Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

A Case Study In Cmos Design Scaling For Analog Applications: The Ringamp Ldo, Steven Corum

Masters Theses

As CMOS process nodes scale to smaller feature sizes, process optimizations are made to achieve improvements in digital circuit performance, such as increasing speed and memory, while decreasing power consumption. Unfortunately for analog design, these optimizations usually come at the expense of poorer transistor performance, such as reduced small signal output resistance and increased channel length modulation. The ring amplifier has been proposed as a digital solution to the analog scaling problem, by configuring digital inverters to function as analog amplifiers through deadzone biasing. As digital inverters naturally scale, the ring amplifier is a promising area of exploration for analog …

An Isostable Coordinate Based Amelioration Strategy To Mitigate The Effects Of Jet Lag, Talha Ahmed

Masters Theses

Commercial air travel has become extremely commonplace in the last 20 to 30 years especially as the world has moved towards new heights of globalization. Though air travel has greatly reduced transit times allowing people to cover thousand of miles within hours, it comes with its fair share of issues. jet-lag can be regarded to be at the top of those list of problems; jet-lag typically results from rapid travel through multiple time zones which causes a significant misalignment between the person's internal circadian clock and the external time. A person's circadian clock is governed by a population of coupled …

A Low Power, Rad-Hard, Ecl Standard Cell Library, Zakaraya A. Hamdan

Masters Theses

Space exploration for life both inside and outside of our solar system demand the design and fabrication of robust, reliable electronics that can take measurements, process data, and sustain necessary operations. However, the presence of high radiation and the cold temperature of space poses a challenge to most designers. This thesis presents the design of a radiation-hardened, cold capable emitter coupled logic standard cell library with the intention of being used for space applications. The cells are designed and fabricated in a 90nm silicon germanium BiCMOS process. First, a review of emitter coupled logic is presented. Then, the design methodology …

Application Of Load Shifting For Commercial Hvac-R Systems Via Static And Dynamic Event Automated Demand Response, Justin Anthony Martinez

Masters Theses

Life in the modern era is inextricably tied to energy and the unending, ever-growing need for more. The technologies that drive society, in fields such as communication, infrastructure, and heavy industry, are dependent on that electrical energy being reliable and readily available. This places an extreme importance on the power generation sector as a function of meeting the demand required for stability. However, as seen with increased climate volatility due to misused or otherwise mismanaged resources in the heavy industry, and the uncertain and variable renewable energy generation; there must also be ecological as well as economic consideration when discussing …

Electric Vehicle Aggregation Considering Fast-Charging For Power System Applications, Trey I. Mingee

Masters Theses

The electric grid has become one of the most important pieces of technology for modern society, providing power to homes and businesses at all hours of the day. Future increases of worldwide electricity demand along with growing threats of contingency scenarios such as cyberattacks cause great concerns regarding the reliability of the grid. Further, the gradual shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources creates a significant need for grid support services to aid in its operation. Electric vehicles will become more prevalent in coming decades; these modules present unique loads to the system that are prime candidates for use …

Load Modeling And Evaluation Of Leds For Hardware Test Bed Application, Jillian M. Ruff

Masters Theses

The lighting industry was revolutionized with the emergence of LED lighting. Over the last 15 years, LED lighting device sales and utilization have grown immensely. The growth and popularity of LEDs is due to improved operation of the device when compared to previous lighting technologies. Efficient performance of the device is critical due to the growth of global energy consumption.

As nonrenewable generation fuel is finite, utilities have begun the transition to renewable energy generation. Generation and distribution systems become inherently complex to comprehend and maintain with incorporation of emerging supply and load technologies. With the unprecedented growth of LED …

A Bulk Driven Transimpedance Cmos Amplifier For Sipm Based Detection, Shahram Hatefi Hesari

Masters Theses

The contribution of this work lies in the development of a bulk driven operational
transconducctance amplifier which can be integrated with other analog circuits and
photodetectors in the same chip for compactness, miniaturization and reducing the
power. Silicon photomultipliers, also known as SiPMs, when coupled with scintillator materials are used in many imaging applications including nuclear detection. This thesis discuss the design of a bulk-driven transimpedance amplifier suitable for detectors where the front end is a SiPM. The amplifier was design and fabricated in a standard standard CMOS process and is suitable for integration with CMOS based SiPMs and commercially …

Impacts Of Summer Drought And Climate Change Conditions On Hydropower Resources And Power System Reliability In The Pjm Region, William J. Tingen Ii

Masters Theses

The United States power grid is a large, complex, and interconnected system that involves the coordination of numerous entities (e.g., power plant owners/operators, regulators, stakeholders, etc.). As such, any type of extreme event can potentially threaten the economic, safe, and reliable operation of the grid. One such example is summer drought (i.e., events predominantly characterized by elevated temperatures and reduced precipitation), which have impacts spanning all aspects of the power system, especially generation resources through changes in water availability and temperature. Additionally, although heavily dependent on region, climate change can potentially increase the likelihood and severity of drought conditions, illustrating …

Development Of Arduino-Based Portable Systems For Electroanalytical Detection, Jiamei Huang

Masters Theses

This work presents the development of a multi-mode electroanalytical detection system based on Arduino microcontroller board. First, a multichannel impedance readout system is designed for alternating current electrokinetics (ACEK) based capacitive sensing. ACEK phenomena on 100μm interdigitated electrodes are observed via fluorescent particles as well as bioparticles, which illustrate the mechanisms of ACEK target enrichment for the capacitive sensing method. I2C multiplexer is applied to allow multiple impedance converters to work together providing continuous AC signals for ACEK capacitive sensing. Second, an electronic nose composed of three modules including a gas sensor array, a circuit for signal acquisition integrated with …

Non-Contact Vital Sign Detection Using Mm-Wave Radar, Marvin Joshi

Masters Theses

Vital Sign detection using radars has been a rising technology in the fields of healthcare, security, and military purposes. Typically, radars used for these tasks operate at lower frequencies due to their low cost and and the ability to detect behind obstacles, such as walls or undre debris. However, this leads to an overall large system as the lower the frequency of operation, the larger the size of the antennas. The system size increases when multiple antennas are used for subject localization. But, with the development of millimeter- wave radars and Antenna-on-Package (AoP) solutions, a more compact and portable radar …

Design And Evaluation Of A Unique Weighted-Sum-Based Anger Camera, Matthew W. Seals

Masters Theses

Anger camera imaging technology has become widely popular for neutron diffraction imaging due to recent shortages in Helium-3 (He-3). Research into neutron diffraction optimized Anger camera by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) detectors group has provided an alternative to He-3 Tube-based detectors with a high-resolution Anger camera. However, the cost of these high-resolution Anger camera technology can make it less attractive than He-3 tubes when a large Field of View (FOV) is desired. Currently, there is a need for a lower-cost alternative to this high-resolution anger camera. Further applications for Anger camera have become of interest with the advent …

Evaluation Of Robust Deep Learning Pipelines Targeting Low Swap Edge Deployment, David Carter Cornett

Masters Theses

The deep learning technique of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has greatly advanced the state-of-the-art for computer vision tasks such as image classification and object detection. These solutions rely on large systems leveraging wattage-hungry GPUs to provide the computational power to achieve such performance. However, the size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements of these conventional GPU-based deep learning systems are not suitable when a solution requires deployment to so called "Edge" environments such as autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and smart security cameras.

The objective of this work is to benchmark FPGA-based alternatives to conventional GPU systems that have the …

Partial Discharge Testing And Detection Under Pwm Voltage, John Meadors

Masters Theses

Partial Discharge detection and measurement is an important part of electric insulation design. However, in PWM (pulse width modulation) voltage source converter environments, the noise resulting from switching voltage (rise and fall times of tens of nanoseconds) makes detection and extraction of partial discharge difficult. Unique methods of partial discharge detection are needed to address and decouple the noise from partial discharge measurements. PWM voltage can feature high switching speeds and high dv/dt during voltage switching. These PWM voltage behaviors are not found in traditional utility high voltage applications, and the effects that this type of voltage has on insulation …

Modeling And Evaluation Of Utility-Scale Microgrid Investment For Distribution System Planning, Ian Schomer

Masters Theses

The electrical distribution network faces two great challenges for the immediate future. First, increased affordability of distributed energy resources (DERs)—and advancing control technologies of inverters that interface them to the grid—have driven a shift from a passive to an active distribution network (ADN), which heightens the complexity of system management. Second, the increased frequency of severe weather events and increased potential for a cybersecurity attack necessitate the need for a resilient infrastructure that can respond adaptively to shutdowns within the system. Microgrids (MGs) present a promising framework both to provide hierarchal control of DERs and to increase resiliency with grid-forming …

Development Of An Encrypted Wireless System For Body Sensor Network Applications, Kendra Anderson

Masters Theses

Wireless body area networks (WBAN), also called wireless body sensor networks (WBSN), consist of a collection of wireless sensor nodes used to monitor and assess various human physiological conditions, which can then be used by healthcare professionals to help them make important healthcare decisions. They can be used to prevent disease, help diagnosis a disease, or manage the symptoms of a disease. An extremely important aspect of WBAN is security to protect a patient's healthcare information, as a hacker could potentially cause fatal harm. Current security measures are implemented in software at the MAC layer and higher, not in the …

High Frequency Injection Sensorless Control For A Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine Driven By An Fpga Controlled Sic Inverter, Jared Walden

Masters Theses

As motor drive inverters continue to employ Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices for power density improvements, sensorless motor control strategies can be developed with field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) to take advantage of high inverter switching frequencies. Through the FPGA’s parallel processing capabilities, a high control bandwidth sensorless control algorithm can be employed. Sensorless motor control offers cost reductions through the elimination of mechanical position sensors or more reliable electric drive systems by providing additional position and speed information of the electric motor. Back electromotive force (EMF) estimation or model-based methods used for motor control provide precise sensorless …

Development Of A Point-Of-Use Testing Platform For Detecting Bacteria Infection In Raw Milk, Xin Xia

Masters Theses

The detection and quantification of bacteria are essential to environment and food quality monitoring. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common pathogen, also a causative agent of mastitis. Traditional methods usually require samples to be tested in a laboratory. However, sending samples to remote lab increases the cost of time and money spent on delivery. Sometimes, samples can degrade during this long progress and cause inaccuracy. A low cost and reusable sensor is designed to perform on-site quantification. The sensor composed of two layers of asymmetrical mesh electrodes, which is used in coordination magnetic microparticles functionalized with bacterium-specific antibody. Immunological …

Power System Stability Assessment With Supervised Machine Learning, Mirka Mandich

Masters Theses

Power system stability assessment has become an important area of research due to the increased penetration of photovoltaics (PV) in modern power systems. This work explores how supervised machine learning can be used to assess power system stability for the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) service region as part of the Data-driven Security Assessment for the Multi-Timescale Integrated Dynamics and Scheduling for Solar (MIDAS) project. Data-driven methods offer to improve power flow scheduling through machine learning prediction, enabling better energy resource management and reducing demand on real-time time-domain simulations. Frequency, transient, and small signal stability datasets were created using the …

Design And Simulation Of A Supervisory Control System For Hybrid Manufacturing, Michael Buckley

Masters Theses

The research teams of Dr. Bill Hamel, Dr. Bradley Jared and Dr. Tony Schmitz were tasked by the Office of Naval Research to create a hybrid manufacturing process for a reduced scale model of a naval ship propeller. The base structure of the propeller is created using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), which is then scanned to compare created geometry to desired geometry. The propeller is then machined down to match the desired geometry. This process is iterated upon until the final product meets design tolerances. Due to the complex nature and numerous industrial machines used in the process, it …

Development Of A Converter-Based Testing Platform And Battery Energy Storage System (Bess) Emulator For Microgrid Controller Function Evaluation, Dingrui Li

Masters Theses

The microgrid has attracted increasing research attention in the last two decades. Due to the development of renewable energy resources and power electronics technologies, the future microgrid will trend to be smarter and more complicated. The microgrid controller performs a critical role in the microgrid operation, which will also become more and more sophisticated to support the future microgrid. Before final field deployment and test, the evaluation and testing of the controller is an indispensable step in the controller development, which requires a proper testing platform.

However, existing simulation-based platforms have issues with potential numerical oscillation and may require huge …

Optimal And Model Free Control Of Tumor Immune Interaction Dynamic To Schedule Cancer Treatments, Mohamed Alsager

Masters Theses

Cancer is an intricate disease that can attack different parts of the human body. In the most common types of cancer, abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and impair body tissue. Cross disciplinary research has long aided expansion of our knowledge and ability to approach problems with a different perspective. Engineers and clinicians can collaborate to solve mysteries surrounding cancer cells function and responses. Engineers have contributed to cancer treatment, by studying new ways to diagnose and treat cancer. According to a study by John Hopkins university engineered Nano-particles can induce immune reaction and kill cancer cells. In addition, new ways of …

A Secure Architecture For Defense Against Return Address Corruption, Grayson J. Bruner

Masters Theses

The advent of the Internet of Things has brought about a staggering level of inter-connectivity between common devices used every day. Unfortunately, security is not a high priority for developers designing these IoT devices. Often times the trade-off of security comes at too high of a cost in other areas, such as performance or power consumption. This is especially prevalent in resource-constrained devices, which make up a large number of IoT devices. However, a lack of security could lead to a cascade of security breaches rippling through connected devices. One of the most common attacks used by hackers is return …

A Communications Testbed For Testing Power Electronic Agent Systems, Benjamin R. Dean

Masters Theses

As power electronic system (PES) continue to incorporate complex intra-system communication, understanding and characterizing this communication has become a complex task. Knowing how a system’s communication will behave is vital to ensuring proper operation of these systems. This thesis proposes and outlines a communication testbed that streamlines the development and testing of the communications between the components of PES, and further presents the characterization of communication protocol utilized in these multi-agent PESs. These communication protocols include MQTT, Modbus, or User Datagram Protocol (UDP). Understanding the different behavior of these protocols presents is paramount for the design of PESs.

Design Of Power Receiving Units For 6.78mhz Wireless Power Transfer Systems, Hoang Phuc Tran Pham

Masters Theses

In the last decade, the wireless power transfer (WPT) technology has been a popular topic in power electronics research and increasingly adopted by consumers. The AirFuel WPT standard utilizes resonant coils to transfer energy at 6.78 MHz, introducing many benefits such as longer charging distance, multi-device charging, and high tolerance of the coil misalignment. However, variations in coil coupling due to the change in receiving coil positions alter the equivalent load reactance, degrading efficiency.

In recent studies, active full-bridge rectifiers are employed on WPT receivers because of their superior efficiency, controllability, and ability to compensate for detuned WPT networks. In …

Camera-Based Remote Photoplethysmography For Estimation Of Heart Rate Using Single Board Computers, Benjamin Sweely

Masters Theses

The objective of this project was to develop a wireless, noncontact monitoring system that measures multiple physiological parameters in human faces from a distance using a camera. Compared to traditional sensors, this monitoring system does not use wires or adhesives, providing a safer, more user-friendly application. The goal of the monitoring systems was to estimate heart rate (HR). The current practices of measuring HR involve collecting electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from adhesive electrodes placed on various parts of the body and using a pulse oximeter (PO) typically placed on the ear lobe or finger. We were able to successfully create 2 …

Analysis Of Nfirs Data For Sensitivity To Foreclosure And Other Select Features, Alexander Meadows Asbury

Masters Theses

Arson is a grave threat to life and property. In the United States, fire information is collected and disseminated through the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Fire records obtained from NFIRS contain a full range of available information. This information includes the initial incident details in addition to investigative information regarding the cause of ignition and factors contributing to ignition. Combating the arson problem is accomplished in large part by understanding the motives and opportunities of those who commit arson. A common motive for arson is financial gain through insurance fraud. By connecting NFIRS data with mortgage and foreclosure …

An Analog Cmos Particle Filter, Trevor Watson

Masters Theses

Particle filters are used in a variety of image processing and machine learning applications. Their main use in these applications is to gather information about a system of objects, by using partial or noisy observations collected from sensors. These observations are used to associate points of interest in the observations with objects and maintain this association through a series of observations.

In this paper I will investigate the performance of a particle filter implemented in 130nm analog CMOS hardware. The design goal of the particle filter is low-microwatt power consumption. Using analog hardware, rather than digital ASICs or CPUs I …

Design Considerations For Paralleling Multiple Chips In Sic Power Modules, Fei Yang

Masters Theses

With the benefits of fast switching speed, low on-resistance and high thermal conductivity, silicon carbide (SiC) devices are being implemented in converter designs with high efficiency and high power density. Consequently, SiC power modules are needed. However, some of the preestablished package designs for silicon based power modules are not suitable to manifest the advantages of SiC devices. Therefore, this thesis aims at optimizing the package design to utilize the fast switching capability of SiC devices.

First, the power loop parasitic inductance induced by the package can lead to large voltage spikes with the fast switching SiC device. It can …

Design And Evaluation Of A Sub-1-Volt Read Flash Memory In A Standard 130 Nanometer Cmos Process, David Andrew Basford

Masters Theses

Nonvolatile memory design is a discipline that employs digital and analog circuit design techniques and requires knowledge of semiconductor physics and quantum mechanics. Methods for programming and erasing memory are discussed here, and simulation models are provided for Impact Hot Electron Injection (IHEI), Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling, and direct tunneling. Extensive testing of analog memory cells was used to derive a set of equations that describe the oating-gate characteristics. Measurements of charge retention also revealed several leakage mechanisms, and methods for mitigating leakage are presented.

Fabrication of ash memory in a standard CMOS process presents significant design challenges. The absence of …

Modeling And Design Of A Low-Level Rf Control System For The Accumulator Ring At Spallation Neutron Source, Michael G. Trout

Masters Theses

Since its commissioning in 2006, Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has greatly contributed to the field of neutron science, but some critical systems are reaching end-of-life. This obsolescence must be addressed for the accelerator to continue providing world-class research capabilities. One such system needing redesign is the low-level RF (LLRF) control system for the proton accumulator ring. While this system has performed acceptably for over a decade, it is sparsely documented and robust operational models are unavailable. To ensure the new design meets or exceeds current performance metrics, we analyzed the existing LLRF control system and …