Analog, Mixed-mode and Power integrated circuits and Systems Group

The AMPS Group (Analog, Mixed-mode and Power integrated circuits and Systems Group), operates in the field of analog, mixed-signal, and power electronics, developing advanced and unconventional solutions at the integrated circuit and system level for intelligent and highly energy-efficient integrated systems. The research activities cover the entire design flow, from high-level exploration of innovative architectures to circuit design, up to prototyping and experimental characterization of integrated circuits.
A distinctive feature of the group is the investigation of innovative digital-based solutions for the design of analog and mixed-mode circuits and systems, which overcome the bottlenecks of traditional analog design (e.g., static power consumption, sensitivity to process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations, etc...), which are especially critical in advanced technology nodes. Such innovative approaches are key enablers to meet the tight area and power requirements of emerging applications such as next-generation biosensors (wearables, Body Dust) and Internet of Things (IoT) sensor nodes, intended to be powered by energy harvesters and/or millimeter-scale batteries.
In this perspective, the group’s activities are focused on the development of circuits and systems suitable for operation at ultra-low supply voltage (ULV, <0.5V) and ultra-low power consumption (ULP, nW-range), capable of intelligent (self-)reconfiguration and compatible with a digital design flows (standard cell-based). A relevant research area concerns advanced analog interfaces for electrochemical biosensors, where accuracy, robustness, and energy consumption represent key design constraints.
In the field of data conversion, the group studies and develops innovative analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion solutions (e.g., relaxation-based D/A converters and dyadic digital pulse modulation (DDPM)-based solutions), optimized in terms of performance, power consumption, and integration.
In parallel, the group develops advanced solutions for power management (<1 kW), including switching-mode DC-DC converters and renewable energy conversion systems based on partial-power processing (PPP), with the goal of maximizing energy efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions, and ensuring reliability throughout the entire lifecycle. The activities also include modeling and control techniques for power converters and innovative digital pulse-width modulators (DPWM), which are fundamental in high-performance power electronic systems featuring power devices in emerging GaN and SiC technologies.
A further distinctive element of the group is the focus on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues and performance at both integrated circuit and system level, with particular emphasis to immunity to RF interference of analog integrated circuits, and the reduction of electromagnetic emissions in power circuits. In this context, the group develops methodologies that integrate accurate modeling of electromagnetic phenomena with interference mitigation techniques, such as spread-spectrum approaches, contributing to the realization of robust systems compliant with regulatory standards.