Alfiero Leoni

An assessment on low-voltage low-power integrated single transistor active inductor design for RF filter applications

In this paper an assessment of bandpass filter implementation based on a single transistor Active Inductor (AI) is presented. A minimum number of components, high linearity, high dynamic range, active inductor is first designed and then used for high frequency bandpass filter. The AI is designed by the use a compensation network that allows to control both the inductance and its series resistance value in the design phase. Analytical formulation is also presented and a simulated IC demonstrator proposed for the filter that has a center frequency of 2000MHz (useful for radio and radar applications) and a 3dB bandwidth of about 6MHz with a quality factor of about 330.

A Novel Electronic Interface for Micromachined Si-Based Photomultipliers

In this manuscript, the authors propose a novel interface for silicon photomultipliers based on a second-generation voltage conveyor as an active element, performing as a transimpedance amplifier. Due to the absence of internal feedback, this solution offers a static bandwidth regardless of the tunable gain level. The simulation results have shown good performances, confirming the possibility of the proposed interface being effectively used in different scenarios. A preliminary hybrid solution has also been developed using second-generation current conveyors and measurements conducted on an equivalent discrete-elements board, which is promising.

Integrable Sensor System for Live Monitoring of Loudspeaker Performances

We here present a dedicated system capable of compensating loudspeaker distortion due to driver working condition or apparatus aging. The proposed monitoring system is formed by a reduced number of sensors that monitor the loudspeaker by a digital signal processing architecture (DSP) which performs a feedback to the loudspeaker amplifier so balancing its gain. All the sensors are designed to not interfere with output sound quality.

Wireless Smart Parking Sensor System for Vehicles Detection

The proposed paper shows a novel and feasible solution for the realization of a smart-parking system. The proposed parking sensor circuit represents a robust and low cost solution for the automotive market to perform parking operations faster and simpler. The sensing strategy is based on both the electromagnetic coupling with the car platform and on an innovative dedicated algorithm implemented in a digital sensor interface for data acquisition and manipulation.

Remote sensor networks with efficient energy harvesting architecture

This work presents a high dynamic range and high efficiency energy harvesting system for low power sensors architecture. The circuit has been conceived as a dual band architecture able to capture the largest amount of EM radiation available in the urban environment and to provide an autonomous device potentially with infinitive cycle of use. The device is tuned to receive both GSM and Wi-Fi frequencies and a power battery loading circuitry is available on board to guarantee the required energy for the autonomous sensor to work. The system handles an incoming power typically ranging from -20dBm to 20dBm by rectifying the variable input signals into a DC voltage source. Theoretically speaking, the rectified power is greater than 50% for an incoming power between -5dBm and 15dBm and test measurements succeeded with compliant results. As a typical applications load we considered a commercial gas sensor for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) detection. The whole system, designed using a discrete board, has been also conceived in order to be completely integrated in a standard CMOS technology.

Integrable Autonomous Devices for WSNs

We here present an energy harvesting system for low power sensor applications. The system is a dual band architecture able to capture the largest amount of EM radiation available in the urban environment and to provide an autonomous device potentially with infinitive cycle of use. The device is tuned to receive both GSM and Wi-Fi frequencies and a power battery loading circuitry is available on board to guarantee the required energy for the autonomous sensor to work. The whole system, designed using a discrete board, has been also conceived in order to be completely integrated in a standard CMOS technology.

A Multisensorial Thermal Anemometer System

This work deals on the design of a multisensorial anemometer able to provide an accurate measurement of both wind speed and direction. The system is based on thermal anemometry that is, probably, the preferable way to measure instantaneous wind velocity in any weather condition and surrounding. The application here proposed is based on a commercial flow probe, the IST FS5 that shows a robust design without moving parts, small dimensions and is suitable to operate up to 150 °C and a wind speed of 100 m/s. In addition, the sensor is organized as a pattern of probes. In this way, being the analysis based on differential measurements, analyzing the signal provided by each sensor is possible to perform an accurate evaluation of both the wind speed and direction. A microcontroller realizes the data management and wind flow identification process.