Imec and Holst Centre have developed an ultra-low-power integrated solution for the 6- to 10-GHz band, enabling impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) communication for battery-powered applications in personal-area networks and positioning sensors worldwide.

Imec and Holst Centre have developed an ultra-low-power integrated solution for the 6- to 10-GHz band, enabling impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) communication for battery-powered applications in personal-area networks and positioning sensors worldwide. For example, the technology could support short-range video streaming or around-the body audio streaming, such as between a headset and a smart phone. Operation is fade-resilient and interference-free.

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Using the UWB radio to wirelessly stream audio between a smart phone and earpiece will increase the phone’s battery life by more than three times compared to a conventional Bluetooth-based solution. Also, the earpiece will see a battery lifetime increase of more than five times. And unlike Bluetooth communications, the UWB radio won’t suffer from interference from other wireless technologies operating in the same location and frequency band.

Impulse UWB communication especially suits short range (20 m) communication and positioning sensors. The large bandwidth improves resistance against fades, resulting in superior communication reliability. This is especially so compared to narrowband surroundings, which tend to lose signals in surroundings with reflective surfaces and multi-path propagation.

Also, spreading information over a wide bandwidth decreases the power spectral density, reducing the interference with other systems and lowering the probability of interception. The reflection of the wideband signal allows for centimeter-ranging positioning accuracy, suiting the technology for positioning sensors as well.

The solution comprises a transmitter, receiver front end, and receiver digital baseband. The transmitter delivers 13-dBm peak power with an average power consumption of 3.3 mW. The receiver front end shows –88-dBm sensitivity at 1 Mbit/s. A digital synchronization algorithm enables real-time duty cycling for a mean power consumption of 3 mW. A digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) with 100-ppm frequency accuracy and a baseband frequency tracking algorithm ensure coherent reception. And, it achieves a 75-dB link budget with a 1-Mbit/s data rate.

Companies can have access to the technology by joining Imec’s and Holst Centre’s R&D program for ultra-low-power wireless systems.

Holst Centre
www.holstcentre.com

Imec
www.imec.be