ACE Research Group: Pioneering Advanced Communication Integrated Circuits
Founded by Professor Hui Wang after his return from Silicon Valley, the Advanced Communication Electronics (ACE) Research Group at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) focuses on cutting-edge analog and radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuit design for next-generation high-speed wired and wireless communication systems. The group conducts research spanning novel circuit architectures to system-level solutions, aiming to deliver faster, more energy-efficient communication technologies across a broad range of applications. ACE is committed to building a world-class research platform and cultivating top-tier IC designers with strong foundations in analog and RF technologies.Research Directions
1）High-Speed Wired Interface Chips
High-speed wired interface chips form the backbone of data transmission in server clusters, data centers, and optical communication systems, directly determining throughput, energy efficiency, and reliability. Targeting key bottlenecks in next-generation high-speed interconnects, the ACE Research Group conducts end-to-end research from circuit-level innovation to system solutions, with an emphasis on ultra-high-speed serial links for AI chips and large-scale computing clusters. Key research areas include:- SerDes core technologies: High-linearity transmitter drivers; low-noise receiver equalization techniques (CTLE, DFE); high-performance CDR circuits; and high-speed ADCs.
- Integrated TX/RX frontends: Highly integrated multi-channel frontend architectures compatible with mainstream interface protocols.
- Frequency management chips: High-precision, low-jitter, and highly integrated clocking solutions, including advanced PLL architectures, frequency synthesizers, and industrial-grade CMOS frequency references.
2）Energy-Efficient High-Speed Wireless Communication Chips
Driven by applications such as 5G/6G, IoT, and industrial wireless control, energy-efficient wireless chips are critical to communication performance, battery life, and system flexibility. The ACE Research Group develops low-power, high-speed wireless solutions from circuit innovation to system-on-chip (SoC) integration. Key research areas include:- Low-power wireless transceiver systems: Customized architectures for diverse communication scenarios, spanning short-range high-speed links and short-to-medium-range wide-area connectivity. This includes UWB transceivers for high-precision positioning and high-speed short-range communication, as well as reconfigurable multi-protocol transceivers supporting WiFi and Bluetooth.
- Wireless RF core circuits: High-performance LNAs, advanced mixer designs, and energy-efficient digital power amplifiers (DPAs).
3）High-Performance Sensor Chips
High-performance sensor chips are essential for industrial IoT, intelligent vehicles, and environmental monitoring. The ACE Research Group focuses on complete sensor IC solutions covering signal acquisition, processing, conversion, and power management. Key research areas include:- Analog and mixed-signal sensor interfaces: Low-noise, high-accuracy interface circuits tailored for temperature, optical, pressure, and bioelectric sensors, including high-performance signal chains and LNAs.
- Energy-efficient power management ICs: High-efficiency DC–DC converters, low-power LDOs, and high-precision voltage and current references for reliable sensor system operation.
