Digital Commons Network^™

Telephone-Accessed Controller Using Cebus For Device Control Over Power Line, Gerald Aska

Theses

The CEBus standard has made it possible for devices developed by different manufacturers to communicate over the power line. Further, the standard allows analog adjustments of devices besides transmitting and receiving binary information. This Controller extends the distance from which these devices can be controlled.

To extend the distance of communication with a device, a telephone line interface was developed that allows the user to communicate with a CEBus device via the Controller. The Controller responses [sic] to Central Office signaling and opens its communication channel to allow the user to provide it with the commands by using the telephone …

Evaluation Of Personal Communications Dual-Antenna Handset Diversity Performance, Michael A. Jensen, Joseph S. Colburn, Yahya Rahmat-Samii, Gregory J. Pottie

Faculty Publications

In personal wireless communications systems, multipath propagation has a significant effect on system design and performance. Signal strength fading caused by destructive interference between multiple replicas of the signal of interest arriving at the receiver over different paths often is the limiting factor in system range/fidelity. Antenna diversity is one technique that can be used to help overcome multipath fading. This paper presents a description of experiments, data processing, and results used to evaluate the diversity performance of three candidate dual-antenna handset configurations: two side-mounted planar-inverted F antennas (PIFAs), a back-mounted PIFA with a top-mounted helix, a top-mounted PIFA, and …

Binary Multilevel Convolutional Codes With Unequal Error Protection Capabilities, Robert H. Morelos-Zaragoza, Hideki Imai

Faculty Publications

Binary multilevel convolutional codes (CCs) with unequal error protection (UEP) capabilities are studied. These codes belong to the class of generalized concatenated (GC) codes. Binary CCs are used as outer codes. Binary linear block codes of short length, and selected subcodes in their two-way subcode partition chain, are used as inner codes. Multistage decodings are presented that use Viterbi decoders operating on trellises with similar structure to that of the constituent binary CCs. Simulation results of example binary two-level CC's are also reported.

Experimental Investigations Of Wavelength And Angular Errors In Holographic Gratings With Non-Bragg-Matched Read Beams, Monish Ranjan Chatterjee, Vivek Ray

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Perfect Bragg matching is generally desirable for accurate optical interconnections with holographic gratings. In reality, however, gratings may be illuminated by READ beams with non-Bragg-matched angles, or wavelengths, or both. In such cases, the scattered beams are generally misdirected, and may suffer loss of efficiency and possibly more serious errors such as crosstalk noise or missed connections. A conventional wave-vector triad method of analyzing the scattered beam errors leads readily to near-Bragg estimates of the output angular misalignment. However, the READ wave-vector triads appear to indicate a possible wavelength shift in the output beam even with a Bragg-matched READ wavelength, …

High Pressure Radio-Frequency Microhollow Cathode Discharges, Anja Annett Muller

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A new field of microhollow cathode discharges is represented by the RF microhollow cathode discharge. So far, the behavior and related physical processes of the RF microhollow cathode discharge are not well investigated.

RF microhollow discharges in air at high pressures were investigated under different experimental conditions. The geometry was changed by reducing the cathode hole diameter and the dielectric spacer thickness. By adding a noble gas to air, the influence of additive gases was explored. Additionally, the parallel operation of RF microhollow discharges was investigated.

It was shown that stable RF microhollow cathode discharges could only be sustained up …

An Injection Modelocked Titanium-Sapphire Laser, James C. Hovater

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

I have investigated the possibility of using an injection modelocked Ti-sapphire laser as a illumination source for GaAs photocathodes. A commercial Ti-sapphire laser was modified to accept a seed pulse from a gain-switched diode laser. Modelocked operation was obtained through gain modulation within the Ti-sapphire crystal as a result of injection seeding with a modelocked pulse train from a gain-switched diode laser. The Ti-sapphire laser essentially becomes a pulse amplifier for the diode laser. Unlike conventional modelocked lasers, the pulse repetition rate of this laser can be discretely varied by setting the seed laser repetition rate equal to multiples of …

The Cluster Multipole Algorithm For Far-Field Computations, Rakesh R. Patel

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Computer simulations of N-body systems are beneficial to study the overall behavior of a number of physical systems in fields such as astrophysics, molecular dynamics, and computational fluid dynamics. A new approach for computer simulations of N-body systems is proposed in this research. The new algorithm is called the Cluster Multipole Algorithm (CMA). The goals of the new algorithm are to improve the applicability to non-point sources and to provide more control on the accuracy over current algorithms. The algorithm is targeted to applications that do not require rebuilding the data structure about the system every time step due to …

Coupled Electrodynamic-Monte Carlo Simulations Of Nanoscale Gaas Terahertz Optical Mixers, Jiang Li

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The concept of mixing or heterodyning has traditionally been used for microwaves and for radio frequency communications. However, the concept can easily be extended into the optical frequency regime. By doing so, the photomixing process can serve as a very versatile tool for both the generation of ultrahigh frequency (terahertz) and the detection of weak optical signals.

The aim of this thesis is to perform a theoretical study of the photomixing process inside GaAs devices as the non-linear elements. A coupled approach which combines the Monte Carlo simulation scheme for the carrier transport, with Maxwell's equation for the electrodynamics, has …

Effect Of Pulsed Electric Fields On Aquatic Nuisance Species, Amr Abou-Ghazala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Clinical and theoretical evidence indicate that electric fields have biological effects ranging from recoverable disturbance to mortality induction depending on the field parameters and time of exposure. In this thesis, the effect of electrical field in pulsed form on aquatic nuisance species is investigated. Pulse parameters in terms of amplitude, width, shape, and repetition rate that stimulate the species to desirable levels are to be defined. Applying the electrical pulses with appropriate parameters to stun aquatic nuisance species entering marine cooling systems will prevent it from attaching to pipe walls. The use of electrical fields to seek efficient, environmentally friendly, …

Trends Of Microcomputer Technology In Developing Countries, With More Focus On Tanzanian Experiences: Achievements And Problems, Satoki Mahenge

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Trends of microcomputer technology in developing countries, including Tanzanian. is like a 'mixed bag' of achievement and problems. Although rhe technology has been available for many years in developed world, developing countries are responding to it differently due to differences in political and economic policies. Some countries have acrimonious policies on the technology, some not. There are countries which utilize fully the technology in work places and others are still at dilemma on the importation of the technology due to what is 'claimed to be a weak economy in the presence Of many other pressing needs'. Other countries seem to …

System And Method For Performing Optical Code Division Multiple Access Communication Using Bipolar Codes, James F. Young, Benhaam Aazhnag, Lim Nguyen

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

An optical encoding and decoding system which performs code-division multiple access (CDMA) communication in the incoherent, or direct detection, optical domain using bipolar +1/-1 codes. The present invention uses code modu lation and detection principles that permit all-optical imple mentation of the bipolar. +1/-1. code and correlation detec tion that have been developed for the radio frequency (RF) systems. This is possible in spite of the non-negative, or unipolar, +1/0, nature of the incoherent optical system that only detects and processes the signal intensity. The unipolar optical system of the present invention is equivalent to the bipolar RF system in …

Image Processing Based On A Fuzzy Logic Edge Detection Algorithm, Jamshid Khazaai

Masters Theses

One of the major problems in image processing is that of efficient edge detection. This is because the automated determination of an edge requires a subjective interpretation of just what the image author intended to be an edge. By training an edge determination algorithm to be sensitive to edges in a consistent manner, efficiency can be improved. This is the central idea of this thesis in which I define edge occurrences for the intensity (monochrome) images using fuzzy sets.

Edge characteristic functions are proposed for detecting edge pixels within a desired block of an (intensity and binary) image based on …

Simulation Of The Hybrid Fuzzy-Boolean Finite State Machine (Hfb-Fsm), Hamed Shakouri

Masters Theses

Several models of fuzzy finite-state automata have been proposed in the literature. One model which benefits from the existing algorithms for designing Boolean finite-state machines, has been proposed by J. L. Grantner [8]. This model, which is called Hybrid Fuzzy-Boolean Finite State Machine (HFB-FSM), along with its algorithmic design procedure, can be used for implementing dynamic linguistic systems [7,8,13]. In this thesis we have developed a simulation program for the HFB-FSM model using C++ programming language. In order to simulate a HFB-FSM model, the user provides the information defining the system's behavior. Based on the algorithm proposed in [8], the …

Space-Time Reduced Rank Methods And Cfar Signal Detection Algorithms With Applications To Hprf Radar, Tareq F. Ayoub

Dissertations

In radar applications, the statistical properties (covariance matrix) of the interference are typically unknown a priori and are estimated from a dataset with limited sample support. Often, the limited sample support leads to numerically ill-conditioned radar detectors. Under such circumstances, classical interference cancellation methods such as sample matrix inversion (SMI) do not perform satisfactorily. In these cases, innovative reduced-rank space-time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques outperform full-rank techniques. The high pulse repetition frequency (HPRF) radar problem is analyzed and it is shown that it is in the class of adaptive radar with limited sample support. Reduced-rank methods are studied for the …

A Low-Cost High-Speed Twin-Prefetching Dsp-Based Shared-Memory System For Real-Time Image Processing Applications, Charalambos Stephanou Christou

Dissertations

This dissertation introduces, investigates, and evaluates a low-cost high-speed twin-prefetching DSP-based bus-interconnected shared-memory system for real-time image processing applications. The proposed architecture can effectively support 32 DSPs in contrast to a maximum of 4 DSPs supported by existing DSP-based bus- interconnected systems. This significant enhancement is achieved by introducing two small programmable fast memories (Twins) between the processor and the shared bus interconnect. While one memory is transferring data from/to the shared memory, the other is supplying the core processor with data. The elimination of the traditional direct linkage of the shared bus and processor data bus makes feasible the …

Performance Improvements In Wireless Cdma Communications Utilizing Adaptive Antenna Arrays, Weichen Ye

Dissertations

This dissertation studies applications of adaptive antenna arrays and space-time adaptive processing (STAP) in wireless code-division multiple-access (CDMA) communications. The work addresses three aspects of the CDMA communications problems: (I) near-far resistance, (2) reverse link, (3) forward link. In each case, adaptive arrays are applied and their performance is investigated.

The near-far effect is a well known problem which affects the reverse link of CDMA communication systems. The near-far resistance of STAP is analyzed for two processing methods: maximal ratio combining and optimum combining. It. is shown that while maximal ratio combining is not near-far resistant, optimum combining is near-far …

Petri Net Modeling And Performance Analysis Of Can Fieldbus, Ji-Qiong Zhou

Theses

The CAN FB (Controller Area Network FieldBus) has been in existence for ten years. It supports automated manufacturing and process control environments to interconnect intelligent devices such as valves, sensors, and actuators. CAN FieldBus has a high bit rate and the ability to detect errors. It is immune to noise and resistant to shock, vibration, and heat. Two recently introduced mechanisms, Distributed Priority Queue (DPQ) and Priority Promotion (PP) enable CAN FieldBus networks to share out the system bandwidth and grant ail upper bound on the transmission times so as to meet the requirements in real-time communications. Modeling and analysis …

The Fm Radio Program, Andrew Olsen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The PC FM Radio program allows a PC user to listen to FM radio stations while using a PC. The application includes controls that will let the PC user select different FM stations, preset a favorite FM station, select a preset station, and record the current station. The FM hardware is an ISA expansion card that provides the audio signal to the PC through the auxiliary input jack in the sound card. The supporting software runs on Windows 95 machines. A help file is included for simple instructions. The software runs in the background and doesn't use much of the …

Home Automation System, Joshua James Earl

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The home is the place where people should feel the most comfortable. Considerable technological development is dedicated to making the home more comfortable; smart appliances are a good example of this. There is always a market for products that provide easier control of home appliances and electrical devices. With this in mind, I have designed and implemented a PC-controlled Home Automation System (HAS). This HAS allows complete control of home appliances and electrical devices from the homeowner's IBM-compatible PC. make use of advanced technology in the transmission of the control signals by way of power-lines already present in the home. …

Final Report: City Of Anaheim/Caltrans/Fhwa Advanced Traffic Control System Field Operational Test Evaluation Task C, Video Traffic Detection System, Art Maccarley, Cal Poly Transportation Electronics Laboratory

Electrical Engineering

A technical evaluation was conducted as a subtask of the “City of Anaheim Advanced Traffic Control System Field Operational Test (FOT)”, funded by the US DOT / FHWA and the California Department of Transportation. Partners for this FOT are the City of Anaheim, Odetics Inc. of Anaheim, JHK Consulting, and the California Department of Transportation. This report is the result of evaluation Task C “VTDS Evaluation”, one of three evaluation tasks covering components of the FOT. The component evaluated under Task C is a video-based vehicle detection system for actuation of traffic signals at intersections. This system, referred to as …

Building Lms Adaptive Filters With Register-Based Fpgas, Li Ding

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, an 8-bit least mean squares (LMS) adaptive digital filter with 16 coefficients is implemented on a single FPGA, using the MaxPlus+2 design environment. The system is constructed as a hierarchical structure, using four different levels of design hierarchy. Subdesigns at each level of the hierarchy project are complied, fitted and simulated to test and verify their functional correctness. The complete system is tested and verified by checking the MaxPlus+2 simulator results against fixed-point integer arithmetic simulations written in Matlab. The resulting adaptive filter is subsequently mapped to the Alters FLEX I OK20TC144-3 device, resulting in a 14,500 …

Material Evaluation By Pulsed Diode Laser Optoacoustics, Xiaodong Xu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Pulsed diode laser optoacoustic diagnostics were carried out to characterize solid sample materials. The apparatus developed is compact, portable, cost-effective and therefore very promising for both industrial as well as laboratory applications. To our knowledge, this is the first time that optoacoustic characterization and measurement have been performed with a diode laser. The method was successfully applied to measure the thickness of a multilayer structure non-intrusively. Internal cracks of the material were detected by this technique.

A theory for optoacoustic signal generation, propagation and detection is given. A numerical analysis technique is developed to solve for the expected signal. In …

The Rationale For Negligible Risk Exemptions In The Telecommunications Act Of 1996: Cellular Phone And Personal Communication System Transmitters, Gregg H. Claycamp

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Dr. Claycamp explains the adequacy of current legislation and regulation.

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, Alan D. Manning

Faculty Publications

INSIGHTS about professional communication may come from odd and unexpected places. McCloud's Understanding Comics (hereafter UC) is a case in point. Despite the juvenile connotations evoked by any discussion of comic books, the theory of visual communication presented in UC arguably rivals the best of contemporary semiotics (that is, the study of how we make meaning out of gestures, words, paragraphs, pictures, and so on).

Spatial Resolution Enhancement Of Ssm/I Data, David G. Long, Douglas L. Daum

Faculty Publications

One of the limitations in using Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data for land and vegetation studies is the relatively low-spatial resolution. To ameliorate this limitation, resolution-enhancement algorithms can be applied to the data. In this paper, the Backus-Gilbert inversion (BGI) technique and the scatterometer image-reconstruction (SIR) algorithm are investigated as possible methods for creating enhanced resolution images from SSM/I data. The two algorithms are compared via both the simulation and the actual SSM/I data. The algorithms offer similar resolution enhancement, though SIR requires significantly less computation. Sample results over two land regions of South America are presented.

A Game-Theoretic Improvement Model For Stochastic Networks: Reliability Vs. Throughput, Jeffrey A. Schavland

Theses and Dissertations

Prescriptive models used to allocate resources for network improvement traditionally have used reliability or flow as Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs). Such metrics do not give value to efforts which make a component more difficult to exploit. This study developed an entirely new MOE for stochastic network improvement, flow damage utility, which uses a two person, zero-sum, non-cooperative game to optimize a probabilistic network for an estimate of expected flow minus performance degradation after a worst case component loss. A multiple criteria optimization problem that uses flow damage utility and an analogous, previously developed metric for the reliability problem is used …

Channel-Mismatch Compensation In Speaker Identification Feature Selection And Adaptation With Artificial Neural Networks, Edmund A. Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

We develop and present results of an artificial neural network (ANN) based compensation technique for mismatched classifier training and testing conditions in speaker identification (SID). One ANN per feature per speaker is trained to perform a mapping of that feature from a corrupted condition to an undistorted condition. Therefore, a classifier trained under one condition may be used to classify data collected under a different condition. Speech utterances from 168 speakers, collected in a studio, and also re-recorded after transmission over telephone networks, are used for developing and testing the method. Peak formant resonant frequencies, their bandwidths, and pitch are …

Design, Performance, And Applications Of A Coherent Ultra-Wideband Random Noise Radar, Ram M. Narayanan, Yi Xu, Paul D. Hoffmeyer, John O. Curtis

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A novel coherent ultra-wideband radar system operating in the 1- to 2-GHz frequency range has been developed recently at the University of Nebraska. The radar system transmits white Gaussian noise. Detection and localization of buried objects is accomplished by correlating the reflected waveform with a time-delayed replica of the transmitted waveform. Broadband dual-polarized log-periodic antennas are used for transmission and reception. A unique signal-processing scheme is used to inject coherence into the system by frequency translation of the ultrawideband signal by a coherent 160-MHz phase-locked source prior to performing heterodyne correlation. The system coherence allows the extraction of a target’s …

Worst-Case Error Probability Of A Spread-Spectrum System In Energy-Limited Interference, Murad Hizlan, Brian L. Hughes

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We consider a communication channel corrupted by thermal noise and by an unknown and arbitrary interference of bounded energy. For this channel, we derive a simple upper bound to the worst-case error probability suffered by a direct sequence (DS) communication system with error-correction coding, pseudorandom interleaving, and a correlation receiver. This bound is exponentially tight as the block length of the error correcting code becomes large. Numerical examples are given that illustrate the dependence of the bound on the choice of error correcting code, the type of interleaving used, and the relative energy of the Gaussian noise and arbitrary interference

Performance Analysis Of The Interference Adaptation Dynamic Channel Allocation Technique In Wireless Communication Networks, Ziqiang Xu

Dissertations

Dynamic channel allocation (DCA) problem is one of the major research topics in the wireless networking area. The purpose of this technique is to relieve the contradiction between the increasing traffic load in wireless networks and the limited bandwidth resource across the air interface. The challenge of this problem comes from the following facts: a) even the basic DCA problem is shown to be NP-complete (none polynomial complete); b) the size of the state space of the problem is very large; and c) any practical DCA algorithm should run in real-time.

Many heuristic DCA schemes have been proposed in the …