Core topic ULP sensor systems
The Internet of Things has so far been difficult or impossible to harness for many applications due to a lack of suitable energy supply. Rotating machine parts, for example, cannot usually be supplied with wire-based energy, which is why batteries with limited energy resources are used there. To still be able to connect and monitor these parts over long periods of time, energy-efficient sensor systems are needed.
More challenging are applications where batteries are not changeable, such as moulded or widely distributed sensors in road construction or agriculture, and sensors in hazardous areas such as parts under high voltage. Even more demanding are solutions to be developed without batteries for ecological or cost reasons. There, energy-autonomous passive sensor systems are necessary, which are supplied with energy via RFID, for example, as in smart food packaging or digital rapid tests.
But the sensors available for the development of new IoT applications are mostly not energy-optimised and need energy which does not contribute to the function, such as constantly running clock generators or inefficient interfaces.
We research and develop ultra-low-power (ULP) sensor systems that require very little power and have integrated energy management components.
In addition to classical ULP circuit techniques such as clock gating, we are exploring the use of energy storage and converters as well as central control of the energy flow. We develop models as well as generic and automated modelling methods for the energy flow in ULP sensor systems.
Contact
Contact
Eric Schäfer, M. Sc.
Head of Microelectronics / Branch Office Erfurt
eric.schaefer(at)imms.de+49 (0) 361 663 25 35
Eric Schäfer and his team research Integrated sensor systems, especially CMOS-based biosensors, ULP sensor systems and AI-based design and test automation. The results are being incorporated into research on the lead applications Sensor systems for in-vitro diagnostics and RFID sensor technology. It will assist you with services for the development of Integrated circuits and with IC design methods.
Related content
Project
StorAIge
We are researching the use of ultra-low power embedded memories in wireless sensor front-end ICs for monitoring the condition of wind turbines and individual plants produced in greenhouses.
Project
EXPRESS
IMMS is working on autonomous modular sensor systems for cost-effective options for data collection in agriculture.
Project
Green-ISAS
Research on novel methods and technologies to enhance sensor-actuator systems to autonomous Industry 4.0 components
Project
RoMulus
Systematic design and economical manufacture for intelligent multi-sensor systems in small quantities
Reference
Reinhard Jurisch, microsensys
”IMMS, being the sole research institute in Thüringen for microelectronic applications, has a central role for enterprises like ours in the region, acting as technology partner and coordinator for joint industrial research with public funding.“
Reference
Dr. Jörg Weber, Analytik Jena
”The work offers great potential for industrial applications, but also for growing markets in life science and medical technology, where we see a rising demand for intelligent microelectronic sensors.“
High-Sensitive Demodulator with Built-in Negative Offset Comparator for Passive UHF RFID Tags
Rohit Kesharwani1. Andre Jäger1. Martin Grabmann. Georg Gläser. Eric Schäfer1.IEEE RFID-TA 2024, Forum for advancing RFID technology and practice, Daytona Beach, FL, USA, December 18–20, 2024
1IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.High-Sensitive Demodulator with Built-in Negative Offset Comparator for Passive UHF RFID Tags
Rohit Kesharwani1. Andre Jäger1. Martin Grabmann. Georg Gläser. Eric Schäfer1.2024 IEEE International Conference on RFID Technology and Applications (RFID-TA), Daytona Beach, FL, USA, 2024, pp. 109-112, DOI: doi.org/10.1109/RFID-TA64374.2024.10965142
1IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.Methoden der digitalen Entwicklungsstadienerkennung im Wein- und Obstbau
Silvia Krug1. Martin Schieck2.Ergebniskonferenz der digitalen Experimentierfelder (Express), 4. September 2024, Berlin
1IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, Ehrenbergstraße 27, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany. 2Universität Leipzig, Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, 04109 Leipzig, Germany.A Charge Pump System with Controlled Input Impedance for Optimized RFID Energy Harvesting
Rohit Kesharwani1. Andre Jäger1. Martin Grabmann1. David Schreiber1. Georg Gläser1. Hani Abdullah1. Eric Schäfer1.2024 IEEE International Conference on RFID (RFID), Boston, MA, USA, June 4-6, 2024, DOI: doi.org/10.1109/RFID62091.2024.10582749
1IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, Ehrenbergstraße 27, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
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Service for R&D
Integrated Circuits
We offer the design and realisation of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in CMOS, BiCMOS and SOI technologies. We achieve well-performing ASICs with our first runs (first-time right silicon).
Research field
Integrated sensor systems
Here we investigate miniaturised systems manufactured in semiconductor technology consisting of microelectronic components for sensors applications, as well as methods to design these highly complex systems efficiently and safely.
Lead application
RFID sensor technology
We are researching energy-efficient solutions for RFID sensor technology in order to open up new applications and, for example, to make processes in industry more resource-efficient.