Engineering Commons^™

Threaded Octree Structures For Fast Neighbor Voxel Processing In A Parallel Ray Tracer, B.R. Naveen Chandra

Dissertations and Theses

In the field of Computer Graphics, Ray Tracing has so far been the the best algorithm for rendering of realistic three dimensional images created by mathematical models. Ray Tracing is also known for its very large computation times, where the computation depends on the picture resolution, the number of objects and the complexity of the scene.

Hypercard-Based Learning Environment For Diades, Ali A. Shamsapour

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is an attempt to create a HyperCard-based learning environment to teach DIADES and other related material. It is a departure from the classical Computer Aided Instruction methods towards a more flexible and user-controlled design. The goal was to set the foundation of a new CAI design which would closely resemble a Hyper- Text system. These systems are characterized as having interconnections between related concepts in the CAI environment.

The Object-Oriented Design Of A Hardware Description Language Analyser For The Diades Silicon Compiler System, Lian Yang

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is one of the first to introduce a systematic and general Source Language Analysis System (called SLA) for a high -level synthesis system.

Investigation Of Techniques For High Speed Cmos Arbitrary Waveform Generation, Albert Henry Nehl

Dissertations and Theses

Today a growing number of applications in design engineering, production and environmental testing, and system service require specific analog waveforms and digital patterns. Such requirements are neither satisfactorily nor easily met by the use of standard function or single purpose, custom generators.

Traditional methods of waveform generation suffer from undesirable complexity or mediocre performance and are otherwise limited. For the majority of arbitrary waveform generation applications, including medical engineering, modal analysis and electronic engineering, direct digital synthesis techniques are satisfactory. Direct digital synthesis, based generally on periodic retrieval of predetermined amplitude values, may be used to 2 generate such waveforms. …

Dynamic Behavior Of Co₂ Lasers, Li Zhang

Dissertations and Theses

Spontaneous pulsations have been observed in the output of a CO₂ laser. The temporal waveforms, transverse mode patterns, and laser lines are simultaneously measured under various operation conditions. The experimental data show that these pulsations have a direct connection with the transverse modes. We interpret the oscillations as being caused by mode beating, and the frequency shift of the oscillation as resulting from mode pulling. The theoretical explanations for these effects are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Endless State-Of-Polarization Control For Coherent Optical Communication Systems Using Nematic Liquid Crystal, Scott H. Rumbaugh

Dissertations and Theses

One of the obstacles to coherent fiber-optic communications is the unpredictable polarization drift which necessitates the use of an active polarization controlling system to match the polarizations of the signal and local oscillator. The polarization match must be maintained during the reset of any of the finite range components to prevent loss of data. We present a novel and practical system which uses three liquid crystal devices for the polarization matching process. Also, the required reset control algorithm and its derivation are described in detail.

An Approach To Pattern Recognition Of Multifont Printed Alphabet Using Conceptual Graph Theory And Neural Networks, Ihab A. Harb

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis describes an approach for accomplishing a pattern recognition task using conceptual graph theory and neural networks (NNs). The set of patterns to be recognized are the capital letters of six different fonts of the English alphabet, plus two shifted and six rotated versions of each. The letters are represented to the neural network on a 16x16 input grid (256 "sensor lines"). A standard classification encoding for such patterns is to use a 26-bit vector (26 lines at the NN's output), one bit corresponding to each letter. Experiments with such an encoding yielded results with poor generalization capability. A …

The Application Of The Ordered List Method And The Dynamic Programming To The Unit Commitment, Hoang Uong

Dissertations and Theses

The thesis presents a method of committing generating units in a hydro-thermal power system within practical computer resources such as computer time and data storage.

A Finite State Machine Synthesizer, Jiuling Liu

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis presents a Finite State Machine (FSM) Synthesizer developed at Portland State University. The synthesizer starts from a high level behavioral description, in which no states are specified, and generates the lower level FSM descriptions for simulation and physical layout generation.

Application Of Hough Transformation To Detect Ovulatory Patterns In Cervical Mucus Images, Shiliang Wang

Dissertations and Theses

A microcomputer system called ovulocomputer is proposed. The system is used to predict and detect ovulation of women. It will use image processing and analysis, pattern recognition theory, spectrophotometry, ionometry and conductometry to measure various physical and chemical properties of cervical mucus that are related to blood hormone levels.

The functions and characteristics of cervical mucus are introduced in this thesis. Among them, the identification of cervical mucus images, named the ferning test, and related features, are well described.

A new idea, called ferning test automation, which has been neither proposed nor developed before, is presented and explained in detail …

The Effects Of Bandwidth Limiting Tuning Elements On A Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Laser, Bahram Zandi

Dissertations and Theses

In this study an improved description of the bandwidth limiting tuning filters has been introduced into a semiclassical model for a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser system. This model is an improvement over the traditional rate equation approach since it has detailed representations of the energy levels, rotational distribution, and coherence effects. The new set of equations has been solved numerically using the best available values for the various parameters, and autocorrelations have been computed for a range of different length detuning and bandwidth limiting elements. In the experiments, an acousto-optically mode-locked argon ion laser is used to synchronously pump …

Ultrashort Pulse Production In Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Laser Systems, Duncan Leo Macfarlane

Dissertations and Theses

The concern of this dissertation is the understanding and improvement of a class of lasers that is responsible for some of the shortest optical pulses available today. In particular, we seek ways to produce from synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser systems, shorter pulses of higher intensity with improved pulse-to-pulse consistency. Specific topics.that are discussed herein include the study of the role of the pump pulse in synchronously pumped mode-locked lasers, the study of the pulse shaping and shortening due to an intracavity saturable absorber, and the study of a fundamental pulse train instability associated with these lasers.

A New Approach To State Minimization Of Finite State Machines, William Yue Zhao

Dissertations and Theses

A complete program to ease the task of large scale Finite State Machine (FSM) minimization presented in this thesis: TDFM (Two Dimensional FSM Minimizer), is a part of the DIADES system. DIADES is an Automatic Design Synthesis System whose development in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Portland State University is supported in part by a research grant from SHARP Microelectronics Technology.

Parallel Architectures For Solving Combinatorial Problems Of Logic Design, Phuong Minh Ho

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis presents a new, practical approach to solve various NP-hard combinatorial problems of logic synthesis, logic programming, graph theory and related areas. A problem to be solved is polynomially time reduced to one of several generic combinatorial problems which can be expressed in the form of the Generalized Propositional Formula (GPF) : a Boolean product of clauses, where each clause is a sum of products of negated or non-negated literals.

Invariant Pattern Recognition Algorithm Using The Hough Transform, Duwang Li

Dissertations and Theses

A new algorithm is proposed which uses the Hough Transform to recognize two dimensional objects independent of their orientations, sizes and locations. The binary image of an object is represented by a set of straight lines. Features of the straight lines, namely the lengths and the angles of their normals, their lengths and the end point positions are extracted using the Hough Transform. A data structure for the extracted lines is constructed so that it is efficient to match the features of the lines of one object to those of another object, and determine if one object is a rotated …

Implementing Ray Tracing Algorithm In Parallel Environment, Tjah Jadi

Dissertations and Theses

Ray tracing is a very popular rendering algorithm in the field of computer graphics because it can generate highly-realistic images from three-dimensional models. Unfortunately, the computational cost is very expensive. To speed up the rendering process we present both static and dynamic scheduling (balancing) strategies for a multiprocessor system. Hence, the load balancing among the processors is the most important problem in parallel processing. The implementation of the algorithm is based on a modified octree structure.

A Cmos Circuit Generator Using Differential Pass Transistors For Implementing Boolean Functions, Rabe'eh Mahooti

Dissertations and Theses

This study uses differential pass transistor methodology for implementing and evaluating Boolean functions. The main goal is investigation of CMOS and nMOS approaches in pass transistor logic design. Pass-transistor logic is most effective in the implementation of Boolean functions when the vectors are in the same format. It has been demonstrated that nMOS pass transistor logic driven by a control signal voltage above the V_dd level offers a significant improvement in speed. nMOS pass transistorsalso offer less area consumption in comparison to the CMOS approach.

The philosophy developed here has been used in the design of a program for …

Dc-Excited Cw Co₂ Metal Waveguide Laser, Fahad Saleh Al-Mashaabi

Dissertations and Theses

A novel design for a DC excited cw CO₂ metal waveguide laser has been developed in which a slotted hollow-cathode in a transverse discharge also doubles as a metal waveguide. This design has been implemented in a compact design that produces up to 1 watt of cw, 10.6 μm radiation. The discharge characteristics, laser gain and laser output has been studied as functions of various discharge parameters. The advantages of the new transverse discharge of the slotted hollow cathode geometry include low voltage, positive impedence and high optical gain. Overall efficiency is comparable with those of conventional longitudinal CO …

Logic Design Using Programmable Logic Devices, Loc Bao Nguyen

Dissertations and Theses

The Programmable Logic Devices, PLO, have caused a major impact in logic design of digital systems in this decade. For instance, a twenty pin PLO device can replace from three hundreds to six hundreds Transistor Transistor Logic gates, which people have designed with since the 60s. Therefore, by using PLD devices, designers can squeeze more features, reduce chip counts, reduce power consumption, and enhance the reliability of the digital systems.

This thesis covers the most important aspects of logic design using PLD devices. They are Logic Minimization and State Assignment. In addition, the thesis also covers a seldomly used but …

A Lagrangian For A System Of Two Dyons, Rainer Georg Thierauf

Dissertations and Theses

Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field are symmetrized by introducing magnetic charges into the formalism of electrodynamics. The symmetrized equations are solved for the fields and potentials of point particles. Those potentials, some of which are found to be singular along a line, are used to formulate the Lagrangian for a system of two dyons (particles with both electric and magnetic charge). The equations of motion are derived from the Lagrangian. It is shown that the dimensionality constants k and k * , which we r e introduced to define the units of the electromagnetic fields, have to be equal …

A New General Purpose Systolic Array For Matrix Computations, Hai Van Dinh Le

Dissertations and Theses

In this thesis, we propose a new systolic architecture which is based on the Faddeev's algorithm. Because Faddeev's algorithm is inherently general purpose, our architecture is able to perform a wide class of matrix computations. And since the architecture is systolic based, it brings massive parallelism to all of its computations. As a result, many matrix operations including addition, multiplication, inversion, LU-decomposition, transpose, and solutions to linear systems of equations can now be performed extremely fast. In addition, our design introduces several concepts which are new to systolic architectures:

- It can be re-configured during run time to perform different …

Voltage Controlled Resistance Model For Mos Transistors, Joey Zong-Yi Jia

Dissertations and Theses

The voltage controlled resistance model is developed for a reliable MOS transistor resistance mapping. The model includes both system and local parameters, and incorporates the effect of rise and fall time variations on the gate delay. MOS transistor resistance mapping is applied in logic simulation and timing verification. Also, it can be used in automatic transistor sizing and critical path analysis.

Two Dimensional And Three Dimensional Path Planning In Robotics, Hyun Suk Kim

Dissertations and Theses

A methodology for 2D and 3D collision free path planning algorithm in a structured environment is presented. The isolated free convex areas are represented as a nodes in a graph, and a graph traversal strategy that dynamically allocates costs to graph path is used. Modification of the algorithm for small computational time and optimality is discussed. The 3D path planning is done in the three orthogonal two-dimensional projections of a 3D environment. Collision checking to increase the optimality for 3D paths is done in each of the three orthogonal two-dimensional subspaces.

Off-Axis Multimode Light Beam Propagation In Tapered Lenslike Media Including Those With Spatial Gain Or Loss Variation, Anthony Alan Tovar

Dissertations and Theses

The propagation of light beams in inhomogeneous dielectric media is considered. The derivation begins with first principles and remains general enough to include off-axis asymmetric multimode input beams in tapered lenslike media with spatial variations of gain or loss. The tapering of lenslike media leads to a number of important applications. A parabolic taper is proposed as a model for a heated axially stretched fiber taper, and beams in such media are fully characterized. Other models are proposed by the concatenation of a parabola with other taper functions.

Safety Related Model And Studies Of Trojan Nuclear Power Plant Electrical Distribution System, Hamidreza Sharifnia

Dissertations and Theses

The most important requirement for running a nuclear power plant safely is having a reliable safety system, especially during the emergency shutdown condition. For performing a scrutiny load flow and voltage drop study a detailed and comprehensive electrical model for the emergency electrical distribution system of the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant has been developed. This model includes the representation of the transformers, circuit breakers, motors, cables and load data from 4160 volts level down to the individual 480 volts loads.

Threshold Characteristics Of Multimode Laser Oscillators, Mehdi Khoshnevissan

Dissertations and Theses

The threshold characteristics of multimode laser oscillators are considered in detail, and a new model is given for semiconductor diode lasers. Analytical expressions and numerical solutions are obtained for mode amplitudes, and over-all spectral characteristics of lasers operating above and below threshold. The theoretical results are i n agreement with experimental data. The band-ta-band absorption is included in the model and i t ' s effect is studied on the mixed broadening.

Numerical Solutions Of Continuous Wave Beam In Nonlinear Media, Jeffrey Huang

Dissertations and Theses

Deformation of a Gaussian beam is observed when it propagates through a plasma. Self-focusing of the beam may be observed when the intensity of the laser increases the index of refraction of plasma gas.

Due to the difficulties in solving the nonlinear partial differential equation in Maxwell's wave equation, a numerical technique has been developed in favor of the traditional analytical method. Result of numerical solution shows consistency with the analytical method. This further suggests the validity of the numerical technique employed.

A three dimensional graphics package was used to depict the numerical data obtained from the calculation. Plots from …

Parallel Approximate String Matching Applied To Occluded Object Recognition, David Smith

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis develops an algorithm for approximate string matching and applies it to the problem of partially occluded object recognition. The algorithm measures the similarity of differing strings by scanning for matching substrings between strings. The length and number of matching substrings determines the amount of similarity. A classification algorithm is developed using the approximate string matching algorithm for the identification and classification of objects. A previously developed method of shape description is used for object representation.

Propagation Of Optical Waves In Tapered Fibers And Metallic Wave Guides, Bahram Zandi

Dissertations and Theses

The equations tor the propagation of Electromagnetic and Optical waves in tapered fibers and metallic waveguides are derived. Solutions are derived for the displacement of the beam from the waveguide axis as a function of distance along the axis, and also tor the beam width as a function of distance. These equations are solved numerically for a variety of tapered guides. Experiments are conducted which verify the theoretical results.

Quadtree-Based Processing Of Digital Images, Ramin Naderi

Dissertations and Theses

Image representation plays an important role in image processing applications, which usually. contain a huge amount of data. An image is a two-dimensional array of points, and each point contains information (eg: color). A 1024 by 1024 pixel image occupies 1 mega byte of space in the main memory. In actual circumstances 2 to 3 mega bytes of space are needed to facilitate the various image processing tasks. Large amounts of secondary memory are also required to hold various data sets.

In this thesis, two different operations on the quadtree are presented.

There are, in general, two types of data …