Search: Challenging and interesting PhD prct in field of Analog-mixed-signal-design

[milindashokshende]

Hi thr,
Presently I am searching for a challenging and interesting PhD project. my field of interest is Analog mixed signal IC design. I would really love to work on a low-power micro-sensor circuit. if some body knows a project, only a detailed project description will also do. I am also looking for the state-of-the art technology in analog mixed signal technology industry and Future challenges in this industry.
I appreciate your earliest reply. (any points in these directions will help a lot), so experts please reply.
with best regards,

Milis

 

[keith1200rs]

Energy harvesting is a hot subject nowadays. Maybe a self powered implantable medical sensor?

Keith.

 

[milindashokshende]

Thanks a lot Mr. Keith,
The topic suggested by you sounds interesting. I will definitely look into it.
if you still have some more description about this topic, it would be a gr8 help.
with best regards and Marry Christmas !!!
Mils

 

[keith1200rs]

Maybe search for implantable medical devices and see what turns up - it may give you some ideas.

Implantable Medical Devices and EHR Systems

Implantable drug delivery is another area that may interest you. Maybe combined with MEMS.

Keith

 

[jgk2004]

I would agree that there is alot of research going on in medical devices but I will warn you that the circuits that I have been seeing for implants are very simple. All of the research is really in the signals communicating with the body and there reaction. I would say MOST of the circuits will not be ground breaking, which I would think is not what you really want to showcase your PhD! I would go into converters, like pipeline and CT sigma delta ADCs. There is still alot going on in this field and after finishing your PhD you will know how to design alot of stuff! I guess it really depends on what you are looking for after you PhD, working in medical (do medical implants) , in semi's (converters), or being a professor ( you could do either).

Also you should do what your professor(supervisor) is into. If you join a department with the analog professor and do your PhD in digital, this is a very very bad idea!!!!
Hope this helps,
Jgk

 

[ic98]

I suggest you to have a look at these profs' projects
Najafi & Wise (UMich) **broken link removed**
Chandrakasan (MIT) Microsystems Technology Laboratories | home
Rabaey (UCB) Berkeley Wireless Research Center
Leblibici (EPFL) Welcome to LSM
...

 

[milindashokshende]

Hi ic, JgK and Keith,
wish you a very happy, prosperous, healthy and peaceful new year.

thanks for the inputs.
@Keith: thanks for additional inputs.
@JgK: thanks for giving me an another direction to think .... :idea:
@ic : thanks for those website links, they were really very helpful.

with best regards, :grin:
Mils....

 

[milindashokshende]

After going through the recent literature available in my area of interest I have shortlisted couple of topics. Before putting them in front of my professor, I thought of putting them in front of the experienced and knowledgeable members like you to get another thought. Please go through the following topics and let me know if the following topics have PhD research potentials....

1. Novel topologies of converters for wireless transmission in microsensors.
2. Energy harvesting techniques/possibilities in self powered implantable medical sensors
3. Novel topologies of Continuous Time Sigma Delta ADC
4. Wireless Micro-sensor Networks

these topics are still in an elementary stage and need deeper exploration. your suggestions are highly appreciated
your feed-backs could be in the form of topic's potential, has this research already reached to its saturation, challenges and constraints in particular topic and so on.....
thanks,
Mils.

 

[jgk2004]

Those are 4 very different good topics. I would say the most important question is what does your professor specialize in? You should really stick with what he is good at, because you will run into problems along the way and you might need to do brain storming and its better if your professor knows what you are talking about! I mean yeah you should pick a topic which you want to do as well.. but it should be kinda in your professors area! If your professor can handle all of these areas you talked about I would pick 2 or 3. Energy harvesting is really cool stuff but you will need to learn about the mechanical structures and the circuits around it. If you just want to focus in circuits I would say CTSDM. You will have to design amplifiers, flashs (if multibit) and current steering DACs (if multibit). You will have to make it trimmable do to RC variations or you could make Gm-C or Mos-C integrators. It could also be low pass or bandpass which are totally different things! There is alot in this area, but I would say this might be the hardest in the list because you would have to build a complete circuit, which will be large and has the possibilities of being completely unstable since it is a feedback system. Then you will have to go into coefficient mapping and optimization.
I don't mean to list to much but this is my area of work! I like it and its fun but its stressful sometimes with the stablity issues that are always there!

I hope this helps
Jgk