Circuit design for bio-inspired sampling

Contact: Adam, Karen

Synopsis: Biologically inspired A/D conversion

Level: BS/MS

Description: Sampling is a key step in converting any analogue signal to the digital world. Usually, it is done by recording the signal’s amplitude at certain predefined time points. In nature, sampling is done differently. A neuron integrates its input until a threshold is reached and then fires a spike. We want to mimic this behavior in hardware.

The goal of the project is to build a time encoding machine in hardware. First a circuit should be designed and simulated and, ideally, also built in hardware. However, depending on the student’s interests, more emphasis can be given to a hardware implementation or simulation. In either case, we aim to identify issues that could arise from moving biologically inspired sampling to physical hardware.

Deliverables: A circuit design with simulations and/or implementation, documented in a report.

References: [1] Aurel A Lazar and László T Tóth, “Perfect recovery and sensitivity analysis of time encoded bandlimited signals,” IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, vol. 51, no. 10, pp. 2060–2073, 2004.

Prerequisites: Agility in designing, simulating, testing circuits.

Type of Work: 25% circuit conceptualization, 50% circuit simulation, 25% circuit building. The amount of effort spent on each task will depend on the student and their interests.