Engineering Commons^™

Energy Aware Design And Analysis For Synchronous And Asynchronous Circuits, Jia Di

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Power dissipation has become a major concern for IC designers. Various low power design techniques have been developed for synchronous circuits. Asynchronous circuits, however. have gained more interests recently due to their benefits in lower noise, easy timing control, etc. But few publications on energy reduction techniques for asynchronous logic are available.

Power awareness indicates the ability of the system power to scale with changing conditions and quality requirements. Scalability is an important figure-of-merit since it allows the end user to implement operational policy. just like the user of mobile multimedia equipment needs to select between better quality and longer …

Topology And Control Investigation For Low-Voltage High-Current Isolated Dc-Dc Converters, Hong Mao

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

High conversion efficiency and fast transient response at high switching frequency are the two main challenges for low-voltage high-current DC-DC converters, which are the motivations of the dissertation work.

To reduce the switching power loss, soft switching is a desirable technique to keep power loss under control at high switching frequencies. A Duty-Cycle-Shift (DCS) concept is proposed for half-bridge DC-DC converters to reduce switching loss. The concept of this new control scheme is shifting one of the two symmetric PWM driving signals close to the other, such that ZVS can be achieved for the lagging switch due to the shortened …

Larger-First Partial Parsing, Sebastian Alexander Van Delden

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Larger-first partial parsing is a primarily top-down approach to partial parsing that is opposite to current easy-first, or primarily bottom-up, strategies. A rich partial tree structure is captured by an algorithm that assigns a hierarchy of structural tags to each of the input tokens in a sentence. Part-of-speech tags are first assigned to the words in a sentence by a part-of-speech tagger. A cascade of Deterministic Finite State Automata then uses this part-of-speech information to identify syntactic relations primarily in a descending order of their size. The cascade is divided into four specialized sections: (1) a Comma Network, which identifies …

A Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence Study On The Effects Of Unsteadiness And Fuel Lewis Number In Hydrogen Laminar Diffusion Flames, Marcos Chaos

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Studies on the effect of transport properties coupled with the interaction of fluid dynamics and combustion in acoustically forced laminar hydrogen jet diffusion flames have been performed using the planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique. These unsteady diffusion flames are of particular interest because they are reproducible turbulent-like events that can be investigated to gain insight into turbulent combustion. Results reported herein add to the ongoing effort of understanding the complex transport processes taking place in the flames encountered in most modern heat-producing and power-producing devices.

Fuel transport properties (i .e. fuel Lewis number, LeF) were varied by fuel dilution with …

Antenna-Coupled Infrared Focal Plane Array, Francisco Javier Gonzalez

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation a new type of infrared focal plan array (IR FPA) was investigated, consisting of antenna-coupled microbolometer fabricated using electron-beam lithography. Four different antenna designs were experimentally demonstrated at 10-micron wavelength: dipole, bowtie, square-spiral, and log-periodic. The main differences between these antenna types were their bandwidth, collection area, angular reception pattern, and polarization. To provide pixel collection areas commensurate with typical IR FPA requirements, two configurations were investigated: a two-dimensional serpentine interconnection of individual IR antennas, and a Fresnel-zone-plate (FZP) coupled to a single-element antenna. Optimum spacing conditions for the two-dimensional interconnect were developed. Increased sensitivity was demonstrated …

Design And Analysis Of Class Ab Rf Power Amplifier For Wireless Communication Applications, Mohamed El-Dakroury

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The Power Amplifier is the most power-consulting block among the building blocks of RF transceivers. It is still a difficult problem to design power amplifiers, especially for linear, low voltage operation. Until now power amplifiers for wireless applications is being produced almost in GaAs processes with some exceptions in LDMOS, Si BJT, and SiGe HBT. The submicron CMOS processes for power amplifiers are under research focus since CMOS offers integration for power amplifier with rest of the transceivers blocks due to its high yield. Also CMOS process is cheap.

This thesis report details the design process of a class AB …

High Frequency Communication System Modeling And Performance Enhancement, Employing Novel Adaptive Dsp Techniques, Murad M. Qahwash

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

High Frequency (HF) communication has been shown to be a useful communication technique from the very beginning of World War I and it accelerated during World War II. This is attributed to its simplicity, ability to provide near globe connectivity at low power without repeaters, moderate cost, and ease of proliferation [1]. In fact, the HF communication system utilizes the ionosphere [2][3][4] to refract the skywave signals to a distant receiver. This ionospheric channel has some disadvantages. First, it is a non-stationary channel as the HF frequency propagation is a function of the sun spot activities, solar winds, and diurnal …

New Architecture For Heterogeneous Real-Time Simulation, Mandar Anil Mathure

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates a new architecture for modeling and simulating complex distributed real-time systems. Modeling adequately a large distributed real time system may involve, due to its complexity, several different theoretical vehicles such as queuing theory, finite state machines, and others. Currently there are no software tools, which would offer combining such heterogeneous features into a single comprehensive simulation environment.

This study involves integrating 3 tools, SES/workbench, an offline simulator using queuing theory as its modeling discipline, ObjecTime as a real-time simulator based on finite state machines as its modeling discipline, and VxWorks real-time kernel used for free modeling in …

Design And Applications Of Volume Holographic Optical Elements, Steven C. Dunn

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Volume gratings were studied both theoretically and experimentally in order to design and analyze practical volume holographic optical elements. The diffraction of finite (Gaussian) beams by transmission gratings is investigated. A closed form solution for the off-Bragg profiles is obtained, and the distortion in the resulting profiles is analyzed. Criteria for when the finiteness of the beam has a minimal effect on the angular selectivity response are given. A model is developed to investigate the cross talk in multiplexed gratings Experimental verification in LiNb0₃ and PTR glass is demonstrated. The diffraction efficiency and output profiles of finite beams diffracted …

Low Voltage Regulator Modules And Single Stage Front-End Converters, Wei Gu

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Evolution in microprocessor technology poses new challenges for supplying power to these devices. To meet demands for faster and more efficient data processing, modem microprocessors are being designed with lower voltage implementations. More devices will be packed on a single processor chip and the processors will operate at higher frequencies, exceeding 1GHz. New high-performance microprocessors may require from 40 to 80 watts of power for the CPU alone. Load current must be supplied with up to 30A/µs slew rate while keeping the output voltage within tight regulation and response time tolerances. Therefore, special power supplies and Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) …

Use Of Incremental Adaptation And Habituation Regimens For Mitigating Optokinetic Side-Effects, David A. Graeber

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The use of incremental and repeated exposures regimens have been put forth as effective means to mitigate visually induced motion sickness based on the Dual Process Theory (DPT) (Groves & Thompson, 1970) of neural plasticity. In essence, DPT suggests that by incrementing stimulus intensity the depression opponent process should be allowed to exert greater control over the net outcome than the sensitization opponent process, thereby minimizing side-effects. This conceptual model was tested by empirically validating the effectiveness of adaptation, incremental adaptation, habituation, and incremental habituation regimens to mitigate side-effects arising from exposure to an optokinetic drum. Forty college students from …

A Framework For The Implementation Of An Iso 9000 Based Certification Program For Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers, Adam Y. Maamoun

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

ISO 9000:2000 is the newest version of the ISO 9000 family of standards. Unlike the 1994 version, it does not distinguish between servicing, testing and designing standards. It emphasizes quality improvement rather than quality control and briefly explains how to implement the Plan-Do-Check- Act (PDCA) cycle for improvement and the use of statistical techniques to improve the quality of process and product instead of controlling the quality of the output. The thesis explains why companies need to be certified and how to implement quality improvement programs.

The objective of this thesis is to provide generic certification guidelines for printed circuit …

Computing A Diameter-Constrained Minimum Spanning Tree, Ayman Mahmoud Abdalla

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In numerous practical applications, it is necessary to find the smallest possible tree with a bounded diameter. A diameter-constrained minimum spanning tree (DCMST) of a given undirected, edge-weighted graph, G, is the smallest-weight spanning tree of all spanning trees of G which contain no path with more than k edges, where k is a given positive integer. The problem of finding a DCMST is NP-complete for all values of k; 4 ≤ k ≤ (n - 2), except when all edge-weights are identical.

A DCMST is essential for the efficiency of various distributed mutual exclusion algorithms, where …

Field Evaluation Of Ultrasound Enhancement Of Permeable Treatment Walls, Aamod Sudhakar Sonawane

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to demonstrate the application of ultrasound to field sites having problems with precipitation build up and corrosion. PTW s are passive reactive walls containing zero-valent iron metal for in-situ remediation of contaminated groundwater. However, loss of reactivity over time due to build up of corrosion and other precipitates on the iron surface is a major concern. Ultrasound energy has been established as an effective tool for revitalizing iron surface. This research applied ultrasound energy to a zero-valent iron wall constructed below the ground surface to remove precipitates and iron corrosion, increasing iron reactivity. Two …

Crash Quality- An Approach For Evaluating Spending On Quality Improvement Initiatives, Labiche Ferreira

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The quality movement has become popular among corporations big and small for one reason: empirical evidence suggests that quality and productivity (and hence profitability) are linked. Unfortunately, while many firms accept that quality and productivity go together, few actually track the gains associated with their quality improvement programs. Companies also tend to spend on quality improvement with no indication or estimation of the impact of funding on the targeted process. It would be of great value to know: (1) the impact of spending to enhance the product/process quality level, and (2) the point at which expenditures for quality improvement are …

Signal Integrity In Deep Submicron Cmos Chip Design, Jignesh Suresh Sonchhatra

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Advancement in CMOS technology has become a driving force in the advancement of today's IC design arena. In the past few years, considerable research has been done on the CMOS devices and circuits. Constant efforts have been made to realize smaller and smaller devices by reducing the channel length of the transistors and scaling down various other device parameters. Consequently, various problems have arisen such as interconnect delay, signal integrity and signal coupling.

The purpose of this thesis is to review and understand current problems in IC design and come up with various solutions to them. Efforts have been made …

A Hierarchical Channel Selection Scheme For Macro/Micro Cellular Networks, Ayesha Zaheer

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Hierarchical channel allocation schemes for cellular networks offer a promising approach to solve the pressing problem of increasing the cellular servicing capacity in spite of the limited radio spectrum available. We propose a hierarchical channel selection scheme for handling handoffs and new calls in micro/macro cellular systems. The scheme is intended to improve the performance and quality of service of these systems by increasing the cell channel utilization, reducing the handoff blocking probability and improving the responsive to new calls.

The proposed scheme is based on several design enhancements including an overflow buffer, which is used for handoff calls that …

Application Of The Fdtd Method For The Analysis Of Finite-Sized Phased Array Microstrip Antennas, Javier Gomez Tagle Rangel

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method has gained tremendous popularity in the past decade as a tool for solving Maxwell's equations. Phased Array Antennas find several applications including mobile communications ( cellular, personal communication systems and networks), satellite communications, global positioning system (GPS), aeronautical and radar systems. This dissertation describes the application of the FDTD method for calculating broadband characteristics of finite-sized phased array antennas consisting of microstrip elements fed with coaxial probes.

The characterization of such antennas is dependent upon the development of simulation tools that can accurately model general topologies including wires, dielectrics, conductors lumped elements and metallic strips. …

Design Considerations And Thermodynamic Feasibility Study Of A Meso-Scale Refrigerator, Nabil Shovon Ashraf

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in micro-fabrication technology have ushered a new era in miniaturization of chemical, environmental and energy systems. This foreseeable trend towards miniaturization in chemical, environmental and mechanical systems is expected to revolutionize the ways the human life is being perceived today. The high volume and mass reproducibility is seen as the striking aspect of micro-fabrication based miniature systems, offering economies far exceeding than the economies of scale obtained in large plants. The focus of this thesis work is directed at the thermodynamic feasibility and preliminary prototype design for a meso-scale refrigerator. Miniaturization to sub-centimeter domain will enable configuring these …

Dynamic Modeling Of Pwm And Single-Switch Single-Stage Power Factor Correction Converters, Guangyong Zhu

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The concept of averaging has been used extensively in the modeling of power electronic circuits to overcome their inherent time-variant nature. Among various methods, the PWM switch modeling approach is most widely accepted in the study of closed-loop stability and transient response because of its accuracy and simplicity. However, a non-ideal PWM switch model considering conduction losses is not available except for converters operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM) and under small ripple conditions. Modeling of conductor losses under large ripple conditions has not been reported in the open literature, especially when the converter operates in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). …

Well Characteristics Influencing Microscopic Particulate Analysis Risk Index, Robert Christopher Sharek

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Cryptosporidium parvum is a common surface water contaminant that can cause illness in human beings. The presence of this etiological agent in groundwater identifies the groundwater as under the direct influence (GWUDI) of surface water. Currently the determination of GWUDI water sources requires an expensive, labor-intensive laboratory procedure called the Microscopic Particulate Analysis (MPA). The results of the MPA provide a risk index that rates the degree of surface water contamination. The objective of this study is to identify other methods of identifying GWUDI of surface waters, such as well characteristics and hydrogeologic factors which may contribute to higher MPA …

Development And Saw Device Implementation Of A New Weighted Stepped Chirp Code Signal For Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Communications Systems, Scott Edward Carter

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This work introduces the new weighted stepped chirp code signal for direct sequence spread spectrum (DS/SS) communications systems. This code signal uses the truncated cosine series functions as the chip functions. This code signal is the result of discretizing a continuous wave (CW) chirp which results in enhanced performance versus a pseudonoise (PN) code and equivalent performance and easier implementation than a CW chirp. This code signal will be shown to possess improved compression ratio (CR), peak sidelobe level (PSL), integrated sidelobe level (ISL), and bit error rate (BER) when compared to a PN code of identical code length and …

Numerical, Image, And Signal Processing Algorithms Applied To Radar Rainfall Estimation, John Eugene Lane

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Since the advent of radar in the 1940s, it has been well known that water drops composing precipitation scatter microwaves in a predictable manner. This characteristic of early. radar has lead to the present day Weather Surveillance Radar (WSR-88D) or NEXRAD systems, operated by the National Weather Service (NWS). In parallel to the evolution of weather radar for measuring precipitation over large areas, remote networks of rain gauges have been deployed and managed by agencies such as the Florida Water Management Districts. Since the recent deployment of the NWS network of WSR-88D, as well as the recent launch of the …

Laser Welding Of Sheet Metals, Jian Xie

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Laser welding of sheet metals is an important application of high power lasers, and has many advantages over conventional welding techniques. Laser welding has a great potential to replace other welding technique in the car-body manufacturing because of high laser weld quality and relatively low manufacturing cost associated with the laser technique. However, a few problems related to the laser welding of sheet metals limit its applications in industries. To have a better understanding of the welding process, laser welding experimental studies and theoretical analysis are necessary.

Temperature-dependent absorptivities of various metals are obtained theoretically for CO2, COIL (Chemical Oxygen-Iodine …

Nonlinear Modeling Of Concrete-Filled Frp Tubes Using The Finite Element Method, Kenneth T. Zagers

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) has in recent years emerged as an alternative reinforcement for structural concrete. The properties that make FRP appealing to the construction industry include its resistance to electro-chemical corrosion, high strength-to-weight ratio, and electrical insulation. An efficient use of FRP is in the form of concrete-filled tubes, where the tube not only protects the concrete against environmental factors, but also provides confinement and external reinforcement. Since use of fiber composites for confining concrete is relatively new, analytical work in this area is limited to the models that were originally developed for transverse steel reinforcement. However, it has …

Telecourse And Traditional Computer Applications : Exploring The Impact Of Review Sessions, Carol Odette Bourke

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of review sessions on student achievement and retention in a computer applications course taught by televised distance learning and traditional instruction. Identified within the study were method of instruction, review, and grades in televised and traditional computer applications courses. A quasi-experimental design was used to measure the effects of review sessions on student achievement and retention in computer applications classes. Intact classes were used to form the 4 groups used in this study. Randomization was limited to choices students made in registering for the classes. The control groups for this …

The Effect Of Varying Temperature, Flux And Pretreatment On The Microfiltration Of Lake Michigan Water, Karen Linda Kopp

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated microfiltration of Lake Michigan Water for the production of drinking water. A 60 gpm Memcor microfiltration pilot plant was operated for nine months at Manitowoc, Wisconsin to determine and model the performance characteristics of a microfiltration pilot plant for varying surface water conditions. Statistical regression and modeling was used to determine and develop quantitative relationships between time of operation and several operational variables for water quality and productivity. Modifications of Darcy's Law and flux decline data were used to develop a model relating temperature and flux to cleaning frequency. Statistical hypothesis testing and associated modeling were used …

Analysis Of Threaded Joint Behavior In An Airbag Module Assembly, Rustam Chemat

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

While some of think of our cars as simply "buckets of bolts", the proper design choices, applications, and assemblies of threaded fasteners/bolted joints play critical roles in automobile safety.

Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), more commonly known as airbags, help prevent vehicle occupants from being thrown forward into the dashboard or windshield in the event of a collision. The components comprising the airbag, the inflator, the backing plate, and the cover are connected to each other, and to the vehicle, through a series of threaded fasteners. Proper and timely deployment of the airbag depends largely on the selection of suitable threaded …

Semantic Correlation Of Behavior For The Interoperability Of Heterogeneous Simulations, Christopher James Dean

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A desirable goal of military simulation training is to provide large scale or joint exercises to train personnel at higher echelons. To help meet this goal, many of the lower echelon combatants must consist of computer generated forces with some of these echelons composed of units from different simulations. The object of the research described is to correlate the behaviors of entities in different simulations so that they can interoperate with one another to support simulation training. Specific source behaviors can be translated to a form in terms of general behaviors which can then be correlated to any desired specific …

The Effects Of Glucose And Fatty Acids On Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Using A Sequencing Batch Reactor, Tarek Zaki Khouri

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Two anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were used to evaluate enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). The first SBR, designated the Glucose SBR, was run for a period of four months. It received a synthetic wastewater plus glucose as a supplemental carbon source. The second SBR, the Isovaleric SBR, was run for three months. During the first month, isovaleric acid was its supplemental carbon source while for the remaining time period, no supplemental carbon source was added to the feed. Steady-state data from the SBR receiving isovalerate yielded the highest phosphorus (P) removals observed during the study, with a mixed liquor …