A Neural Network Approach for Signal Detection in Digital Communications

In this paper, we propose a new approach for signal detection in wireless digital communications based on the neural network with transient chaos and time-varying gain (NNTCTG), and give a concrete model of the signal detector after appropriate transformations and mappings. It is well known that the problem of the maximum likelihood signal detection can be described as a complex optimization problem that has so many local optima that conventional Hopfield-type neural networks fail to solve. By refraining from the serious local optima problem of Hopfield-type neural networks, the NNTCTG makes use of the time-varying parameters of the recurrent neural network to control the evolving behavior of the network so that the network undergoes the transition from chaotic behavior to gradient convergence. It has richer and more flexible dynamics rather than conventional neural networks only with point attractors, so that it can be expected to have much ability to search for globally optimal or near-optimal solutions. After going through a transiently inverse-bifurcation process, the NNTCTG can approach the global optimum or the neighborhood of global optimum of our problem. Simulation experiments have been performed to show the effectiveness and validation of the proposed neural network based method for the signal detection in digital communications.     

Evaluation of the parameters of a magnetic hysteresis model

This paper presents a method based on use of a measurement system in order to significantly reduce the time taken and to improve the accuracy in evaluating parameters of the Jiles–Atherton's model of magnetic hysteresis. The steps of the proposed method: (a) data acquisition from the experimental hysteresis loop of the magnetic material under test, (b) evaluation of the model's parameters. In order to highlight the method's effectiveness, the results of experimental tests are also given.     

Tracking-error model-based predictive control for mobile robots in real time

In this paper, a model-predictive trajectory-tracking control applied to a mobile robot is presented. Linearized tracking-error dynamics is used to predict future system behavior and a control law is derived from a quadratic cost function penalizing the system tracking error and the control effort. Experimental results on a real mobile robot are presented and a comparison of the control obtained with that of a time-varying state-feedback controller is given. The proposed controller includes velocity and acceleration constraints to prevent the mobile robot from slipping and a Smith predictor is used to compensate for the vision-system dead-time. Some ideas for future work are also discussed.     

Cost Effective VLSI Architectures for Full-Search Block-Matching Motion Estimation Algorithm

In this paper, we present efficient VLSI architectures for full-search block-matching motion estimation (BMME) algorithm. Given a search range, we partition it into sub-search arrays called tiles. By fully exploiting data dependency within a tile, efficient VLSI architectures can be obtained. Using the proposed VLSI architectures, all the block-matchings in a tile can be processed in parallel. All the tiles within a search range can be processed serially or concurrently depending on various requirements. With the consideration of processing speed, hardware cost, and I/O bandwidth, the optimal tile size for a specific video application is analyzed. By partitioning a search range into tiles with appropriate size, flexible VLSI designs with different throughput can be obtained. In this way, cost effective VLSI designs for a wide range of video applications, from H.261 to HDTV, can be achieved.     

Mechanical properties of alternating high-low sp3 content thick non-hydrogenated diamond-like amorphous carbon films

Thick non-hydrogenated DLC films (∼ 1μm), consisting of alternating sub-layers of high/low sp³ content, were deposited onto n++ Si substrates using the filtered cathodic vacuum arc method. These films were systematically studied to determine how the changes in composition of the sub-layers would affect the mechanical properties such as intrinsic stress, hardness, friction coefficient, wear rate and surface roughness. Variations of both the ratio of hard to soft layers (from 1:3 to 3:1) and thickness of individual layers (from 12.5nm to 75nm) were studied in detail. The stress of the film was sufficiently lowered (7.8GPa–2.4GPa) by the multilayer approach. The results indicated that although hardness has some correlations with the internal composition of the film, the reduced Young's modulus is largely not affected. Wear and frictional characterizations also showed that the multilayer was a good candidate for many mechanical applications.     

Metamaterials: How the subject started

The circumstances leading to the birth of the subject of Metamaterials are analysed. The seminal papers, instrumental in establishing the initial momentum, are enumerated. A large number of closely related topics are described which contributed to the process of cross-fertilisation and led to sustained interest and further rapid development of this new subject.     

An admittance spectroscopy study of grain and grain boundary of diamond

AC electrical response of polycrystalline diamond films, prepared by hot-filament assisted chemical vapor deposition technique, was studied by admittance spectroscopy. Temperature dependent admittance evidenced two main exponential regimes associated with distributions of traps within diamond grains and at grain boundaries, respectively. Activation energies of the low-frequency conductance and of the characteristic relaxation frequency from Jonscher equation also evidence two trap levels associated to grain and grain boundary. This picture is supported by capacitive contributions obtained from imaginary part of electric modulus spectra, furthermore suggesting the presence of charge carriers tunneling at the Fermi level. Results are discussed in terms of a schematic band energy diagram.     

Effect of cerium on the growth and crystalline quality of KDP crystals

The effect of the addition of cerium in potassium dihydrogen phosphate, grown from aqueous solution by the temperature lowering method using bi-direction seed rotation technique has been studied. The optimal addition of trivalent cerium ions considerably prevents other bivalent transition metal ions (Co, Ni, Mn) from entering into the crystal lattice and results in reduced defects and dislocations. A simple microcontroller based bi-directional accelerated seed rotation control setup is designed and employed to avoid stagnant regions or re-circulating flows in the solution. High-resolution XRD analysis of the (002) plane reveals that the Ce³⁺ added KDP exhibited better crystalline perfection and contains less dislocation.