Project description
Developing analogue-to-digital converters for ultra-compact sensor nodes
Low-power and compact analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) are a vital link between sensors and data processing. In complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) implementations of ADCs, integrating ADCs with sensors has proven difficult, analogue data converters have produced high static power and CMOS ADCs have shown limited resolution. The EU-funded SHADE project intends to introduce a breakthrough approach for both voltage- and time-mode ADCs with significantly smaller area and power consumption. It will model the behaviour of the magnetic element containing both switching and oscillation features, design and simulate voltage- and time-mode quantisers, adapt quantisers with different ADC types common in sensors, and produce and test ADCs. The project will help bridge the gap between the area of ADCs and the available pixel pitch.
Objective
Low-power and compact analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is essential for sensor nodes as a link between the sensor and data processing. In restricted-area and high-speed sensors such as image sensors, each pixel needs a compact ADC for parallel data conversion. CMOS implementations of such ADCs have faced three challenges: 1) the difficulty of integrating ADCs with sensors in every pixel due to the large area of analog circuits exacerbated by poor scaling of analog circuits in CMOS, 2) the high static power of analog data converters, 3) limited resolution of CMOS ADC directly related to the process variations. Enormous effort has been devoted to addressing the challenges in such ADCs. Different types of ADCs from single-slope to delta-sigma have been investigated to achieve this, however, they are still far from the required area, resolution and power-density of the sensors. SHADE proposes a novel breakthrough approach benefiting from the small footprint of spintronics into the current ADC architectures. This has solutions for both voltage- and time-mode ADCs. SHADE will lead to at least three orders of magnitude smaller area in comparison with the state-of-the-art ADCs. The voltage-mode approach eliminates the memory array interfacing between the ADC and processor leading to a significant power-saving. SHADE is a major step towards filling the huge gap between the area of ADCs and the available pitch of pixels. The main objectives of this project are to characterize and model the behavior of the magnetic element containing both switching and oscillation features, design and simulation of both voltage- and time-mode quantizers through a developed model, adapting the quantizer with different types of ADCs usually used in sensors and fabrication and testing of ADCs. My experience in device modeling, integrated circuit design and spintronics together with expertise in the host and the secondment have put me in a unique position to run such a promising project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering analogue electronics
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics spintronics
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.