Other Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

Novel Memristor Based True Random Number Generator, Scott Stoller

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Random numbers are an important, but often overlooked part of the modern computing environment. They are used everywhere around us for a variety of purposes, from simple decision making in video games such as a coin toss, to securing financial transactions and encrypting confidential communications. They are even useful for gambling and the lottery.

Random numbers are generated in many ways. Pseudo random number generators (PRNGs) generate numbers based on a formula. True random number generators (TRNGs) capture entropy from the environment to generate randomness. As our society and our devices become more connected in the digital world, it is …

The Effects Of Radiation On Memristor-Based Electronic Spiking Neural Networks, Sumedha Gandharava Dahl

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, memristor-based spiking neural networks (SNNs) are used to analyze the effect of radiation on the spatio-temporal pattern recognition (STPR) capability of the networks. Two-terminal resistive memory devices (memristors) are used as synapses to manipulate conductivity paths in the network. Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) learning behavior results in pattern learning and is achieved using biphasic shaped pre- and post-synaptic spikes. A TiO₂ based non-linear drift memristor model designed in Verilog-A implements synaptic behavior and is modified to include experimentally observed effects of state-altering, ionizing, and off-state degradation radiation on the device. The impact of neuron “death” (disabled neuron …

Low-Cost Test And Characterization Platform For Memristors, Lyle Jones

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The electrical Testing and Characterization of the devices built under research conditions on silicon wafers, diced wafers, or package parts have hampered research since the beginning of integrated circuits. The challenges of performing electrical characterization on devices are to acquire useful and accurate data, the ease of use of the test platform, the portability of the test equipment, the ability to automate quickly, to allow modifications to the platform, the ability to change the configuration of the Device Under Test (DUT) or the Memristor Based Design (MBD), and to do this within budget. The devices that this research is focused …

Towards Hybrid Quantum-Classical Ciphersuite Primitives, H. Shelton Jacinto

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

With the dawn of quantum computing in scale, current secure classical primitives are at risk. Protocols with immediate risk of breach are those built on the advanced encryption standard (AES) and Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) algorithms. To secure classical data against a quantum adversary, a secure communications ciphersuite must be developed. The ciphersuite developed in this work contains components that do not necessarily rely on quantum key distribution (QKD), due to recent insecurities found when a QKD-based protocol is faced with a quantum eavesdropper.

A set of quantum-classical ciphersuite primitives were developed using less common mathematical methods where a quantum adversary will …

A Novel Fpga Implementation Of Hierarchical Temporal Memory Spatial Pooler, Paul Jeffrey Mitchell

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

There is currently a strong focus across the technological landscape to create machines capable of performing complex, objective based tasks in a manner similar to, or superior to a human. Many of the methods being explored in the machine intelligence space require large sets of labeled data to first train, and then classify inputs. Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) is a biologically inspired machine intelligence framework which aims to classify and interpret streaming unlabeled data, without supervision, and be able to detect anomalies in such data.

In software HTM models, increasing the number of “columns” or processing elements to the levels …

Smart Adaptive Beam-Forming Antenna Design For Next Generation Communication Systems, Ahmed Umar Kausar

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Adaptive beamforming antennas open a new venue for research to achieve high data rates. Such antennas are of interest at higher frequencies, especially at millimeter-waves. Millimeter-wave band ranges from 30 GHz - 300 GHz. There is an ample bandwidth available in this spectrum. However, due to the significant path loss at high frequencies, there is a need for better error correction schemes and adaptive beam-forming antennas for this frequency band.

The goal of our research is to design a novel adaptive beamforming smart antenna that is low cost, compact, power-efficient and less complex. Based on our recently awarded US patent, …

A Hot-Wire Anemometer For Particle Counters, Nicholas H. Terrell

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Portable real-time air quality monitoring is becoming a reality. While the data quality of these devices may be questionable, they have shown to be promising. One such device is the optical particle counter. The particle counter functions by having laminar airflow with constant velocity traverse the path of a laser beam within an airflow channel. This thesis presents the design and integration of a hot-wire anemometer into the flow channel. The addition of an anemometer allows for real-time airflow velocity measurements to be performed and adjusted. Data from the anemometer can also be used to directly offset irregularities in particulate …

Monitoring Civil Infrastructure Using Image Template Matching, Vikram Mukesh Patel

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an active area of research devoted to systems that can autonomously and proactively assess the structural integrity of civil structures. This thesis explores the possibility of monitoring civil structures using image template matching and low-cost embedded data acquisition. By acquiring several consecutive images of a structure, one can determine if movement in the structure has occurred. This information can be analyzed to determine long-term changes within a structure, which can then be used to proactively prioritize maintenance, reduce maintenance costs, and prevent structural failure. This will allow structures to be maintained based on objective data …

Degradation Specific Ocr, Subramaniam Venkatraman

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten, or printed text into machine-encoded text. OCR has many applications, such as enabling a text document in a physical form to be editable, or enabling computer searching on a computer of a text that was initially in printed form. OCR engines are widely used to digitize text documents so that they can be digitally stored for remote access, mainly for websites. This facilitates the availability of these invaluable resources instantly, no matter the geographical location of the end user. Huge OCR misclassification errors can …