Engineering Commons^™

Detection And Location Of Pipe Damage By Artificial-Neural-Netprocessed Moire Error Maps, Barry G. Grossman, Frank S. Gonzalez, Joel H. Blatt, Scott Christian Cahall

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

A novel automated inspection technique to recognize, locate, and quantify damage is developed. This technique is based on two already existing technologies: video moire metrology and artificial neural networks. Contour maps generated by video moire techniques provide an accurate description of surface structure that can then be automated by means of neutral networks. Artificial neural networks offer an attractive solution to the automated interpretation problem because they can generalize from the learned samples and provide an intelligent response for similar patterns having missing or noisy data. Two dimensional video moire images of pipes with dents of different depths, at several …

Light-Emitting Diodes From Partially Conjugated Poly(P-Phenylene Vinylene), C. Zhang, David Braun, A. J. Heeger

Electrical Engineering

We report the effect of conversion conditions on the device characteristics of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) light-emitting diodes. Both electroluminescence and photoluminescence intensities decrease with increasing degree of conversion. Partial conjugation enhances the electroluminescence intensity and gives an efficiency (with Ca as electron-injecting contact) as high as 0.75% photons per electron, about two orders of magnitude more efficient than from similar devices prepared from fully converted PPV. The results of constant current stress measurements suggest that the partially conjugated PPV diode is relatively stable at room temperature.

Effects Of Crosstalk On Fidelity In Page-Oriented Volume Holographic Optical Data Storage, Gregory P. Nordin, P. Asthana

Faculty Publications

Using numerical simulation, we quantitatively examine the effects of cross talk on the recall fidelity of stored binary data in a page-oriented volume holographic memory system. We discuss the trade-off between the signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstructed bits and the optical throughput of the system (i.e., the fraction of the incident beam that is diffracted to the detector plane). We show that significant gains in the signal-to-noise ratio can be achieved with modest decreases in optical throughput in the region where the highest throughput occurs. The magnitude of this trade-off is influenced by both beam degeneracy and coherent recording cross …

Designing And Simulating A Multistage Sampling Rate Conversion System Using A Set Of Pc Programs, David Joesph Hagerty

Dissertations and Theses

The thesis covers a series of PC programs that we have written that will enable users to easily design FIR linear phase lowpass digital filters and multistage sampling rate conversion systems. The first program is a rewrite of the McClellanParks computer program with some slight modifications. The second program uses an algorithm proposed by Rabiner that determines the length of a lowpass digital filter. Rabiner used a formula proposed by Herrmann et al. to initially estimate the filter length in his algorithm. The formula, however, assumes unity gain. We present a modification to the formula so that the gain of …

Designing And Simulating A Multistage Sampling Rate Conversion System Using A Set Of Pc Programs, David Joseph Hagerty

Dissertations and Theses

The thesis covers a series of PC programs that we have written that will enable users to easily design FIR linear phase lowpass digital filters and multistage sampling rate conversion systems. The first program is a rewrite of the McClellan-Parks computer program with some slight modifications. The second program uses an algorithm proposed by Rabiner that determines the length of a lowpass digital filter. Rabiner used a formula proposed by Herrmann et al. to initially estimate the filter length in his algorithm. The formula, however, assumes unity gain. We present a modification to the formula so that the gain of …

Inhibition Of Surface-Related Electrical Breakdown Of Long P+-I-N+ Silicon Structures, F. E. Peterkin, P. F. Williams, B. J. Hankla, L. L. Buresh, S. A. Woodward

P. F. (Paul Frazer) Williams Publications

Semiconductors such as silicon and GaAs appear attractive for use in high voltage devices because of their high bulk dielectric strength. Typically, however, such devices fail at a voltage well below that expected due to a poorly understood, surface-related breakdown process. In this letter we present empirical results which show that such breakdown of long silicon p⁺-i-n⁺ devices can be inhibited by the application of weak visible or near-infrared illumination. These results suggest a technique for avoiding surface flashover in practical high voltage devices, and provide information about the physical mechanisms responsible for initiating …

Analysis Of Laser Pulse Chirping In Mode-Locked Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers, Wenbin Jiang, Dennis J. Derickson, John E. Bowers

Electrical Engineering

Mode-locked vertical cavity lasers have a large cross-sectional area and consequently a large saturation energy and large peak powers. The authors analyze excess optical bandwidth generation in these lasers and find that self-phase modulation due to optical pumping and gain saturation is the dominant factor in inducing laser pulse chirping. The large magnitude of the chirp makes intracavity prism-pair compensation difficult. Adjustment of the cavity length has a major impact on the pulse chirping, as observed experimentally. Proper adjustment can result in a large linear frequency chirp which can be compensated using external pulse compression techniques

The Application Of Neural Networks To Optimal Robot Trajectory Planning, Daniel J. Simon

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Interpolation of minimum jerk robot joint trajectories through an arbitrary number of knots is realized using a hardwired neural network. Minimum jerk joint trajectories are desirable for their similarity to human joint movements and their amenability to accurate tracking. The resultant trajectories are numerical rather than analytic functions of time. This application formulates the interpolation problem as a constrained quadratic minimization problem over a continuous joint angle domain and a discrete time domain. Time is discretized according to the robot controller rate. The neuron outputs define the joint angles (one neuron for each discrete value of time) and the Lagrange …

Suboptimal Robot Joint Interpolation Within User-Specified Knot Tolerances, Daniel J. Simon, Can Isik

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Approximation of a desired robot path can be accomplished by interpolating a curve through a sequence of joint-space knots. A smooth interpolated trajectory can be realized by using trigonometric splines. But, sometimes the joint trajectory is not required to exactly pass through the given knots. The knots may rather be centers of tolerances near which the trajectory is required to pass. In this article, we optimize trigonometric splines through a given set of knots subject to user-specified knot tolerances. The contribution of this article is the straightforward way in which intermediate constraints (i.e., knot angles) are incorporated into the parameter …

Spontaneous Coherent Pulsations In Standing-Wave Laser Oscillators: Stability Criteria For Homogeneous Broadening, Pitak Chenkosol, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The stability criteria for single-mode standing-wave laser oscillators in the homogeneously broadened limit are reported, and two types of criteria are distinguished. The first type (type 1) corresponds to the minimum value of the threshold parameter for which an infinitesimal perturbation away from steady state grows into an oscillatory solution. A second type (type 2) corresponds to the minimum value of threshold parameter for which large-amplitude oscillations do not decay to the steady-state solution. Undamped pulsations in single-mode homogeneously broadened standing-wave laser oscillators are found to occur at a much higher excitation level than in ring-laser oscillators with homogeneous broadening. …

Diffraction Based Latent Image Analysis For Improving Cd Control During Lithography, Lisa-Michelle Milner

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The smallest device geometries, the critical dimensions (CDs), diminish with each generation of microelectronics. This puts more demands on the lithography process to repeatably produce these small dimensions within their 10% tolerance. I believe that individual optimization of the lithography steps will be necessary to meet the stringent demands of smaller CDs. This is possible through analysis of the latent image (the exposed, undeveloped pattern in the resist). In this work, a metrology technique is discussed for the determination of optimum lithography parameters through an interrogation of the latent image. This technique involves illuminating a latent image grating with a …

Resolution Enhancement Of Spaceborne Scatterometer Data, David G. Long, Perry J. Hardin, Peter T. Whiting

Faculty Publications

A method for generating enhanced resolution radar images of the Earth's surface using spaceborne scatterometry is presented. The technique is based on an image reconstruction technique that takes advantage of the spatial overlap in scatterometer measurements made at different times to provide enhanced imaging resolution. The reconstruction algorithm is described, and the technique is demonstrated using both simulated and actual Seasat-A Scatterometer (SASS) measurements. The technique can also be used with ERS-1 scatterometer data. The SASS-derived images, which have approximately 4-km resolution, illustrate the resolution enhancement capability of the technique, which permits utilization of both historic and contemporary scatterometer data …

A Robust High Precision Algorithm For Sinewave Parameter Estimation, Kendall Ann Rydell

Dissertations and Theses

The estimation of sinewave parameters has many practical applications in test and data processing systems. Measuring the effective bits of an analog-to-digital converter and linear circuit identification are some typical examples. If a sinew ave's frequency is known, there is an established linear method to estimate the other parameters. But when none of the parameters are known (which is usually the case in practical situations), the estimation problem becomes more difficult. Traditional approaches to this task applied an iterative, sinewave curve-fit algorithm. Two problems with this technique are that convergence is often slow and not always guaranteed and the results …

Introduction To Electrical Engineering And The Art Of Problem Solving: Volume I, P. Frazer Williams

P. F. (Paul Frazer) Williams Publications

These notes were written to accompany a two-semester introductory course in Electrical Engineering. The primary goal of the course is to introduce you to the art of technical problem solving. Conventional Electrical Engineering curricula, in favorable cases at least, produce engineers who are reasonably adept at operating many of the tools important to the field, such as mathematics and circuit analysis. Often, however, these engineers lack skill in choosing which tools to use and in designing a plan of attack to solve problems which are new to them, even though they have all the information and skills needed to fabricate …

Introduction To Electrical Engineering And The Art Of Problem Solving: Volume Ii, P. Frazer Williams

P. F. (Paul Frazer) Williams Publications

These notes were written to accompany a two-semester introductory course in Electrical Engineering. The primary goal of the course is to introduce you to the art of technical problem solving. Conventional Electrical Engineering curricula, in favorable cases at least, produce engineers who are reasonably adept at operating many of the tools important to the field, such as mathematics and circuit analysis. Often, however, these engineers lack skill in choosing which tools to use and in designing a plan of attack to solve problems which are new to them, even though they have all the information and skills needed to fabricate …

Electrostatic Positioning Of Droplets In Turbulent Flows (Lstm 375/Te/93), Nihad E. Daidzic, Adrian Melling

Aviation Department Publications

Report LSTM 375/TE/93, Lehrstuhl fuer Stroemungsmechanik Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg Cauerstr. 4, 8520 Erlangen Germany.

Middle Terminal Cell Models For Efficient Over-The-Cell Routing, Siddharth Bhingarde

Masters Theses

In this thesis, we introduce a new class of cell models called Middle Terminal Models (MTM) which combines the advantages of existing cell models: BTM and CTM. This class contains the models 2MTM, 3MTM-V, and 3MTM+V depending on the number of metal layers and the permissibility of vias in over-the-cell areas. In MTM, two rows of terminals are located in the middle of the cell. This partitions over-the-cell area into three regions and allows allocation of more nets to over-the-cell area in congested channels. We prove that when vias are allowed over-the-cell, in "almost all" cases the MTM based layouts …

Recognition Of Quadric Surfaces From Range Data: An Analytical Approach, Ivan X. D. D'Cunha

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In this dissertation, a new technique based on analytic geometry for the recognition and description of three-dimensional quadric surfaces from range images is presented. Beginning with the explicit representation of quadrics, a set of ten coefficients are determined for various three-dimensional surfaces. For each quadric surface, a unique set of two-dimensional curves which serve as a feature set is obtained from the various angles at which the object is intersected with a plane. Based on a discriminant method, each of the curves is classified as a parabola, circle, ellipse, hyperbola, or a line. Each quadric surface is shown to be …

Robot Force Velocity Control Using Expert System For Control Mode Changes, William R. Doggett

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The most important property of an automated mechanical system is reliable execution of a specified task. Automated mechanical systems work best in precisely structured environments where all operations are repeatable. Typically, these systems are difficult to modify and expensive to install. Sensors can be used to detect disturbances, thus reducing hardware cost by offsetting the need for precise rigid construction components. Sensors, however, increase the complexity and cost of the control software. Efficient methods of reacting to sensor information during automated system operation are required to reduce software complexity and expense.

This thesis analyzes a robotic construction task and describes …

Acoustical Boundary Location Through Texture Analysis Of Multibeam Bathymetric Sonar Data, Herb Barad, Andrews B. Martinez, Brian S. Bourgeois, Edit J. Kaminsky

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

Texture analysis is performed on multibeam sonar signal returns discriminated angularity by beamforming. A collection of fourteen texture features are computed via co-occurrence matrices and data reduction is then performed using a principal components transformation. Acoustical boundaries (boundaries between regions with homogeneous acoustical properties) are evident from the features. Results indicate that seafloor bottom characteristics can be extracted from these texture features.

A Performance Prediction Model For A Fault-Tolerant Computer During Recovery And Restoration, Rodrigo A. Obando

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The modeling and design of a fault-tolerant multiprocessor system is addressed in this dissertation. In particular, the behavior of the system during recovery and restoration after a fault has occurred is investigated. Given that a multicomputer system is designed using the Algorithm to Architecture To Mapping Model (ATAMM) model, and that a fault (death of a computing resource) occurs during its normal steady-state operation, a model is presented as a viable research tool for predicting the performance bounds of the system during its recovery and restoration phases. Furthermore, the bounds of the performance behavior of the system during this transient …

Influence Of Processing Techniques On Copper Deep Levels Formation And On Photoconductivity In Silicon Doped Gallium Arsenide, Lucy M. Thomas

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Diffusion of copper in silicon doped gallium arsenide under different diffusion conditions is studied. Copper compensated silicon doped gallium arsenide (GaAs:Si:Cu) is used as switch material for bulk optically controlled semiconductor switch, and on-state photoconductivity of the switch is primarily due to the properties of the copper deep levels introduced in the material during diffusion. Gallium arsenide being a compound semiconductor, presence of vacancies and defects make the study of diffusion a complex process. The objective of the current research is twofold: a) to study the influence of diffusion conditions and processing techniques on copper deep level formation in silicon …

Monolithic Silicon Opto-Electro-Mechanical Light Modulator, Ching-Horng Wu

Theses

A Fabry-Perot light beam modulator of the reflection-type has been designed with process and performance parameters optimized. This design takes advantage of the economies of surface micromaching using silicon substrates and selected thin films. High performance with a low drive voltage are achieved using electrostatic actuation of a thin polysilicon diaphragm. The diaphragm is a novel corrugated structure which has maximum compliance and maintains planarity during actuation. In addition, the corrugationsuspension used provides an improved linearity of amplitude modulation response as a function of the actuation voltage.

A preliminary version of this device has been fabricated through a contract foundry …

A Systolic Simulation And Transformation System, Ronald I. Greenberg, H.-C. Oh

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This paper presents a CAD tool, SystSim, to ease the design of systolic systems. Given a high-level, functional description of processors, and a high-level description of their interconnection, SystSim will perform simulations and provide graphical output. SystSim will also perform transformations such as retiming, which eases use of the methodology of Leiserson and Saxe of designing a system with broadcasting and then obtaining a systolic system through retiming.

Fiber Optic Sensor For The Simultaneous Detection Of Strain And Temperature, Barry G. Grossman, Walid Emil Costandi

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

For simple interferometric fiberoptic sensors, the effects of strain and temperature are indistinguishable. This paper addresses that problem by demonstrating a single wavelength, two-mode polarimetric fiberoptic sensor capable of simultaneously measuring temperature and strain. The sensor consists of two interferometers, a polarimetric and a two-mode, formed in a single elliptical core fiber. The interferometers respond with different sensitivities to strain and temperature like simultaneous functions of the two variables. A technique is developed by which the outputs of the interferometers are used simultaneously to measure strain and temperature with rms errors less than 30 με and 1°C. Finally, measurement results …

Analysis Of Weighted Fan-Out/Fan-In Volume Holographic Interconnections, Gregory P. Nordin, P. Asthana, B. Keith Jenkins, A. R. Tanguay

Faculty Publications

The feasibility of employing volume holographic techniques for the implementation of highly multiplexed weighted fan-out/fan-in interconnections is analyzed on the basis of interconnection fidelity, optical throughput, and complexity of recording schedule or implementation hardware. These feasibility criteria were quantitatively evaluated using the optical beam propagation method to numerically simulate the diffraction characteristics of volume holographic interconnections recorded in a linear holographic material. We find that conventional interconnection architectures (that are based on a single coherent optical source) exhibit a direct trade-off between interconnection fidelity and optical throughput on the one hand, and recording schedule or hardware complexity on the other. …

Terrain Classification In Sar Images Using Principal Components Analysis And Neural Networks, Mahmood R. Azimi-Sadjadi, Saleem Ghaloum, R. Zoughi

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of a neural network-based classifier for classifying three distinct scenes (urban, park and water) from several polarized SAR images of San Francisco Bay area is discussed. The principal component (PC) scheme or Karhunen-Loeve (KL) transform is used to extract the salient features of the input data, and to reduce the dimensionality of the feature space prior to the application to the neural networks. Employing PC scheme along with polarized images used in this study, led to substantial improvements in the classification rates when compared with previous studies. When a combined polarization architecture is used the classification rate for …

Self-Referenced Speckle Holography (Srsh) Image Reconstruction Performance, John R. Devey

Theses and Dissertations

The Speckle Holography technique uses a series of short exposure images and associated wave front sensor measurements to reconstruct astronomical images. The reconstruction technique effectively boosts the amplitude of high spatial frequencies to allow for finer resolution of astronomical objects. A simulation package that calculates the optical transfer function (OTF) of a telescopic system was previously developed for the Phillips Laboratory. This software was modified slightly to provide the Speckle Holography system transfer function (STF) for a telescopic system under varying seeing conditions.

Frequency Domain Speech Compression Using The Karhunen-Loeve Transform, Donald W. Dryley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was test the influence of phase on the quality of speech reproduced by a speaker dependent compression system. The tests consisted of compressing frequency domain speech vectors using the Karhunen-Loeve Transform, with and without phase, then making subjective judgements as to the reproduced quality. Error Metrics were then tested for their suitability as predictors of reproduced quality. The compression software transformed each speech vector into a vector of complex Fourier coefficients (only half of the coefficients are needed as transform is hermitian). Phase was preserved by using the real frequency components to form one vector …

A Fault-Tolerant Optimal Interpolative Net, Daniel J. Simon, Hossny El-Sherief

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The optimal interpolative (OI) classification network is extended to include fault tolerance and make the network more robust to the loss of a neuron. The OI Net has the characteristic that the training data are fit with no more neurons than necessary. Fault tolerance further reduces the number of neurons generated during the learning procedure while maintaining the generalization capabilities of the network. The learning algorithm for the fault tolerant OI Net is presented in a recursive format, allowing for relatively short training times. A simulated fault tolerant OI Net is tested on a navigation satellite selective problem.