The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science Department of Electrical Engineering The University of Texas at Dallas

 

vlsi

This research laboratory was established to investigate various aspects of VLSI circuits and systems design.  Specifically we are interested in design of energy efficient digital circuits and systems, circuits for nano-CMOS and beyond, VLSI architectures and algorithms for signal processing and communications, and power electronics.  Current research activity include:

  • Circuits and Systems for Signal Processing and Communications: This activity involves developing VLSI algorithms, architectures and circuits for digital signal processing, and wireless communications.  This research leverages their background in energy efficient, digitally intensive mixed-signal design techniques to develop circuits and systems for these applications suitable for implementation in nano-CMOS technologies.  Projects include, All-digital PLL (ADPLL), envelope tracking for efficient power amplifiers, etc. 

  • Energy Efficient Digital Systems and Power Electronics: This is an ongoing investigation in which techniques are being developed for lowering power dissipation in digital systems without drastically affecting performance.  With the ever growing popularity of battery powered portable applications like personal communication systems, mobile computing, etc., energy efficient, high performance circuits are gaining importance.  Investigation is also being carried for developing efficient control algorithms and digital controllers for different topologies of power converters.

  • Circuits using NEM Relays: This investigation involves the use of nano-electromechanical (NEM) relays in conjunction with CMOS technology to design novel digital and mixed-signal circuits.  Work is under way to design innovative digital and power management circuits by exploiting interesting switching characteristics of these NEM relays.

The VLSI Design Lab projects have been sponsored or supported by the following organizations:
    Texas Instruments, Semiconductor Research Corporation, US National Institute of
    Justice, and UTD Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.