Autonomous Microsystems for Downhole Applications: Design Challenges, Current State, and Initial Test Results.

This paper describes two platforms for autonomous sensing microsystems that are intended for deployment in chemically corrosive environments at elevated temperatures and pressures. Following the deployment period, the microsystems are retrieved, recharged, and interrogated wirelessly at close proximity. The first platform is the Michigan Micro Mote for High Temperature (M³HT), a chip stack 2.9 × 1.1 × 1.5 mm³ in size. It uses RF communications to support pre-deployment and post-retrieval functions, and it uses customized electronics to achieve ultralow power consumption, permitting the use of a chip-scale battery. The second platform is the Environmental Logging Microsystem (ELM). This system, which is 6.5 × 6.3 × 4.5 mm³ in size, uses the smallest suitable off-the-shelf electronic and battery components that are compatible with assembly on a flexible printed circuit board. Data are stored in non-volatile memory, permitting retrieval even after total power loss. Pre-deployment and post-retrieval functions are supported by optical communication. Two types of encapsulation methods are used to withstand high pressure and corrosive environments: an epoxy filled volume is used for the M³HT, and a hollow stainless-steel shell with a sapphire lid is used for both the M³HT and ELM. The encapsulated systems were successfully tested at temperature and pressure reaching 150 °C and 10,000 psi, in environments of concentrated brine, oil, and cement slurry. At elevated temperatures, the limited lifetimes of available batteries constrain the active deployment period to several hours.

A 99nW 70.4kHz Resistive Frequency Locking On-Chip Oscillator with 27.4ppm/°C Temperature Stability.

We present a low power on-chip oscillator for system-on-chip designs. The oscillator introduces a resistive frequency locking loop topology where the equivalent resistance of a switched-capacitor is matched to a temperature-compensated resistor. The approach eliminates the traditional comparator from the oscillation loop, which consumes significant power and limits temperature stability in conventional relaxation oscillators. The oscillator is fabricated in 0.18µm CMOS and exhibits 27.4ppm/°C and <7ppm long-term stability while consuming 99.4nW at 70.4 kHz.