Low-power Multimedia Signal Processing for Embedded Systems

Michael Ansorge, Institute of Microtechnology, University of Neuchâtel

Abstract: The design of smart multi-functional low-power and miniature embedded systems asks for a quite wide expertise encompassing a refined understanding of the signal modalities (e.g. image, video, audio, biomedical) dealt with so as to identify general or application-specific signal properties that are exploitable, a sound background in algorithmics to adequately reformulate and optimise signal processing algorithms according to application-driven requirements, and a solid experience in system partitioning and hardware / software implementation. Of course, with the rising level of miniaturization, functionality and portability / mobility, the challenges regarding selection of optimal system architectures, regarding energy management, user interfacing and personalization, and especially regarding robustness to drastic changes of the user environment due to mobility, are relentlessly becoming tighter. Experience shows that the joint mastering of these different fields is a key to gain in design flexibility, out of which original integrated solutions can be conceived that offer a global optimum to the given context.
 

The aforementioned aspects will be illustrated in the talk by presenting three very low-power functionalities designed by the team over the last 10 years for smart multifunctional microsystems, mobile communicators and Personal Digital Assistants, namely 1) image acquisition (microcameras), 2) image / video compression, and 3) face authentication for secured access to sensitive data and teleservices. The developed concepts and components were duly tested using adequate platforms, resulting as well in an industrial prototype.

About the speaker: Michael Ansorge received the diploma in Electrical Engineering from EPFL in 1980, and later the Ph.D. degree and the Venia Docendi degree (equivalent to habilitation degree) from the University of Neuchâtel in 2000 and 2003, respectively. From 1980 till 1986, he worked at the Centre Electronique Horloger S.A. (CEH) in Neuchâtel, which became part of the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology S.A. (CSEM) in 1984. Since 1986, he is with the Electronics and Signal Processing Laboratory at IMT UniNE, where he is heading the Low-Power Multimedia Processing Group dealing with the very low-power implementation of multimedia signal processing algorithms for image, video, speech, and audio, among further signal modalities, with target platforms encompassing VLSI SoCs, FPGAs, DSPs, etc.

Michael Ansorge is Swiss delegate to the COST Domain Committee for Information and Communication Technologies / Brussels (ca 25 running Actions representing ca 2'500 scientists). He is editorial board member of the J. of Low Power Electronics, member of several societies (e.g. SM IEEE, EURASIP, ECS, ISCA), and (co-) author of various publications and patents. He is honorary member of the Senate of the Technical University of Iasi / Romania, and intervenes as expert for different organizations.


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