PicoRadio RF Transmitter

(Yuen-Hui Chee)

PicoBeacon (with S. Roundy and B. Otis)

We have successfully integrated our first generation transmitter in a beacon that derives its energy source solely from energy scavenging.  The beacon contains a board mounted antenna, solar cell, regulator, energy storage capacitor, and a custom ultra low power 1.9GHz, –1.5dBm transmitter.  The board dimensions are (2.4x3.9)cm². It operates on energy scavenged from light or vibration; thus, no external supply or battery energy source is needed.  The board requires no external voltages, references, or connections, and can operate indefinitely from energy scavenged from light or vibration.

PicoBeacon

PicoRadio Transmitter

We have implemented our second generation transmitter in ST 0.13um CMOS process.  A testboard was designed and fabricated to test the transceiver and some of its components.  

Testboard

MEMS/Circuit Co-design

To further increase the efficiency of the transmitter, we utilize MEMS components that are co-designed with the transmitter circuit.

Antenna for Wireless Sensor Networks (with P. Monat)

The antenna is another important component in the transceiver.   The current focus is on low cost, low profile antennas for the PicoRadio transceiver.