The 15th International Conference on Electronics, Communications and Networks (CECNet 2025)

Abstract: This talk presents the complete design process of an ultra-low-power IoT application for gas sensing, powered by an energy-harvesting, zero-carbon device. The process begins with selecting the semiconductor technology that best meets the application’s requirements. Based on its capabilities, we design the circuits needed to drive and read out the gas sensor. A key step is the modeling of the sensor using Verilog-A, which serves as the basis for designing the system’s drivers and actuators.
The talk will cover the entire design flow, from simulation and sensor model optimization to the integration of energy-efficient components. The final design showcases an IoT sensing node that operates continuously, powered by a clean energy source. At its core, the controlling chip consumes only 12 µW, enabling ultra-low-power performance. Key decisions in circuit design, power management, and system integration will be highlighted, demonstrating how we managed to maintain low power while meeting the application’s performance requirements. The talk concludes with a demonstration of the full IoT sensing node, operating autonomously using energy harvested from ambient sources and validated in real-world conditions. We will also discuss how the overall energy consumption depends on the selected communication technology (e.g., BLE or LoRa), and how this influences the system’s autonomy.

Biography: Oscar Alonso was born in Barcelona in 1982. He received the Ph.D. degree in engineering and advanced technologies from the University of Barcelona, Spain, in 2012. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona. His research focuses on VLSI circuit design, with experience in ASIC development for a wide range of applications. These include analog IPs for high-energy physics experiments (such as the Belle II tracker in Japan and the ILC), IPs for RISC-V-based processors, medical and biomedical devices, and system-on-chip (SoC) designs for autonomous and sustainable electronics. His recent work explores low-power and flexible IGZO-based circuits for environmentally conscious applications, including disposable and energy-harvesting IoT systems.