’analyse des risques

Impulse-based asynchronous serial communication protocol on optical fiber link for AER systems

We developed an Impulse-Based Asynchronous Serial Address-Event Representation (IB-AS-AER) protocol. It allows for full-duplex communication and explicit flow control, does not require any clock data recovery or accurate clock relationship between the transmitter and receiver. Moreover, the optical fiber communication link, that galvanically isolates the communicating devices, highly improves the robustness to electromagnetic disturbances, reduces the power consumption and allows for high data rate transmissions. In addition, the proposed implementation does not require any specific hardware and can be developed on low-cost FPGAs as well as on full-custom ASICs. Preliminary tests performed at 100 Mbps raw bit transfer rate confirm a 32 bit maximum event rate of 2.9 Meps

Integration of GMR sensors with different technologies

Less than thirty years after the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect was described, GMR sensors are the preferred choice in many applications demanding the measurement of low magnetic fields in small volumes. This rapid deployment from theoretical basis to market and state-of-the-art applications can be explained by the combination of excellent inherent properties with the feasibility of fabrication, allowing the real integration with many other standard technologies. In this paper, we present a review focusing on how this capability of integration has allowed the improvement of the inherent capabilities and, therefore, the range of application of GMR sensors. After briefly describing the phenomenological basis, we deal on the benefits of low temperature deposition techniques regarding the integration of GMR sensors with flexible (plastic) substrates and pre-processed CMOS chips. In this way, the limit of detection can be improved by means of bettering the sensitivity or reducing the noise. We also report on novel fields of application of GMR sensors by the recapitulation of a number of cases of success of their integration with different heterogeneous complementary elements. We finally describe three fully functional systems, two of them in the bio-technology world, as the proof of how the integrability has been instrumental in the meteoric development of GMR sensors and their applications.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Le risque : un modèle conceptuel d'intégration

The following project report is the first of a sequence which will focus on integrated risk management. This report presents a conceptual model which goal is to define the concept of risk. This conceptual model integrates the definitions of multiple domains having an interest in risk management. With the model, a terminology is proposed. This conceptual model is a foundation upon which it will be possible to exchange methods and measures of risk between domains. Ce rapport de projet est le premier d'une série qui s'intéressera à la gestion intégrée du risque. Dans l'objectif de répondre à la question « qu'est-ce que le risque? », un modèle conceptuel définissant le concept du risque est proposé. Ce modèle conceptuel intègre les définitions du risque de différentes disciplines. Une terminologie a été élaborée pour accompagner le modèle. Ce modèle conceptuel tente d'élaborer une base à partir de laquelle pourra se faire l'échange de méthodes et de mesures entre les domaines s'intéressant au risque.Risk, integrated risk management, definition, integration, Risque, gestion intégrée du risque, définition, intégration