RF & Smart Sensor Systems

The key R&D areas in the department are as follows:

• High-frequency packaging
  • Measurement and characterization of packaging materials, processes and interconnects in dependency on frequency (up to 500 GHz), temperature (-40°C to 200°C), humidity and aging
  • Design and optimization of application-specific RF packaging platforms (e.g, AiP/AoP) for heterogeneous system-integration of active devices (SiGe, GaAs, GaN, …), antennas and passive components
  • Investigation of novel metamaterial concepts for application-specific RF packages and components
• Components and modules for communication and computing
  • Development of application-specific antenna arrays, energy-efficient frontend modules and active antenna systems for the following:
    • Mobile communication network infrastructure (e.g. base stations for RAN) and wireless interface of end devices and systems in vertical applications, e.g. for 5G & 6G connectivity
    • Satellite communication (LEO, MEO, GEO), considering earth stations and space segments
  • System-level signal and power integrity driven design, measurement and optimization of high-speed interposers, boards and modules in accelerator cards for high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data workloads
• Radar and proximity sensor systems
  • Design, integration and middleware development of novel radar sensors (including AI-signal processing) for automotive, logistic, transportation and home automation applications
  • Development of cost-effective, miniaturized and application-specific radar and proximity sensor systems for medical & healthcare, industrial automation, smart farming and security applications
• Wireless sensor nodes and systems
  • Low power system design of energy autarkic wireless sensor nodes for smart farming, industrial automation and smart city applications
  • Implementation of hardware based AI-algorithms for data preconditioning
  • Leading edge wireless sensor nodes-based monitoring system for overhead power lines
  • Collective intelligence in decentralized and distributed systems
• Micro energy storage
  • Development of micro batteries for ultra-miniaturized medical applications & energy autarkic sensors
  • Materials development for micro batteries: solid state electrolytes and novel battery packaging
  • Hydrogen storage in galvanic Zinc cells and Ni-Zn rechargeable batteries
• Physical design tools & software
  • Machine learning algorithms for Big Data applications
  • Planning tools for IoT-Systems
  • Development of add-on layout tools considering EMC, thermal and RF requirements

We offer R&D services in the following areas:

• Feasibility studies for application-specific development of new microelectronic components, modules and systems
• Provide consulting services on emerging and future technologies (e.g. 5G, 6G, THz sensing, …) to industries (SMEs and large companies) as well as to municipalities, state and federal agencies
• Wireless sensor nodes & systems
  • Low-power system design (hardware & software) and integration of energy autarkic wireless sensor nodes for the following application fields:
    • Smart farming, smart factory and smart city
      
    • Monitoring of overhead power lines
      
  • Development of proprietary protocols for wireless sensor nodes
  • Implementation of edge AI algorithms for data preconditioning
  • Power supply and energy management in microelectronic systems
  • Design and Development of scalable decentralized systems
• Radar and proximity sensor systems
  • Design, integration and middleware development of novel radar sensors (including AI-signal processing) for automotive, logistic, transportation and home automation applications
  • Development of cost-effective, miniaturized and application-specific radar and proximity sensor systems for medical & healthcare, industrial automation, smart farming and security applications
• Components and modules for communication and computing
  • Development of application-specific antenna arrays, energy-efficient frontend modules and active antenna systems for the following:
    • Mobile communication network infrastructure (e.g. base stations for RAN) and wireless interface of end devices and systems in vertical applications, e.g. for 5G & 6G connectivity
      
    • Satellite communication (LEO, MEO, GEO) considering earth stations and space segments
      
  • System-level signal and power integrity driven design, measurement and optimization of high-speed interposers, boards and modules in accelerator cards for high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data workloads
• High-frequency packaging
  • Measurement, characterization and analysis of packaging materials and processes in dependency on frequency (up to 500 GHz), temperature (-40°C to 200°C), humidity and aging
  • Design, measurement and optimization of packaging interconnects up to 500 GHz
    • Chip interconnections (e.g. bond wires, flip-chip interconnects), transmission lines and vias
      
    • Package-to-board and board-to-board interconnects (e.g. BGA balls, sinter interconnects)
      
    • RF connectors
      
• Micro energy storage
  • Design and prototype fabrication of customized micro batteries with application specific dimensions, temperature, voltage and power range
  • Battery testing service and consulting
  • Electrochemical testing of novel battery systems
• Physical design tools & software
  • Planning tools for IoT-Systems
  • Development of add-on layout tools considering EMC, thermal and RF requirements
  • Database systems for processing data from sensor networks
  • Provision of client-server architectures for data analysis

The Advanced System Engineering Laboratory comprises several electrotechnical laboratories, each featuring cutting-edge equipment and a wide range of industry-standard design tools. We provide comprehensive support with state-of-the-art tools for the application areas related to our three areas of research.

High-Frequency Technology - Equipment and Tools

Microsystem Technology - Equipment and Tools

Micro Battery Line