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The Wireless Interfaces Thrust undertakes basic and applied research
in wireless interfaces for environmental and biomedical sensor devices.
The thrust is exploring CMOS and RF MEMS circuits, miniature antennas,
and sensor networking. Full systems incorporating these components are
being developed and demonstrated. The wireless thrust is developing
wireless interfaces to neural probes, cochlear implants, and other biomedical
devices such as arterial stent monitors. The thrust is exploring techniques
for moderate range, moderate rate, wireless communication to environmental
sensors. Wireless circuits and systems based on RF MEMS and nanometer
CMOS are being researched. The demonstration of low-power CMOS transceivers
for the Zigbee 2.4GHz sensor network standard is a medium term goal.
Other applications and approaches including RFID, and low-power super-regenerative
receivers are also being considered. The performance of RF MEMS devices
is now close to that of off-chip quartz and SAW components. RF MEMS
harnesses the high-Q of micromechanical devices, and this technology
promises dramatic improvements in power efficiency of RF circuits. The
Wireless Interface Thrust is also exploring circuit and process techniques
that will permit the integration of RF MEMS and CMOS wireless circuits.
A long-term goal is the integration of RF MEMS, power-efficient CMOS
RF, and CMOS baseband circuitry, as well as digital signal processing
and miniature antennas in a signal package.
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