Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFTFrom medical imaging to robotics and automotive sensing, Ultrasonic MEMS devices are redefining what ultrasound systems can achieve. Our custom ASIC solutions are designed to maximize performance, integration and efficiency – including innovative biasing concepts that eliminate the need for external components.
ASIC Development for Ultrasonic MEMS Devices
Transceiver ASIC for CMUT
ASIC design for ultrasonic MEMS devices
An application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) provides an efficient and highly optimized way to generate and acquire signals from the ultrasonic MEMS device. By integrating the necessary analog and digital circuitry on a single chip, the ASIC can be tailored to the specific requirements of the ultrasonic application. This is essential for achieving good overall system performance, including high transmit (TX) and receive (RX) sensitivity, low noise levels in the signal chain, and minimized power consumption. In addition, using an ASIC helps to reduce the overall area footprint and enables compact, scalable, and cost-effective ultrasonic system designs.
One of the main challenges of conventional ultrasound systems is the high computational complexity of image reconstruction caused by the very high data throughput from the ASIC. Our current research addresses this by exploring neuromorphic data acquisition and processing using the SENNA neuromorphic processor.
RX ASIC for 32-Channel PMUT array
Modelling of ultrasound systems
System modeling of ultrasound systems enables rapid virtual prototyping and allows early evaluation of the feasibility of a customer’s proposal before any hardware is built. By simulating the complete signal chain, including the PMUT and ASIC, different design options and operating conditions can be explored efficiently. This approach helps identify performance limits, potential risks, and optimization opportunities at an early stage. Furthermore, system modeling serves as a structured tool to derive key parameters and specifications, such as required sensitivity, bandwidth, power, and noise levels, and to estimate the development effort and complexity for both the ASIC and the PMUT design.
PMUT Array Design
An application-specific design of Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (PMUTs) for a broad ultrasound frequency range is crucial to ensure efficient and optimal operation of ultrasound systems in diverse use cases. By tailoring the PMUT design to the customer’s target application, such as imaging, ranging, or gesture recognition, the transducer performance can be optimized in terms of bandwidth, sensitivity, beam pattern, and power consumption. Based on the customer’s requirements, we can derive detailed specifications, perform modeling and simulation, fabricate prototypes, and experimentally validate the PMUT performance. In addition, we offer technology transfer services to support a reliable and scalable transition into volume production.
PMUT Array Design
An application-specific design of Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (PMUTs) for a broad ultrasound frequency range is crucial to ensure efficient and optimal operation of ultrasound systems in diverse use cases. By tailoring the PMUT design to the customer’s target application, such as imaging, ranging, or gesture recognition, the transducer performance can be optimized in terms of bandwidth, sensitivity, beam pattern, and power consumption. Based on the customer’s requirements, we can derive detailed specifications, perform modeling and simulation, fabricate prototypes, and experimentally validate the PMUT performance. In addition, we offer technology transfer services to support a reliable and scalable transition into volume production.