José Epifânio da Franca

José Epifânio da Franca

Industry Projects and R&D Programs

International Industry Projects

Between 1986 and 1987, he led a research contract focused on analog monolithic integrated circuits for high-speed telephone channel modems. This collaboration resulted in the first commercially viable switched-capacitor filter designed and fabricated in Portugal. Prototype testing demonstrated the high performance of the filters. From 1987 to 1988, he was responsible for a second research contract involving an integrated interface system, which introduced several innovative techniques for analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion and filtering. Some of the proposed solutions were adopted by IMP-Europe for the development of a commercial IC for British Telecom. This work led to two patent applications filed by British Telecom, one of which was granted in the United States. The results were disseminated through multiple international and national conference presentations.

Between 1989 and 1991, he led a research project to develop a 16-bit CMOS successive approximation A/D converter with conversion rates up to 60 kHz, employing novel self-calibration techniques.
Following the success of this development, AMS signed a commercial agreement with Burr-Brown (USA) for the supply of high- resolution successive approximation A/D converters based on this technology.
From 1994 to 1995, he led a second AMS project focused on the development of an algorithmic CMOS A/D converter.

Between 1993 and 1995, he led a project on current-mode D/A converters for mobile phones, addressing strict constraints on silicon area and power dissipation — critical for optimising production cost (via area and yield) and operational efficiency (via power consumption).
From 1994 to 1995, he led an additional project on nano-power circuits based on switch-controlled charge transfer techniques, which resulted in an international patent.

Between 1993 and 1996, he coordinated a research project on high-frequency A/D converters for digital transmission technologies, funded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Between 1994 and 1996, he directed the Associate Design Centre agreement between ES2 and IST, enabling collaborative IC design projects within the scientific and technological expertise of the Integrated Circuits and Systems Group. This collaboration also resulted in an international patent.
From 1994 to 1996, he was the recipient of a Research Grant from Rockwell Semiconductors, supporting research and advanced training in analog–digital integrated circuits. The grant followed Rockwell’s recruitment of two students from his research group, who joined its development center in Newport Beach, California.
Between 1997 and 1999, he led a project to design a 14-bit high-resolution A/D converter in 0.6 μm CMOS technology.

Projects within European R&D Programs

ADCICS (Esprit II 2193) | October 1990 – October 1993

Directed IST’s contributions to the development of monolithic analog–digital integrated circuits in CMOS technology.

AD2000 (Esprit II 5056) | January 1991 – January 1994

Served as Project Leader. The project addressed advanced architectures for CMOS A/D and D/A converters, as well as techniques for programmability and built-in self-testing.
The project was later selected by the VALUE Programme for a study on its commercial potential in the European market.

NEAR (Network for European Analogue Research) | September 1992 – December 1994

Founding member and Steering Committee participant in this University–Industry network for cooperation and exchange in analog–digital IC design.

MEDCHIP 1 (Esprit III WG 7307) | October 1992 – October 1993

Led this Basic Research Working Group studying university-level training capabilities in microelectronics across Portugal, Spain, Southern Italy, and Greece, and proposed modernization strategies tailored to industrial needs.

MEDCHIP 2 (Esprit Project 8030) | December 1994 – December 1996

As a continuation of MEDCHIP 1, also led this second phase aimed at strengthening and modernizing university-based microelectronics training infrastructures in the same Mediterranean countries.

AMFIS (Esprit III 8795) | October 1993 – October 1996

Directed IST’s participation and a dedicated Work Package in this project focused on multi-functional analog–digital integrated systems.
Partners: Mietec Alcatel (BE), Landis & Gyr (CH), CSEM (CH), ABB Nera (NO), Sintef (NO), AMS (AT), Italtel (IT), EID (PT), University of Pavia (IT), CNM Seville (ES).

ALCD (Esprit III 8030) | November 1993 – November 1996

Led IST’s involvement in this project on analog component and functional block libraries for digital CMOS technologies. Partners: European Silicon Structures (FR), Bosch (DE), Intracom (GR), TU Athens (GR), University of Pavia (IT).

ASIC4PMR (Esprit 23989) | December 1996 – August 1998

Coordinated IST’s contributions to this project on analog–digital IC systems for Private Mobile Radio (PMR) terminals. IST was specifically responsible for the design of a baseband I/Q modem.
Partners: Atmel (FR), Matra Nortel Cellular (FR), ARM (UK), OTE Marconi (IT).

POLICOM (Esprit 25481) | December 1997 – December 1999

Led IST’s participation in the development of a CMOS modem for data communication over low-voltage power lines (home grid). IST designed the I/Q baseband interface using S-FSK modulation techniques.
Partners: Atmel (FR), Sainco (ES), University of Seville – Grupo AICIA (ES), Santel (SE).

PAPRICA (Esprit 25476) | August 1997 – February 2000

In collaboration with Prof. Carlos Azeredo Leme, directed IST’s contributions to the development of a novel low-power RF front- end architecture for monolithic integration.
Responsibilities included behavioral macro-modeling and implementation of key blocks across the RF-to-baseband signal chain. Partners: Atmel (FR), Matra Nortel Cellular (FR).

MIXMODEST (Esprit 29261) | September 1998 – March 2001

In collaboration with Prof. João Vital, led IST’s participation in the design of submicron analog–digital circuits. IST focused on self- calibrated high-resolution A/D converters for ADSL modems.
Partners: Alcatel Microelectronics (BE), KU Leuven (BE), Instituto de Microelectrónica – University of Seville (ES), University of Pavia (IT).

RAPID (Esprit 29648) | September 1998 – March 2001

Served as Project Coordinator for this initiative developing design methodologies and tools for analog–digital ASICs, supporting automatic retargetability across technologies and specifications.
Partners: Chipidea Microelectrónica (PT) and the Institute of Microelectronics – University of Seville (ES).

Recipient of a teaching and scientific exchange grant in the field of microelectronics, enabling academic visits to the University of Edinburgh, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Heverlee), and the Technical University of Denmark (Lyngby).

JAMIE (EU 579) | October 1992 – September 1993

Led the participation of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in this project focused on the development of integrated circuits and design methodologies for analog–digital ICs using full- custom and semi-custom approaches.

UPIC (RTP 2.9) | January 1993 – January 1995

Directed IST’s participation and a dedicated Work Package in this project on (re)programmable analog–digital ICs for military applications.
Partners: Thomson-CSF (FR), Cetia (FR), INPG (FR), EID (PT).

FASTPLEX | December 1992 – December 1995

Led IST’s involvement in the development of an integrated signal processing system for particle trajectory detection in high- energy physics experiments.
Partners: CERN (CH), University of Brussels (BE), NIEF (NL).

WORKBENCH Project

Participated in the development of computer-assisted teaching modules and experimental techniques for electronics education.

National Industry Projects and R&D Programs

Led a collaborative project between FOC-Escolar and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at IST, focused on the development and industrialisation of an educational electronics kit. The resulting product received the Worlddidac Bronze Award at DIDACTA 88, the world’s largest educational technology exhibition, and has been widely adopted by public schools in Portugal.

Directed the MODUL.COMP90 project, aimed at the development and industrialisation of a modular experimental system with integrated auxiliary instrumentation for practical training in electronics, telecommunications, automation, control systems, and instrumentation.
The system grew to include over 40 experimental modules and 3 auxiliary instrumentation modules, with possible expansion to more than 70 experimental modules and 5 instrumentation modules. It is in use across various secondary and higher education institutions throughout Portugal.

Led the development of a CMOS integrated circuit for the audio processing unit in portable radio transceivers. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Portuguese Army’s General Depot for Signal Equipment.
Directed a project aimed at the automation of design, implementation, fabrication, and testing processes for high-quality analog hybrid circuits using thick-film technology. The initiative was conducted in collaboration with LNETI (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial). Additionally, secured financial support for establishing core computing infrastructure for the Integrated Circuits and Microelectronics Systems Group at IST.
Led a project on intelligent architectures for analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog interfaces operating at high frequencies.
Directed this project on programmable filter and signal converter architectures for CMOS technology implementation.
Coordinated this research initiative on high-frequency analog–digital circuits for data acquisition interfaces in high-energy physics applications. The project was conducted in collaboration with the University of Aveiro.

Academic and Professional Contact

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