Staff Engineer, RF/Mixed Signal IC Design

Who is a good fit for this role?

You would be considered for this position only if:

  • You have been chip lead for at least 2 Analog/Mixed-Signal tapeouts where the chip has worked as expected.
  • You have a PhD in Analog Mixed design and a strong demonstrated background in Analog/Mixed Signal design
  • You have first author papers in ISSCC, JSSC, CICC and/or VLSI conference. This criteria is excusable if your chip was developed at a company rather than during PhD.

Company

Ixana, a Purdue University spinoff, is developing brain-inspired wearable computing. We’ve assembled a team of leading experts in IC/system design who are eager to tackle the next big challenge. Join us in transforming the future with high-speed human-computer interfaces that amplify your potential through all-day real-time AI.

Share Files With a Fist Bump: Wi-R Confines Signal to a User’s Body

Ixana, a specialist in human-computer interfaces with distributed computing, recently developed Wi-R, a communications protocol that turns the human body into a medium through which information can travel. As the popularity of wearable electronics increases, more devices need a high-speed, power-efficient communication protocol to operate. Wi-R aims to shake up how devices talk to each other.

Ixana introduces an interactive device that uses the body’s magnetic field to transmit data

Foresight News, according to CoinDesk, Ixana launched an interactive device that uses the body’s magnetic field to transmit data at CES 2023 and a developer platform to accompany it. Ixana says the technology, called Wi-R, enables the human body to receive data such as music, videos, and more without connecting to WiFi or Bluetooth. Shreyas Sen, co-founder and CTO of Ixana, said that Wi-R technology can solve these problems by creating a distributed network around the human body because current VR glasses require computing to consume a lot of energy and bulk. According to Shreyas Sen, it will take another 2-4 years for the technology to appear in consumer devices, while it will take about 4-5 years for smartphones to adopt it

Game-Changing Wi-R Technology to Revolutionize Soldier Communications: OTTO Engineering and Ixana Announce Strategic Alliance

New Partnership to Integrate Ixana’s Wi-R Body Area Network Technology into Devices for the Warfighter 

by Shreyas Sen

This news release below first appeared on OTTO’s website. Throughout history, communication advancements have played a crucial role in enhancing the capabilities and safety of our warfighters. Ixana continues this legacy with Wi-R, a revolutionary technology designed to simplify and improve the lives of those who serve.

Tampa, FL May 9, 2024 – OTTO Engineering, a leading developer and manufacturer of ruggedized communications equipment for the tactical market, and Ixana, a pioneer in wireless body area network technology, today announced a strategic alliance aimed at revolutionizing electronic devices used by the warfighter.

This alliance positions OTTO Engineering as the exclusive integration partner for Ixana’s game-changing Wi-R technology in soldier communications, control and monitoring equipment for the Federal and Military markets. The partnership will focus on seamlessly integrating Ixana’s silicon chip into critical soldier gear, including tactical audio devices, military radios, and control interfaces like radio push-to-talk buttons. Beyond direct integration into OTTO products, OTTO will collaborate with other companies to develop and manufacture a wider range of products powered by Ixana’s Wi-R silicon chip. 

This integration will leverage Ixana’s Wi-R, a revolutionary Body Area Network technology that utilizes fields around the human body as secure and reliable communication channels, completely eliminating the need for physical wires, resulting in a truly innovative and seamless way for devices to securely connect with each other. Ixana’s Wi-R technology offers several key benefits:

  • Physical Security: Transmits data securely, minimizing the risk of interception in contested environments. 
  • Improved Efficiency: Significantly reduces power consumption, allowing for longer operational use. 
  • Invisibility: Cannot be detected in contested environments, providing a tactical advantage. 
  • Seamless Connectivity: Wi-R enables direct communication between wearables and other devices, eliminating the need for pairing or cables. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Ixana to bring the transformative Wi-R technology to the tactical market,” said Dan Stanek, President of OTTO Engineering. “This collaboration allows us to leverage our expertise in creating ruggedized communications equipment to integrate Ixana’s state-of-the-art technology into devices that enhance the capabilities of the warfighter.” 

“OTTO Engineering’s proven expertise in rugged communications gear makes them the ideal partner to bring Ixana’s revolutionary Wi-R technology to the tactical market. In these high-stakes environments, the stealth and efficiency advantages of Wi-R are in high demand,” said Shreyas Sen, Founder and CTO of Ixana. “Our collaboration will empower companies to create innovative products that elevate the performance and safety of our warfighters.”

This strategic alliance marks a significant step forward in the advancement of secure and efficient communication technology for the tactical market. OTTO Engineering and Ixana are committed to driving innovation and delivering cutting-edge solutions that support the needs of the warfighter.

For more information, please visit OTTO Engineering’s website or Ixana’s website.

If you’d like to get access to Ixana’s Wi-R chips and evaluation kits, please email us at hello@ixana.ai

Ixana’s Wi-R Chip Wins Coveted CES®2024 Innovation Award

Remember CES 2023? That’s where Ixana first sparked the world’s imagination with Wi-R, its revolutionary wireless communication technology. Fast forward one year, and we’re back on the CES stage, not just showcasing, but being celebrated for a feat that rewrites the rules of connectivity.

Winning at CES isn’t just about trophies; it’s about earning the coveted seal of approval from the industry’s toughest judges. The CES Innovation Awards program, meticulously curated by the Consumer Technology Association, is a crucible where only the most exceptional technologies emerge triumphant. Building on the buzz of CES 2023’s Wi-R reveal, Ixana soars further with a prestigious CES®2024 Innovation Award in Embedded Technologies and Computer Hardware. 

Ixana’s invention, the Wi-R communication chip, reduces energy consumption by 100x compared to radiative wireless technologies like BLE, Wi-Fi, cellular, Zigbee, and Z-Wave, enabling a paradigm shift in wearable technology¹. Our 4Mbit/s YR22 Wi-R chip unleashes the potential of continuous charging-free body-worn health monitoring, video streaming for extended reality, and intuitive human-computer interaction¹.

By enabling complex algorithms to run via distributed computing on battery-powered devices, Wi-R pioneers a new era of ubiquitous computing with seamless connectivity and is of special interest to AR/VR, Audio, physically secure electronics, automotive, healthcare and medical sensors, smartphones and wearables¹. 

The founder and CTO of Ixana, Shreyas Sen expressed his delight, saying, “We are honored to receive the CES® 2024 Innovation Award. Wi-R exemplifies the criteria evaluated for these awards – innovative design and engineering features. We are thrilled that CES 2024 has recognized Wi-R and the significant impact we are making in all facets of the consumer electronics industry.” 

What makes Wi-R truly compelling is not only its innovation in efficient energy consumption, but its role as an enabler for manufacturers to unlock performance and innovation in a wide range of applications¹. By solving the challenge of energy consumption, manufacturers can now design wearables that can even be charging-free. This also opens a world of possibilities for advancements in various industries, making Wi-R a game-changer in the consumer electronics landscape like those exhibiting at CES 2024¹. 

We will be showcasing the Wi-R chip in the Innovation Awards Showcase at CES2024, at Booth 61249 (Venetian Expo) and a Venetian Suite. Reserve a slot to experience Wi-R here: LINK

Ixana Named to EE Times’ Silicon 100 for Wi-R Non-Radiative Body-Area-Network Technology

Ixana has been named to EE Times’ Silicon 100: Startups Worth Watching in 2023.. 

The Silicon 100 is a prestigious annual list of the most innovative and promising electronics and semiconductor startups in the world. The list is compiled by EE Times, a leading technology publication, and is based on a variety of factors, including the company’s technology, market potential, and team. 

Ixana was selected for the Silicon 100 for its innovative Wi-R technology, a non-radiative communication technology, which confines fields around conductive surfaces, including humans to transmit data. Wi-R combines the security and performance of wired communication with the convenience of wireless. For example, Wi-R is 100x more energy-efficient than traditional wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, making it ideal for wearable devices and other applications where battery life is a critical factor.

Wi-R has a wide range of potential applications, including: 

  • All-day wearable smartglasses
  • Ultra-long-battery-life health wearables
  • Secure, low-latency communication between headsets, peripherals, and controllers
  • Body-controlled interfaces for gaming and entertainment

The 100x lower energy communication of Wi-R paves the way for “green,” charging-free wearables. This could have a major impact on the wearables market, as it would eliminate the need to constantly charge devices. For more applications, please refer to our Whitepaper

Ixana is currently in the process of commercializing its Wi-R technology. The company is working with a variety of smartphone, wearable and XR headset partners to develop products that use Wi-R, and it expects the first products to be launched next year. 

The inclusion of Ixana on the Silicon 100 is a significant achievement for the company. It is a recognition of the potential of Wi-R technology, and it is a sign that Ixana is on the right track to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. 

The full version of EE Times “Silicon 100: Startups Worth Watching in 2023” is available here: LINK.

EETimes also featured Ixana in an interview in March 2023

About Ixana

Ixana is a company developing Wi-R body-guided wireless technology. The company’s technology utilizes the properties of the human body as a conductor to transmit data, making it significantly more energy-efficient than traditional wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Ixana is headquartered in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States with offices in Seattle and Bangalore, India.

Purdue Ventures invests in wearable communication chip company Ixana

Shreyas Sen, the Elmore Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, at left, and Shovan Maity, a Purdue alumnus, are two of the three founders of Ixana. The company’s high-speed Wi-R silicon chip allows high-speed broadband communication among on-body devices to securely communicate at a fraction of the energy cost. Purdue Ventures has invested in Ixana as part of a larger $3 million seed funding round for the company.

Global Wearable Electronics Market Report 2023-2033: Comprehensive Analysis of this Fast-moving Market & Profiles of More than 725 Companies – ResearchAndMarkets.com

The Global Market for Wearable Electronics 2023-2033 offers comprehensive analysis of this fast-moving market. The report explores key trends, investments and products.

Wearable electronics have progressed hugely in the last few years, from simple activity tracking to personal healthcare tools. The market has experienced massive growth since 2020, but has slowed down lately, with many large corporations witnessing sales decline.

Zylo, Glassboard, Qualifi, Allegion among 2023 Mira Award winners

West Lafayette-based Ixana, which has developed a means of transmitting information using the electromagnetic field that surrounds the human body. The technology uses much less energy and is more secure than alternatives such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Judges described Ixana’s Wi-R technology as “the solution to a billion-dollar problem that has long vexed the global wearable tech market