Department System Design

IHP’s System Design department conducts research and development for high-end wireless solutions

Currently the main research topics are: Wireless Internet applications and middleware systems, optimized protocol processors for TCP/IP and MAC and baseband processors for several innovative wireless standards. IHP’s SiGe BiCMOS for hybrid integrated and embedded systems as system-on-chip is used whereever possible.
 
The vision and concept of work is determined by the conviction, that in the long term system-on-chip will be the winning solution for embedded systems including wireless communication.
 
The wireless engine concept realizes a vertical approach to a system-on-chip design for innovative wireless systems. Embedding multiple processors, an RF front-end, and baseband modules connected by a proper universal on-chip bus as well as memory integration, flexible processor cores and power management are our way of realizing this.
 
System Design activities started at the IHP in 1999. Thanks to an active project acquisition with significant third-party funding for IHP’s system and circuit design activities, the department has grown rapidly and now employs more than 40 scientists, PhD students, postdocs, and student workers.

All the functionalities shall be realized as a system-on-chip. Applying the vertical approach to the system, the interlayer interaction is optimized and a vertical migration of semantic elements is performed. 

Each module builds a system-on-chip for itself. Energy save modes for all components shall be used. The Inter Module Communiation is active only if events occur that have to be transmitted to another module.