At the core of the vision proposed by Internet of Things (IoT) technology is the improvement of the quality of life brought about by data collected on a given environment through sensors and then processed to deliver a range of useful services. The deployment of this amazing technology, however, is not progressing rapidly due to the physical limitations of energy supplies and systems. This highlights the importance of designing integrated circuits capable of performing more functionality with lower power as an essential component to broaden the sensor network in truly achieving the vision of IoT.

The POSTECH Integrated Circuits and Systems (PICS) Laboratory headed by the three professors Hong-June Park, Jae-Yoon Sim, and Byung-Sub Kim at the Department of Electrical Engineering, POSTECH, explores core technologies to fully establish such sensor networks and usher in the era of IoT. The Lab primarily focuses on the research of system semiconductors to engineer systems that fulfill greater functions at increased speeds while consuming less power with a smaller form factor.

The PICS Lab has generated noteworthy outcomes over the years. One of them is related to the development of an integrated circuit chip fabricated by mounting an entire wireless IoT computing platform on the semiconductor chip to perform real-time diagnoses within the contact lens. Data collected by the sensor located within the contact lens is converted into numerical data and then transmitted through wireless communications to administer the given drug when necessary. In particular, a single integrated circuit chip is able to deliver all necessary functionalities as it contains an independent system to charge the micro-sized thin-film battery located within the contact lens through the wireless reception of external electrical energy.

Designing these IC chips is actually not a new discipline. There have been numerous research achievements made in this field. Still yet, it is a completely different matter when putting these chips to work across wide-ranging areas. Micro-sized computer chips that deliver a variety of functionalities with less power consumption play an absolutely essential role in deploying sensors at the system level in real-life settings.

The PICS Lab aims to install numerous sensor platforms in physical industrial settings. The Lab plans to conduct integrative research with nano, bio, implant diagnostics, and other diverse material areas to accelerate the commercialization of IoT across the healthcare, smart city and security sectors among others. In February 2020, professor Jae-Yoon Sim was honored with the Scientist/Engineer of the Month Award granted by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT for his contribution to ‘developing nano-watt integrated circuits for ultra-compact wireless IoT sensor platforms’. The PICS Lab has been chosen to oversee the ‘Scalable Quantum Computer Technology Platform Center’ and is engaged in research to fabricate a full-scale quantum computer with a focus on system semiconductor technology.