Engineering Commons^™

Contrast Sensitivity Measurement Via Evoked Potential, Ken-Gen Lu

Theses

This work is concerned with the use of the visual Evoked Response (VER) to determine Contrast Sensitivity in humans. For this purpose, a system has been developed where signals, obtained from scalp electrodes, and stimulated by visual grating patterns, are recorded digitized and processed on a personal computer (IBM compatible). Processing includes signal averaging and digital filtering. The system provides storage, retrieval and graphic representation of data as well as the capability to transfer data to other computer systems. Data processing includes parameter estimation of suitable signal models, which provide effective data compression of the signal into a finite set …

Asics Application On Voice Processing Interface Design- Qegg Multiplier, Gwo-Jen Luar

Theses

Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) is a high density VLSI design that including the lower cost, higher performance, small size, and increased reliability. The ASIC, XILINX's LCA is applied on the signal processing ahead of computer I/O interface, specially for the quantitative Electroglottograph. This thesis covers the logic design, simulation test, realization, and stand alone test.

Interface To 8052ah-Basic Microcontroller For A Multichannel Priority Interrupt System, Chen-Tung Mo

Theses

This thesis presents the design and development of a system with the capability to detect up to forty channels of signals generated from different analog sources and to process them under the control of a microcomputer.

The present work offers the design and implementation of a hardware interface unit in a multichannel real-time data acquisition system as well as the application software program to operate it. This kind of system can be widely used in process control, musical instrument interfacing, and machine automation.

This interface unit follows the general instrumentation architecture in both signal processing and logic control. The software …

High Frequency Gaussian Beams Solution Of A Plane Wave Coupling Into Cylindrical Cavity, Christine Issa Mourad

Theses

Propagation of high frequency fields as a superposition of Gaussian beams instead of geometrical ray fields has potential advantages in complicated environments because the beams do not fail in ray optic transition regions. While the Gaussian beam method can be made rigorous through self consistent stacking of displaced and tilted beams on a Gabor phase space lattice, with retention of full beam spectra, computation is facilitated when the propagation domain is covered with paraxially approximated nontilted beams. The spectral deficiencies introduced by this simplified propagation model depend on the propagation environment. They are examined here for a plane wave coupling …

Computer Aided Synthesis Of A Four-Bar Linkage To Generate A Symmetrical Coupler Curve, Shailendra R. Pachalag

Theses

The purpose of this study is to develop a new analytical technique for the synthesis of four-bar mechanisms to generate symmetrical curves with a coupler point passing through 8 points. The geometric expressions involved in kinematic synthesis often tend to offer difficulties such as negative radicals, alternative choices and repetitions. Here a solution procedure has been developed which avoids these difficulties. This solution procedure includes a development of a computer algorithm that should synthesize a crank-rocker type linkage for any given input crank length. This algorithm dismisses all solutions involving negative radicals and lists magnitudes of members so that those …

Design Criteria Of Coherent Optical Fiber Communication System, Rajesh N. Patel

Theses

Design criteria of coherent optical fiber communication system were discussed and investigated. First, the different types of optical fibers (waveguides) were discussed. Then the laser sources, photo-detectors, transmitter & receiver circuits were discussed in detail.

Design criteria of conventional intensity modulated (direct detection) optical fiber communication system were discussed. Then, the design criteria and estimation of number of photons for different modulation schemes for coherent optical fiber communication system were analyzed.

Coherent optical fiber communication system's advantages and drawbacks were discussed in detail. Improvement in receiver sensitivity of coherent detection compare with conventional direct detection was investigated. Finally, some receiver …

Image Enhancement And Edge Detection Using Fuzzy Algorithm, Samir Patel

Theses

A method of image enhancement and edge detection by computer using the fuzzy set is illustrated. The algorithm involves extraction of fuzzy properties corresponding to pixels and then succesive application of fuzzy operator 'contrast intensification' along with smoothing in the fuzzy property plane before detecting its edges. The property plane is extracted from the spatial domain using S, π, and (1- π) functions and the fuzzifiers. Edge detection is achieved using KIRSH operator. A computer routine is developed and the effectiveness of the algorithm with different value of the system parameter is demonstrated on different images. The digital computer HP …

An Improved Method Of Gas Chromatographic Determination Of Trace Organic Vapors In Ambient Air Collected In Canisters, Yong-Jin Shen

Theses

An improved method for analysis and quantitation of volatile organic compounds in ambient air has been developed. Samples are collected in evacuated SUMMA polished stainless steel canisters using a sampling flow apparatus with a critical orifice as flowrate controller. Analysis of VOCs in the collected air is carried out by cryogenically concentrating the sample, then thermally transfering it onto the head of a capillary column in a gas chromatograph. The column effluent is measured by a parallel flame ionization detector (FID), and electron capture detector (ECD). The problems associating with quantitative transfer of the sample to the initial cryofocusing loop …

Synergistic Fillers In Polymer Concrete : New Composites, Syed Hassan Javed

Theses

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of synergistic fillers on underwater construction, burning and mechanical properties of polymer portland cement concrete(PPCC).

Fine grains of hydrous calcium sulfate, Trihydrated alumina, Calcium carbonate and fibrous unhydrous calcium sulfate were examined in PPCC. It has been observed that these synergistic filler improves the mechanical property (stress) and reduce the average time of burning of PPCC. With fixed quantity of polymer, the deterioration of PPCC in water increases by replacing the sand with above stated fillers.

Investigation Of Different Cmos Dram Sense Amplifier Configurations In Vlsi, Bihju Chiu

Theses

Sense amplifiers are particularly difficult circuits to design. In this work, only CMOS sense amplifiers are considered. There are typically two configurations of CMOS sense amplifiers: the cross-connected flip flop configuration and the current-mirror configuration. They are widely used nowadays with various modifications. These improved configurations are simulated and optimized with SPICE package, and their relative performances are also compared in this thesis.

Recycled Plastics As Fillers In Polymer Cement Concrete Composites, Shian-Jong Liu

Theses

How to handle the plastic waste is a big task for the modern society in environmental protection. People already focus on it, especially in PET soft drink bottles. Although PET bottle can be reclaimed, its usages are restricted due to the limitation in color and difficulty in purification.

On the other side, concrete is the most common material for human beings to used [sic] in construction. Concrete has good compressive strength, but poor [sic] in flexural and tensile strengths, which limits its applications. So, scientists try to improve its properties by adding the polymer into the conventional concrete, to enhance …

A Silicon Photodiode Array For Soft X-Ray Sensing, Chih-Te Hu

Theses

An array of 30 x 30 sensing cells including logic within each cell and a self-scan address circuit are described. A unique scintillation technique is used to increase the threshold sensitivity 60dB for X-ray photon sensing beyond that obtainable with conventional photodiode sensors. Simulations for the sensing cell and some additional logic elements are based on SPICE version 2G5 and HILO 3. Worst case analysis includes variations in threshold voltage V_TP and V_TN for the CMOS circuit components. The final CMOS chip dimension using MOSIS 1.2 micron rules is 10mm x 10mm base on the 80 …

Wastewater Treatment : Phenol Extraction By Liquid Membrane, Jan-Ming Hou

Theses

Two models for the extraction of phenol by means of liquid surfactant membranes is presented in which external mass transfer around w/o emulsion drop, phase and chemical equilibria are taken into account.

The nonlinear coupled P.D.E.'s is solved under assumptions to get a close-formed analytical approximate solution. The experimental results on the batch extraction of phenol are found to be satisfactory simulated by one of the proposed models provided that phenol concentration is higher than 0.01N. The model requires no adjustable parameter thus it can predict the extraction behavior without doing experiments.

Sorptive And Geotechnical Characteristics Of Kaolinite, Chi-Yuan Shih

Theses

The sorption/desorption behavior of phenol and chlorobenzene as well as their influence on geotechnical characteristics of kaolinite were studied. The results reveal that the sorption process follows closely with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm whereas the sorption/desorption ratio depends upon the characteristics of organic compounds.

A series of geotechnical properties tests was also undertaken after achieving equilibrium at different concentrations of organic compounds. It was found that the parameters such as liquid limit, plastic limit, optimum moisture content, and dry density increase with an increasing-concentration of organic compounds.

The relationship between the geotechnical, properties and sorption behavior of soils provides the …

Softening Response Of Concrete In Direct Tension, Teresa Cintora

Theses

Due to the increased attention in nonlinear fracture mechanics and numerical methods of cementitious material, it has become necessary to have a reliable investigation of the post-peak softening response of concrete under direct uniaxial loading. But due to the brittleness of the material previous researchers have encountered great difficulty in obtaining complete data regarding the load-deformation behavior. This study uses a strain-controlled testing method and therefore the post-peak curve can be more easily obtained. Based on these results a unique formula for the normalized load vs. deformation curve has been proposed to be applied in fracture analysis applications.

On Conventional And Harmonic Load Flow Analysis, Ranjit B. Pradhan

Theses

In conventional power flow analysis, simultaneous linear equations numbering in thousands must be solved repeatedly and in many instances on-line. Luckily the matrix of coefficients of these equations is sparse with a few elements in each row. Therefore for a faster solution and to save computer memory, sparsity must be exploited and an optimal ordering of the equations must be sought. When considering harmonics, the number of the simultaneous equations to be solved is multiplied and therefore, considering sparsity and optimal ordering is doubly important.

In this thesis a software package for optimizing computation time and memory requirements through exploitation …

System Performance Criteria In Cdma Networks Using Gold Codes, Yong H. Kim

Theses

First, we have presented the autocorrelation and crosscorrelation properties for periodic and aperiodic binary sequences. The generation of binary sequences using shift registers with feedback was reviewed. We have also included correlation properties for the Gold codes.

Next, we discussed Gold code generation for the balanced and unbalanced Gold codes.

Thirdly, we investigated the number of simultaneous users in a CDMA system using Gold codes for the worst case and the average case of mutual interference.

Finally, we simulated the probability of interference exceeding a threshold value, and the average crosscorrelation value caused by interference in a CDMA network which …

Modeling And Simulation Of Robot Arms With Flexible Links, John G. Danis

Theses

The design of lightweight robot arms introduces a degree of flexiblity in the individual links which renders the arm difficult to control. Solution of the control problem requires accurate and detailed mathematical models of the arm dynamics. A comprehensive survey of the current literature in this area has shown that although many such models exist, there is a great diversity in their structure, function, and applicability. The different objectives and techniques of model development which lead to this diversity are examined and summarized in this thesis. Bases for classification of the mathematical models and techniques of development are established, and …

An Analysis Of The Dense Packing Of Disks : A Computer Simulated Approach, Jir-Yih Tsaur

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the analysis of dense packing of hard disks. The Voronoi diagram and the geometric neighbours were first computed. The average number of geometric neighbours of a disk is six. It is thus more efficient to choose structural neighbours from among the geometric neighbours than from among all other disks.

Through the Monte Carlo simulation by Rosato et. al., disk configurations after pouring and subsequent shaking were provided for analysis. The mean number of geometric neighbours and the average coordination number were computed. The angular distribution of the structural neighbours was discussed. The packing fraction increases …

An Investigation Of Electrical And Optical Properties Of Reactively Sputtered Silicon Nitride And Amorphous Hydrogenated Silicon Thin Films, Tae Hoon Kim

Theses

Thin films of silicon nitride and amorphous hydrogenated silicon were prepared by radio frequency reactive sputter deposition and their properties optimized for their use as low temperature passivation coatings for optoelectronic devices. The effect of various sputter deposition parameters on the conduction and optical properties were studied. Infrared spectrophotometry and ellipsometry were used to determined the optical properties of the films whereas the electrical properties were determined from current-voltage measurements of MIS capacitors.

Typical parameters of a sputter deposition run for the best Si₃N₄ films were: base pressure, 1-2x10^-6 torr; sputtering pressure, 5 mtorr; nitrogen partial …

Agitation Requirements For Complete Dispersion Of Emulsions, Dun-Huang Tsai

Theses

An investigation on the minimum agitation speed required to achieve complete dispersion in liquid-liquid systems has been carried out. A model based on the momentum balance for a droplet and on Kolmogoroff's theory of isotropic turbulence was used for the prediction of the role of the most important variables on the minimum agitation speed. The equation so derived can be expressed in terms of a number of non- dimensional groups (such as Re, Ar, and Su). For geometrically similar systems the equation contains only one adjustable parameter ( to be determined experimentally) in the form of the proportionality constant correlating …

Bead Design For Biodegradation Of 2-Chlorophenol Using Microorganisms Entrapped In Alginate Gel, Fayaz Lakhwala

Theses

The performance of immobilized cell reactors varies with a number of parameters, one of which is proper bead design. A mixed microbial population from a waste water treatment plant was immobilized in calcium alginate gel. The viability of these organisms was studied in a microassay reactor by varying parameters such as concentration of calcium chloride, concentration of sodium alginate, temperature of operation, biomass concentration within the beads and concentration of a model compound (2-chlorophenol). The effect of storage on viability over a period of three months was also investigated. It was found possible to have access to active biomass by …

Use Of Recirculation Reactor To Study Biodegradation Of 2-Chlorophenol, Kai-Chung Yang

Theses

The performance of immobilized cells in the treatment of hazardous waste was investigated using a recirculation flow reactor run in a batch mode. A mixed microbial population from a municipal wastewater treatment plant was immobilized in calcium alginate gel. The bio-oxidation ability of these microbes towards a model toxin (2-chlorophenol) was studied. The process parameters studied were as follows:

1. Flow rate of the recycle stream;
2. Biomass loading;
3. Spiking concentration of 2-chlorophenol;
4. Use of buffered vs. non-buffered defined medium.

Dissolved oxygen concentration was monitored using a flow Clark-type dissolved oxygen probe. Oxygen consumption was correlated with the biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol. Physical …

Investigation Of Forces In The Course Of The Water Jet--Work Piece Interaction, Hung-Yuan Li

Theses

This study is concerned with the dynamic of the interaction between the water jet and the work-piece. The piezoelectric transducer was used to construct an experimental setup. The simultaneous use of the constructed setup and strain gage enables us to validate the experimental procedure. The forces in the impingment zone were measured at different operational conditions. Totally about 400 different combinations of these conditions were tested. It was found that the force is mainly determined by the diameter of the sapphire. The effects of the abrasive size , abrasive flow rate, the diameter of the carbide tube, and the stand-off …

Design And Development Of An Infrared Ccd Camera, John Frederick Romanowich

Theses

An infrared CCD camera system was designed and developed for operating various sizes of Schottky-barrier IR-CCD image sensor chips. The camera has a digitally programmable frequency synthesizer for operating the 160 X 244, 320 X 244, and 256 X 256 image sensors developed at the David Sarnoff Research Center. The electronics of the camera are designed to provide the outputs required for operating a XYZ monitor, a standard TV monitor, or a computer workstation. At the core of the camera design is a RS-170 standard sync generator that supplies the waveforms for synchronizing the camera's circuitry to produce a composite …

Design And Construction Of A Thermoelectric Calorimeter To Measure Thermal Resistance Of Building Components, Ravindra Samtaney

Theses

The steady-state thermal resistance of a building wall is an important parameter in determining its thermal performance. In-situ measurement of thermal resistance is the only unambiguous way of determining thermal resistance since the actual value may significantly differ from the laboratory or the calculated R-value.

Hitherto, the in-situ measurement of thermal resistance has been largely confined to the winter season. A thermoelectric calorimeter was designed, constructed and tested in order to provide measurements of thermal resistance during the summer as well as the winter season.

This thermoelectric calorimeter is a rectangular box, insulated on five sides and covered with an …

An Investigation Of Electrical And Physical Properties Of Reactively, Diode Sputtered Silicon Nitride Thin Films, Divyang Manharlal Shah

Theses

Silicon nitride thin films were deposited by r.f. reactive sputtering of silicon in nitrogen and argon discharge. Biased and unbiased modes of diode mode sputtering were used. Typical parameters for a sputter deposition run were: base pressure, 1-2x10-6 torr; sputtering pressure, 5-7 mtorr; nitrogen partial pressure, 15-16%; cathode-anode gap, 4 inch; r.f. power, 200-250 watts; cathode voltage, 1.8-2.1 V r.f.; water vapor pressure, 20-30% of the base pressure. The film thickness and the refractive index were measured by ellipsometery. The films of thickness 300-2500A, refractive index 1.9-2.1 and resistivity 10101Ω — cm were obtained. The deposition rate was in the …

Design Of An Experimental Apparatus To Measure The Charge And Mass Of Ionized Species In A Partially Ionized Cluster Beam Deposition System, Nitin K. Shah

Theses

The objective of this research was the design and construction of an experimental apparatus to investigate the size distribution of gallium clusters that can be emitted from a heated crucible with a 1 mm nozzle. This research work involved the design and construction of a partially ionized cluster beam (PICB) deposition system which would provide low charged particle background for retarding field analysis and cluster size measurements. The apparatus also allowed control of critical parameters on which the cluster size may depend.

The promise of PICB is based on the formation of clusters of adatoms, their ionization and their acceleration …

Integration Of Cad/Cam System Into A Waterjet Cutting Cell, Sanjay C. Shah

Theses

The work is intended to bridge the gap between CAD and CAM fora waterjet cutting cell. The output of CAD is used by CAM directly through the software interface developed. To achieve this, a postprocessor is designed for a two-dimensional system for the series 8200 Allen Bradley's 5-axes Robot Controller. Calma's DDM & DIMENSION III interactive graphics system implemented on VAX was used for the part design. The postprocessor is a computer program, written in the structured FORTRAN, that is unique for a given machine-tool/controller combination. The conversion of the coding and recording format of the APT file to the …

Seizure And Wear Testing Methodology, I-Tsung Shih

Theses

In this work the seizure as an adhesive wear has been discussed and analyzed The diffusion hypotheses is accepted as the seizure mechanism. It was determined that the surface of machine components, material properties, and contact stresses in sliding and loading zone are responsible for the wear.

A computer controlled wear testing methodology has been developed and a wear testing machine has been designed and assembled. The tests for the selected gray cast non and alloy steel specimens with different surface treatment were performed on the designed wear testing machine.

The test results showed that the selected materials with additional …