A Power-Efficient Envelope-Detector-Less Amplitude-Shift-Keying Forward Telemetry for Wirelessly Powered Biomedical...

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Integrated Circuit Design
• Wireless Communication Systems

Background:

• Conventional amplitude-shift-keying (ASK) forward telemetry (FT) demodulators in wireless power/data transfer (WPDT) systems often rely on bulky and power-intensive envelope detectors and analog comparators.
• These components contribute to increased power dissipation and larger chip footprints, limiting the efficiency and miniaturization of WPDT systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate an envelope-detector-less (EDL) ASK FT demodulator for WPDT systems.
• To reduce power dissipation and chip area compared to conventional designs by replacing analog components with a digital controller.
• To maintain efficient demodulation and data accuracy while integrating with wireless power reception circuitry.

Main Methods:

• Development of an EDL ASK FT demodulator utilizing a digital controller instead of an envelope detector and analog comparator.
• Leveraging gate control signals from an AC-DC regulator for wireless power reception to simultaneously manage power and demodulate data.
• Implementation of a digital cleaner to refine control signals and a synchronizer to align frequencies, mitigating noise and ensuring data integrity.
• Fabrication and testing of a 0.25-µm CMOS prototype chip.

Main Results:

• The proposed EDL ASK FT demodulator achieved a significant 38.2% reduction in power dissipation compared to conventional designs.
• The demodulator occupies a minimal silicon area of 0.023 mm².
• A low bit error rate (BER) of less than 10⁻⁴ was achieved while maintaining a regulated load voltage of 4.5 V.

Conclusions:

• The EDL ASK FT demodulator offers a highly efficient and compact solution for WPDT systems.
• The digital approach effectively replaces power-hungry analog components, leading to substantial power savings and area reduction.
• The demonstrated performance, including low BER and stable voltage regulation, validates the effectiveness of the proposed design for practical WPDT applications.