Objective The Internet-of-Things (IoT) will soon represent the main target application of ICs, involving thousands of autonomous devices forming a large communication network for the purpose of exchanging/processing information about the physical world. From a hardware standpoint, the RF wireless transceivers of IoT devices demand the highest possible energy efficiency and a small area to enable inexpensive large-scale integration. Since analog/RF building blocks must be integrated with the mainstream digital technology, new circuit topologies and techniques must be adopted. The time-mode signaling, recently exploited in all-digital PLLs, data converters (the so called time-mode or VCO-based ADCs), opamps and filters, allows the performance of “analog” circuits to improve with the technology scaling. The proposed research focuses on a novel architecture of time-mode ADC, attempting to mitigate the fundamental limitations of such class of converters (i.e. the highly nonlinear VCO) by exploiting advanced RF techniques, thus giving rise to a hybrid time/frequency-mode operation. Studies have shown that by injection-locking an oscillator to its own delayed resonating waveform (self-injection-locking, SIL), the oscillating frequency can be made reasonably linear versus only two well-controlled parameters (i.e. the amplitude and phase of the self-injected signal). The SIL technique will be exploited to achieve a known, predictable relationship between the oscillating frequency and a certain analog quantity (i.e. the input signal). Accordingly, the proposed research attempts to mathematically overcome, and not to compensate accordingly, the nonlinear characteristic of an oscillator. By adding a simple digital frequency detector, SILICON has potential to devise a new class of data converters, the SIL-ADCs. It will also provide the applicant with cutting edge training from academic & industry leaders in the field which will be implemented using a personalised career development plan. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringanalogue electronics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN Net EU contribution € 175 866,00 Address BELFIELD 4 Dublin Ireland See on map Region Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 175 866,00