A spread spectrum based communication system for an integrated sensor microsystem

This paper describes the design and implementation of a spread spectrum based miniaturized communication system for an integrated sensor microsystem, to be implemented as part of a system-on-chip device. One of the most important tasks in such a system is to convey information reliably on a multiple access based environment. In addition to the minimization of interferences, the devices have strict power and area limitations. The paper describes the application environment, the choice of the communication protocol, and the implementation of the transmitter and receiver circuitry. We provide results using practical sensor data which demonstrate satisfaction of functionality, area, and power constraints even when a degree of programmability is incorporated into the transmitter.