Michigan Integrated Circuits Laboratory (MICL)
University of Michigan
Welcome to the MICL
Moore’s Law continues to push semiconductor manufacturing capabilities forward at an exponential pace. Integrated circuits, and systems built using them, are at the heart of the enduring micro- and nanoelectronics revolution. Circuit design advances enable research in key areas of societal interest, including health care, the environment, and energy. The Michigan Integrated Circuits Laboratory (MICL) brings together researchers with expertise in a range of circuit and system design issues, with particular emphasis on building pioneering demonstration systems in exciting application areas.
What We Do
MICL faculty in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan are investigating very-large scale integrated (VLSI) digital circuits, analog and mixed-signal circuits, wireless/radio-frequency (RF) circuits, as well as sensing systems built out of these components. Supplementing this fundamental circuit design research, they participate in numerous major research centers, which often have a large system-building (testbed) component. Participation in these research centers, funded by NSF, NIST, DARPA, and the Army among others, allows MICL faculty to interact with application researchers as well as experts in other engineering domains. Applications of particular focus include implantable medical devices, as well as energy harvesting based systems offering perpetual operation.
World’s Smallest Computer
As computing devices progress toward smaller and more efficient designs, Michigan Engineers have taken the lead in millimeter sized units that can perform on many alternating platforms. Dennis Sylvester and David Blaauw have developed units capable of harvesting solar power to utilize wireless communication, pressure and temperature sensors and even still image and video processing.Powering the Internet of Things
Imagine a gym shirt that tells an app your body temp and heart rate, or could alert you before an asthma attack happens. What if your plant fertilizer reminded your cell phone when it was time to water? The Internet of Things, and Prof. David Wentzloff, will soon make things like this a reality.)Julia Gersey receives ACM SenSys 2025 Best Poster Award for work on sensing city environments
Gersey is integrating computer vision-based infrastructure analysis with mobile air quality monitoring to explore urban conditions that can affect human health.2025 CoE Staff-Faculty Partnership Award
Prof. Robert Dick is highly respectful of staff while freely praising their efforts and working as a partner to achieve goals.Enabling stroke victims to “speak”: $19M toward brain implants to be built at U-M
Stroke victims may regain the ability to read, write and speak with the help of technology developed by David Blaauw and Cindy Chestek.U-M awarded up to $7.5M to bring heat-tolerant semiconductors from lab to fab
Open-source effort led by Prof. Becky Peterson supports durable silicon carbide circuits that can operate at record high temperatures.Solving computationally complex problems with Ising machines
A team led by Prof. Pinaki Mazumder is designing quantum-inspired architectures from silicon to solve difficult problems more efficiently than previously possible.Boosting AI model size and training speed with lightwave-connected chips
AI growth is capped by data transfer rates between computing chips, but transferring data with light could remove the ceiling.Kickstarter for Buddie: open source, AI-enabled earbuds
Collaborating faculty at the University of Michigan and Fudan University are crowdfunding a new wearable AI audio interface to enable always-listening context awareness, improve privacy, and allow AI application developers to try new ideas.Jesse Codling receives ACM BuildSys 2024 paper award for work on heart rate monitoring
Codling’s project, aptly named “FloHR,” uses geophones to measure human heart rate through floor vibrations in home environments.Developing StiMote, a wireless neural stimulator for restoring vision
The highly collaborative project will leverage many tiny sensing computers, called “motes,” to communicate with the visual cortex of the brain.ECE faculty design chips for efficient and accessible AI
Faculty specializing in architecture, hardware, and software innovation accelerate machine learning across a range of applications.Mike Flynn recognized with SIA/SRC University Research Award
Prof. Flynn’s research on analog-to-digital converters has been applied in biomedicine, telecommunications, machine learning, and more.Pei Zhang will contribute to a new NSF Center for Insights into the Pre-Emergence Phase of Pandemics
Prof. Zhang will develop sensor systems to model the movement and risk factors of animal populations in disease spread as part of the interdisciplinary NSF center.Hun-Seok Kim appointed as inaugural Samuel H. Fuller Early Career Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Prof. Kim is a world leader in efficient algorithm and VLSI design for wireless communication, signal processing, computer vision, and machine learning.AI chips could get a sense of time
Timekeeping in the brain is done with neurons that relax at different rates after receiving a signal; now memristors—hardware analogues of neurons—can do that tooUniversity of Michigan team partners with Semiwise to tackle cryogenic control electronics technology
Prof. Dennis Sylvester and PhD student Qirui Zhang are working with UK-based company Semiwise Ltd. to design cryogenic circuitry and improve the efficiency of quantum computing.Joseph Costello awarded Rackham Predoc to support research on brain-machine interfaces
Costello is working to restore mobility to individuals by developing improved brain-machine interfaces.Augmented reality system for accessible play, iGYM, goes international
Using iGYM’s computer vision module, the U-M team partnered with the University of Tsukuba’s FUTUREGYM Team to develop new interactive games that allow children of all abilities to play together.U-Michigan a partner in two CHIPS Act Midwest microelectronics hubs
The latest DoD funding announcements bolster Michigan Engineering’s efforts to support revitalization of the U.S. semiconductor sector.Kyumin Kwon’s research on automating analog circuit design earns Best Paper Award at SMACD23
Kwon combines a human knowledge-based model with an existing digital synthesis tool to significantly increase the speed of characterization and design for large scale analog circuits.Michael Flynn receives CoE Staff-Faculty Partnership Award
Prof. Flynn is remarkably respectful of all the staff he interacts with, while also showing great transparency and kindness.Six ECE faculty will help shape the future of semiconductors as part of the JUMP 2.0 program
Elaheh Ahmadi, David Blaauw, Michael Flynn, Hun-Seok Kim, Hessam Mahdavifar, and Zhengya Zhang bring their expertise and creativity to this nationwide undertaking in the area of semiconductors and information & communication technologies.Open-source hardware: a growing movement to democratize IC design
Dr. Mehdi Saligane, a leader in the open-source chip design community, was among the first researchers to fabricate a successful chip as part of Google’s multi-project wafer program.Dennis Sylvester Elected to National Academy of Inventors
Sylvester’s inventions in low-power chip design have led to multiple startup companies and products found in hundreds of millions of devices.Dennis Sylvester named Edward S. Davidson Collegiate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Best paper for a low-power ADC circuit for brain-machine interface applications
Euisik Yoon’s team, led by Sungjin Oh, developed a low-power neural recording front-end circuit to interface with state-of-the-art neural probes.Jesse Codling wins Best Presentation award for sensors that help protect these little piggies in their pens
Known affectionately as “The Sh*tty Project,” Codling, an ECE PhD student, monitors the vibrations in pig pens to track the health of the piglets and predict when they’re in danger.ECE at the center of Celebrate Invention: 2022
Wei Lu talked about his innovations as the 2022 Distinguished University Innovator, followed by a panel discussion about the University’s role in fueling new high tech companies in the area.Mike Flynn named Fawwaz T. Ulaby Collegiate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Flynn is one of the world’s premier scholars of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits and systems, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), and other interface circuits.David Blaauw inducted into MICRO Hall of Fame
Prof. Blaauw and his group are also recipients of numerous best paper awards and honors, including the MICRO Test of Time awardCHIPS and Science Act: Implications and Opportunities
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 promises to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry. Dennis Sylvester offers his perspective on what it means for ECE.The ethical implications of tech, and why it matters for engineers
Through the Ford School’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, ECE PhD student Trevor Odelberg is studying how engineers can take better responsibility for the way their research impacts society.Batteryless next-generation cellular devices could empower a more sustainable future
PhD student Trevor Odelberg is looking to enable long range, highly reliable, and low-power cellular IoT devices that one day can run entirely on harvested energy, reducing battery waste and empowering devices to last for decades.Three researchers earn MICRO Test of Time for groundbreaking timing speculation work
Todd Austin, David Blaauw, Trevor Mudge, and a group of alumni were recognized by ACM MICRO for their landmark 2003 paper.Michigan startup MemryX, Inc. promises faster, cheaper AI processing
The ECE startup builds neuromorphic computer chips uniquely suitable for AI applicationsSnails carrying the world’s smallest computer help solve mass extinction survivor mystery
Pei Zhang solemnly swears that he’s up to some good
Research to advance low-power speech recognition highlighted by Intel
Michael Flynn and his group are applying their groundbreaking work in beamforming to the challenge of low-power on-chip speech recognition.Precision health in the palm of your hand
First digital single-chip millimeter-wave beamformer will exploit 5G capabilities
Tracking Monarch Butterfly Migration with the World’s Smallest Computer
Mike Flynn receives Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award
Trevor Odelberg receives NDSEG Fellowship to help run the world with low power batteryless circuits
Matthew Belz receives NDSEG Fellowship to improve the safety of autonomous systems
Battery-free sensor startup takes aim at industrial efficiency
Improved neural probe can pose precise questions without losing parts of the answers
“Ultra low-power receivers for IoT applications” wins Outstanding Invited Paper
David Blaauw named Kensall D. Wise Collegiate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Upgrading signal interfaces for better wearable devices
Hun-Seok Kim receives CAREER Award to facilitate Internet of Things connectivity
Two members of ECE will represent U-M at the 2019 Rising Stars in EECS Workshop
Two ‘U’ researchers receive Distinguished University Innovator Award
The Michigan Daily profiles Professors David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester, who are this year’s recipients of the 2019 Distinguished University Innovator Award.Blaauw, Sylvester are 2019 Distinguished University Innovators
First programmable memristor computer aims to bring AI processing down from the cloud
Afshari group receives Best Invited Paper award at the 2019 IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference
A high-efficiency GaAs solar cell to power the Internet of Tiny Things
SLAM-ming good hardware for drone navigation
Blood biopsy: New technique enables detailed genetic analysis of cancer cells
Capturing cancer cells from blood samples offers a non-invasive way to observe whether the cancer is disappearing or whether it is becoming resistant to the treatment.U-M startup raises $6 million in venture funding
Communicating with the world’s smallest computers
Crafting better digital systems with ECE PhD student Jie-Fang Zhang
More efficient machine vision technology modeled on human vision
Zhengya Zhang receives CoE undergraduate education award
Beyond Moore’s law: $16.7M for advanced computing projects
Michigan chips will be first to test next-generation hardware design tools
A new hybrid chip that can change its own wiring
Enabling anyone to design hardware with a new open-source tool
Hun-Seok Kim receives DARPA Young Faculty Award to advance research in IoT networks
An even smaller world’s smallest ‘computer’
Seed-sized U-M computers pumped into oil wells featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Fred Buhler builds better chips for “Aweslome” applications
2017 ISCA Influential Paper Award for groundbreaking research in power-efficient computing
SSCS Distinguished Lecturer Edith Beigné on auto-adaptive digital circuits
Michigan’s millimeter-scale computers featured at ISSCC2017, and in IEEE Spectrum
CubeWorks: Solving problems with the world’s smallest and lowest-power computers
Cubeworks receives its first external funding to manufacture millimeter-scale computing devicesAlum startup wins $25,000 at Accelerate Michigan Competition
David Blaauw honored with SIA/SRC University Research Award
Injectable computers can broadcast from inside the body
Injectable computers
Avish Kosari selected as Barbour Scholar for Research in low-power devices for the Internet of Things
MBus is the missing interconnect for millimeter-scale systems
Googling the physical world
3 ECE companies make the Silicon 60 List – again!
Michigan Micro Mote (M3) makes history as the world’s smallest computer
A brief history of what led to the technical feat known as the Michigan Micro Mote, a tiny speck of a computer that does it all.Student team reaches Qualcomm finals with their proposal for a wearable haptic device
Michael Flynn elected IEEE Fellow for contributions to analog-digital interfaces
Robert Dick to apply cyber information to air quality management
Scott Hanson receives 2014 Arbor Networks Ph.D. Research Impact Award
Khalil Najafi receives 2015 IEEE Daniel E. Noble Award for emerging technologies
PsiKick startup attracts financing for its Internet of Things technology
Muhammad Faisal wins business competition with technology critical to the Internet of Things
Students rewarded for their circuit designs in EECS 413
Making the Internet of Things happen
Michigan @ ISSCC 2013: Alumni and Friends Mixer
Image processing 1,000 times faster is goal of new $5M contract
Bharan Giridhar awarded Intel PhD Fellowship
Zhengya Zhang receives Intel Early Career Award
2013 Design Automation Conference Anniversary Awards
Researchers funded to develop a leap forward in Processor Architectures
Student teams earn prizes for their ADC circuit designs in EECS 511
Dennis Sylvester receives U-M Faculty Recognition Award
Gyouho Kim awarded Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship for research in ultra-low power optical interfaces for mm-scale wireless sensor nodes
Bharan Giridhar awarded Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship for research in circuit techniques for adaptive, reliable, high-performance computing
David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester named Top Authors by ISSCC
David Wentzloff receives CAREER Award for research in energy-autonomous systems
Students in EECS 413 awarded prizes for their circuit designs
Nathan Roberts earns Best Paper Award for research to assist in remote patient monitoring
2012 ICCAD Ten Year Retrospective Most Influential Paper Award to David Blaauw, Trevor Mudge, and EECS alumni Steve Martin and Krisztián Flautner
Developing the wireless component for personalized health devices
UG Research Spotlight: Fred Buhler spends his summer improving circuit testing
Student teams earn prizes for their analog/digital interface circuit designs in EECS 511
Michael McCorquodale named 2012 UBM Electronics ACE Innovator of the Year
Students awarded prizes for their class designs of an energy harvesting circuit and a high efficiency audio amplifier
2012 EECS Outstanding Achievement Awards
David Blaauw Elected Fellow of the IEEE
Prof. Blaauw was a core member of the Michigan team that developed the award-winning circuit known as Razor in 2003.Laura Freyman awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Powering breakthrough technologies
Yoonmyung Lee receives 2011 Intel Corporation PhD Fellowship
Making smart dust a reality
AMD/Michigan Student Design Contest
U-M Alumni and Friends Mixer at ISSCC 2011
Toward computers that fit on a pen tip: New technologies usher in the millimeter-scale computing era
Three EECS Teams are winners in 2011 DAC/ISSCC Student Design Contest
Xi Chen and Prof. Robert Dick receive DATE Best Paper Award
Zhengya Zhang receives NSF CAREER Award
EECS 413 students earn prizes for their final projects
Paving the way for ubiquitous computing
Dennis Sylvester elected Fellow of the IEEE
Zhengya Zhang earns Best Paper Award at Symposium on VLSI Circuits
Ambiq Micro: Taking a startup to the next level
Millimeter-scale, energy-harvesting sensor system developed
Analog Devices Finds Winning A/D Circuit Designs in EECS 511
EECS professors receive research grants from Google
David Wentzloff awarded Young Faculty Award (YFA) by DARPA
Sensing Sensors: NSF Funding News Ways to Monitor Infrastructure for Safety
The program aims to develop revolutionary wireless sensor node, optimized for infrastructure monitoring.EECS researchers receive Best Paper Award at ISLPED
Matthew Fojtik awarded Intel Foundation/SRCEA Fellowship
Austin and Blaauw Receive 2008 Richard Newton GSRC Industrial Impact Award
Microchip sets low-power record with extreme sleep mode
The Phoenix Processor uses 30,000 times less power in sleep mode and 10 times less in active mode than comparable chips now on the market.