Issues in nonlinear stochastic grey box identification

Grey box identification refers to the practice of identifying dynamical systems in model structures exploiting partial prior information. This contribution reviews a method for stochastic grey box identification and surveys experiences and lessons of applying it to a number of industrial processes. Issues to be addressed include advantages and costs of introducing stochastics into the model, the question of what contribution must be expected from the model designer as opposed to what can be formalized in computer algorithms, and an outlook on future plans to resolve present shortcomings.     

Early detection of ageing in solder joints through laser probe thermal analysis of the peltier effect

We have recently developed an optical contactless method for testing the quality of solder joints during accelerated thermal cycling ageing processes.¹ The method was based upon the measurement of the dynamic thermal behaviour of the joint to short bursts of Joule heating. It has proved to be efficient in revealing the formation of cracks at the lead-solder interface. We present a method to evaluate ageing at a much earlier stage in the cycling process. We have observed in earlier work,¹ that before cracks appear, structural changes occur in the solder at the lead-solder interface. The thermal response of the solder joint is recorded over time to a Peltier heat perturbation produced by flowing a current pulse through the interface where structural changes occur. The key point in this method is to discriminate the Peltier effect from the Joule thermal response because both effects generate heat. The variation of the early Peltier response in the thermal cycling ageing tests is seen as a quantitative signature of the structural changes in the lead-solder interface.     

Novel miniature integrated optical goniometers

A new principle and arrangement for directly determining the angle of incidence of an optical beam on an object are proposed and demonstrated. The novelty of the approach lies in the realization of a ‘smart object’, which extracts a portion of the incident beam's power into an optical waveguide attached to the object's surface or embedded in its body for converting the angle of incidence into the position of a guided beam with finite lateral extent. This ‘integrated optical light pointer’ beam is accomplished by means of creating additional degrees of freedom on the target in two different ways. While a first type is based on introducing spatial variations of the waveguide thickness, a second type makes use of a chirp of the grating periodicity. The feasibility for practical applications has been experimentally demonstrated by a direct comparison with a commercial high-resolution encoder, resulting in an r.m.s. error of <30′'. Measurements have been performed for chips fabricated based on replicated polycarbonate substrates and with no external optics, showing the great potential of this approach for realizing low-cost yet high-performance miniature goniometers.     

A unified proposal for characteristic testing methods and figure of merit of 8‐kV/3.5‐kVA class light‐triggered thyristors

Power devices with high capability have been developed. 8‐kV/3.5‐kA‐class light‐triggered thyristors have the highest capability among power devices. These devices are used in the Kii Channel HVDC transmission system in Japan. In this paper, we report the extracted problems of conventional testing methods of 8‐kV/3.5‐kA‐class light‐triggered thyristors among manufacturers, and the proposed unified testing methods on the basis of element characteristics and operating conditions in the Kii Channel HVDC system. Furthermore, we propose a figure of merit for power devices for the practical use, and try to extract elements used at the Kii Channel HVDC system with small margins and low withstand capabilities. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(3): 61–70, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10024     

Effect of fermentation on ionizable iron in cereal-pulse combinations

The average diet in most developing countries is predominantly cereal based. Wheat, rice and millets are major staple foods. Although these diets are sufficient in iron, their low bioavailability is one of the most significant factors for iron deficiency anaemia. Traditional techniques like fermentation show promise in improving iron bioavailability. In vitro ionizable iron was estimated in 31 different combinations of rice, wheat, sorghum, black gram, bengal gram, green gram and coriander in five replicates with or without, fermentation in steamed products. Results indicate that in general cereal pulse combination and fermentation significantly ( P <0.05) increase the per cent ape of ionizable iron. Combination effects dominated in rice whilst fermentation dominated in sorghum. There was a significant reduction ( P <0.05) in phytate phosphorus on fermentation but no loss of tannin.     

FODA — the formal specification of ODA document structures and its use as a basis for conformance testing

The Office Document Architecture (ODA) is an International Standard which is developed by TC 97/sc 18 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in close collaboration with CCITT's Study Group VIII and with ECMA. This paper describes the current state of a formal specification of the ODA document structures by mathematical means and its use for conformance specification and conformance testing.     

Targets and methods for the detection of processed animal proteins in animal feedstuffs

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or ‘mad cow disease’, is one of several transmissable spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) known to affect certain mammals and is spread through the ingestion of infected animal tissue. It is believed that the inadvertent contamination of meat and bone meal (MBM) with infected animal tissue and the subsequent use of this material as a feed supplement contributed to the spread of the disease in cattle. As a result, the use of processed animal proteins (PAPs) in animal feeds is regulated in many parts of the world. Although feed testing is the only definitive means to certify compliance, regulatory compliance often relies solely on paper certification. Recently, rapid methods have become available that can be used by regulators to determine compliance during routine inspections. We describe a rapid, immunochromatographic strip test that can detect 0.1% MBM in animal feed. The test takes 15 min to perform and large numbers of samples can be screened for PAPs simultaneously.     

Design and Characterization of the CLIMPAQ,Chamber for Laboratory Investigations of Materials,Pollution and Air Quality*

A test chamber has been developed in order to provide a small and simple emission testing facility capable of testing construction products in a climate where the important climatic parameters such as temperature, ventilation rate and air velocity can be varied independently around typical indoor values. The test chamber CLIMPAQ is made of panes of window glass. Other main surface materials are stainless steel and eloxated aluminium. The chamber has a volume of 50.9 litres and is designed to meet the requirements for quantifying air pollution. In this investigation human subjects acted as air pollution judges, and chemical characterization of the air pollution was carried out. Carpet, linoleum, wall paint and seal- ant were tested simultaneously in the CLIMPAQ and in four other chambers ranging from a full-scale chamber of 28 m³ to a field and laboratory emission cell of 3.5· 10^?5m³. Product ranking is the same in all chambers for the sensory measurements. Emission rates based on sensory measurements differ for all products less than 100 % except for tests in a 3-litre chamber where emission rates were higher. Chemical measurements differ up to approximately 10 times for the same product in different chambers. Deviations appear to be the result of different environmental parameters in the various chambers. Low air concentrations or high specific ventilation rates seem to increase emissions, while differences in air velocities and sink properties may also be the cause of differences in emission rates.