Telecommunications Technologies and Intelligent Systems

The main activities of the IEMN in this broad spectrum axis are grouped in 4 federative actions:

Action 1

Mobile communicating objects sensor networks and high speed proximity networks

This interdisciplinary action is developed in close collaboration with the LIFL (Lille Computer Science Laboratory) within the framework of the IRCICA Research Federation (FR CNRS 3024). The IEMN is in charge of the physical and MAC layers while the LIFL develops the communication middleware and routing algorithms.

The work focuses on proximity networks using the 60 GHz radio channel and mixed fiber-radio links for global intra-building coverage.

This study includes:

• Survey and modeling of the 60 GHz channel and optimization of radio resource sharing.
• The development of miniature and ultra-low power radio modules for sensor network nodes using an ultra wide band pulse technique and an advanced BiCMOS die (ST-M)
• The development of very high-speed (>7Gb/s) local area networks (WLAN / WPAN) using complex vector modulation schemes and frequency multiplexing techniques.
• The development of collective packaging and heterogeneous integration technologies for the realization of Systems In Package (SIP) integrating MEMS-based agile antennas.
• Energy recovery and transformation.

Action 2

Telecommunication and radio-location for transport

This action is mainly devoted to land transport in the automotive and railway environment. It includes :

• Work on the complex coupling phenomena between cable bundles and automotive connectors based on both theoretical electromagnetic studies and enhanced reverberation chamber measurements.
• Characterization of the electromagnetic environment on board trains and study of electromagnetic disturbances induced by a railway substation.
• The study of intra-vehicle communications on the electrical network (Power Line Communication) in order to characterize and model the propagation channel to develop the most appropriate channel coding to avoid parasites such as impulsive noise.
• The deployment of MIMO communications in tunnels based on the concept of modal diversity to improve the ergodic capacity of the channel and the development of a new test bench to simulate a multipath environment and test MIMO systems.
• Design and realization of radiolocation and distance measurement systems using ultra wide band or spread spectrum techniques (AOA, TOA, TDOA).

Action 3

Digital RF communications and radio and radar software design

This action concerns :

• The development of specific digital signal processing techniques to improve the performance of DMT and OFDM multi-carrier links
• The design and production of ultra-wideband digitisers (DC - 20GHz) with high resolution (>8 effective bits) and high dynamic range (>60 dB) for the digital processing of complex radar signals
• The development of RF interface for radiology in mobile terminals based on advanced CMOS technologies, BAW filtering and SIP/SoC integration (ST-M collaboration)
• The development of multistandard fiber-radio transmissions using acousto-optical components for wavelength division multiplexing, ULB signal propagation and optical CDMA multiple access.

Action 4

Specific devices and microwave applications

These studies include:

• The development of passive imaging systems in the mm. and sub-mm. range using synthetic aperture antenna techniques
• The development of non-destructive characterization devices in the microwave and millimeter range, in particular scanning near-field microwave microscopes and radiometers for biological applications and industrial process control.