Ultra-Miniaturized, Secure Wake-Up Receiver Based on THz Carrier Wave

Abstract

Devices have become smaller over the last few decades, and billions of devices are estimated to be connected in the 2030s. Researchers are developing small-scale, massively deployable wireless nodes for various applications that can work together to collect information and build large networks. These miniaturized wireless nodes require various functionalities, including communication, sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting. There is a growing need for the development of mm2 sized wake-up receivers to prolong the battery life on these devices. The mm-wave/THz spectrum is a promising candidate for millimeter-scale wake-up receiver designs as it is compatible with on-chip antenna integration.

A prototype wake-up receiver using THz carrier wave was fabricated using TSMC 65nm technology. The wake-up receiver, which includes on-chip integrated patch antennas, captures the THz signal, which is then rectified and passed through amplifier-filter stages and digitized by a comparator. It authenticates wake-up patterns, generates wake-up signals, and updates the cryptographically randomized tokens. The system operates at 0.8 V and consumes 2.88 𝜇W, with a sensitivity of -48 dBm at a data rate of 1.02 kbps. Power consumption can be reduced to 750 nW with within-bit duty cycling. The WuRx has been tested at a distance of several meters and paired with a beam-steerable THz reflectarray, demonstrating its potential for real-world applicability.