José Epifânio da Franca

Teaching Training and Supervision

At a Glance

at a glance

Throughout his academic career and the teaching responsibilities entrusted to him, Professor José Epifânio da Franca played a leading role in the pedagogical and curricular development of several undergraduate and graduate courses.

He contributed to the design, content structuring, and classroom delivery of various courses ranging from foundational circuit analysis and introductory electronics through to specialised topics in microelectronics and integrated circuits and systems design, with an emphasis on analog and analog-digital technology.

Prominent among his many leadership initiatives, was the establishment of a high-quality framework for integrated circuit teaching, including a professional-graded CAD laboratory as well as a high-quality, computer-controlled instrumentation laboratory for electrical parameter measurement, functional testing of integrated circuits, and on-chip testing.

He authored instructional materials, conceived and implemented laboratory experiments, and directed as well as taught professional training and continuing education courses both in Portugal and abroad.

Additionally, Professor Franca supervised final-year projects and coursework at the undergraduate and master’s levels, and served as advisor to master and doctoral students.

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Teaching at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST)

Teaching Career at IST

José Epifânio da Franca began his teaching career in 1978 in the Systems and Computers Section, where he taught the courses Circuits and Computation and Laboratory of Introduction to Circuits and Signals. In addition to standard theoretical-practical and laboratory instruction, he contributed to the development of pedagogical materials, including:

  • Curated problem sets for Circuits and Computation;
  • Laboratory exercises for Introduction to Circuits and Signals.

In 1979, he became affiliated with the Electronics Section (later renamed Scientific Area of Electronics – ACElectrónica) of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at IST. Over several decades, he taught a wide variety of subjects ranging basic topics such as Circuit Analysis and Introductory Electronics, to specialised topics in Microelectronics and Integrated Circuit Design, analog and mixed-signal, and Microsystems.

In several occasions Professor Franca held chair responsibilities.

As his career progressed through the years, specially stemming from the rather intense Chipidea project and then the impactful Portugal Ventures tenure, Professor Franca became increasingly interested in the problem (in fact, a national challenge) of translating advanced knowledge into the economy, thereby generating highly qualified engineering jobs, promoting global economic impact and increased valued-added of the Portuguese economy. This was the underlying motivation for accepting to chair the master’s course on Entrepreneurship Innovation and Technology Transfer that became the most important teaching endeavour in the later phase of his career, from 2016 to 2025.

For his dedication and pedagogical excellence, especially in the foundational course of Circuit Analysis, Professor José Epifânio da Franca was awarded the Diploma Excelência no Ensino of IST in the academic year 2023/2024.

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Building a Microelectronics Education Program

Professor Franca developed and co-developed a broad range of teaching materials for the many courses he has chaired and taught in his career: overhead transparencies for theoretical lectures, curated problem sets for practical sessions, and experimental work for laboratory classes.

In 1986, he was given the responsibility to restructure the Electronics Section Laboratory. With the support of a team of 6 Teaching Assistants, his contributions included upgrading equipment, organising supply, maintenance, and support services, and designing an extensive set of experimental exercises to complement the theoretical instruction of several courses.

That same year, he proposed the course Telecommunications Microelectronics for the Master’s program in Electrical and Computer Engineering, a subject he coordinated until 1995, later sharing responsibility with Professor João Vital. This course laid the foundation for a structured teaching and training program in the field of Analog Microelectronics (i.e., analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits), grounded in international standards of quality and competitiveness.

This program was made possible through the creation of elective courses in the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering degree.

Its key components included:

  • Creation of a foundational first-level course: Introduction to Analog Integrated Circuit Design;
  • A second-level core course: Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits;
  • A specialised course on Signal Converters, Analog-to-Digital (ADC) and Digital-to-Analog (DAC);
  • Reformulation of the Microelectronics for Telecommunications course, as a specialised subject in an application domain that now drives global electronics-based industrial development;
  • Introduction of a specialised course on Microsystems.

Supporting this curricular structure, he spearheaded:

  • The development of a high-quality laboratory infrastructure for electronic circuit testing and characterisation
  • A dedicated CAD infrastructure for hands-on training in integrated circuit design;
  • International partnerships with European semiconductor manufacturers to provide access to advanced silicon technologies;
  • Research into teaching methodologies;
  • Development of computer programs to support microelectronics education;
  • Supervision of undergraduate thesis and course projects;
  • Preparation of pedagogical texts in English with the goal of future publication as a unified international textbook.
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Electronics Teaching Laboratory

Electronics Teaching Laboratory

Between March and October 1986, during his tenure as coordinator of the Electronics Section Laboratories, he conceived and led the development of the SMEE Project (Modular System for Electronics Education). The goal of this initiative was to modernise the laboratory-based experimental component of the curriculum in a wide range of electronic courses.

The implementation of this pedagogical project involved leading a team of seven teaching assistants from the Electronics Section, who were responsible for designing and testing the experimental modules, and two technical staff members, who handled the fabrication of mechanical structures, assembly of electronic boards, and procurement of components.

The project achieved the following outcomes:

  • Design and development of seven new experimental exercises, integrated into the courses Electronics II, Electronics III, and Electronics IV.
  • Redesign of ten existing experimental exercises, spanning the courses Electronic Circuits and Systems, Electronics I, Electronics II, Electronics III, and Electronics IV.
  • Fabrication and testing of 170 modular experimental units, which remain in use today in the laboratory courses of the Electronics Section's foundational curriculum.
  • Preparation and publication of 17 Laboratory Guides, covering both the newly developed and redesigned experimental exercises.

Framework for Integrated Circuit Design Teaching

Laboratory for Characterisation and Testing of Integrated Circuits

To establish international credibility in teaching, training, and research in Analog Microelectronics, a dedicated laboratory infrastructure was essential. This included high-quality, computer-controlled instrumentation for electrical parameter measurement, functional testing of integrated circuits, and an on-chip testing station. Given the high investment required, this infrastructure was only made possible through funding from scientific research projects, particularly international ones.

The IC Teaching Lab supported teaching activities such as undergraduate theses, course projects, and practical assignments. It was also used by other research groups within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC).

CAD Laboratory

As with the experimental infrastructure, teaching and research in Analog Microelectronics require a specialised computational environment to support computer-aided design (CAD) of electronic circuits. The development of this infrastructure was also made possible through international research project funding.

Committed to integrating this environment into standard coursework, a dedicated CAD laboratory with 14 individual workstations was established in 1998. It is regularly used by undergraduate students from the third year onward.

International Access to Silicon Technologies

The fabrication of integrated circuit prototypes plays a crucial role in hands-on training in microelectronics and is essential for international recognition of teaching and research in the field — particularly in analog microelectronics.

Aware of this, he was instrumental in establishing early partnerships between IST and several European semiconductor manufacturers, such as Austria Mikro Systeme and ES2 (European Silicon Structures, later Atmel ES2), to ensure access to state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies, particularly CMOS. These agreements enabled consistent alignment with evolving technological standards — from 2 μm technology in the late 1980s to the more advanced 0.25 μm nodes.

Notably, the first protocol with AMS was established even before the European Commission launched its “EUROCHIP” initiative to support university-level microelectronics education. As a result, IST’s Integrated Circuits and Systems Group had independent access to fabrication technologies, offering greater flexibility in managing design and manufacturing cycles and benefiting from closer technical support from industry partners.

Today, the fabrication of integrated circuit prototypes is commonplace for undergraduate theses and remains fundamental to ongoing scientific research. As with other teaching-supporting infrastructures, funding for fabrication services is entirely secured through international research projects.

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Teaching Methodologies

He developed a teaching/learning approach that aligns knowledge acquisition with modern methodologies in integrated systems design. This framework, along with its pedagogical results, was presented at a European conference on integrated circuit education:

J. E. Franca, “Managing the Teaching in an Integrated Circuit Design Course”, Proc. 2nd EUROCHIP Workshop on VLSI Design Training, Grenoble, France, pp. 237–242, September 1991.

A more detailed analysis was later published in a peer-reviewed journal:
J. E. Franca, “Integrated Circuit Teaching Through Top-Down Design”, IEEE Transactions on Education, Vol. 37, pp. 351–357, November 1994.

Computer-Assisted Instruction

In the context of supervising master’s and doctoral theses, he also focused on developing computer-assisted methodologies to support the teaching and learning of analog-digital integrated circuit design. The most relevant work in this domain was presented at a European conference:

J. E. Franca, “Using Design Tools to Teach”, Proc. 3rd EUROCHIP Workshop on VLSI Design Training, Grenoble, France, pp. 142–148, October 1992.


Among the tools developed, the most noteworthy are:

  • AZTECA, developed in a master’s thesis;
  • CATALYST, developed during a doctoral project.

 

These programs support various courses, including Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits, Signal Converters, Telecommunications Microelectronics, and Microelectronics.

Complementary Education Activities

Complementary Education Activities

Professor Franca promoted scientific outreach seminars on Microelectronic Filter Technologies and the Design of High- Quality RC-Active Filters, with emphasis on Direct Simulation and Operational Simulation Methods, as part of the Applied Electronics IV course.

He regularly organised seminar series presented by members of his research group, aimed at disseminating their scientific and technological work and encouraging final-year undergraduate students in Electrical and Computer Engineering to engage in research activities.

He also facilitated the visit of internationally renowned scientists to Portugal, inviting academics, researchers, and industry professionals to present seminars in the fields of analog-digital integrated circuits and systems — including sensor circuit technologies and automated design methodologies. Many of these seminars have been organised within the context of extracurricular activities tied to elective courses at both undergraduate and master’s levels.

Teaching at other Universities in Portugal and Abroad

National and International Academic Engagements

In the first semesters of the 1993/94 and 1994/95 academic years, Professor Franca taught the course Telecommunications Microelectronics in the Master’s program in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Aveiro.

In the first semester of the 1995/96 academic year, he served as Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Macau, where he was responsible for teaching a course on Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits.

In the 1996/97 academic year, while in a sabbatical year at IST, he was appointed Visiting Full Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he taught a graduate-level course on Analog-Digital Integrated Circuit Design within the Master of Philosophy program of the Department of Electronic Engineering.

While at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, he also proposed a comprehensive program in education, training, and research aimed at developing international capabilities and visibility in the field of Analog Microelectronics.

ATHENS Network

In 1998 and 1999, he coordinated two intensive short courses on Analog-Digital CMOS Integrated Circuit Design, held at IST under the framework of the ATHENS Network (Advanced Technology Higher Education Network) of the SOCRATES program, supported by the European Commission.

Besides IST, this network included eight leading European universities: RWTH Aachen, TU Delft, KU Leuven, UCL Louvain-la-Neuve, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, NTNU Trondheim, and the Grandes Écoles d’ Ingénieurs de Paris (including ENSAM, ENSCP, ENGREF, ENSMP, ESPCI, ENPC, ENSTA, ENST, and INAPG).

Each edition of these courses attracted between 20 and 25 students from the participating institutions.

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Other Collaborations with International Universities

In February 1990, he was invited as a Distinguished International Visitor by the Oregon Center for Advanced Technology Education (hosted by Professor Rolf Schaumann), where he delivered seminars on automatic synthesis of signal converter architectures and switched-capacitor multirate systems for communication applications.

During a sabbatical year enjoyed in 1992-1993, Professor Franca visited several prominent international departments and laboratories, including:

  •  Electronics Physics Laboratory, Institute for Quantum Electronics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (invited by Prof. Henry Baltes). There, he collaborated with Carlos A. Leme on his doctoral research topics and delivered a seminar on A/D and D/A interface circuits and systems for VLSI (Very Large System Integration). September 1992
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara (invited by Prof. Sanjit Mitra). He presented seminars on multirate analog integrated circuit design, analog-to-digital interface systems for VLSI, and tuning techniques for continuous-time monolithic integrated filters. November–December 1992
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Oregon State University (invited by Prof. Gabor Temes). He collaborated with Jorge Grilo on his doctoral research program, participated in departmental research projects, and delivered pedagogical seminars on analog-digital integrated circuit design. January–May 1993
  • Institute of Information and Signal Processing, Department of Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (invited by Prof. George Moschytz). He presented seminars on programmable analog integrated circuit design, analog-to-digital interface systems for VLSI, and tuning techniques for continuous-time monolithic integrated filters. November 1993
  • He was a member of the Graduate Faculty of Oregon State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering October 1993 to March 1994.
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Continuing Education and Professional Training in Portugal and Abroad

Continuing Education and Professional Training in Portugal

Besides the formal, institutionalised academic teaching career, Professor Franca has also been a very active contributor to continuing education and industry-based training programs, in Portugal.

  • He participated in the Industrial Electronics Training Course, part of the first series of training programs funded by the European Social Fund and promoted by FUNDETEC. He was responsible for the module “Introduction to Operational Amplifiers and Monolithic Comparators and Their Applications.” (1986)
  • He organised and taught a short intensive course on “Introduction to Microelectronics Design and Practice,” promoted by the University of Minho with support from the RPM network. (1986)
  • He served as director and lecturer of an international summer course hosted at IST on “Design of VLSI Circuits for Telecommunications and Signal Processing,” which brought together 40 international experts. (1990)
  • He organised and taught a specialised course on “Design and Applications of Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits,” supported by PEDIP Program 2, which was attended by 12 professionals from the electronic equipment industry. (1990/91)
  • He also organised and taught a specialised course on “Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits,” which included a two-month internship for four engineers at Austria Mikro Systeme in Graz, Austria, also under the support of PEDIP Program 2. (1990/91)

Continuing Education and Professional Training Abroad

Continuing Education And Training Activities Of Prof. Franca Extended Beyond Borders, Both Within University Programs And As Part Of Advanced Training In Companies.
  • Director and lecturer of an advanced course on “Multirate Switched-Capacitor Signal Processing,” presented at the Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems, St. Louis, USA, August 1988.
  • Lecturer in a course on integrated circuit design held at the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo, Seville, September 1989.
  • Director and lecturer of the course “Mixed-Mode System Level Design,” organised by the Continuing Education Centre at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London. (1990)
  • Director and lecturer of the course “Mixed-Mode System Level Design,” held at Austria Mikro Systeme in Graz, Austria. (1990)
  • Director and lecturer of another edition of “Mixed-Mode System Level Design” at Imperial College, London. (1991)
  • Co-director and lecturer of the course “Analog-Digital ASICs: Technology, Design and Applications” at the 4th Annual International ASIC Conference and Exhibits, Rochester, USA, September 1991.
  • Lecturer in the course “A/D and D/A Converters,” organised by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland. (1991)
  • Lecturer in a course on integrated circuit design presented at the R&D Center of Telebrás, as part of the 8th Congress of the Brazilian Society of Microelectronics, Campinas, Brazil, September 1991.
  • Lecturer in the course “Analog-Digital Integrated Systems,” held at Austria Mikro Systeme in Graz, Austria, under the COMETT program of the European Communities. (1994)
  • Lecturer in the course “Systematic Analog Design,” organised and delivered at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. (1994)
  • Director and lecturer of the course “Analogue Interfacing for Digital VLSI,” organised by the Continuing Education Department of Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom. (1995)
  • Lecturer of a tutorial on “CMOS A/D and D/A Converters,” delivered at the 2nd International Workshop on Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design and Applications, Cancun, Mexico. (1997)
  • Lecturer of a tutorial on “CMOS Analog-Digital Interface Design,” presented during the Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems conference in Seville. (1997)
  • Director and lecturer of the course “Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits,” held at DSP Communications Co. in Herzliya, Israel, May 1999.

Supervision of Academic Theses

Under-Graduate Final Year Projects

Throughout his academic career, he supervised and co-supervised numerous final-year projects at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), many of which were pioneering in the domains of analog-digital integrated circuits, signal processing, and microelectronics. These projects often served as foundational work for later master’s or doctoral research. Selected examples include:

  • MODUL.COMP90 System Jorge Manuel Garcia Gaspar, Fernando Manuel Carvalho Nunes, João Pedro Antunes Carreira, IST, 1990

  • Portable Radio Transceiver (PRT) Interface Jorge Manuel da Silva Braz, José Manuel dos Santos Vicêncio, IST, 1990

  • Principles of Signal Conversion Using Sigma-Delta Modulation Jorge Grilo, IST, 1991

  • Analog Implementation of Neural Networks João Carlos da Palma Goes, Nuno Filipe Silva Veríssimo Paulino, IST, 1992

  • Programmable Biquadratic Section Using Current-Mode Signal Processing Paulo Fernando Guerreiro Santos, João Pedro Abreu de Oliveira, IST, 1992

  • CMOS Integrated Circuit Design of an A/D Converter for Standard Video Signals José Pratas, João Ventura, IST, 1992

  • CMOS A/D Converter Using Current-Mode Techniques Amaro Joaquim Correia, IST, 1993

  • CMOS A/D Converter Design and Implementation Nuno Mendonça, Manuel Santos, IST, 1993

  • High-Resolution (Sigma-Delta) A/D Converters for Digital Audio Paula Cristina Nabais Prata, IST, 1994

  • Self-Calibrating Discriminator in CMOS Integrated Circuit José Barreiro da Silva, Paulo Filipe dos Santos Marcelino Rodrigo, IST, 1994

  • Data Acquisition Board for Testing A/D Converters Mário José S. Batalha Luis, Luis Carlos C. Teixeira Co-supervised with Prof. João Paulo Vital, IST, 1994

  • Switched-Current Circuits with S2I Cells Miguel Ângelo dos Santos, IST, 1994

  • Switched-Capacitor Circuits in Digital CMOS Technology João Paulo Zuna Bello, Pedro António de Sousa Cardoso Lopes, Ricardo dos Santos Reis Co-supervised with Prof. Carlos Azeredo Leme, IST, 1995

  • High-Precision Clock Generation Techniques in CMOS Technology Pedro Miguel Rodrigues de Almeida Co-supervised with Prof. João Paulo Vital, IST, 1995

  • Modeling, Functional Simulation, and Synthesis of A/D Converters Paulo Manuel Feist Canelas da Silva, IST, 1995

  • Test Methodology for Switched-Current Filters with Digital Programming Pedro Miguel Palhão Dias, IST, 1995

  • Wireless Communication Systems for Home Automation – Direct Conversion Receiver Alexandra Campino, Luís Martinho, Nuno Barreto Co-supervised with Prof. João Paulo Vital, IST, 1997

  • A/D Converter with Third-Order Sigma-Delta Modulation for Signal Acquisition João Pedro Marques, Luis Manuel Carmona, Sandra Isabel Lisboa Co-supervised with Prof. Carlos Azeredo Leme, IST, 1998

  • Micropower Circuits for GSM/DCS1800 Terminals – Dual Frequency Receiver Hugo Dias Morais, Manuel Serrão Bernardino Co-supervised with Prof. Carlos Azeredo Leme, IST, 1998

  • Digitally Programmable Analog Filtering System Amanda de Macedo Moreira, IST, 1999

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Other Coursework Projects

He also supervised numerous course-based projects, particularly within the Telecommunications Microelectronics and Research Introduction courses at IST and the University of Aveiro. These projects offered students the opportunity to explore innovative circuit design, signal processing, and CAD synthesis topics. Highlights include:

  • “Neuristor” with Switched-Capacitors Fernando J. Pelicano de Sousa, IST, 1987/1988

  • Signal Processing for Cordless Phones – Receiver Channel IC Design Jaime Sousa Gouveia, Joaquim Pedro Coelho Sanarra Pires, António Manuel Fernandes Pereira, IST, 1988

  • Signal Processing in Cordless Phone Applications João Paulo dos Santos Palma, Francisco Martins Roque Delgado Carreira, Rui Figueiredo da Silva Neves, IST, 1988

  • Voice Digitization Alfredo Zwieauer Passanha, Carlos Miguel Cagica G. Pinto, Serafim Pinto Bruçó, IST, 1989

  • Programmable Switched-Capacitor System for Telephone Signaling Extraction Paulo António de Almeida Bicudo, Luís Miguel D’Ávila da Silveira, IST, 1989

  • Voice Digitizer with Switched-Capacitors Jorge Manuel Correia Guilherme, Miguel Nuno Martins da Costa Barbosa, Nuno Cavaco Gomes Horta, IST, 1989

  • CMOS Fukahori Integrator and Applications João Manuel Torres Caldinhas Simões Vaz, IST, 1989

  • High-Linearity VCO Design Fernando Nunes, IST, 1990

  • D/A Converters for Video Signals Jorge Paulo Alves Torres, IST, 1990

  • Portable Radio Transceiver (PRT) Interface Jorge Manuel da Silva Braz, José Manuel dos Santos Vicencio, IST, 1990

  • Automatic Synthesis of A/D and D/A Converters Nuno Cavaco Gomes Horta, IST, 1991

  • Portable Radiotelephone Integrated Systems Jorge Guilherme, IST, 1991

  • High-Resolution CMOS Analog-Digital Data Acquisition System Fernando Manuel Carvalho Nunes, IST, 1991

  • High-Frequency Current Comparators João Pedro Antunes Carreira, IST, 1991

  • Overview of Analog and Digital Systems Using Filter Banks Alexandre Passos de Almeida, IST, 1991

  • Self-Calibration Techniques for Continuous-Time CMOS Filters Fernando Manuel Carvalho Nunes, IST, 1991

  • Architectures for High-Speed A/D and D/A Conversion João Pedro Antunes Carreira, IST, 1991

  • State-of-the-Art CAD Systems for A/D and D/A Converter Synthesis Nuno Cavaco Gomes Horta, IST, 1991

  • Preliminary Study for Silicon Implementation of Artificial Neural Networks Alexandre Passos de Almeida, IST, 1992

  • Large-Signal High-Frequency CMOS VCO Analysis and Design Paulo Fernando Guerreiro Santos, IST, 1993

  • Theoretical Foundations of Digital Synthesis – Overview of Leading Algorithms Victor Manuel Antunes da Silva, IST, 1994

  • Experimental Testing of a Biquadratic SI Section João Oliveira, Paulo Santos, IST, 1994

  • Switched-Capacitor Filter Design Artur Neves e Sousa, University of Aveiro, 1994

  • Switched-Capacitor Filter Block Synthesis Mário Djalme Neves, António Ricardo Silva, University of Aveiro, 1994

  • Switched-Capacitor Filter Design with CMOS Technology Manuel António E. Batista, Francisco Fernando Linhares, University of Aveiro, 1994

  • Auto-Calibrated Successive Approximation A/D Converter for Telephony Systems Manuel António E. Batista, Manuel Fernando Loureiro, Francisco Fernando Linhares, University of Aveiro, 1994

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Master’s Projects

Over the course of his academic career, he supervised numerous master’s theses in the field of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design. These works contributed significantly to the advancement of microelectronics education and research at Instituto Superior Técnico. The following is a selection of supervised students and their respective theses:

  • Victor Fonte Dias Structures and Design Methodologies for Switched-Capacitor FIR Decimators, 1989

  • Carlos Azeredo Leme Self-Calibrated High-Resolution Successive Approximation CMOS A/D Converters, 1990

  • João Paulo Cordeiro Vital Digital-to-Analog Conversion Architectures with Non-Recursive Filtering, 1990

  • Nuno Cavaco Horta Automatic Synthesis of Signal Converter Architectures with Charge Redistribution, 1992

  • Fernando Nunes Successive Approximation-Based Tuning of Integrated Analog Filters, 1993

  • João Pedro Carreira Current-Mode Circuits for High-Frequency A/D and D/A Conversion, 1993

  • Alexandre Passos de Almeida CMOS Analog-Digital Integrated Circuits for Artificial Neural Network Implementation, 1994

  • Jorge Guilherme CMOS Integrated Circuits for Signal Processing and Conversion in Radiocommunication Systems, 1994

  • Paulo Fernando Santos Continuous-Time Integrated Filters for Ultra-High Frequencies Using CMOS Transconductance Circuits, 1995

  • João Goes Code-by-Code Analog Linearization of Low-Resolution CMOS Digital-to-Analog Converters, 1996

  • Nuno Paulino Programmable Biquadratic Filter with Algorithmic D/A Converters and Switched-Capacitor Technology, 1996

  • João Pedro Oliveira Switched-Current Circuits with Time-Multiplexed Sampling and Hold for High-Frequency Applications, 1996

  • Victor Antunes da Silva Automatic Synthesis of Dedicated Microcontrollers for A/D and D/A Signal Converters, 1998

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Ph.D. Projects

Throughout his academic tenure, he supervised several doctoral theses in the field of analog and mixed-signal microelectronics. These works reflect a sustained commitment to advancing integrated circuit design, signal processing, and electronic systems. The following students successfully completed their Ph.D. degrees under his supervision:

  • Rui Paulo Martins Multirate Switched-Capacitor Circuits and Systems and Their Applications to High-Frequency Signal Processing, 1992
 
  • João Paulo Cordeiro Vital Integrated Analog-to-Digital Conversion System with Functional Reconfiguration and Digital Testability, 1994
   
  • Bernardo Gorjão Henriques CMOS Digital Technology Integrated Circuits for High-Speed Digital-to-Analog Conversion, 1995
   
  • Wang Ping Multirate Switched-Capacitor Circuits for Two-Dimensional Signal Processing, 1997
   
  • Nuno Cavaco Horta Automatic Synthesis of Signal Conversion Systems from Algorithm-Level Descriptions, 1997
   
  • Vitor da Fonte Dias Un Ambiente per la Progettazione de Convertitori A/D a Condensatori Commutati Basati sulla Tecnica di Noise- Shaping, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Italy, 1992 Collaboration: Prof. Franco Maloberti
   
  • Carlos Azeredo Leme Oversampled Interfaces for IC Sensors, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland, 1993 Collaboration: Prof. Henry Baltes
   
  • António Gano Architectures and Circuit Techniques for Modular Sensor Systems with Rapid Prototyping in Thick-Film Hybrid Technology
   
  • Rui Neves Architectures and Circuit Techniques for Parallel-Processed Switched-Capacitor Systems for Very High-Frequency Filtering; Development of Dynamic Linearization Algorithms
   
  • Nuno Garrido Gm-C Architectures and Circuit Techniques for Adaptive Filtering in Magnetic Disk Readout Interfaces
   
  • João Goes Architectures and Circuit Techniques for High-Speed, High-Resolution Self-Calibrated CMOS Pipeline A/D Converters Collaboration: Prof. João Vital
   
  • Kun-Pang Pun Analog Circuit Techniques for CMOS Radio Communication Interfaces, with Emphasis on Frequency Translation and Image Cancellation Using Self-Calibrated Architectures
   
  • U Seng Pan Switched-Capacitor Architectures for Very High-Frequency Analog Interpolation, University of Macau Collaboration: Prof. Rui Martins
   
  • Jorge Guilherme Architectures and Circuit Techniques for CMOS Analog-to-Digital Converters with Logarithmic Transfer Characteristics Collaboration: Prof. João Vital
 
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Supervision of Post-Graduate Projects

In addition to formal master’s and doctoral supervision, Prof. Franca has also guided several post-graduate research and specialisation initiatives, funded through competitive fellowships from national agencies. These projects supported the early research careers of young engineers and scientists, many of whom later pursued doctoral studies or industry leadership positions.

INIC Specialisation Fellowships (Instituto Nacional de Investigação Científica):

  • Carlos Azeredo Leme
    Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter circuits for implementation in monolithic CMOS integrated circuits.

 

  • Victor Fonte Dias
    Architectures and design methodologies for switched-capacitor FIR decimators.

 

JNICT Specialisation Fellowships (Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica):

  • António Pedro Abrantes
    Automatic design methodologies for precision RC-active filters implemented in thick-film hybrid technology.

 

  • José Paulo Montalvão
    Tuning methodologies for precision RC-active filters for implementation in thick-film hybrid technology.

 

PEDIP Advanced Training Fellowships (Programa Específico de Desenvolvimento da Indústria Portuguesa):

  • Nuno Cavaco Horta
    Study and development of automatic design methodologies for A/D and D/A signal converter architectures based on charge redistribution techniques.

 

  • Jorge Guilherme
    Design of analog-digital integrated circuits for signal processing and control in the audio subsystems of portable radio communication devices.

 

 

  • Jorge Grilo
    Design of sigma-delta modulator circuits for signal conversion and processing, including the development of a software tool for functional simulation and automatic synthesis of converter architectures, with applications in high- frequency interface systems.

 

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Academic and Professional Contact

This form is intended for contacting Professor José Franca regarding academic matters, research collaboration, supervision, or related professional enquiries.