Circuits/Systems
Established in the year of 1977 and 1983 of master and doctorate programs, respectively, the graduate school at the Department of Electrical Engineering has been one of the most prestigious postgraduate institutes in Taiwan. Our department strives to provide graduate studies with research-oriented inter-disciplinary excellence. Currently, there are two research groups of the master and doctorate programs in the department : Power Engineering Group and Circuits/Systems Group.
【 Circuits/Systems Group 】
Faculty ： 25 Full-Time Teachers
Postgraduate students ：
More than 120 postgraduate students are being recruited in the research group each year.
The main research areas and topics of this group include ：
► Speech and Audio Signal Processing
► Multimedia Signal Processing
► Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing
► System Biology and Bioinformatics
► Human-Centered Behavioral Signal Processing
► RF and Microwave IC
► Advanced Analog & Mixed-Signal IC
► Communication IC
► Biomimetic System IC
► Advanced IC Testing
► Biological Synthetic Genetic Circuit
List of labs in the group ：
Automatic Control 、 Signal Processing 、 and Systems Biology Lab
Prof. Bor-Sen Chen
The Control, Signal and Systems biology Lab
Since most systems in the world are nonlinear and stochastic, the Control, Signal and Systems biology Lab focuses on the nonlinear stochastic and partial differential H ∞ robust control design theory and its application to control, signal process and systems biology. Nonlinear stochastic H ∞ robust control is one of the most difficult problem in the control theory and design because the designer needs to consider the nonlinearity, stochastic disturbance, external noise and robustness of the system all together. The Control, Signal and Systems biology Lab is constituted by three research groups: Control theory group, Signal process group and Systems biology group. For the control theory group, we focus on the robust H ∞ control design in the nonlinear partial differential systems and multiobjective H ∞ robust control design in the nonlinear stochastic systems. For the signal process group, we focus on the multiobjective H ∞ robust filter design in the nonlinear stochastic and partial differential systems. In many situations, the designer expects that the controller and filter are not only optimal but also robust so that our lab members are enthusiastic about the application of multiobjective H ∞ robust controller and filter design and have brilliant results. For the Systems biology group, the advent of the era of big data has created many new industries and also promoted scientific research toward an unprecedented direction. In the course of such a large, diverse, and heterogeneous information to be quickly generated, we have noted that the core is the big mechanism hidden behind big data. Through understanding big mechanisms (mathematical models), we can bring the big data more effective application to all levels. Our laboratory has focused on big data in a high-throughput microarray technology and the next generation sequencing to establish a dynamic mathematical model for big mechanisms of the organism in a variety of environmental conditions, such as aging, cancer, immunity, reproduction, diseases, etc. the hot topics in biology. Dynamic mathematical models for big mechanisms of biological systems based on the system identification and big data mining technology can not only explain the underlying mechanisms of biological phenomena but also quantify and measure the various features and mechanisms of biological systems based on the stochastic systems theory, such as stability at all levels of biological networks, sensitivity, robustness, noise filtering capabilities, signal transmission capacity and so on. In the line with engineering robust design, we can design for abnormal and vulnerable parts of biological systems and enhance their robustness.
Prof. Bor-Sen Chen
The Genetic Circuit Design Lab
The genetic circuit design lab whose major research field is synthetic biology have outstanding results and developed some kinds of genetic circuits, e.g. various biological filters, biological transistors, biosensors, actuators, and temperature-regulated genetic circuits to regulate the metabolic pathway to produce bio-energy (isobutanol) in Escherichia coli. Synthetic biology, which combines different fields of disciplines such as biochemistry, engineering, bioinformatics, electrical engineering, and computer informatics, is the new discipline in 21st century. It not only puts emphasis on designing genetic circuits and rewiring and improving the inherent pathways in organisms, but also utilizes the engineering methods to construct the genetic circuits to solve the issues of energy, materials, and environmental protection. Until now, synthetic biology has great improvements in drug development, energy exploitation, and enzymes production, and it has been identified as one of the newly ten skills potential to change the world. Europe, America, Japan, and China have paid much attention to synthetic biology, and have invested many capital funds in researches and industrialization. Synthetic biology has great potency for development, especially in the fields of green energy development, drug designs, and the relative production, and it will bring great benefit and deep influence with development. Taiwan has the fundamentals on biotechnology, and ranks among the best in integrated circuit (IC) designs and IC chip production. We can combine the skills of IC and biological genetic circuit to obtain a niche in the field of synthetic gene circuits and upgrade the relative industries. At present, the lab members are enthusiastic about the applications of the systematic methods to biomedicine and bioenergy to have brilliant results.
Communication Science Research Laboratory (CSRL)
Prof. Chung-Chin Lu
The Communication Science Research Laboratory conducts research in four areas:
(1) Error-correcting codes: we focus on algebraic-geometry codes, low-density parity-check codes, space-time codes and polar codes, including code construction and encoding/decoding.
(2) Digital communication system design: we focus on synchronization architecture for OFDM, collaborative coding to mitigate multiple access interference and network coding.
(3) Systems bioinformatics: we focus on gene structure prediction, gene regulation signal prediction, enzyme active site prediction and protein-protein interaction.
(4) Quantum communications: we focus on quantum error-correcting codes, quantum cryptography, quantum detection theory and quantum Information theory.
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC)
Prof. Cheng-Wen Wu
Introduction to Laboratory for Reliable Computing
The Laboratory for Reliable Computing at the EE Department of National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) includes eleven faculty members (Professors Ping-Hsuan Hsieh, Ta-Shun Chu, Chih-Cheng Hsieh, Kea-Tiong Tang, Meng-Fan Chang, Hsi-Pin Ma, Jing-Jia Liou, Po-Chiun Huang, Shi-Yu Huang, Tsin-Yuan Chang and Cheng-Wen Wu) and more than one hundred and sixty graduate (MS and PhD) students. Professors Chang and Wu in the past few years have been offering to the EE graduate students courses on VLSI Design, VLSI Algorithms, Computer Arithmetic, Computer Architecture, VLSI Testing, and Fault Tolerant Computing. Their lab has received multi-million-dollar (in NT dollars) research contracts and grants from both the government and the industry each year. Together with four other young and energetic faculty members from the CS Department whose expertise covers a wide range of topics in computer-aided VLSI design, the NTHU group is showing a rapid growing strength in theoretical and practical research. Their research activities are focused in the areas of testable and fault tolerant VLSI circuit/system design and test.
In testable VLSI systems design, stress has been placed on the study of testing and testable design techniques for high performance application specific VLSI systems, especially those with a regular structure. With the rapid progress of VLSI technology and the increasing quest of high speed digital signal processing hardware, iterative logic arrays (ILAs) are becoming more and more popular due to their superiority in computational performance and ease of design and test. The NTHU team's study of ILAs stands out and has provided theory and techniques for C-testable and M-testable ILA design, and test generation of various ILAs, including unilateral and bilateral arrays, combinational and sequential arrays, hexagonally connected and octagonally connected arrays, multidimensional arrays, and arrays with sequential faults. This study has led the way to important results on easily testable design of high speed cellular-array multipliers, differential-cascode-voltage-switch (DCVS) finite-field multipliers, and high performance digital-signal-processing (DSP) and communications circuits.
In fault tolerant VLSI systems design, concurrent error detection theory and techniques have been emphasized, which include design of conventional (i.e., gate-level circuits modeled by single stuck-at faults and/or unidirectional faults) and CMOS self-checking checkers (modeled by switch-level faults, in addition to classical faults), Iddq design-for-testability schemes (using on-chip current sensor circuits), and concurrent error detectable FPLAs, arithmetic circuits (e.g., multipliers), and interconnection networks (e.g., FFT butterfly networks). They are also interested in fault tolerant memory system architectures, and have reported results on highly reliable fault tolerant interleaved memory systems for uniprocessor and multiprocessor computer architectures.
Computer and High-Speed Interconnection Network Lab
Prof. Yar-Sun Hsu
(1) 多重處理器與計算機系統之架構及設計 : VLSI 的進步 , 可以用 SoC 的技術將多個同性質或不同性質的處理器 ( 例如 Graphics Processor Unit(GPU), DSP processor, embedded processor, network processor, communication processor 等 ), 記憶體 , 及其他功能的 modules 設計在一個晶片上 , 但也因此產生許多問題 , 如 cache coherency, memory hierarchy, universal bus, I/O, multithreading 等等問題 , 此計畫著重在 SoC 的 S (system) 部份 , 亦即如何在晶片設計之前 , 能先行作系統架構的設計及效能評估 , 目的在避免晶片設計完後 , 才發現不如預期而導致大量晶片設計時間的浪費 .
(2) 高速高效能連接網路設計 : 由於個人電腦的普及化 , 趨勢將是如何用高速高效能交換網路將多個運算核心連接成一個高性能的計算系統 . 其設計包括 on-chip interconnection network, network interface 等的架構及其晶片設計 , 以及資源管理 , 負載平衡等等 , 並延伸到 switching system area network, single system image, parallel file system, fault tolerant computing 等的研究 . 這類高效能系統可作為各種應用的伺服器 (server), 處理大量資料或提供許多應用所需的大量運算或儲存 , 例如減少晶片設計所需之時間 , 等等 . 由此並延伸到雲端運算的研究 , 與全球分享電腦資源 .
IC Design Exploration Lab. (IC-DeX)
Prof. Shi-Yu Huang
The research interests of this lab broadly cover VLSI design, automation, and testing, with prior experiences on formal verification, power estimation, fault diagnosis, and resilient nanometer SRAM Design. More recently, it is more concentrated on all-digital timing circuit designs, such as all-digital phase-locked loop (PLL), all-digital delay-locked loop (DLL), time-to-digital converter (TDC), and their applications to parametric fault testing for interconnects. Also, in response to rising demand of higher reliability for multi-die 3D-ICs used in applications ranging from implantable biomedical electronics, automotive electronics, and hard-to-deploy sensors in Internet of Things (IoT), a nick-named “regenerative long-life design methodology” is currently under exploration. From this lab, two research achievements including “eClock – a cell-based PLL compiler” and “PowerMixer – a multi-level power estimation software tool” were ever made commercial products.
Electronic Circuit and Technology Laboratory
Prof. Mi-Chang Chang
Electronics industry has brought huge changes to our daily lives and will continue to do so in the future. This industry today is primarily built upon semiconductor technologies. With smaller and advanced semiconductor devices and interconnect technology, high performance, low power, low cost and better functionality Integrated Circuits (ICs) are made possible. But, the challenges for the advanced semiconductor technologies are also increasing in difficulty.
One of the important trends of this industry is the increasing mutual dependency of semiconductor technology development and circuit design. Technology limitations can be overcome by placing some constraints to circuit and layout design; on the other hand, circuit designs need to be aware physical implications such as proximity effects. Only co-optimizing both technology and circuit design together, better IC products can be achieved with short time-to-market constraints.
In our lab, we study the impacts of the advanced technologies to integrated circuit performance. Circuit solutions to improved performance, power and area are some of the research objectives. For example, parasitic resistance, capacitance, and even inductance, are no longer secondary effects in circuits designed using advanced technologies. With smaller device and interconnect dimensions, local electric field can be large enough to cause reliability problems. Design methodology to address these effects should be carefully studied; while device design to minimize these effects should also be included or proper models developed to facilitate design simulations.
Design techniques to address these effects are also the focuses of our lab. For example, asynchronous design methodology needs no global clocks and hence no clock skew problem, in addition to the higher performance due to average delay instead of worst-case delay dominates the circuit performance. Due to larger device variations and path skews associated with the advanced technologies, asynchronous design methodology may be an alternative design approach to alleviate constraints from the technology.
Of course, applications of these design techniques are also part of our lab's objectives. An example is the retinal chip design as part of the Sub-retinal Prosthesis Project.
Prof. Jay Cheng
Current research interests–
game theory 、 network science 、 optical queueing theory
Past research interests–
high-speed switching、information theory 、 wireless communications
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC)- Mixed-Signal Research (MSR) Group
Prof. Po-Chiun Huang
Research Interests ： Analog/Mixed Signal/RF Techniques for Wireline/Wireless Communications ， SoC Power Managements ， and Biomedical Low-Voltage Low-Power Applications 。
2014 設計 : Integrated MEMs/Mixed Signal/RF/Digital SoC
Prof. Chia-Wen Lin
(Under Construction)
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC)
Prof. Jing-Jia Liou
Observing the trends of system-level design, our research activities have been focusing on two major themes: (1) the electronic system-level design platform for many cores, and (2) test and diagnosis with machine learning techniques. The following is a detailed description:
1. ESL platform for many-core systems
We have been developing an ESL design platform for many cores which includes processing elements (clusters of CPU cores with local memories), network-on-chip (NoC), and multi-channel external memories. Several parallel benchmark programs have been ported to the platform: object tracking, jpeg encoding, 3D pipeline rasterization, etc. The platform provides a flexible design environments for fast prototyping. We are currently extending the platform for optimization on heterogeneous workloads and non-volatile memory architectures.
2. Test and diagnosis with machine learning techniques
The objective is to develop methods and flows for efficient test and diagnosis on systematic process variations and to use the results to further tune on-chip hardware parameters to increase product yield. Currently we are working on analyzing big test data for system-level tests.
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC)- Memory Design Lab
Prof. Meng-Fan Chang
l Circuit designs for volatile and nonvolatile memory (SRAM, DRAM, ROM, NOR-Flash, NAND-Flash)
l Ultra-low-voltage and sub-threshold circuit designs (for bio-medical, wearable and IoT applications)
l Circuit designs for 3D-IC and emerging Memory (TSV-RAM, 3D-NAND, ReRAM, PCRAM, STT-MRAM)
l System-circuit co-designs for memory architecture (for cloud and big-data applications)
l Device-circuit co-designs for emerging devices (3D-Monolithic, Spintronics, Memristors, .. etc.)
Computer Applications Lab
Prof. Tai-Lang Jong
(Under Construction)
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC)
Prof. Hsi-Pin Ma
Our group is working mainly on biomedical electronics applications and related signal processing. For communications, the system design, signal processing algorithm development, and SoC implementation for advanced MIMO communications and cognitive radio are still covered. Techniques related to UAV are started to be involved.
▪ Biomedical Electronics Applications : System design, prototyping, and energy-efficient DSP processing; mobile phone sensors/apps for biomedical applications; wearable applications; interdisciplinary art team collaboration
▪ Biomedical Signal Processing : ECG signal preprocessing, analysis, and statistics; closed-loop neural signal processing
▪ Communication Systems and SoC Implementation : System design, performance analysis and implementation (Advanced MIMO Communications, Cognitive Radio); drone-related technologies and applications; 5G.
Error-correction code ： Theory & IC design Lab
Prof. Yeong-Luh Ueng
The information of communication or storage systems tends to be affected by the environment, however, this can be mitigated by using the technique of error correcting codes. There are plenty of error correcting codes or channel codes, including LDPC codes, Turbo codes and Polar codes, etc. Different codes have different purposes, some are suitable for the mobile communication, and others are good for the storage purpose. Our Lab focuses on the algorithm and hardware design of error correcting codes, and have published these prolific results in the world’s famous journals. Moreover, we have developed several applications of error correcting codecs for Wi-MAX, Wi-Fi, 10Gbps Ethernet, G.hn, SRAM, and Flash memory systems. Our lab is now divided into 2 groups of SYSTEM and IC.
The research topics of SYSTEM group are: (1) Code constructions and related decoding algorithms; (2) Advanced channel coding for the next generation wireless communication systems; (3) Applications of error correcting codes to image and biometric systems.
The research topics of IC group are: (1) IC design for low-error-floor and high-throughput channel codecs for storage and optical communications; (2) Wireless communication IC designs, such as variable-rate channel codecs for 5G mobile communications and iterative detection/decoding receivers for MIMO systems.
Biophotonic & Ultrasonic Imaging Laboratory
Prof. Meng-Lin Li
The biophotonic and ultrasonic imaging lab (BUIL) is dedicated to developing novel photoacoustic and ultrasonic imaging techniques, including systems and algorithms, to advance bio-science, clinical diagnosis, and therapeutic monitoring. We work closely with bio-scientists, clinicians and the industry to explore and solve important issues impacting the real world. The research work in BUIL is highly interdisciplinary. Currently, we are actively involved in investigating (1) resolution improved and ultrafast imaging techniques, (2) functional photoacoustic microscopy for neuro-vascular imaging on small animals, (3) cancer-related calcification imaging techniques, and (4) image guidance techniques for HIFU- and laser-based thermal ablation and drug delivery.
Gas Experiment and Material Coating Laboratory
Prof. Kea Tiong Tang
This laboratory supports the EE faculty to research on gas experiment and sensing material coating. The lab provides equipment of material coating, sensor measurement, and gas experiment.
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC) - NBME ( Neuromorphic and Biomedical Engineering Lab)
Prof. Kea Tiong Tang
Our lab focuses in the integration of electronics and life science. Based on analog/mixed-signal IC design, we conduct research in two domains:
(1) Biomimetic system IC: For example, electronic nose can sense the gas molecules in the air for long-term monitoring and detection. This system can be applied to environmental monitoring, medical diagnosis, and food freshness to improve the quality of life.
(2) Biomedical system IC: We design implantable ICs for retinal prosthesis and deep brain stimulation. These ICs provide a potential solution for unmet medical needs.
Biomedical electronics teaching laboratory
Prof. Hsin Chen
Prof. Kea Tiong Tang
Biomedical electronics teaching laboratory is established to support biomedical electronics courses offered in the department of E.E. The experimental contents include but not limited to electrophysiology, biomedical chip measurement, implantable chip measurement, animal study, neural signal acquisition and stimulation.
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC) - Signal Sensing and Application Lab (SiSAL)
Prof. Chih-Cheng Hsieh
The SiSAL (Signal Sensing and Application Laboratory) group was formed in September 2007 in the department of Electrical Engineering at National Tsing Hua University, and is advised by the Professor Chih-Cheng Hsieh.
The primary goal of SiSAL is the research and development of innovative circuit and system level solutions including CMOS imaging sensor IC, low-voltage low-power analog-to-digital converter (ADC), smart image sensing IC with array-level preprocessing, analog and mixed-mode IC, and biomedical sensing applications. The research objective of SiSAL is concluded by the cooperation with industry and other research center ensured by regular interaction. As part of the Laboratory of Reliable Computing (LaRC), an academic research/industry and university consortium, SiSAL strives to create breakthroughs beneficial to the focused research areas.
Prof. Yi-Wen Liu
Students at all levels (PhD, MS, undergraduates) with interdisciplinary background (Math, Physics, Engineering, Biology) are welcome to join. Ongoing research topics include:
1. "Acoustic Reality Mining" via networked microphones
2. Computer modeling of cochlear mechanics and neural dynamics in the auditory brainstem
3. Biology-inspired machine listening
4. Otoacoustic emissions: Theory and measurements
LaRC Digital and Analog Testing Room
Prof. Ta-Shun Chu
At present, the laboratory directed by eleven co-teacher, counted more than 160 doctoral students have master device SUN workstations and Pentium PC has dozens, all kinds of digital / analog measuring instruments include oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and signal sources generator, etc. to assist Implementing and wafer measurement entities and systems. At the same time with the support of the National Science Council of the wafer center, all kinds of software are designed to synchronize with industry. Complete software and hardware equipment, with solid research team, enough to cope with the challenges of complex design, cultivate outstanding design talent.
High speed Integrated Circuit and System Design Lab
Prof. Ta-Shun Chu
The radio frequency integrated circuit and system research group specializes in the design of integrated circuit and the system design of high speed integrated circuit. The research of the integrated circuit focuses on the radio, mm-wave and mixed-mode circuit design. For the high frequency integrated circuit, our research topics include low-noise amplifier (LNA), mixer, phase-locked loop (PLL), power amplifier (PA) and so on. For the mixed-mode and analog circuit, our research topics include programmable gain amplifier (PGA), filter and analog-to-digital converter (ADC). With the design experience of the single circuit block, our research group also dedicates in the radar system, namely, biomedical radar system, collision avoidance radar and GHz radar. Our research group including 7 Ph.D students and 12 master students specialize in the various researches. In recent year, we have published lots of excellent papers and journals in the international organization.
Laboratory for Reliable Computing (LaRC) - Energy-Efficient Systems Research Group (EESRG)
Prof. Ping-Hsuan Hsieh
Our research is focused on energy-efficient circuits and systems designs, including high-speed electrical data communications, clocking and synchronization systems, and energy harvesting systems for wireless sensor networks and machine-to-machine applications.
Vision Circuits and Systems Lab
Prof. Chao-Tsung Huang
Our research focuses on digital circuits and systems for computer vision applications, especially for light-field processing and computational photography. The design space is from algorithm exploration to VLSI architecture design, chip implementation, and demo system. Our goal is to investigate how far we can push the boundaries of computer vision applications with the continually increasing digital processing power.
Behavioral Informatics & Interaction Computation Lab (BIIC)
Prof. Chi-Chun Lee
BIIC lab conducts fundamental and applied research in human-centered behavioral signal processing (BSP) – an interdisciplinary research direction across behavioral science and engineering. BIIC lab objective is to develop novel computational algorithms, i.e., behavioral informatics, to model human behaviors during interactions in a domain-aware & scientifically-relevant manner. These computational methods that model human behavior signals that are manifested in both overt and covert cues, processed and used by humans explicitly or implicitly, and facilitate human analysis and decision making.
Prof. Min Sun
Vision science and its technologies have great impact in computer vision, robot vision, mobile vision, etc. I aim to build game changing applications that improve our daily life, where vision science is the key enabler.
As for now, I focus on taking advantages of A) the huge amount of 2D/3D/4D visual data (e.g., images, depths, videos, etc.) and B) the ubiquitous sensory information that captures human behaviors (e.g., gaze, GPS location, motion, etc.) to understand the world we live in. I envision that the ability to understand how humans interact with/in the world opens the doors for vision science to improve our family life, traveling/transiting experience, and working condition.
System and Storage Design Laboratory (SSD Lab)
Prof. Ren-Shuo Liu
Students having interests in computer architecture and computer systems are welcome to join in!
Studying computer architecture and systems involves hardware-software co-design and multidiscipline techniques. These types of π -style talents and backgrounds are increasingly valuable to the industry nowadays.
Our ongoing research topics include:
1. Architecting computer solid state storage, e.g., SSDs
2. Architecting computer main memory
3. Emerging techniques such as many-core processing and in-memory processing
Prof. Wei-Yu Chiu