IC Design for UWB Wireless Systems

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Circuits and Systems Design for Radar and Communciation Applications:

Since 2002, the FCC classifies different types of systems and specifies intended and unintended radiation bands and levels by imposing an average power spectral density EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) restriction.  As a brief synopsis, most of the classified systems fall within either 0 – 960MHz, 3.1 – 10.6GHz , and/or 22 – 29 GHz with a few exceptions.  Commercial ground penetrating radar systems (GPRs), wall imaging systems, and through-wall imaging systems are the only classes of commercial systems allowed operating below 960MHz.  Also, GPRs and wall imaging systems may also wholly reside in the band 3.1 – 10.6GHz.  Commercial through-wall imaging (also < 960MHz), and surveillance systems (only) can reside from 1.99 – 10.6GHz.  All communication and measurement systems and medical systems must reside from 3.1 – 10.6GHz.  In addition, vehicle radar system should reside from 22 – 29 GHz. All of the bands allocated for intentional radiation, regardless of system classification, have an imposed average power spectral density restriction of -41.3 dBm/MHz.  
Due to its wide bandwidth and characteristics of an impulse, the impulse-type UWB provides higher data transfer rate with faster speed, more accuracy, more immunity to multi-path fading error, lower power consumption, lower complexity, and lower cost compared with the traditional narrow-band wireless technologies.

Currently, we are developing circuits and systems for a compact and low-cost UWB radar for vehicle safety systems. The 22-29 GHz UWB automotive radar is defined as the short range radar (SRR) which can be operated with high range resolution and find the applications such as anti-collision sensing, adaptive cruise control (ACC) support, blind spot diction, and parking aid. Also, UWB transceivers (3.1-10.6 GHz range) have been developed to provide wireless communication among sensor nodes in sensor network, which satisfies low-power requirement.

IC Design for High Speed Optical Communication

Digital Image Processing

This group is pursuing innovative research at the areas of digital image processing and analysis. Our research topics include edge detection, pattern recognition, algorithm development for real-time 3-D imaging, image restoration, image data fusion techniques and multimedia data processing technology and application programs. Eventually the algorithm development will be connected to the IC designs.

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