Design of self-powered wireless system-on-a-chip sensor nodes for hostile environments

Author

Barnhart, David J. ; Vladimirova, Tanya ; Sweeting, Martin N.

Author_Institution

Surrey Space Centre, Univ. of Surrey, Guildford

fYear

2008

fDate

18-21 May 2008

Firstpage

824

Lastpage

827

Abstract

A new dimension of wireless sensor network architecture design is emerging where hundreds to thousands of ultra-light low-cost sensor nodes are required to collectively perform a spectrum of distributed remote sensing missions in hostile conditions, predominantly those encountered in space. Research is underway to investigate the feasibility of fabricating survivable self-powered sensor nodes monolithically with commercially available SiGe BiCMOS technology. This paper presents simulation and test chip results of two novel and essential building blocks: a photovoltaic/solar cell power supply and an environmentally tolerant microprocessor, based on radiation hardening by design and asynchronous logic.

Keywords

BiCMOS integrated circuits; Ge-Si alloys; photovoltaic cells; semiconductor materials; solar cells; system-on-chip; telecommunication power supplies; wireless sensor networks; BiCMOS technology; asynchronous logic; distributed remote sensing missions; photovoltaic-solar cell power supply; radiation hardening; self-powered wireless system-on-a-chip sensor nodes; ultralight low-cost sensor nodes; BiCMOS integrated circuits; Germanium silicon alloys; Logic testing; Remote sensing; Sensor systems; Silicon germanium; Space missions; Space technology; System-on-a-chip; Wireless sensor networks;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Circuits and Systems, 2008. ISCAS 2008. IEEE International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Seattle, WA

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-1683-7

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-1684-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ISCAS.2008.4541545

Filename

4541545