A 107-pJ/bit 100-kb/s 0.18- $\mu\hbox {m}$ Capacitive-Coupling Transceiver With Data Edge Signaling and DC Power-Free Pulse Detector for Printable Communication Sheet

A novel communication system which simultaneously achieves the mobility of wireless communication and the low-power performance of wireline communication is developed with a printable sheet. By combining meter-scale wireline communication and micrometer-scale wireless capacitive-coupling communication, the proposed communication system enables multiple electronic objects scattered over tables, walls, and ceilings to communicate contactlessly with each other by establishing communication paths without cumbersome physical connections. The transceiver developed for the 20 cm times 20 cm communication sheet features a data-edge-signaling transmitter and a DC power-free pulse detector, thereby achieving the lowest energy of 107 pJ/bit at 100 kb/s in wireless communications at a distance of 60 cm in 0.18-mum CMOS.