Speaker: Henrique Miranda

Title: Low-power and high-performance communication systems for wireless neural recorders

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Abstract:

Neural recording systems are fundamental to the advancement of brain-machine interfaces that can significantly improve the quality of lives of patients with neurological diseases, such as spinal cord injuries or quadriplegia.  To provide a high degree of usability and decoding accuracy, we have developed two broadband, wireless neural recording systems capable of simultaneously transmitting 32 to 96 channels of neural signals detected by an implanted neural sensor array.  This work was done within  the framework of the Hermes project and its technical challenges will be addressed in this talk.

In the first part we will introduce HermesD, a 32-channel broadband transmission system using an FSK modulated carrier at 24 Mbit/s in the 3.7 - 4.1 GHz band.  The link range extends beyond 20 m and the total power consumption is 125 mW.  The HermesD system uses only COTS components and can be easily replicated.  HermesD is fully operational and is currently used to transmit broadband neural data for neuroscience research in the Neural Prosthetic Systems Laboratory at Stanford University.  HermesD will also be the base platform for future human trials.

In the second part of the talk, we will discuss the HermesE system, which uses an ultra low-power UWB transmitter IC developed in 65-nm CMOS technology. The transmitted signal bandwidth covers the 3.6 to 7.5 GHz band. The time domain waveform is digitally programmable, allowing a very flexible control of the output spectrum to avoid interference and allow spectrum shaping. The UWB transmitter chip will be part of a 96-channel broadband recording system delivering 40 Mbit/s. Its power consumption is 230 uW for a communication range of about 5 m. The antennas designed and built for both HermesD and HermesE systems will also be addressed.

Speaker Bio:

Henrique Miranda received the Licenciatura and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, in 1995 and 1998, respectively.

In 1999, he joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, as a Professor Assistente.  In 2004, he joined Stanford University as a graduate student and is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  His research interests focus on low-power high rate communications systems for biomedical devices, including ultrawide band communication architectures and antennas.  In 2010 he joined Skybox Imaging, an aerospace startup company, as the architect of the RF and communications subsystem of a remote sensing micro satellite.

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