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Student (m/f/d): Development of an RFID protocol decoder as a plug-in for Logic 2

During your studies, you can contribute to our ongoing research projects. Join us in pushing the limits of what is technically feasible and be part of breaking new ground together. We offer a variety of challenging and practice-oriented topics for mandatory internships, Bachelor’s or Master’s theses or for student research assistants. You will analyse important scientific preliminary questions and support the project teams with development activities.

Place of work: Erfurt

Team:

Microelectronics

Career level: 

Mandatory Internship, Student Research Assistant

Research field: Smart distributed measurement and test systems, Integrated sensor systems

Time scope:

By agreement

Start:

As soon as possible

Application deadline: 2025-12-31

Reference number:

IMMS_STUD_ME_0325

At IMMS, RFID sensor transponder ICs are being developed with which sensor values can be recorded wirelessly and energy self-sufficiently. The transponder IC implements a communication interface that works according to a standardized RFID protocol and can therefore be read by any RFID reader.

When developing new transponder ICs, it is helpful to be able to observe the baseband signals between the transponder and reader and to analyze their behavior. For this purpose, a USB logic analyzer is used, which allows the recording of signals.

To quickly deduce the transmitted commands and data from the recorded signals, they must be decoded. For this purpose, a plugin for a commercial logic analyzer is to be developed as part of this student project, which can first decode the signals at bit transmission level and then summarize them into frames and display them clearly.

The manufacturer provides an SDK [1] for this purpose, which allows you to develop your own decoders as plugins in C++.

[1] GitHub - saleae/SampleAnalyzer: Sample Analyzer for the Analyzer SDK

WHAT TO DO:

  • Familiarisation with the UHF RFID protocol standard EPC Gen-2
  • Development of a low level analyzer (LLA) for the Saleae Logic software in C++
  • Extension with a High-Level Analyzer (HLA) in Python
  • Test on RFID hardware and documentation

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU:

  • Motivated and independent way of working
  • Programming skills in C++
  • Programming skills in Python (optional)
  • Interest in the development of digital interfaces

AND THIS IS US:

We strengthen enterprises with application-oriented research and development in microelectronics, systems engineering and mechatronics and transfer the results of basic research into applications and products. We support companies in launching internationally successful innovations for health, the environment and industry and provide solutions from the feasibility study to series production.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

We thank you for your interest in working with us.

Please only apply once – for your favourite topic or for the one that comes closest to your interests. This is the quickest way for us to process your application and get back to you. If you are interested in more than one topic, please include this in your cover letter. In case our current suggestions are not suitable, please send us your speculative application with a topic you would like to work on.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU:

  • An attractive workplace in a modern, very well-equipped and industry-oriented research institute
  • Work directly at the interface between university and industry
  • Work in a flexible and creative team and on innovative and challenging topics

For the tasks described in the job offer and with the existing working conditions, an application is possible irrespective of gender and/or any physical disabilities. We foster professional equality of women and men. We invite women in particular to apply. As women are underrepresented at IMMS, they will be given priority in the case of equal suitability, ability and professional performance.

Address:

IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH (IMMS GmbH)
Ehrenbergstraße 27
98693 Ilmenau
Germany

Contact: Eric Schäfer

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