System-on-a-chip design methodologies and issues for transducer-to-pico-network applications

The unique phenomenology of transducers complicates designing the interface of the transducer-to-pico-network protocol. This paper will explore the methodologies and issues involved in the design flow of a mixed-signal microchip through a sensor-to-pico-network design example that has been fabricated in the AMI 0.5 μm process. The design methodologies include a careful decomposition between the digital and analog sections, as well as between the individual analog blocks, which decreases time-to-market and enhances design reuse. The fabricated design includes a 4-20 mA receiver, a second-order Sigma-Delta Modulator, fourth-order sinc filter, and an SPI block