Adaptation of CDMA Soft Handoff Thresholds Using Fuzzy Inference System

This paper proposes a new procedure to adjust soft handoff thresholds dynamically by using fuzzy inference system. This algorithm is compared with IS-95A and IS-95B/cdma2000 soft handoffs. The aims are to increase the thresholds at high traffic loads in order to release the traffic channel for supporting more carried traffic, and to decrease the thresholds at low traffic loads in order to give high quality of traffic channel. The inputs of the proposed algorithm are the number of remaining channels of each base station and the number of active pilots in active set of each mobile station. The output is the new soft handoff thresholds. In the fuzzy inference module, the triangular membership function, the max-min composition, and the weighted average formula defuzzification are selected. By comparison of all performance indicators among three algorithms, soft handoff using fuzzy inference tends to give higher performance than those of IS-95A and IS-95B/cdma2000 soft handoffs at high traffic loads and at lower soft handoff thresholds while the quality of traffic channel is still acceptable. Moreover, the wider soft handoff window size of the proposed algorithm gives high carried traffic and low blocking probability but lower quality of traffic channels. In addition, the adaptive soft handoff window size can give lower blocking probability while still keep acceptable quality of traffic channels.     

The influences of firing temperatures and excess PbO on the crystal structure and microstructure of (Pb<Subscript>0.25</Subscript> Sr<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics

Polycrystalline samples of (Pb_0.25Sr_0.75)TiO₃ (PST75) were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The effects of firing temperatures and excess PbO on PST75 ceramics were investigated. The PST75 was calcined between 600 and 1000 °C for 3 h and the sintering temperature ranged between 1050 and 1250 °C for 2 h. The optimized calcination and sintering conditions were identified as 950 and 1250 °C, respectively. The lattice parameter c increased, while the lattice parameter a decreased with increased firing temperatures. The average particle size and average grain size increased with increased firing temperatures. After the addition of PbO—excess 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt%—in the PST75 samples, the lattice parameter a decreased. The average particle size and the average grain size increased with the increase of PbO. The porous microstructure slightly decreased with an increasing amount of PbO—up to 3 wt%—then slightly increased with the higher excess PbO. The density was improved by adding 3 wt% of excess PbO. A low dielectric loss was observed from the 3 wt% excess PbO sample.     

Low temperature fabrication of lead-free KNN-LS-BS ceramics via the combustion method

Lead-free piezoelectric 0.992(0.95K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃–0.05LiSbO₃)–0.008BiScO₃; KNN-LS-BS ceramics were successfully prepared using the combustion method. The highest % perovskite phase was found in the sample calcined at 700 °C for 1 h. The structural phase of orthorhombic structure was also detected in this sample. For the sintered ceramics, a pure tetragonal perovskite phase was observed in the samples sintered between 1025 and 1100 °C. The microstructure of ceramics showed a square or rectangular shape and the average grain size increased with increasing of sintering temperature. The density of the ceramics increased with increasing of sintered temperature up to 1075 °C, were it reached 97.5% of theoretical density and then dropped in value when the sintered temperature further increased. The excellent electrical properties of ε_r at T_c=6600, tanδ at T_c=0.04, P_r (at 40 kV/cm)=19.4 μC/cm² and E_c (at 40 kV/cm)=24.1 kV/cm were obtained in the most dense ceramic. The results indicate that the KNN-LS-BS ceramics are promising lead-free piezoelectric materials.     

Phase formation and electrical properties of Ba(ZrxTi1−x)O3 ceramics synthesized through a novel combustion technique

High quality Ba(Zr_xTi_1?x)O₃ (BZT, 0.025≤x≤0.150, step=0.025) ceramic has been prepared by the combustion technique. The raw materials were mixed with CH₄N₂O and calcined at 1000 °C and sintered at 1375 °C. For Ba(Zr_xTi_1?x)O₃ with x=0.025, the ceramics exhibited orthorhombic structure at room temperature. The crystal structure was transformed to rhombohedral, tetragonal and cubic phase, respectively with increasing zirconium content. The effect of x on dielectric properties has been studied intensively. It is found that the phase formation, which was affected from zirconium substitution, strongly influences the dielectric behavior. The rhombohedral phase decreases the maximum dielectric constant while the tetragonal phase enhances it. An extrapolation studied revealed the phase transition peaks merged into one peak at x ～0.094. The highest diffuseness constant of 1.95 was observed in BZT with 0.075 mol% zirconium. This was caused by the broadest dielectric peak of ferroelectric phase transition and the imminent diffusion between ferroelectric phase transition peak and Curie phase transition peak. The ferroelectric properties were sensitive to the phase exhibited in BZT system.     

Microstructure, Piezoelectric Properties and Phase Transition of (Pb 0.90 Ba 0.10 )ZrO 3 Ceramics Prepared by Solid State Reaction Method

(Pb 0.90 Ba 0.10 )ZrO 3 was prepared via the solid state reaction method under various heat treatment conditions. Microstructure, piezoelectric properties and phase transitions of (Pb 0.90 Ba 0.10 )ZrO 3 were studied. Grain size of the samples is in the range of 0.5 to 1.3 μm. The d 33 values of the samples are in the range of 19-27 pC/N while the planar coupling coefficient k p is about 0.3 for all samples. Antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase transition was found in samples re-calcined at 850°C and sintered at 1325°C and 1350°C. However, ferroelectric-to-antiferroelectric phase transition was not detected. The ferroelectric-to-paraelectric transition temperature slightly increases as the sintering temperature increases. This can be related to the characteristics of the grains in the ceramics.     

Thioacetate- and mercapto-functionalized hydrogenated natural rubber

Due to the differences in unsaturation levels of constituent rubbers, thioacetate and mercapto functional groups were introduced into hydrogenated natural rubber (HNR) to increase the compatibility of natural rubber (NR)/HNR blends. The effect of thioacetic acid and initiator concentrations including reaction time on the thioacetate content in HNR was investigated. Methanolysis of thioacetate-modified HNR (HNRTA) yielded mercapto-modified HNR (HNRSH). The addition of HNRTA or HNRSH into NR/HNR blends (50/50 wt ratio) increased the tensile strength. The improved mechanical properties of the compatibilized blends were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, indicating a co-continuous morphology. Furthermore, the susceptibility of the vulcanizates to changes in temperature and ozone were also reported.     

Crystal structure,microstructure and electrical properties of (1−x−y)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–xBi0.5K0.5TiO3–yBiFeO3 ceramics near MPB prepared via the combustion technique

(1?x?y)Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–xBi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃–yBiFeO₃ (BNKFT-x/y with 0.12≤x≤0.24, 0≤y≤0.07) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared by the combustion technique. The effects of amounts of x and y on structures and electrical properties were examined. Powders and ceramics can be well calcined and sintered at 750 °C for 2 h and 1025–1050 °C, respectively. The results indicated that the crystalline structure and microstructure changed with the increase of x and y concentrations. XRD results of BNKFT-x/0.03 and BNKFT-0.18/y ceramics with 0.12≤x≤0.24 and 0≤y≤0.07 showed the rhombohedral–tetragonal morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). The addition of y caused a promoted grain growth while the addition of x suppressed the grain growth. The highest density (ρ=5.85 g/cm³), superior dielectric properties at T_c (ε_r=7846 and tan δ=0.02), remnant polarization measured at 40 kV/cm (P_r = 20.1 μC/cm²) and piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃=213 pC/N) were obtained for x=0.18 and y=0.03.     

The effects of sintering temperature and content of x on phase formation,microstructure and dielectric properties of (1−x)(Bi0.4871Na0.4871La0.0172TiO3)−x(BaZr0.05Ti0.95O3) ceramics prepared via the combustion technique

(1?x)(Bi_0.4871Na_0.4871La_0.0172TiO₃)?x(BaZr_0.05Ti_0.95O₃) ceramics (abbreviated (1?x)BNLT?xBZT) where 0.1≤x≤0.3 were fabricated by the combustion technique using glycine as fuel. BNLT and BZT powders were calcined at temperatures of 825 °C for 4 h and 925 °C for 6 h, respectively. After that they were mixed with the different compositions. It was found that the optimum sintering temperature of (1?x)BNLT?xBZT ceramic was obtained at 1125 °C for 2 h. This ceramic had the highest density. The structure of the (1?x)BNLT?xBZT ceramics exhibited the co-existence of tetragonal and rhombohedral phases with x≤0.1. The tetragonality increases with the increase of x content. The average grain size, the density and the Curie temperatures decrease with increasing x content. The maximum dielectric constant and the highest P_r were at about 4850 and 12.7 μC/cm², respectively, and were obtained by the 0.85BNLT?0.15BZT sample.