Grant: Idea to Innovation
Université du Québec à Montréal
$125,000.00
Reconfigurable highly energy efficient ultra-wideband impulse radio for body area networks and personal area networks
FY 2014-15
Summary
Today, body and personal area network sensors are becoming ubiquitous in applications such as fitness and health, environmental sensing and military. For such applications, the design of communication systems that have very low-power consumption and provide flexible and robust data transmission is a highly marketable solution. While conventional transceivers have been introduced for low-power operation, they are not as well-suited to duty cycling as impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) systems which can operate during very narrow time frames. Moreover, IR transceivers are much simpler, and can potentially offer very high transmission efficiency. Many standards for low-power communication exist, and allow considerable flexibility on channel availability and data rates such that under different communication links, different modulation schemes and transmitted spectrum shapes may be optimal. Transceivers that can not only vary their pulse modulation, but also dynamically adjust their transmission frequency and bandwidth are thus highly desirable as they allow for robust communication in various environments and can attain the best data rate, spectrum shape and power consumption compromise. Accordingly, the strategic goal of this project is to advance an IR-UWB wireless communication technology which was already demonstrated in a 0.13 um CMOS pilot chip that featured a reconfigurable low-power IR-UWB transceiver design and that yielded a provisional patent application. The research project involves Profs. Nabki and Deslandes of UQAM who have complementary expertise in the design of integrated analog RF circuits and in high-frequency theory and techniques. The resulting pre-commercial prototype will favourably position the technology for the next phase of commercialization by reducing the costs-to-market for potential commercial partners, and allow showcasing the technology in within modules to attract potential Canadian industrial partners, many of which have already been contacted and are in support of the application.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
463159-2014
Name nom
Nabki, Frederic
Department département
Informatique
Organization id
57
Institution établissement
Université du Québec à Montréal
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
125000
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1207
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Information, computer and communication technologies
Area of application fr
Technologie de l'information, des ordinateurs et des réseaux de communications
Research subject code
2504
Research subject group en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Research subject en
Integrated circuits
Research subject fr
Circuits intégrés
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Reconfigurable highly energy efficient ultra-wideband impulse radio for body area networks and personal area networks
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Today, body and personal area network sensors are becoming ubiquitous in applications such as fitness and health, environmental sensing and military. For such applications, the design of communication systems that have very low-power consumption and provide flexible and robust data transmission is a highly marketable solution. While conventional transceivers have been introduced for low-power operation, they are not as well-suited to duty cycling as impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) systems which can operate during very narrow time frames. Moreover, IR transceivers are much simpler, and can potentially offer very high transmission efficiency. Many standards for low-power communication exist, and allow considerable flexibility on channel availability and data rates such that under different communication links, different modulation schemes and transmitted spectrum shapes may be optimal. Transceivers that can not only vary their pulse modulation, but also dynamically adjust their transmission frequency and bandwidth are thus highly desirable as they allow for robust communication in various environments and can attain the best data rate, spectrum shape and power consumption compromise. Accordingly, the strategic goal of this project is to advance an IR-UWB wireless communication technology which was already demonstrated in a 0.13 um CMOS pilot chip that featured a reconfigurable low-power IR-UWB transceiver design and that yielded a provisional patent application. The research project involves Profs. Nabki and Deslandes of UQAM who have complementary expertise in the design of integrated analog RF circuits and in high-frequency theory and techniques. The resulting pre-commercial prototype will favourably position the technology for the next phase of commercialization by reducing the costs-to-market for potential commercial partners, and allow showcasing the technology in within modules to attract potential Canadian industrial partners, many of which have already been contacted and are in support of the application.
