IMEC, a world-leading independent
research center in nanoelectronics and nanotechnology, has demonstrated spectrum
sensing functions, using an experimental setup including its integrated reconfigurable
radio platform. The setup senses information on spectrum occupancy from UMTS
and WLAN signals in specific bands. It retrieves information on the frequency
and bandwidth, with estimates for power and noise. The system includes IMEC’s
advanced ASICs implementing a programmable baseband platform and a flexible
RF transceiver front-end. This transceiver offers the possibility to scan from
100MHz to 6GHz.
IMEC’s achievement comes in time to profit from the recent worldwide
switch from analogue to digital terrestrial TV. This switch frees a large portion
of valuable spectrum, and is therefore often named the digital dividend. Opportunistic
wireless devices will be able to operate in these white spaces, the former TV
broadcast channels. Such TV Band Devices (TVBD) will include the ability to
detect the primary users of frequency bands, thus allowing the secondary use
of the band without interfering with the primary users.
A key driver for the future success of small and portable TVBDs will be an
efficient and low-power sensing technology. IMEC is now working to further develop
a flexible, cost-friendly, and energy-efficient engine for spectrum sensing.
IMEC is a world-leading independent research center in nanoelectronics and
nanotechnology. IMEC vzw is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, has a sister company
in the Netherlands, IMEC-NL, offices in the US, China and Taiwan, and representatives
in Japan. Its staff of more than 1650 people includes about 550 industrial residents
and guest researchers. In 2008, its revenue (P&L) was EUR 270 million.
IMEC’s More Moore research aims at semiconductor scaling towards sub-32nm
nodes. With its More than Moore research, IMEC looks into technologies for nomadic
embedded systems, wireless autonomous transducer solutions, biomedical electronics,
photovoltaics, organic electronics and GaN power electronics.
IMEC’s research bridges the gap between fundamental research at universities
and technology development in industry. Its unique balance of processing and
system know-how, intellectual property portfolio, state-of-the-art infrastructure
and its strong network worldwide position IMEC as a key partner for shaping
technologies for future systems.