ABSTRACT
We propose a 0.25 × 0.25 × 0.3 mm (~0.02 mm3) optically powered mote for visual cortex stimulation to restore vision. Up to 1024 implanted motes can be individually addressed. The complete StiMote system was confirmed fully functional when optically powered and cortex stimulation was confirmed in-vivo with a live rat brain.
ABSTRACT
We present an 8-bit sub-ranging SAR ADC designed for bursty signals having long time periods with small code spread. A modified capacitive-DAC (CDAC) saves previous sample's MSB voltage and reuses it throughout subsequent conversions. This prevents unnecessary switching of large MSB capacitors as well as conversion cycles, reducing energy consumed in the comparator and digital logic and yielding total energy savings of 2.6×. In 0.18µm CMOS, the ADC consumes 120nW at 0.6V and 100kS/s with 46.9dB SNDR.
ABSTRACT
This work presents an ultra-low power oscillator designed for wake-up timers in compact wireless sensors. A constant charge subtraction scheme removes continuous comparator delay from the oscillation period, which is the source of temperature dependence in conventional RC relaxation oscillators. This relaxes comparator design constraints, enabling low power operation. In 0.18µm CMOS, the oscillator consumes 5.8nW at room temperature with temperature stability of 45ppm/°C (-10°C to 90°C) and 1%V line sensitivity.
