Electrical and Electronics Commons^™

Tracking Dynamic Construction Objects ---A Key Node Modeling Approach Using Color-Depth Cameras, Chenxi Yuan

Open Access Theses

A construction site presents a dynamic scenario. Locations of multiple objects are continuously changing and a lot of objects enter and exit the site in high frequencies. Meanwhile a construction activity consists of a large amount of stochastic operations, many uncertainties occur when making decisions. Believing that detecting, locating and tracking dynamic construction objects in real time improve construction productivity and enhance construction safety, a large number of studies have applied a variety of sensing technologies to construction sites. Hybrid image-point cloud sensing technologies, such as color-depth cameras, have a great potential in achieving real time object recognition and tracking …

Nn-X - A Hardware Accelerator For Convolutional Neural Networks, Vinayak A. Gokhale

Open Access Theses

Convolutional neural networks (ConvNets) are hierarchical models of the mammalian visual cortex. These models have been increasingly used in computer vision to perform object recognition and full scene understanding. ConvNets consist of multiple layers that contain groups of artificial neurons, which are mathematical approximations of biological neurons. A ConvNet can consist of millions of neurons and require billions of computations to produce one output. ^ Currently, giant server farms are used to process information in real time. These supercomputers require a large amount of power and a constant link to the end-user. Low powered embedded systems are not able to …

Design Of Robust Spin-Transfer Torque Magnetic Random Access Memories For Ultralow Power High Performance On-Chip Cache Applications, Xuanyao Fong

Open Access Dissertations

Spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memories (STT-MRAMs) based on magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) has become the leading candidate for future universal memory technology due to its potential for low power, non-volatile, high speed and extremely good endurance. However, conflicting read and write requirements exist in STT-MRAM technology because the current path during read and write operations are the same. Read and write failures of STT-MRAMs are degraded further under process variations. The focus of this dissertation is to optimize the yield of STT- MRAMs under process variations by employing device-circuit-architecture co-design techniques. A devices-to-systems simulation framework was developed to evaluate …

On Variability And Reliability Of Poly-Si Thin-Film Transistors, Chih-Hsiang Ho

Open Access Dissertations

In contrast to conventional bulk-silicon technology, polysilicon (poly-Si) thin-film transistors (TFTs) can be implanted in flexible substrate and can have low process temperature. These attributes make poly-Si TFT technology more attractive for new applications, such as flexible displays, biosensors, and smart clothing. However, due to the random nature of grain boundaries (GBs) in poly-Si film and self-heating enhanced negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), the variability and reliability of poly-Si TFTs are the main obstacles that impede the application of poly-Si TFTs in high-performance circuits. The primary focus of this dissertation is to develop new design methodologies and modeling techniques for …

Fundamental Design Principles Of Novel Mems Based "Landau" Switches, Sensors, And Actuators : Role Of Electrode Geometry And Operation Regime, Ankit Jain

Open Access Dissertations

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are considered as potential candidates for "More-Moore" and "More-than-Moore" applications due to their versatile use as sensors, switches, and actuators. Examples include accelerometers for sensing, RF-MEMS capacitive switches in communication, suspended-gate (SG) FETs in computation, and deformable mirrors in optics. In spite of the wide range of applications of MEMS in diverse fields, one of the major challenges for MEMS is their instability. Instability divides the operation into stable and unstable regimes and poses fundamental challenges for several applications. For example: Tuning range of deformable mirrors is fundamentally limited by pull-in instability, RF-MEMS capacitive switches suffer from …

Multi-Objective Optimization And Meta-Modeling Of Tape-Wound Transformers, Ahmed Taher

Open Access Dissertations

In the research presented herein, design models of tape-wound transformers to support component and system-level optimization are considered. As a basis for component optimization, a magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) model is derived. The key components of the MEC model are the leakage permeances, which have been established using analytical techniques and validated using both 2D and 3D finite element analysis. To enable high frequency design, expressions that predict the winding AC resistance and the proximity effect loss are derived. In addition, a thermal equivalent circuit (TEC) model is established to predict the temperature throughout the transformer and to account for …

Calculated Vs. Experimental Values For Volume And Surface Resistivity In Various Polymer Compounds, Megan Webster

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

Versatile due to their resistance to high stress environments including but not limited to extreme temperature, pressure, and stress, polymers additionally have many uses in electrical applications wherein antistatic or conductive properties are preferential, i.e. conductive seals, oil pipeline spheres, and gaskets, to name a few. Being a complex material, many factors may affect the electrical resistivity of a given polymer compound including type and amount of carbon black, type of rubber, cure time and temperature, and dispersion, amongst other factors. External conditions such as relative humidity and temperature also play key roles. This paper will analyze five different rubber …

Simulation Of A Smart Home Energy Management System With Dynamic Price Response, Jason Y. Chan, Qinran Hu

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

With the continuing development of the smart grid combined with the fluctuating nature of the electricity market, the development of demand-side management with controllable loads have been greatly driven. With the amount of household loads in the residential sector, managing their energy usage has received lots of interest. This paper presents a simulation of a previously proposed hardware design of a smart home energy management system (SHEMS), focusing on the data collection and processing functions of the proposed design while implementing them onto standard household loads like an electric water heater and an electric vehicle charging station. It was found …

Effect Of Z1/2, Eh5, And Ci1 Deep Defects On The Performance Of N-Type 4h-Sic Epitaxial Layers Schottky Detectors: Alpha Spectroscopy And Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy Studies, M. A. Mannan, S. K. Chaudhuri, K. V. Nguyen, K. C. Mandal

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Application Of Boundary Layer Climatology And Urban Wind Power Potential In Smarter Electricity Networks, Keith Sunderland, Gerald Mills

Other resources

Smart electricity networks that address energy demand, efficiency and sustainability concerns are predicated on the ability to capture renewable energy in a controllable manner. Such networks will have a particular role in cities, where increasing demand is inevitable but this requires that primary (renewable) energy resources, including that of wind, is better understood. In this paper, the role of wind energy systems, as integral components of a smarter urban electricity network, is considered using a model of the urban wind resourcein Dublin, Ireland that is based on boundary layer theory and meteorological observations. This model is used in conjunction with …

Road Profile Sensor: A Detection Method For Active Suspension Systems, Matthew Edel

Honors Projects

Abstract—Active suspension systems adjust the suspension components of an automobile to adapt to bumps or potholes that are encountered in the road as the vehicle is driving. These systems have the potential to improve safety, performance, and ride comfort in automobiles. An integral part of active suspension systems is a device to detect irregularities in the road. Current detection systems that are available lack either in precision, resolution, or speed. A senior design project, Dynamic Automatic Adjusting Suspension (DAAS), at Seattle Pacific University expressed a need for a high-performance road scanner that could be paired with their suspension system. The …

Footwear And Wrist Communication Links Using 2.4 Ghz And Uwb Antennas, Domenico Gaetano, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann, Colm Brannigan, Louise Keating, Frances Horgan

Articles

It is reported that wearable electronic devices are to be used extensively in the next generation of sensors for sports and health monitoring. The information obtained from sensors on the human body depends on the biological parameters, the measurement rate and the number of sensors. The choice of the wireless protocol depends on the required data rates and on system configurations. The communication link quality is achieved with narrowband technologies such as Bluetooth or Zigbee, provided that the number of sensors is small and data rates are low. However, real-time measurements using wideband channels may also be necessary. This paper …

Ultraviolet Led Biofouling Mitigation, Andrew Lam

Computer Engineering

The goal is to determine if low-cost UV LEDs can mitigate marine biofouling on small glass or acrylic camera lenses. A microprocessor-controlled experimental setup to control the illumination of low-cost UV LEDs of various wavelength and packaging was fashioned. The system consists of a programmed microcontroller, a manufactured LED breakout interface, and a submergible UV LED array enclosed in a borosilicate glass tube. A preliminary qualitative assessment of four different UV LEDs was conducted during a three-week deployment of the experimental setup in the raw seawater system at the Cal Poly Center for Costal and Marine Sciences in Avila Beach, …

Smart Wall Outlet Design And Implementation For The Dc House Project, Kevin Roy Mendoza

Master's Theses

Most everyday AC appliances are designed to operate off of 120V coming from the wall outlet in our homes. This voltage is a standard set from our established infrastructure. Unlike AC devices, DC devices do not have any set standard of voltage they all will run off of. This presents a problem for the DC house as the various loads that will be used will have different required input voltages. One set voltage for a wall outlet will not suffice for the DC House. This Smart Wall Outlet is designed with a DC-DC converter that will have its output voltage …

Dual High-Voltage Power Supply For Use On Board A Cubesat, Nicholas Weiser

Master's Theses

Since their conception in 1999, CubeSats have come and gone a long way. The first few that went into space were more of a “proof of concept,” and were more focused on sending simple data and photographs back to Earth. Since then, vast improvements have been made by over 40 universities and private firms, and now CubeSats are beginning to look towards interplanetary travel. These small satellites could provide a cost effective means of exploring the galaxy, using off the shelf components and piggy-backing on other launch vehicles with more expensive payloads. However, CubeSats are traditionally launched into Low Earth …

Improvements To A Bi-Directional Flyback Dc-Dc Converter For Battery System Of The Dc House Project, Michael Wu

Master's Theses

The DC House project relies primarily on renewable energy sources to provide DC power to the various loads of the house. However, not all renewable sources are capable of providing power at all times of the day. A back-up energy source in the form of a battery storage system must be available to meet the electrical needs of the house. A bi-directional flyback power converter was initially designed to allow a battery to charge from as well as discharge to the 48V bus line of the DC House. The design provided a 35W prototype to demonstrate the converter’s feasibility. Further …

Ac Power Combining Strategy With Application To Efficient Linear Power Amplifiers, Rudi Matthew Bendig

Master's Theses

With the ongoing push for wireless systems to accommodate more users and support higher data rates more efficient modulation schemes have been created that are more advanced than simple FM and AM modulation used for radio broadcasting. These modulation schemes, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), suffer from high peak to average power ratios. Standard Class A and Class AB amplifiers cannot simultaneously achieve good linearity and efficiency, and therefore there has been an increase in the development of new topologies to combat this issue. Common features to these circuits is power combining of two or more separate transistors. …

Variable Precision Tandem Analog-To-Digital Converter (Adc), Colton A. Parsons

Master's Theses

This paper describes an analog-to-digital signal converter which varies its precision as a function of input slew rate (maximum signal rate of change), in order to best follow the input in real time. It uses Flash and Successive Approximation (SAR) conversion techniques in sequence.

As part of the design, the concept of "total real-time optimization" is explored, where any delay at all is treated as an error (Error = Delay * Signal Slew Rate). This error metric is proposed for use in digital control systems. The ADC uses a 4-bit Flash converter in tandem with SAR logic that has variable …

Mos Current Mode Logic (Mcml) Analysis For Quiet Digital Circuitry And Creation Of A Standard Cell Library For Reducing The Development Time Of Mixed Signal Chips, David Marusiak

Master's Theses

Many modern digital systems use forms of CMOS logical implementation due to the straight forward design nature of CMOS logic and minimal device area since CMOS uses fewer transistors than other logic families. To achieve high-performance requirements in mixed-signal chip development and quiet, noiseless circuitry, this thesis provides an alternative toCMOSin the form of MOS Current Mode Logic (MCML). MCML dissipates constant current and does not produce noise during value changing in a circuit CMOS circuits do. CMOS logical networks switch during clock ticks and with every device switching, noise is created on the supply and ground to deal with …

St. Jude Medical - R&D Robot For Sensor Testing, Andrew Chanul Kim, Stanley Logan Laszczyk, Edgar Nava, Nathan Gall

Electrical Engineering

No abstract provided.