Electrical and Electronics Commons^™

Optically-Pumped Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, Dhruvkumar Desai

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) offer a low-cost, compact solution for power amplification needs in an optical communication system compared with the dominant erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). They can also provide a wide gain bandwidth. However, conventional electrically-pumped SOAs suffer from larger noise figures, low saturation power, and polarization dependence, in comparison with EDFAs. We propose an optically-pumped SOA (OP-SOA) that will maintain the benefits of conventional SOAs while closing the gaps in other amplifier performance metrics. The underlying reasons for optical pumping are twofold. First, optical pumping allows higher carrier injection and thus "population inversion." Second, optical pumping decouples carrier …

Communication-Aware Energy Optimization For Electric Vehicles With Adaptive Cruise Control, Shahriar Shahram

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation develops information-driven methods to reduce traction energy in battery electric vehicles during adaptive and cooperative cruise control. Physics-grounded energetics are embedded in a predictive controller that accounts for intermittent V2V preview, sensing noise, packet loss, and powertrain limits. To ensure deployability, the nonconvex traction–power map is replaced by locally convex surrogates so each step solves a small, strictly convex QP in real time (average ≈ 70 ms/step on a desktop CPU: 8 cores/16 threads, 4.2–5.0 GHz), leaving margin at typical sampling rates (Ts =0.05–0.10 s; N=15–25).

Across standardized drive cycles from NREL DriveCAT—including FTP–75 (light duty), NREL Class …

Functional Verification Of Additively Manufactured Metallopolymer Structures For Structural Electronics Design, Nathan D. Singhal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As an attempt to improve the overall cost-effectiveness and ease of structural electronics manufacturing, this study characterizes the mechanical and electrical responses of structures which are fabricated from a novel metallopolymer composite material by fused deposition modeling as they are subjected to quasi-static, uniaxial mechanical tension. Baseline values of tensile properties and electrical resistivity were first obtained via ASTM D638-22 standard testing procedures and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), respectively. A hybrid procedure to measure in-situ mechanically dependent electrical behavior was subsequently developed and implemented. The mechanical and electromechanical testing was followed by the derivation of stochastic values for several mechanical …

Distributed Optimization With Limited Communication In Networks With Adversaries, Iyanuoluwa Emiola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

We all hope for the best but sometimes, one must plan for ways of dealing with the worst-case scenarios, especially in a network with adversaries. This dissertation illustrates a detailed description of distributed optimization algorithms over a network of agents, in which some agents are adversarial. The model considered is such that adversarial agents act to subvert the objective of the network. The algorithms presented in this dissertation are solved via gradient-based distributed optimization algorithm and the effects of the adversarial agents on the convergence of the algorithm to the optimal solution are characterized. The analyses presented establish conditions under …

Towards Explainable Ai Using Attribution Methods And Image Segmentation, Garrett J. Rocks

Honors Undergraduate Theses

With artificial intelligence (AI) becoming ubiquitous in a broad range of application domains, the opacity of deep learning models remains an obstacle to adaptation within safety-critical systems. Explainable AI (XAI) aims to build trust in AI systems by revealing important inner mechanisms of what has been treated as a black box by human users. This thesis specifically aims to improve the transparency and trustworthiness of deep learning algorithms by combining attribution methods with image segmentation methods. This thesis has the potential to improve the trust and acceptance of AI systems, leading to more responsible and ethical AI applications. An exploratory …

Coalition Formation And Beamsteering Optimization For Directional Software-Defined Radios, Sayanta Seth

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA), also known as Dynamic Spectrum Management, is the method of utilizing a set of spectrum techniques in real time to provide the ability to share wireless channels between Primary (or licensed) users (PUs) and Secondary (or unlicensed) users (SUs). The system is so designed that under normal circumstances, the PUs always get priority, but DSA enables the SUs to use the licensed bands as long as they do not create any interference on the PUs. Hence, the goal of utilizing the spectrum more efficiently can be achieved. Though DSA has been researched extensively as a new …

Data-Driven Power System Stability Analysis And Control, Jian Xie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In recent years, with the expansion of power system size, the increase of interconnection and the use of large-scale renewable energy, power system stability and safe operations have become more prominent, causing challenges to the normal operation of power grid. Traditional analysis rely on detailed models of the system. But for real power systems, the operating state of the system is variable, and the model-based analysis methods may not accurately reflect the real operating state of the system. Therefore, this dissertation is focused on data-driven stability analysis and control. First, a method for locating the oscillation source of multi-machine systems …

Distributed Detection In Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensor Networks, Ghazaleh Ardeshiri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A conventional wireless sensor networks (WSN), consisting of sensors powered by nonrechargeable batteries, has a strictly limited lifetime. Energy harvesting (EH) from the environment is a promising solution to address the energy constraint problem in conventional WSNs, and to render these networks to self-sustainable networks with perpetual lifetimes. In EH-powered WSNs, where sensors are capable of harvesting and storing energy, power control is necessary to balance the rates of energy harvesting and energy consumption for data transmission. In addition, wireless communication channels change randomly in time due to fading. These together prompt the need for developing new power control strategies …

Biomimetic Design, Modeling, And Adaptive Control Of Robotic Gripper For Optimal Grasping, Mushtaq Al-Mohammed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Grasping is an essential skill for almost every assistive robot. Variations in shape and/or weight of different objects involved in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) lead to complications, especially, when the robot is trying to grip novel objects for which it has no prior information –too much force will deform or crush the object while too little force will lead to slipping and possibly dropped objects. Thus, successful grasping requires the gripper to immobilize an object with the minimal force. In Chapter 2, we present the design, analysis, and experimental implementation of an adaptive control to facilitate 1-click grasping of …

A Measurement System For Detection Of Intestinal Motility In Neonates By Monitoring Slow Wave Activity, Garett Goodale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Similar to how electrocardiographic waves are the pace making signals of the heart, slow waves are the pace making signals of the intestines. Slow waves are electrical signals in the intestines that determine the speed at which food can move through the intestine ensuring proper digestion and uptake of nutrients. It has been shown that slow waves can be measured in adults using non-invasive, surface electrodes. However, no study has investigated the measurements of slow waves in neonates, specifically pre-term neonates. Around 7% of pre-term neonates suffer from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which is a condition that causes damage to the …

Mechanically Reconfigurable Materials And Devices Based On Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Layers, Emmanuel Okogbue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The recent advances in electronic technologies are geared towards a combination of continued miniaturization in device components and their integration onto unconventional platforms. These efforts are aimed towards achieving electronic devices with various form factors and novel functionalities which are unattainable from traditional devices. Among these envisioned 'futuristic' technologies, electronic devices which are mechanically reconfigurable and operable under harsh operational conditions in the form of stretching, twisting and folding offer tremendous amount of unparalleled opportunities. This dissertation studies two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDs), a distinct class of materials with peculiar optical, electrical and mechanical properties for mechanically reconfigurable electronics. …

Ultra-Low Power Circuits And Architectures For Neuromorphic Computing Accelerators With Emerging Tfets And Rerams, Jie Lin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Neuromorphic computing using post-CMOS technologies is gaining increasing popularity due to its promising potential to resolve the power constraints in Von-Neumann machine and its similarity to the operation of the real human brain. To design the ultra-low voltage and ultra-low power analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for the neuromorphic computing systems, we explore advantages of tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) on energy efficiency and temperature stability. A fully-differential SAR ADC is designed using 20 nm TFET technology with doubled input swing and controlled comparator input common-mode voltage. To further increase the resolution of the ADC, we design an energy …

Thin-Film Lithium Niobate Integrated Photonics On Silicon For Electro- And Nonlinear-Optic Applications, Amirmahdi Honardoost

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In order to overcome the drawbacks associated with conventional bulk lithium niobate photonic, thin-film lithium-niobate-on-silicon has been pursued recently. This work presents contributions made to electro-, and nonlinear-optic applications of this technology. For electrooptic applications, detailed modeling and design guidelines of optical and radio-frequency parameters of ultracompact modulators are developed and their accuracy in predicting the high-speed performance of such devices have been verified by comparison with experimental results. Novel design techniques and pathways for ultrahigh-speed (sub-terahertz) operation of such modulators, achieving up to 400 GHz modulation bandwidth, are also presented. For optical interconnect applications, novel structures for ultralow-power consumption …

Design, Construction, And Characterization Of A Combined Mini-Co₂/Voc Sensor And Gas Chromatograph For Field Research, Rishi Basdeo, Michael Hampton

Digital Repository: Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence

No abstract provided.

Semiconductor Device Modeling, Simulation, And Failure Prediction For Electrostatic Discharge Conditions, Hang Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) caused failures are major reliability issues in IC industry. Device modeling for ESD conditions is necessary to evaluate ESD robustness in simulation. Although SPICE model is accurate and efficient for circuit simulations in most cases, devices under ESD conditions operate in abnormal status. SPICE model cannot cover the device operating region beyond normal operation. Thermal failure is one of the main reasons to cause device failure under ESD conditions. A compact model is developed to predict thermal failure with circuit simulators. Instead of considering the detailed failure mechanisms, a failure temperature is introduced to indicate device failure. …

Analysis, Design And Efficiency Optimization Of Power Converters For Renewable Energy Applications, Xi Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

DC-DC power converters are widely used in renewable energy-based power generation systems due to the constant demand of high-power density and high-power conversion efficiency. DC-DC converters can be classified into non-isolated and isolated topologies. For non-isolated topologies, they are typically derived from buck, boost, buck-boost or forth order (such as Cuk, Sepic and Zeta) converters and they usually have relatively higher conversion efficiency than isolated topologies. However, with the applications where the isolation is required, either these topologies should be modified, or alternative topologies are needed. Among various isolated DC-DC converters, the LLC resonant converter is an attractive selection due …

Programmable Low Loss Orthogonal Frequency Coded Surface Acoustic Wave Correlator Filters, Marshall Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) communication is being developed as a means of improving spectral efficiency in wireless communication systems. If the obstacle of self-interference can be sufficiently overcome, it is possible to double the spectral efficiency of an equivalent time or frequency division duplexed system. Spread spectrum techniques can reduce self-interference by using orthogonal or pseudo-orthogonal codes to encode the transmit signal and decode the receive signal. Hardware correlator filters are developed for use with STAR radio systems using orthogonal frequency coded (OFC) surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. OFC is a type of spread spectrum communication that can be …

Reconfigurable Reflectarray Antennas With Bandwidth Enhancement For High Gain, Beam-Steering Applications, Michael Trampler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reconfigurable reflectarrays are a class of antennas that combine the advantages of traditional parabolic antennas and phased array antennas. Chapter 1 discusses the basic operational theory of reflectarrays and their design. A review of previous research and the current status is also presented. Furthermore the inherent advantages and disadvantages of the reflectarray topography are presented. In chapter 2, a BST-integrated reflectarray operating at Ka band is presented. Due to the monolithic integration of the tuning element, this design is then extended to V band where a novel interdigital gap configuration is utilized. Finally to overcome loss and phase limitations of …

Sparse Signal Recovery Under Sensing And Physical Hardware Constraints, Davood Mardaninajafabadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on information recovery under two general types of sensing constraints and hardware limitations that arise in practical data acquisition systems. We study the effects of these practical limitations in the context of signal recovery problems from interferometric measurements such as for optical mode analysis. The first constraint stems from the limited number of degrees of freedom of an information gathering system, which gives rise to highly constrained sensing structures. In contrast to prior work on compressive signal recovery which relies for the most part on introducing additional hardware components to emulate randomization, we establish performance guarantees for …

Frequency-Reconfigurable Microstrip Patch And Cavity-Backed Slot Espars, Wei Ouyang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wireless communication systems have rapidly evolved over the past decade which has led to an explosion of mobile data traffic. Since more and more wireless devices and sensors are being connected, the transition from the current 4G/LTE mobile network to 5G is expected to happen within the next decade. In order to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), system capacity, and link budget, beam steerable antenna arrays are desirable due to their advantage in spatial selectivity and high directivity. Electronically steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR) that can achieve low-cost continuously beamsteering using varactor diodes have attracted a lot of attention. This dissertation …

Design Improvements And Construction Of An Electric Fish Finder, Jeffrey C. Lambert

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

We provide notes on the design and construction of an 'Electric Fish Finder – a self contained, portable bioamplifier for the detection and monitoring of the electric organ discharges generated by electric fish. Here we describe several improvements on a previous design, including: improved performance in waters of extremely low conductivity, extended battery life, and better waterproofing.

Different Facial Recognition Techniques In Transform Domains, Taif Al Obaidi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The human face is frequently used as the biometric signal presented to a machine for identification purposes. Several challenges are encountered while designing face identification systems. The challenges are either caused by the process of capturing the face image itself, or occur while processing the face poses. Since the face image not only contains the face, this adds to the data dimensionality, and thus degrades the performance of the recognition system. Face Recognition (FR) has been a major signal processing topic of interest in the last few decades. Most common applications of the FR include, forensics, access authorization to facilities, …

Design Of Low-Capacitance Electrostatic Discharge (Esd) Protection Devices In Advanced Silicon Technologies., Aihua Dong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) related failure is a major IC reliability concern and this is particularly true as technology continues shrink to nano-metric dimensions. ESD design window research shows that ESD robustness of victim devices keep decreasing from 350nm bulk technology to 7nm FinFET technologies. In the meantime, parasitic capacitance of ESD diode with same It2 in FinFET technologies is approximately 3X compared with that in planar technologies. Thus transition from planar to FinFET technology requires more robust ESD protection however the large parasitic capacitance of ESD protection cell is problematic in high-speed interface design. To reduce the parasitic capacitance, a …

Artificial Neuron Using Mos2/Graphene Threshold Switching Memristor, Hirokjyoti Kalita

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the ever-increasing demand for low power electronics, neuromorphic computing has garnered huge interest in recent times. Implementing neuromorphic computing in hardware will be a severe boost for applications involving complex processes such as pattern recognition. Artificial neurons form a critical part in neuromorphic circuits, and have been realized with complex complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry in the past. Recently, insulator-to-metal-transition (IMT) materials have been used to realize artificial neurons. Although memristors have been implemented to realize synaptic behavior, not much work has been reported regarding the neuronal response achieved with these devices. In this work, we study the IMT in …

High Quality Gate Dielectric/Mos2 Interfaces Probed By The Conductance Method, Adithi Pandrahal Krishnaprasad Sharada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two-dimensional materials provide a versatile platform for various electronic and optoelectronic devices, due to their uniform thickness and pristine surfaces. We probe the superior quality of 2D/2D and 2D/3D interfaces by fabricating molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based field effect transistors having hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and Al2O3 as the top gate dielectrics. An extremely low trap density of ~7x10^10 states/cm2-eV is extracted at the 2D/2D interfaces with h-BN as the top gate dielectric on the MoS2 channel. 2D/3D interfaces with Al2O3 as the top gate dielectric and SiOx as the nucleation layer exhibit trap densities between 7x10^10 and 10^11 states/cm2-eV, which is …

Monolithically Integrated Wavelength Tunable Laser Diode For Integrated Optic Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing, Thamer Tabbakh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this work, we demonstrate an InGaAsP multiple quantum well tunable laser diode that amalgamates two gain sections with different bandgap energies. This is achieved using selective area intermixing of the multiple quantum wells, and impurity-free vacancy induced disordering. When different current combination is injected into each section, that leads to a laser wavelength peak whose position depends on the relative magnitudes of the two injected currents. The laser wavelength can be fine-tuned from 1538 nm to 1578 nm with relatively constant output power. The free spectral range FSR of the tunable laser found to be 0.25 nm. This tunable …

Ldmos Power Transistor Design And Evaluation Using 2d And 3d Device Simulation, Aiman Salih

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The benefit of the super-junction (SJ) technique and the use of a floating P layer for low voltage (30 V) laterally double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors are investigated in this thesis using Sentaurus TCAD simulation software. Optimizations to the SJ LDMOS were attempted such as adding a buffer layer to the device, but simulation and theoretical evidence point out that the benefits of the SJ technique are marginal at the 30 V application. A replacement for the SJ technique was sought, the floating P structure proved to be a good solution at the low voltage range due to its …

Enhancement Of Antenna Array Performance Using Reconfigurable Slot-Ring Antennas And Integrated Filter/Antennas, Tianjiao Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As modern communication system technology develops, the demand for devices with smaller size, higher efficiency, and more functionality has increased dramatically. In addition, highly integrated RF-front-end modules with a reduced footprint and less transition loss between cascaded devices are desirable in most advanced wireless communication systems. Antenna arrays are widely used in wireless communication systems due to their high directivity and beam steering capability. Moreover, antenna arrays are preferred in mobile communication systems for diversity reception to reduce signal fading effects. In order to meet the various requirements of rapidly developing wireless communication systems, low cost, compact, multifunctional integrated antenna …

Smart Grasping Using Laser And Tactile Array Sensors For Ucf-Manus- An Intelligent Assistive Robotic Manipulator, Kiran Prakash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents three improvements in the UCF MANUS Assistive Robotic Manipulator's grasping abilities. Firstly, the robot can now grasp objects that are deformable, heavy and have uneven contact surfaces without undergoing slippage during robotic operations, e.g. paper cup, filled water bottle. This is achieved by installing a high precision non-contacting Laser sensor1 that runs with an algorithm that processes raw-input data from the sensor, registers smallest variation in the relative position of the object with respect to the gripper. Secondly, the robot can grasp objects that are as light and small as single cereal grain without deforming it. To …

Design And Optimization Of Superjunction Vertical Dmos Power Transistors Using Sentaurus Device Simulation, Raul Mendoza Macias

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vertical double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (VDMOS) power transistor has been studied. The use of superjunction (SJ) in the drift region of VDMOS has been evaluated using three-dimensional device simulation. All relevant physical models in Sentaurus are turned on. The VDMOS device doping profile is obtained from process simulation. The superjunction VDMOS performance in off-state breakdown voltage and specific on-resistance is compared with that in conventional VDMOS structure. In addition, electrical parameters such as threshold voltage and charge balance are also examined. Increasing the superjunction doping in the drift region of VDMOS reduces the on-resistance by 26%, while maintaining the same …