CSEM Shows Unique System on Chip for Ultra-Compact, Autonomous Wireless Systems to Maximize Battery Life and Nanomaterials for Biological Studies

Centre Suisse d' Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM) (Neuchâtel, CH) has developed a unique System-on-Chip (SoC) tailored for portable wireless communication products including an integrated DSP processor and optimized power management to maximize battery life.  

 Image Credit: CSEM 

Embedded wireless systems such as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and Body Area Networks (BAN) require miniaturized integrated solutions with minimized energy consumption for maximum autonomy with reduced-size batteries. While battery life is partly driven by the radio transmission, it is also highly dependent on sensor data acquisition and associated local processing.

Efficient local digital signal processing (DSP) would allow compression of the sensor information and thereby reduction of the energy consumption associated to the transmission of the resulting information. Unfortunately the RF SoCs available today do not have the required computing power, while external DSPs are not optimized for ultra-low power consumption.

CSEM has developed an RF system-on-chip (SoC) integrating a 900M Hz low power RF transceiver, a 32-bit 150 µA/MHz dual-MAC DSP RISC core with 96 kibytes of SRAM. Named "icycom", the SoC runs off a 1V supply, compatible with a single alkaline cell, and is optimized for long battery life, consuming 3.5 mA in receiving active mode, 40 mA for 10 dBm transmission and 1.1 µA in standby with RTC running. Additional peripherals such as a voltage-divider to also address lithium batteries, ADC, SPI, I2C, UART, I2S, etc, are all included on the same chip, resulting in a compact system solution.

The icycom SoC opens up the way to ultra-compact, autonomous wireless systems such as WSN, BAN and others. Samples and development kits are available.  CSEM will presented their results at the International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco in early February.  

CSEM, Centre Suisse d' Electronique et de Microtechnique, founded in 1984, is a private applied research and development center specializing in micro and nanotechnology, system engineering microelectronics and communications technologies. It offers its customers and industry partners tailor-made innovative solutions based on its knowledge of the market and technological expertise derived from applied research

CSEM is also developing nanomaterials and systems. Among them are : Functional and protective nanocoatings; Anticounterfeiting labels from nanopatterns; Cell injection and nanoscale liquid delivery for Life Science R&D; Biochemical sensors and Cell handling systems and Nanophotonic components for improved optical devices. A combination of is technologies is allowing CSEM to perform systems for nanotoxicology studies. These materials were exhibited at nano tech 2010 in Tokyo.  

Image credit: CSEM 


Together with regional and national stakeholders from industry and from university, CSEM is developing nanomedical applications in the following key areas:

• Nano-imaging
  Observing cells and "mini-organs" using novel nano- and microscopes using X-rays, visible, UV and IR light

• Bio-selective surfaces
  Tailoring the chemistry and nanostructure of materials in such a way that cells either adhere to a surface (biophilic), or do not adhere to a surface (biophobic)

• Medical sensing
  Developing practically useful, very robust sensor types for the measurement of the functioning of cells and organs, such as blood perfusion and breathing

• Cell works Designing micro-cell reactors where individual cells and "mini-organs" can be monitored for growth and function, for example to determine the toxicity or therapeutic action of substances

It is expected that the Nanomedicine program will contribute significantly to the creation of start-up companies in the Alpine Rhine Valley, provide cutting-edge know-how to local industry, and become a focus for attracting leading experts in the field of nanomedicine. 

CSEM
Nanotechnology & Life Sciences
Neuchatel, Rue Jaquet-Droz 1, 2002  
TEL : +41 32 720 5533 　FAX : +41 32 720 5750　
Email : hhe@csem.ch
URL : www.csem.ch