R. Casanova

A reusable smart interface for gas sensor resistance measurement

The advances of the semiconductor industry enable microelectromechanical systems sensors, signal conditioning logic and network access to be integrated into a smart sensor node. In this framework, a mixed-mode interface circuit for monolithically integrated gas sensor arrays was developed with high-level design techniques. This interface system includes analog electronics for inspection of up to four sensor arrays and digital logic for smart control and data communication. Although different design methodologies were used in the conception of the complete circuit, high-level synthesis tools and methodologies were crucial in speeding up the whole design cycle, enhancing reusability for future applications and producing a flexible and robust component.

A Monolithic Interface Circuit for Gas Sensor Arrays: Control and Measurement

The electronics for monolithically integrated gas sensor arrays fabricated using a compatible CMOS process have been developed. Circuitry includes the heater driver for temperature control and an interface circuit for inspection of the four sensors in the array. The operating temperature of the sensing resistors is between 200° and 400°C. The proposed temperature controller is capable of regulating the temperature of a 2100 × 2100 μm hotplate up to 400°C with a resolution of 2°C with 5 V supply voltage. A readout circuit based on a ring-oscillator has been included to measure the sensing resistance change upon gas exposure over a high dynamic range. Because it is robust, small, low priced and offers future capabilities with adequate signal processing, the system would be able to cover most of todays gas sensor markets.

A CMOS monolithically integrated gas sensor array with electronics for temperature control and signal interfacing

A monolithically integrated gas sensor array with conventional CMOS electronics has been developed. Circuitry includes the heater driver for the temperature control and the signal interface electronics for inspection of the four sensors in the array. Because of its characteristics as robustness, small, size, low price and future capabilities with the adequate signal processing the system would be able to cover most of todays markets considered for gas sensors.

A specific integrated controller for nanomicroscopy and cellular manipulation

A specific integrated controller for a wireless and autonomous microrobot of 1cm/sup 3/ is presented. The robot is equipped with an AFM probe, an injection needle, a gripper, or a micropipette. Hence, its main functionality and the controller design is focused on nanomicroscopy and cellular manipulation. The circuit manages the robot locomotion unit and its tools with nanometric resolution. Communication is done by means of the IrDA protocol implemented in the controller.

An optical interface for inter-robot communication in a swarm of microrobots

It is described the optical communication interface for short-range communications of robots in a microrobotic swarm between thousands of units. The robots, of 27 mm3-size, will be deployed in an arena of A4 sheet size with controlled illumination conditions. The communication between robots is done via IR light. The interface can handle variations of IR background light from point to point in the arena, deals with robot different orientation and distance, i.e., the amplitude of the signal to be detected, and with interferences of other robots. The interface has been designed to manage the low energy available in the robot.

An ultra low power IC for an autonomous mm 3 -sized microrobot

This paper is focused on the main issues of designing a SoC for a completely autonomous mm3-sized microrobot. It is described how all the electronics are included in a unique chip, the special requirements in the assembly process and how the hard constraints in power consumption are managed. Power in the robot is delivered by solar cells mounted on top and two supercapacitors which act as batteries. The maximum available energy for the SoC is 400 muW for driving the robot actuators and 1 mW for data processing. The special architecture of the SoC and power awareness are required to manage the very low available power.

A mixed-mode circuit for interface control and gas sensor resistance measurement

3- AM - A mired-mode interface circuit for monolithically integrated gas sensor arrays has been developed Circuiity includes interface electronics for inspection of up to four sensors array and interface logic for sman control. Because of its characteristics (IS robustness. small, size, low price and future capabilities with the adequate signal processing the system composed by the sensor and the application specific integrated circuit would be able to cover most of today markets considered for gas sensors.

A Wake-Up Circuit With Temperature Compensated Clock In 1.2V-0.13 μm CMOS Technology

This paper reports on the design and implementation of a low-voltage, low-power Wake-Up circuit consisting on a Power-on-Reset module and a clock generator. No external components are used neither for the Power-on- Reset nor for the clock generation. The clock generator module is temperature compensated by applying a current limiting technique. The Wake-Up circuit has been fabricated in a 130 nm ultra-low power technology of STMicroelectronics in an area of 40 μm times 40 μm.

Towards co-operative autonomous 1cm/sup 3/ robots for micro and nanomanipulation applications: MICRON

The micro and nanomanipulation is one of the main challenges in our days. One approach is based on the use of a limited cluster of microrobots working in a cooperative way. For the development of the activity each robot of the cluster has assigned a different task. This implies that each robot has a different specialization. Our objective is to present in this paper the design of the electronics developed for these robots, taking into account the important challenges regarding the available area, and that the robot should possess enough autonomy. The most versatile solution is pursued because a particular electronics is not to be developed for each specialized robot. In function of the robots specialty it will receive the necessary orders, being permeable the electronics to any case. In this paper is presented in a general way these different specializations.

An integrated controller for a flexible and wireless atomic force microscopy

Nowadays Atomic Force Microscopy is one of the most extended techniques performed in biological measurements. Due to the higher flexibility in respect to conventional equipments, a novel approach in this field is the use of a microrobot equipped with an AFM tool. In this paper it is presented an integrated controller for an AFM tool assembled in a 1 cm3 wireless microrobot. The AFM tool is mounted on the tip of a rotational piezoelectric actuator arm. It consists on a XYZ positioning scanner, based in 4 piezoelectric stacked actuators, and an AFM piezoresistance probe. Two types of AFM working modes are implemented in the controller, i.e., nanoidentation and AFM scanning. Correction of the mismatch of the piezoactuators composing the arm is possible. A programmable PID control is included in the controller in order to get more flexibility in terms of scanning speed and resolution. An IrDA protocol is used to program the parameters of the AFM tool controller and the positioning of the robot in the working area. Then the values of the nanoindentation or of the scanning can be read through the IrDA interface without any other external action. Due to the strong power and area restrictions, the controller has been implemented in specific logic in a 0.35um technology. The design has been done using functional specifications with high level tools and RTL synthesis. The AFM scanner can be positioned with a resolution of 10 nm and scan areas up to 1 μm2 with an expected vertical resolution of 1nm.