Libor Majer

New OBIST Using On-Chip Compensation of Process Variations Toward Increasing Fault Detectability in Analog ICs

A new on-chip oscillation test strategy for analog and mixed-signal circuits is presented. In the proposed method, onchip Schmitt trigger is used as the on-chip frequency reference to compensate the influence of process parameter variations. Furthermore, this solution also brings the possibility to implement Oscillation-based Built-In Self-Test (OBIST) for analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. The proposed OBIST strategy has been experimentally applied to active analog integrated filters, and its efficiency in detecting hard-detectable catastrophic faults is presented. To demonstrate applicability of the proposed method also in nanoscale technologies, the method has been used to test a noninverting amplifier designed in 90 nm CMOS technology. Consequently, the impact of scaling was analyzed and the method efficiency in covering catastrophic faults achieved for 0.35 μm and 90 nm CMOS technology were compared.

Clockless Implementation of LEON2 for Low-Power Applications

Vower consumption has become increasingly more important with the advent mobile and wireless devices. This paper presents a clockless implementation of LEON2 processor IP core as a possible solution to the reduction of the processor power consumption. The de-synchronization methodology can be considered as a fast and efficient way to convert synchronous circuits into asynchronous ones. The design flow that is used for the de-synchronization works with a synthesizable HDL specification of the circuit, using the conventional synchronous HDL constructs. Standard synchronous design tools can be used, however, in a more elaborate way. The de-synchronized LEON2 processor could provide a low power, low EMI, clock-jitter-free and clock-skew-free solution of a full featured opensource 32-bit processor.

Power-efficient smart metering plug for intelligent households

This paper presents a novel concept of a smart wall outlet for intelligent home power metering systems. Smart functionality of the proposed metering plug is defined by its capability of power consumption measurement and wireless data transfer using an integrated Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver. Moreover, the device authentication and data security are enhanced by utilization of a HW secure element from NXP that provides secured device authentication in the monitoring system. Finally, the proposed solution is versatile and low cost.

Electrical biomonitoring towards mobile diagnostics of human stress influence

Miniaturization of biomedical sensors has increased the importance of microsystem technology in medical applications, particularly microelectronics and micromachining. This paper presents a new approach to biomedical monitoring and analysis of selected human cognitive processes. The proposed technique measures human skin conductivity and heart rate using a dedicated measurement system which offers continuous bio-monitoring in a completely safe and non-invasive manner. This technique also has no undesired influence on natural physiological processes. The main goal is monitoring of the psycho-galvanic reflex (PGR) of the human skin that might be very useful for human stress diagnosis that is performed in different medical as well as psychological experiments.

A novel impedance calculation method and its time efficiency evaluation

A novel resistance calculation method based on eigen calculus of the circuits nodal admittance matrix is described and evaluated in this paper. More specifically, the calculation time efficiency of the method is examined and comparison to the traditional LU factorization based method is made. This evaluation is based on real and complex matrices that are both symmetrical and non-symmetrical as well. Circuits sizes taken into account range from 25 to 3600 nodes. The obtained results demonstrate the time efficiency of this method, especially, for non-symmetrical matrices. The proposed method could be used to speed-up the fault simulations and improve test development of analog circuits.

Portable Measurement Equipment for Continuous Biomedical Monitoring using Microelectrodes

This paper presents new portable electronic measurement equipment for non-invasive biomedical monitoring of selected psychosomatic processes. The main goal is monitoring of psycho-galvanic reflex of the human skin that might be very useful for stress identification in medical and psychological experiments. An integrated monitoring system, applicable also in wireless measurement environment, was designed and developed The proposed measurement system employs methods based on measurement of human skin conductivity using the interdigitated array (IDA) microelectrode. The proposed measurement system utilizes microprocessors with RF wireless communication module used for data transfer between the measurement system and a personal computer. A graphical user interface (GUI) in C++ under Windows XP platform has been developed in order to provide necessary calibration of the measurement as well as storage, displaying and postprocessing of the measured data (real and imaginary components of the impedance as well as phase of the measured impedance).

Monitoring of Psychosomatic Properties of Human Body by Skin Conductivity Measurements using Thin Film Microelectrode Arrays

This paper describes a new modification of non-invasive biomedical monitoring of psychosomatic processes. The proposed method is based on skin conductivity measurements by interdigitated array (IDA) of microelectrodes, which allows continual monitoring and analyzing of complicated physiological, pathophysiological and therapeutic processes. Main goal is to monitor psycho-galvanic reflex of the human skin in medical and psychological experiments

An RF network combiner towards a wireless multi-communication system for smart households

A new multi-protocol wireless measurement system applicable for smart households is presented in this paper. The system is based on a multi-standard wireless concept that by employing so-called RF network combiner can offer the interoperability of several protocols/networks. The main goal is monitoring several different parameters and processes by utilizing a multiplex oriented management software that might be useful in reduction of the size and the total power consumption for monitoring devices in smart households. Therefore, the measurement module is equipped with a microcontroller with RF module for ZigBee PRO, ANT+ or BlueTooth LE networks. Measured parameters are sent through a wireless network to an acquisition point (the RF combiner), which collects the data and transfers it to a database server. Here, the data is stored and can be accessed remotely via internet. Through this network, user can view live data as well as history of the measurement stored in the database server.

Multi-communication wireless system for smart households

This paper presents a novel wireless communication approach to modern households. A multi-standard wireless system concept for controlling and monitoring smart buildings is described. The goal of this paper is to point out the main issues regarding commonly used various home electronic systems, which leads to system complexity. Moreover, in the paper are presented solutions for the unification and simplification of a significant amount of various traditional proprietary systems and their equipment. Another goal is the monitoring of selected parameters that might be very useful from the point of view of energy saving and comfort improvement. Therefore, the developed system is equipped with microcontrollers employing RF modules for ZigBee PRO or ANT+ networks. Measured data as well as regulation commands are sent through the wireless network to an acquisition point (smart interface), which transfers it to a database server, where the data are stored and can be accessed remotely via internet. Through this network, users are able to view/see live data as well as data stored in the database server.

The novel approach to wideband RFIC receivers in standard CMOS process

This contribution deals with the novel conception of design approach to RF wideband and multiband receivers. New methodology of spatial sampling and spatial sampling method of standing wave is presented. Front-end RFIC receiver, utilizing spatial sampling method of standing wave for down converting to baseband and demodulation, has been proposed and analyzed. The whole system is proposed to be implemented in CMOS AMS 0.35mm technology with 2.7 V supply voltage. It works in two bands (in 2 Ghz and 5 GHz ranges). Furthermore, basic building blocks of the RF receiver, such as voltage controlled oscillator, low noise amplifier, spatial sapling unit, additive devices and power detectors have been designed and optimized.