Low-Power High-Speed Wired Communication for Biomedical Sensing Applications

Overview

Thedemand for high-speed data communication is increasing inseveral biomedical sensing applications, including real-timephysiological monitoring, neural interfaces, and high-resolution imaging.These applications generate large amounts of data that must betransmitted efficiently for real-time processing and analysis. However,traditional wired and wireless telemetry solutions often facesignificant power constraints, as they can be power-hungry dueto signal conditioning, modulation, and transmission losses. Wirelesstransmission typically requires RF circuits and power amplification,while conventional wired solutions suffer from resistive andcapacitive losses, limiting their energy efficiency.

Internship Scope

Thisinternship will explore an innovative wired data transmission technique designedto achieve high-speed communication while consuming lowerpower than conventional approaches. The objective is to perform aconceptual validation of this technique under laboratory conditions and toassess its feasibility for biomedical applications. An initial, promising proofof concept has already been achieved.

Key areas of investigationwill include:

• Achieving High Data Rates: Understanding the fundamental principles behind the proposed wired communication method and evaluating its data transmission potential.

• Power Efficiency: Comparing power consumption with existing wired and wireless transmission methods to quantify potential energy savings.

• PCB and Cable Considerations: Studying the electrical properties, material choices, and layout design required to support high-speed, low-power data transmission.

Expected Outcomes

• A proof-of-concept demonstration of the proposed low-power wired data transmission method.

• Identification of design constraints and requirements for cables and PCB layouts to sustain high data rates.

• Comparative analysis of power consumption and signal integrity versus conventional wired/wireless approaches.

Thisinternship provides an opportunity to work at the intersectionof biomedical electronics, high-speed communication, and low-powersystem design, making it ideal for students with interests in electroniccircuit design, signal processing, and biomedical engineering.

Required skills:

• Good understanding of electronics, including analog and digital circuit design.
• Good experience with FPGA programming (VHDL)

• Good experience with PCB design and layout

• Proficiency in microcontroller programming (e.g., C/C++)

• Experience with signal processing and debugging tools, such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.

• Strong problem-solving skills
• Eagerness to learn and innovate

Type of internship: Master internship, PhD internship

Duration: 6 months

Required educational background: Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Computer Science

University promotor: Chris Van Hoof (KU Leuven)

Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Patrick Hendrickx ([email protected])

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-046. Mention this reference code in your application.

Imec allowance will be provided.

Applications should include the following information:

• resume
• motivation
• current study

Incomplete applications will not be considered.