SBIR Phase I: Low Noise Amplifier Running Fast At Ultra-low Currents (pp # 00035239)

此第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发位于物联网(IoT)应用中传感器附近的基本电子构建块(即智能放大器)，从而实现超便携、超低功耗集成电路(IC)在医疗(包括可穿戴设备)、工业、国防和环境应用中的应用。现有的放大器IC(以低成本传统工艺制造)并不智能，不能同时改变噪声、功率、增益和速度性能以响应不同的输入条件。拟议的创新使机器学习、物联网和传感器相结合的新的、商业上可行的、有影响力的产品成为可能。采用这种积木的应用包括：(1)电池供电的项链，配备始终开启的声音传感器和智能功放，外加本地化机器学习，以检测和警告哮喘发作；(2)义齿或填充式传感器附近的多个始终开启的超低功率、低噪音智能功放，可以同时读取糖、盐、酸度和温度的水平，以及(3)“始终开启”的毒性传感器，其热敏电阻可在检测到有毒化学品或气体时改变其电阻率。这项创新通过提供足够的输出汇源电流来在低毒性和高毒性条件下持续驱动热敏电阻，从而实现快速响应时间。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将开发一种集成电路(IC)智能放大器，它可以根据输入条件智能地改变其性能。预期的技术成果包括：超低功耗、低噪声、高速、近零输入电流、高增益、高电源抑制比、高共模抑制比、无条件稳定性、轨至轨输入和输出电压波动，以及具有源极和宿负载能力性能的输出缓冲器，所有这些都在一个微型硅放大器中。所提出的智能放大器能够在单个集成电路中提供所有这些参数。在这个第一阶段的项目中，该公司将基于一种新颖的电路设计来开发这种IC放大器，该电路设计可以智能地改变其速度、噪声和增益，以响应施加到其输入的小信号和大信号。作为一个基本的构建模块，所产生的智能放大器将可以使用传统的、低成本、65纳米的IC制造工艺来制造，并将使许多新兴的超便携、超低功耗、始终在线的物联网、智能传感器和位于云边缘的本地化微型机器学习应用程序成为可能，而不需要持续的互联网连接。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase I project is the development of a fundamental electronic building block (i.e., smart amplifier) situated near sensors in Internet of Things (IoT) applications, thereby enabling ultra-portable, ultra-low power integrated circuit (IC) uses in medical (including wearables), industrial, defense, and environmental applications. Existing amplifier ICs (fabricated in low-cost conventional fabrication) are not smart and cannot simultaneously alter noise, power, gain, and speed performance in response to different input conditions. The proposed innovation enables new, commercially viable, impactful products at the intersection of machine learning, IoT, and sensors. Applications employing such a building block include: (1) battery operated necklaces with always-on sound sensors and smart amplifiers, plus localized machine learning to detect and warn of asthma attacks; (2) multiple always-on ultra-low power, low-noise smart amplifiers near denture or filling-implanted sensors that simultaneously read levels of sugar, salt, acidity, and temperature, with harvested energy from chewing; and (3) “always-on” toxicity sensors having thermo-resistors whose resistivity changes upon detecting toxic chemicals or gasses. The innovation enables fast response times by delivering sufficient output sink-source current to continuously drive the thermo-resistors between low and high toxicity conditions.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop an integrated circuit (IC) smart amplifier that intelligently alters its performance in response to input conditions. Anticipated technical results include: ultra-low-power, low-noise, high-speed, near-zero input-current, high-gain, high power-supply-rejection-ratio, high common-mode-rejection-ratio, unconditional stability, rail-to-rail input and output voltage swings, and an output buffer having source and sink load capability performance, all in one tiny silicon amplifier. The proposed smart amplifier is capable of providing all of these parameters in a single IC. In this Phase I project, the company will develop this IC amplifier based on a novel circuit design that intelligently alters its speed, noise, and gain in response to small signals and large signals applied to its inputs. As a fundamental building block, the resulting smart amplifier will be manufacturable using conventional, low cost, 65 nanometer IC fabrication processes, and will enable many emerging ultra-portable, ultra-low power “always-on” IoT, smart sensors, and localized tiny machine learning applications situated at the edge of the cloud, without the need for continuous internet connectivity.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.