IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems · 2009 · 170 citations · 12 references
EngineeringBiomedical EngineeringComputer EngineeringLow-power DesignSensorsSystem-on-chip DesignBody ElectronicsComplementary Metal-oxide-semiconductor TechnologyEnergy-efficient Embedded SystemsRadio-frequency Integrated CircuitsSensor NetworksWireless Sensor NetworksBody Sensor NetworksEnergy-efficient Wireless Sensor NetworksIntegrated Passive ComponentsIntegrated Passive DevicesRadio-frequency Integrated Circuit DesignTransceiver DesignWireless Body Area NetworksWireless Body Sensor Networks
The paper presents an energy‑efficient ASIC with a work‑on‑demand protocol for wireless body sensor networks in medical applications. The ASIC integrates a low‑power MCU, PMU, reconfigurable sensor interfaces, wireless transceiver ports, and an always‑on passive RF receiver with energy‑harvesting, fabricated in 0.18‑µm CMOS on a 2 mm × 2.5 mm die. Prototype tests show the ASIC draws less than 10 nA in passive standby and less than 10 µA in active standby from a 3‑V battery.
An energy-efficient application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) featured with a work-on-demand protocol is designed for wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs) in medical applications. Dedicated for ultra-low-power wireless sensor nodes, the ASIC consists of a low-power microcontroller unit (MCU), a power-management unit (PMU), reconfigurable sensor interfaces, communication ports controlling a wireless transceiver, and an integrated passive radio-frequency (RF) receiver with energy harvesting ability. The MCU, together with the PMU, provides quite flexible communication and power-control modes for energy-efficient operations. The always-on passive RF receiver with an RF energy harvesting block offers the sensor nodes the capability of work-on-demand with zero standby power. Fabricated in standard 0.18-¿m complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology, the ASIC occupies a die area of 2 mm × 2.5 mm. A wireless body sensor network sensor-node prototype using this ASIC only consumes < 10-nA current under the passive standby mode, and < 10 ¿A under the active standby mode, when supplied by a 3-V battery.
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