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.
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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.“
Frostrisikoerkennung mittels Knospenüberwachung im Obstbau
Silvia Krug1.Experimentierfelder-Konferenz 2023, 27. - 28. April 2023, Berlin
1IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.An IoT-based Sensor System to Capture Flower Bud Growth in Spring
Silvia Krug1. Tino Hutschenreuther1.19. GI/ITG KuVS Fachgespräch Sensornetze (FGSN 2022), pp. 37-40, DOI: doi.org/10.34702/mncp-qb18. 15. September 2022, Berlin, Germany
1IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany. 2Mid Sweden University Sundsvall, Sweden.Wissenstransfer im Forschungsprojekt EXPRESS
Valentin Knitsch1. Rikard Grass2. Hannes Mollenhauer2. Silvia Krug3. Tino Hutschereuther3. Juliane Welz1.B&B Agrar, Die Zeitschrift für Bildung und Beratung, 2/2022, S. 22–23, DOI: doi.org/10.24406/publica-189
1Fraunhofer-Zentrum für Internationales Management und Wissensökonomie IMW, Leipzig, Germany. 2Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany. 3IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.Echtzeitanalyse und Prognose des Wasserhaushalts im Weinbau
Hannes Mollenhauer1. Martin Schieck2. Silvia Krug3. Valentin Knitsch4.IM+io, Fachmagazin, März 2022, Heft 01, ISSN 1616-1017, Seite 32 - 35
1Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH - UFZ, Department Monitoring- und Erkundungstechnologien, 04318 Leipzig, Germany. 2Universität Leipzig, Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, 04109 Leipzig, Germany. 3IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany. 4Fraunhofer Zentrum für Internationales Management und Wissensökonomie IMW, 04109 Leipzig, 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.