Prof. Dr. Marcel Meli

Work at ZHAW

Focus

• Head of Research Area: Low Power Wireless Embedded Systems
• Low Power Embedded Systems; Asynchronous microcontrollers; Low Power Memories
• Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN); Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN); RFID and RFID Sensor Networks
• Energy Harvesting (e.g. TEG, Solar, Piezo, Electrodynamic, RF, Triboelectric)
• Applications of Printed Electronics; Wearables; Application of Spintronics

Teaching

• Computer Engineering
• Internet of Things (Wireless and Low Power)

Experience

• Lecturer; Head of Research Area
  ZHAW, Winterthur, CH
  1999 - today
• Development Engineer; Test and Design for Test for Integrated Circuits (Microcontrollers, Communication)
  Faselec/Philips Semiconductors, Zürich, CH
  1992 - 1999
• Development Engineer; Embedded Systems
  Studer-Revox, Regensdorf, CH
  1989 - 1992

Education and Continuing education

Education

• PhD / Electrical Engineering
  Universtity of Wales, Institue of Science and Technology, Cardiff, UK
  1985 - 1989
• Postgraduate Diploma / Electrical Engineering
  Universtity of Wales, Institue of Science and Technology, Cardiff, UK
  1984 - 1985
• Diplôme d’ingénieur / Option électronique,
  Ecole Polytechnique, Yaounde, Cameroon
  1980 - 1983

Network

Membership of networks

• Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg (Member of Program Committee)
• Wireless Congress, Munich: Systems and Applications (Member of Program Committee)

Awards

Best Paper Award
IEEE IDAACS-SWS 2020
09 / 2020

Projects

• Investigation of sensor for cryogenic applications / Project leader / completed
• Energy Harvesting on a Bike / Project leader / completed
• SUM - Low Power Monitoring / Project leader / completed
• Low Power Actuator / Project leader / completed
• Low-power Sensor / Project leader / completed
• Low-cost device for efficient cook stoves monitoring / Project leader / completed
• Smart Water Pipes / Project leader / completed
• AutonoMous self powered miniAturized iNtelligent sensor for environmental sensing anD asset tracking in smArt IoT environments / Project leader / completed
• Improved LPWAN / Project leader / completed
• Harvesting energy from cyclist heat to power a wireless embedded system on a bike / Project leader / completed
• EH demonstrator for Matrix Industries / Project leader / completed
• StereO2 – Low-power optical oxygen sensor / Team member / completed
• Car sharing system / Project leader / completed
• Battery-less energy source for standard Wireless Embedded Systems / Project leader / completed
• Wireless Digital Signage using E-Paper / Team member / completed
• Energy self-sufficient measurement system for leak detection in buried water pipes / Team member / completed
• Mobile phone-based object finder using energy scavenging to power misplaced objects / Project leader / completed
• User-friendly health logger with wireless links and increased energy autonomy / Team member / completed
• Feasibility study: Investigation of the use of the Dynapic Piezo as energy harvesting source for embedded wireless systems / Project leader / completed
• Self-powered wireless remote controller for consumer electronic / Project leader / completed
• Feasibility study: Electronic on line door lock cylinder integrating a wireless link / Project leader / completed
• Feasibility Study: Investigation of a new, innovative and universal power management concept for energy harvesters to be integrated in circuits used in wireless building automation (PULPP1). / Project leader / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Böbel, M., Frei, F., Blumensaat, F., Ebi, C., Meli, M. L., & Rüst, A. (2023). Batteryless sensor devices for underground infrastructure : a long-term experiment on urban water pipes. Journal of Low Power Electronics and Applications, 13(2), 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/jlpea13020031
• Meli, M. L., Favre, S., Maij, B., Stajic, S., Boebel, M., Poole, P. J., Schellenberg, M., & Kouzinopoulos, C. S. (2023). Energy autonomous wireless sensing node working at 5 Lux from a 4 cm2 solar cell. Journal of Low Power Electronics and Applications, 13(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/jlpea13010012

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Valdés Cambero, E. V., & Meli, M. (2024). Communication through hermetic metal boundaries [Conference paper]. Proceedings of the 2024 Embedded World Conference, 124–127. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-32770
• Meli, M., & Maij, B. (2022, November 16). Energy autonomous LPWAN node for walls and bridges : 4 seasons results. Wireless Congress 2022. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-26937
• Meli, M., & Kunz, S. (2022). Using new memory technologies to reduce the energy requirements of LPWAN nodes [Conference paper]. In A. Sikora (Ed.), Proceedings of Embedded World Conference 2022. WEKA. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-26921
• Meli, M., Furter, C., Karakostas, K., Kouzinopoulos, C., & Tzovaras, D. (2020). Low power LoRaWAN node based on FRAM microcontroller. Proceedings of the 2020 IEEE 5th International Symposium on Smart and Wireless Systems. https://doi.org/10.1109/IDAACS-SWS50031.2020.9297075
• Meli, M., Brütsch, M., Stajic, S., Böbel, M., Lorenz, D., Hegetschweiler, L., Karanassos, D., & Kouzinopoulos, C. (2020). Low light energy autonomous LoRaWAN node. Proceedings of the 2020 IEEE 5th International Symposium on Smart and Wireless Systems. https://doi.org/10.1109/IDAACS-SWS50031.2020.9297089
• Meli, M., Stajic, S., & Wick, S. (2020, February). Powering Sigfox nodes with harvested energy. Embedded World Conference 2020, Nürnberg, 25.-27. Februar 2020. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20066
• Kouzinopoulos, C. S., Vujicic, O., Tzovaras, D., Bembnowicz, P., Meli, M., Bellanger, M., Kauer, M., De Vos, J., Pasero, D., & Schellenberg, M. (2019). AMANDA : an autonomous self-powered miniaturized smart sensing embedded system [Conference paper]. 2019 IEEE 9th International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE-Berlin), 324–329. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCE-Berlin47944.2019.8966223
• Meli, M., & Hegetschweiler, L. (2018, November). Harvesting energy from trees in order to power LPWAN IoT nodes. Wireless Congress Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-18842
• Meli, M., Brülisauer, C., & Bachmann, P. M. (2017, November). Evaluating the performance of smartphones scanning for low energy beacons. Proceedings of the Wireless Congress 2017 : Systems & Applications. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20064
• Meli, M., & Kräuchi, R. (2017, November). Limitations of current LP-WAN systems. Proceedings of the Wireless Congress 2017 : Systems & Applications. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20065
• Meli, M., & Dillersberger, H. (2014, November). Efficiently harvesting energy from temperature differences in order to power wireless systems. Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications, Munich, Germany, 12-13 November 2014. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-7145

Other publications

• Alarcòn, E., Carrara, s., La Rosa, R., Manalo, S., Meli, M., Paun, M.-A., Urard, P., & Zysset, C. (2018). Low power wireless embedded systems. In M. Coustans & C. Dehollain (Eds.), Power Management for Internet of Everything (pp. 233–264). River Publishers.
• Brütsch, M., Brülisauer, C., Widmer, L., Kräuchi, R., Truninger, D., & Meli, M. (2018, November). Comparing the energy requirements of bluetooth smart devices (November 2018). Wireless Congress Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3163
• Meli, M. (2018). Energy harvesting : after the hype comes later success. Elektroniknet.
• Meli, M. (2018). Energy harvesting : nach dem Hype kommt später Erfolg. Elektronik, 2018(16).
• Gugg, M., Brütsch, M., Brülisauer, C., & Meli, M. (2016). Comparing the energy requirements of current bluetooth smart solutions (February 2016). Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 23-25 February 2016. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1999
• Meli, M., Rion, O., & Widmer, L. (2016). Easy and safe pairing for bluetooth smart. 13. Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications, Munich, 9-10 November 2016. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1996
• Meli, M., & Hegetschweiler, L. (2016). Affordable energy autonomous wireless sensor for day and night. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 23-25 February 2016. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2001
• Meli, M., & Bachmann, P. M. (2016). Powering long range wireless nodes with harvested energy. 13. Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications, Munich, 9-10 November 2016. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2000
• Meli, M., Roth, N., & Gutzwiller, P. (2015). Wireless sensing using LEDs as very low-cost energy harvesters. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 24-26 February 2015. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1998
• Meli, M., Roth, N., & Gutzwiller, P. (2015). LEDs as cost-effective energy harvesters for IoT sensor nodes. IDTechEx Conference, Energy Harvesting & Storage 2015, Berlin, Germany, April 2015.
• Meli, M. (2015). Bringing down the cost of energy harvesting powered bluetooth smart tags by using LEDs as energy scavengers. Bluetooth Europe 2015, London, 15-16 September 2015.
• Meli, M., & Rion, O. (2015). Streaming speech and music using bluetooth low energy. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 24-26 February 2015. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1997
• Meli, M., & Roth, N. (2015). Unmögliches möglich machen : LEDs als günstige Energiesammler für autarke Kleinstenergieverbraucher. Polyscope, 2015(20). https://www.polyscope.ch/archiv/2015/20/unmoegliches-moeglich-machen/
• Bernegger, J., & Meli, M. (2014). Comparing the energy requirements of current Bluetooth Smart solutions. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 25-27 February 2014. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2010
• Dündar, D., Hegetschweiler, L., & Meli, M. (2014). Traffic analyzer front-end for complex IEEE 802.15.4 applications. European ZigBee Developers Conference 2014, Munich, Germany, 12-13 November 2014. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2009
• Hegetschweiler, L., & Meli, M. (2014). Unten Standard – oben proprietär : eine Übersicht über verschiedene Embedded-Wireless-Technologien – Beitrag 6/6. Polyscope, 2014(22).
• Meli, M., & Gutzwiller, P. (2014). Proprietär oder doch lieber Standard? : eine Übersicht über verschiedene Embedded-Wireless-Technologien – Beitrag 3/6. Polyscope, 2014(11). https://www.polyscope.ch/archiv/2014/11/proprietaer-oder-doch-lieber-standard/
• Meli, M., Truninger, D., Rüst, A., & Häring, B. (2013). Bluetooth low energy everywhere : using the audio interface to bring Ble features to any smart phone. Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications, Munich, Germany, 6-7 November 2013.
• Meli, M. (2013). Accelerometer-based wireless remote control powered with harvested energy. Design & Elektronik Entwicklerforum, Munich, Germany, 9 October 2013. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2011
• Meli, M., & Wuerth, M. (2012). Advertising position with battery-less Bluetooth low energy. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 28 February - 1 March 2012. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2019
• Meli, M., & Da Silva, M. (2011). Battery-less sensor nodes for 802.15.4/ZigBee wireless networks. Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications, Munich, Germany, 9-10 November 2011. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2018
• Meli, M., & Beerli, U. (2011). Indoor battery-less temperature and humidity sensor for Bluetooth Low Energy. Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications, Munich, Germany, 9-10 November 2011. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2020
• Condrau, D., Zimmerman, L., Gysel, M., Wuerms, M., & Meli, M. (2009). A touch and pair system for battery-free 802.15.4/ZigBee home automation networks. 3rd European ZigBee Developer’s Conference, Munich, Germany, 30 June - 1 July 2009. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2016
• Meli, M. (2009). Récolte d’énergie pour alimentation des réseaux personnels sans fil : plus d’autonomie, plus d’économies, plus d’écologie! Bulletin: Fachzeitschrift und Verbandsinformationen von Electrosuisse und VSE, 100(11), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2012
• Keller, S., Schweizer, M., & Meli, M. (2009). Intelligent and passive RFID tag for identification and sensing. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 3-5 March 2009. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2015
• Meli, M., & Bluem, A. (2008). A battery-less switch for use in 802.15.4 / ZigBee applications. 2nd European ZigBee Developers’ Conference, Munich, 24-25 June 2008. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2014
• Benoît, D., Almer, D., Würms, M., Meli, M., & Käser, H. (2008). Asynchronous wake-up scheme for wireless light curtains. 5. Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications, Munich, 12-13 November 2008. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2021
• Gysel, M., & Meli, M. (2008). Connecting IEEE 802.15.4 / ZigBee devices in difficult physical Environments. 2nd European ZigBee Developers’ Conference, Munich, 24-25 June 2008.
• Meli, M., Blättler, S., Gysel, M., & Kunz, V. (2008). Bidirectional 868/915 MHz wireless module powered with energy harverster. 10th Wireless Technologies Congress, Bochum, 23-24 September 2008. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2013
• Künzli, M. V., & Meli, M. (2007). Vom Gatter zu VHDL : eine Einführung in die Digitaltechnik (3. Auflage). vdf Hochschulverlag.
• Meli, M., Gysel, M., & Würms, M. (2007). Low cost solutions to pairing issues in IEEE 802.15.4 networks. 1st European ZigBee Developers’ Conference, Munich, 18-20 June 2007. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2022
• Meli, M., Gysel, M., & Sommerhalder, M. (2006). Using IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee in audio applications. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 14-16 February 2006. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2023

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Waldner, J., & Meli, M. (2024, April 11). Energy autonomous wireless remote control (presenter). Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 9-11 April 2024.
• Meli, M., & Favre, S. (2022, November 16). Harvesting energy in low light environments to power embedded systems. Wireless Congress 2022 : Systems & Applications, Munich, Germany, 16-17 November 2022.
• Meli, M., & Maij, B. (2021, March 3). Battery-free LPWAN nodes for bridges and walls. Embedded World Conference 2021, Online, 1.-5. März 2021.
• Meli, M. (2020, November 11). Achieving energy autonomy for LPWAN nodes. Proceedings of the Wireless Congress 2020 : Systems & Applications.
• Meli, M., & Maij, B. (2020, November 10). Autonomous wireless sensors for walls and bridges. Proceedings of the Wireless Congress 2020 : Systems & Applications.
• Meli, M. (2020, November 10). The AMANDA project. Proceedings of the Wireless Congress 2020 : Systems & Applications.
• Rion, O., & Meli, M. (2014). BLE compatible low power window sensor for energy management. swissT.Meeting: Embedded Computing Conference, Winterthur, 1. Juli 2014.
• Meli, M., & Rion, O. (2013, November 7). Low power window detector for ZigBee home automation applications. 7th European ZigBee Developers’ Conference, Munich, Germany, 6-7 November 2013.
• Bernegger, J., & Meli, M. (2013, August 27). Energieverbrauch von verschiedene Bluetooth Smart Varianten. swissT.meeting: Embedded Computing Conference, Winterthur, 27. August 2013.
• Rion, O., Meli, M., & Hutzler, M. (2013, August 27). Emulating complex HF-RFID protocols for identity and sensing. swissT.meeting: Embedded Computing Conference, Winterthur, 27. August 2013.
• Meli, M., Kizhakenath, A., & Beerli, U. (2013, February 28). Using Bluetooth Smart with energy harvesting. Embedded World Conference, Nuremberg, Germany, 26-28 February 2013.
• Meli, M., & Da Silva, M. (2012, June 28). Using FRAM in battery - less 802.15.4/zigBee applications. 6th European ZigBee Developer’s Conference, Munich, Germany, 27-28 June 2012.
• Doran, H., & Meli, M. (2009). Verbesserung autonomer Roboternavigation mit RFID basierten Pheromonen. 11th Wireless Technologies Congress, Stuttgart, Deutschland, 29.-30. September 2009.

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• Patent: US6657451, WO0140816 Method and integrated circuit arranged for feeding a test forcing pattern on a single shared pin of the circuit Inventor(s): MELI LOUIS MARCEL [CH] Applicant(s): KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV [NL]
• Patent: US6728900, WO0120455, EP1129408 Microcomputer with test instruction memory Inventor(s): MELI LOUIS MARCEL [CH] Applicant(s): KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV [NL]
• Patent: US7155597 Data processing device with aliased data pointer register Inventor(s): MELI LOUIS M [CH] Applicant(s): NXP BV [NL]

Patents and patent applications

• Kouzinopoulos, Charalampos; Ioannidis, Dimosthenis; Tzovara, Dimitrios; Schellenberg, Martin; Poole, Philip John; Meli, Marcel,

  2025.

  System and method of energy management and saving via controlled power disconnection of smart sensor nodes and embedded systems.

  Patent number GR1010842 B

  (2025-01-08)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DGR1010842B

• Duetschler, Urs; Meli, Marcel,

  2024.

  Signal forwarding method for a building management system.

  Patent number WO2024175600 A1

  (2024-08-29)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DWO2024175600A1

• Meli, Marcel; Duetschler, Urs; Maij, Benjamin,

  2024.

  Wakeup-signal forwarding method for access enforcement point(s) and access control systems.

  Patent number WO2024175606 A1

  (2024-08-29)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DWO2024175606A1

• Meli, Marcel; Dündar, Dario; Koller, Stefan,

  2020.

  Handgriffeinheit.

  Patent number DE102019125080 A1

  (2020-03-19)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DDE102019125080A1

• Matter, Dieter; Mumenthaler, Sven; Meli, Marcel,

  2016.

  Mensch-Maschine Schnittstelle und Verfahren zum Ändern einer visuellen Markierung einer Schaltfläche einer Mensch-Maschine-Schnittstelle.

  Patent number EP3018826 A1

  (2016-11-05)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DEP3018826A1

• Matter, Dieter; Meli, Marcel; Sivasubramaniam, Venkatesh; Cartmann, Thomas; Hutzler, Markus; Kizhakenath, Abhilash,

  2013.

  Piezoelectric signal generator.

  Patent number EP2636083 A1

  (2013-09-11)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DEP2636083A1

• Koller, Philippe; Meli, Marcel; Gysel, Martin; Wuerms, Martin,

  2011.

  Wireless, self-contained remote control.

  Patent number EP2363845 A1

  (2011-09-07)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DEP2363845A1

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