Workshop on micro/nanoelectronic circuits and systems

Very few social and technological revolutions in the history of humankind have become as vertiginous as the one experienced in the first decade of 21st century. In fact, it would be very difficult to explain our present society without resorting to the so-called Information Technologies, and particularly to some technological achievements such as the Internet, mobile phones and social networks. Indeed, technology downscaling toward deep nanoscale level has allowed to put billions of transistors together in a single chip, thus making it possible to integrate entire systems with increasingly number of applications, which span from consumer electronics and computing to telecom and biomedical devices.

The evolution of these technologies and their synergy with other fields of science and engineering are immersing our society into the so-called Internet of Things, in which an increasingly number of devices are being interconnected in more and more autonomous machine-to-machine infrastructures. This pervasive tendency towards a digital world, demands for efficient ways of interacting with diverse physical environments, by means of smart sensors, actuators, signal conditioning techniques and analog-digital interfaces.

In this scenario, this workshop – organized by the Spain Chapter of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society – aims to present an overview of some recent advances in the design of micro/nanoelectronic circuits and systems in diverse application scenarios and case studies including automotive applications, smart sensing, interfacing brain and machines and flexible organic/printed electronics. To this purpose, several talks given by worldwide recognized experts in these fields will present their recent developments in micro/nanoelectronics putting emphasis on how to transfer their research and academic results to industrial products and the creation of start-ups and high tech companies.

 


 

TALK        #1

Title: Industrial Integrated Circuit Design Techniques

Speaker: Antonio J. Lopez-Martin 

Affiliation: Public University of Navarra Campus Arrosadia E-31006 Pamplona, Spain [antonio.lopez@unavarra.es]

 

Abstract 

The design of industrial integrated circuits (IC) in today’s advanced technologies is a challenging task that involves several relevant aspects often not considered by academic IC designers. Issues such as time-to-market, design reuse, design for test (DFT), design for manufacturing (DFM), yield, project negotiation and intellectual property management, are highly relevant and often not considered in academic projects. 

This talk will provide an introduction to the area of industrial integrated circuit (IC) design. It is mainly aimed academic researchers with little or no experience on industrial IC design that want to get involved eventually in the development of commercial IC design projects. Focus will be on practical aspects of industrial IC development, based on the experience of the author in research and development projects with various companies. A detailed case study of an ASIC developed by the author for contactless angular detection in automotive applications will serve to illustrate the different concepts treated in the talk. 

 

Biography

Antonio J. Lopez Martin received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (with honors) from the Public University of Navarra, Pamplona (Spain) in 1995 and 1999, respectively. He has been a visiting professor with the New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, and an invited researcher with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich. Currently, he is Deputy Director of the Institute of Smart Cities and a Professor with the Public University of Navarra. His current research interests include wireless transceivers and sensor interfaces with emphasis on low-voltage low-power implementations. He has published more than 350 technical contributions in books, journals, and conferences. He also holds 6 international patents, leads various research projects and is consultant for several companies. 

Dr. Lopez was an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems- II: Express Briefs (2006-2007), the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems-I: Regular Papers (2008-2009) and 4 other journals. He is also in the technical committee of various conferences. His recent awards include the Talgo Technological Innovation Award in 2012, the ANIT’s Engineer of the Year Award in 2008, the Caja Navarra Research Award in 2007, the Young Investigator Award from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2006, the 2005 IEEE Transactions on Education Best Paper Award, and the European Center of Industry and Innovation (CEIN) Award in 2004 for excellence in transfer of research results to industry. 

                  

TALK        #2

Title: How to Make Your Integrated Sensor Smarter

Speaker:Francisco Serra-Graells

Affiliation: Integrated Circuits and Systems group, IMB-CNM(CSIC); Dept. Microelectronics and Electronic Systems, UAB [paco.serra@imb-cnm.csic.es]

 

Abstract 

More than Mooreroadmaps predict a semiconductor market evolution towards new heterogeneous integrated system-on-chip products with built-in input and output transconductors. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to find several examples of very promising sensors that could not fill the gap between sensor prototypes (devices) and final products (systems) due to the lack of suitable custom CMOS interfaces (circuits). This tutorial will introduce the design challenges associated with these read-out circuits, such as massive multichannel A/D conversion, sensor biasing control loops, tuning capabilities against technology deviations, and calibration strategies, as well as some other practical aspects related with the powering and packaging of full smart sensors. The low-power and compact area CMOS readout integrated circuit (ROIC) proposals presented in this tutorial are taken from real smart sensors examples developed at IMB-CNM(CSIC) for applications such as fast clinical analysis, toxic gas classification, portable chemical sensing, infrared and X-ray imaging and remote powered sensing nodes.

 

Biography

Francisco Serra-Graells (S'91-M'94) received the Enginyer de Telecomunicació degree and the Doctor Enginyer de Telecomunicació degree in 1993 and 2001, respectively, both from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain. Since 1994, he has been with the Microelectronics and Electronic Systems Department, Universitat Aut noma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain, where he is full-time Associate Professor. Also since 1994, he has been attached for research and industrial projects to the Integrated Circuits and Systems (ICAS) design group of the Institut de Microelectr nica de Barcelona, Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica, IMBCNM(CSIC), Spain. His current research interests are focused on very low-power analog, mixed and RF CMOS design of integrated circuits and systems for applications like hearingaids, IR and X-ray imagers, smart N/MEMS, and wireless sensors. He is co-author of more than 50 publications, co-inventor of 7 patents, and participant in more than 25 research and industrial projects. He is also recipient of the 2008 Best Paper Award by the Sensory Systems Technical Committee of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society.

                  

TALK        #3

Title: Printed MicroElectronics: From Technology to Design, Rebuilding the Path

Speakers:Eloi Ramon, Jordi Carrabina, Lluís Terés

Affiliation: Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, IMB-CNM, (CSIC[Lluis.Teres@imb-cnm.csic.es]

 

Abstract 

While silicon based technologies are evolving towards very advanced nanometric nodes (≤ 20ηm.), the emerging thin-flexible-organic-large-area electronics (a.k.a. printed electronics, PE) based on flexible substrates and functional inks are starting again the history of microelectronics at technology and device levels trying to grow up to applications looking at the silicon path but far away from its costs and performances.

Performance and size of PE devices are far away from Si devices; nevertheless there are a lot of new applications which have been enabled by those new technologies where the rigid silicon/PCB electronics doesn’t have sense according to large area requirements (i.e. large area sensors), low cost (i.e. RFID tags or biosensors) or flexibility (i.e. wearables). In case that high performance is required the proposed solution is hybridization by using low temperature “silicon-to-foil assembly processes” while keeping the overall system flexibility. 

A successful and reliable process for printed devices is a key challenge for the concept of Printed Electronics. After reviewing the main printed-electronics technologies we will summarize the key characteristics, performances, cost factors and application domains for each one in order to keep clear these basic concepts around them. 

This presentation will also report the manufacturing and electrical characteristics of devices and circuits using printing deposition techniques and taking into account the yield, the usage of industrial relevant technologies and reporting about the manufacturing of electronic components such as resistors, conductive tracks, capacitors, inductors and transistors.

Following the Si microelectronics experience we have proposed a methodology to go from early technology development stages up to physical design kit (PDK) and reusability-based design flows by means of PCells-based developments for basic technology structures, devices and std.cells or even gate-array strategies. Such a methodology has been applied to three different technologies (ink-jet, gravure and evaporation based processes). 

 

Biographies

Eloi Ramon graduated in Telecom Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), holds a Master in Micro- and Nanoelectronics Engineering and a PhD on inkjet printed devices and circuits from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Since 1999, he is an Assistant professor at the Electronic Dpt (UAB) where he is teaching Telecom and CS BsC and MA and working at IMB-CNM as Printed Microelectronics Project Manager. He is co-author of more than 30 publications in journals and conferences and participant in more than 40 european, national and regional R&D projects. 

Jordi Carrabina leads the CAIAC Research Centre at Universitat Aut noma de Barcelona (Spain), and the CEPHIS laboratory, member of Catalan Innovation Tecnology network TECNIO. Main interests are Embedded Design using System Level Design and Printed Microelectronics Technologies. He is Teaching Telecom and CS and Masters of Telecom Engineering, Computer Science Engineering at UAB and Embedded Systems at UPV-EHU. During last 5 years he has co-authored more 30 papers in journals and conferences. He also leaded many European, national and regional R&D projects and contracts in the ICT domain and is active in the creation of spin-off and Intellectual Property items.

Lluís Terésis with IMB-CNM (CSIC) since its creation in 1985. He is head of Integrated Circuits and Systems (ICAS) group at IMB with research activities in the fields of sensors signal interface and wireless networks, body-implantable monitoring systems, integrated N/MEMS interfaces, blocks design for synchronous-asynchronous SoC, flexible platform-based systems and organic/printed-electronics. He has been participated in more than 30 industrial and research projects, being co-author of more than 60 papers, up to 8 patents and participating in 2 spin-offs. He is also part time Assistant Professor at Universitat Aut noma de Barcelona (UAB).

 

TALK        #4

Title: Interfacing Brain and Machines: Challenges and Perspectives

Speaker:Ángel Rodríguez-Vázquez

Affiliation: Instituto de Microelectrónica de Sevilla, IMSE-CNM (CSIC/University of Seville),  [angel@imse-cnm.csic.es]

 

Abstract 

Interfacing brain and machines involve recording neural signals, extracting information from them and applying stimulations in closed loop. Applications are huge: from therapies for epilepsy and other kind of brain seizures to the control of prosthesis. Challenges are enormeous and truly multi-disciplinary: including, design of ultra low-noise microelectronic circuits with minimum power budget, energy scavenging, bio-compatibility, compressive sensing, etc. This talk identifies critical challenges and overviews proposed solutions. Discussions are illustrated with actual circuits tested in animals in collaboration between the Institute of Microelectronics of Seville, the University of Seville and the Institute of Bioengineering of the School of Medicine of the Universidad Miguel Hernandez.

 

Biography

Ángel Rodríguez-Vázquezreceived a PhD degree on Physics-Electronics in 1983. He is a Full Professor of Electronics at the University of Seville and the Institute of Microelectronics of Seville/CNM-CSIC. He is also the President and the responsible for long term R&D of Innovaciones Microelectrónicas S.L. (www.anafocus.com).  Prof. Rodríguez-Vázquez has always been looking for the balance between long term research and innovative industrial developments. He started a research unit on High-Performance Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI Circuits of the Institute of Microelectronics of Seville/CNM-CSIC. He headed this unit until 2004, for more than 15 years, in the course of which he educated three generations of PhDs who are currently working at Academia and at Industry.  During these years, he conducted R&D activities on bio-inspired microelectronics, including vision chips and neuro-fuzzy interpolators and controllers. He also pioneered the application of chaotic dynamics to instrumentation and communications. His team completed the design and prototyping of the first, world-wide, integrated circuits with controllable chaotic behaviour and the design and prototyping of the first world-wide chaos-based communication MoDem chips. His team made also significant contributions to the area of structured analog and mixed-signal design and the area of data converter design, including the elaboration of advanced teaching materials on this topic for different industrial courses and the production of two widely quoted books on the design of high-performance CMOS sigma-delta converters. Many high-performance mixed-signal chips were successfully designed by him and his co-workers until 2001, in the framework of different R&D programs and contracts. These include three generation of vision chips for high-speed applications, analog front-ends for XDSL MoDems, ADCs for wireless communications, ADCs for automotive sensors, chaotic signals generators, complete MoDems for power-line communications, etc. Many of these chips were state-of-the-art in their respective fields. Some of them entered in massive production. During this period of time he was also active regarding industrial training. He produced teaching materials on data converters that were employed by several companies. His courses got the Quality Label of EuroPractice. He founded Innovaciones Microelectrónicas S.L. (AnaFocus) together with some colleagues in 2001 . This company started operation after raising venture capital in January 2004. He served as the AnaFocus CEO until June 2009, a period in which the company grew from 2 employees until 50 employees and reached the threshold of maturity as a worldwide company specialized in the design and production of smart CMOS imagers and vision systems-on-chip. Since June 2009 he has been back to conduce long term research activities in the areas of vision systems using 3D integration technologies and medical electronics. Prof. Rodríguez-Vázquez has authored/edited: 11 books; some 43 chapters in contributed books, including original tutorials on chaotic integrated circuits, design of data converters and design of chips for vision; and some 140 journal articles in peer-review specialized publications. He has presented many invited plenary lectures at different international conferences and has received a number of international awards for his research work (the IEEE Guillemin-Cauer best paper award, two Wiley´s IJCTA best paper awards, two IEEE ECCTD best paper award and the IEEE ISCAS best demo-paper award). He was elected Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions to the design of chaos-based communication chips and neuro-fuzzy chips. His research work is widely quoted (some 6,268 quotes). He has a h-index of 42 and a i10-index of 118. Prof. Rodríguez-Vázquez has served and is currently serving as Editor, Associate Editor and Guest Editor for different IEEE and non-IEEE journals; he is in the committee of many international journals and conferences; and has chaired different international IEEE and SPIE conferences. Among others he has served as: TPC chair of IEEE ESSCIRC 1992 and 2010; General Chair of IEEE NDES 1996, IEEE CNNA 1996, IEEE ECCTD 2007 and IEEE ESSDERC-ESSCIRC 2010 and IEEE ICECS 2012. He served also as VP Region 8 of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (2009-2012) and as Chair of the IEEE CASS Fellow Evaluation Committee (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015).


 

Organizer

Teresa Serrano Gotarredona, Chair of the IEEE-CASS Spain Chapter

José M. de la Rosa, Secretary of the IEEE-CASS Spain Chapter


 

Contact Information

Address:

Instituto de Microelectrónica de Sevilla, IMSE-CNM Parque Tecnológico de la Cartuja, C/ Américo Vespucio 41092 – Sevilla, SPAIN

Phone/Fax:

+34954466666 / +34954466600

E-mail:

terese@imse-cnm.csic.esjrosa@imse-cnm.csic.es

Web page:

www.imse-cnm.csic.es/~terese; www.imse-cnm.csic.es/~jrosa