System-level modeling and simulation for an electrostatic-feedback microaccelerometer based on equivalent electrical representation

A rapid and accurate system-level modeling and simulation for a novel electrostatic-feedback microaccelerometer, based on equivalent networks and electrical analogies, are presented in this paper. With the employment of the structured design strategy, the system is hierarchically decomposed at first, and the macromodel of the elementary transducer (a variable capacitor), is accordingly generated using the nodal analysis method, with the form of matrix or network. Based on this, the two types of differential capacitors, which respectively serve as sense and feedback elements, are mainly discussed and modeled. Expressed as equivalent circuits, they are coupled with the outside components, constructing an equivalent electrical representation that describes the completed mixed-domain system. The validity of the proposed model is verified by a good agreement between the simulation results implemented in the electrical simulator, OrCAD/Pspice, and those from VHDL-AMS approach. Then, some dynamic characteristics of the system are discussed. This computational prototyping provides a valuable foundation for further predictable optimal design for the product, with great benefit in reducing the costs and improving the effectiveness.     

A scenario-based object-oriented hypermedia design methodology

This paper defines an object-oriented methodology for developing hypermedia information systems. The methodology consists of six phases: domain analysis; object modeling; view design; navigation design; implementation design; and construction. Users' requirements are analyzed with a responsibility-driven technology using scenarios. Object-oriented views are generated as the result of object modeling, and then used for the subsequent navigation and implementation design. The implementation design phase deals with database schema, page structure and flow, and user interface. This methodology integrates enterprise databases with distributed hypermedia systems via Internet, Intranet, or Electronic Commerce.     

A nodal analysis method for electromechanical behavior simulation of bow-tie shaped microbeams

In order to perform mixed-domain simulation of electrically actuated bow-tie shaped doubly-fixed microbeams, a nodal model for the trapeziform beam and corresponding equivalent circuit are developed by HSPICE. The nonlinearities including mid-plane stretching and electrostatic forcing are considered. In the modeling, the Galerkin residual method is used to discretize the partial differential equations of the trapeziform beam. It proves accurate in comparison with FEA simulation results and available experimental data. In particular, as a lumped behavioral model, it is executed much faster than FEM program. The proposed model could be expected to be useful in the optimum design of related MEMS devices.     

Design Scenarios: Enabling transparent parametric design spaces

This paper presents a novel methodology called Design Scenarios (DSs) intended for use in conceptual design of buildings. DS enables multidisciplinary design teams to streamline the requirements definition, alternative generation, analysis, and decision-making processes by providing a methodology for building and managing requirements driven design spaces with parametric Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools. DS consists of four interdependent models: (1) Requirements Model – stakeholders and designers explicitly define and prioritize context specific design requirements; (2) Scenarios Model (SM) – designers formally transform these requirements into actions necessary to achieve them, and determine the geometric and material parameters, interrelationships, and potential conflicts; (3) Parametric Process Model (PPM) – CAD experts build and represent the technical implementation of a SM in a parametric model to enable design teams to manage and communicate its CAD models; (4) Alternative Analysis Model – analyze and visually report performance back to the designers and stakeholders. This paper motivates the need for the DS methodology thorough an industry case study, and establishes points of departure for the methodology through literature review. Next, the paper details the elements and methods in the methodology, describes its implementation into a software prototype, provides an illustrative example to explain, and an industry test case to validate how DS can potentially enable multidisciplinary teams to generate and communicate larger and better performing design spaces more efficiently than with traditional methods.     

An improved non‐sequential multi‐input multi‐output quantitative feedback theory design methodology

This paper presents an improved non‐sequential multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) design methodology for uncertain systems. A non‐sequential MIMO QFT stability theorem is derived that serves as the basis for an improvement of the design methodology, whereby it can be successfully applied to non‐minimum phase systems, albeit with a degree of conservatism partially inherent in independent and decentralized design methodologies. The results reduce the conservatism in a non‐sequential MIMO QFT design and provide insight into the plant cases for which the methodology can be successfully applied. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

类设计质量评估方法的研究

详细介绍了C&K度量方法,结合灰色关联分析的相关理论,提出了一种基于C&K度量方法和灰色关联分析的类设计质量评估方法。依据C&K度量阈值及可接受类的定义,可以推导出面向对象程序设计中的最佳类设计标准。将各个类与最佳类设计标准进行灰色关联分析,从而评估类设计质量的优劣。该方法为程序设计人员提供了类设计质量优劣的判定依据,并保证其在软件生命周期的早期阶段及时发现设计质量低劣的类并做相应的处理,避免后期开发的软件产品出现故障,能显著提高软件产品的可靠性和可维护性。     

Hybrid, Incremental Assertion-Based Verification for TLM Design Flows

Transaction-level modeling is an emerging design practice for overcoming increasing design complexity. This article proposes a methodology for verifying the correctness of RTL refinement from transaction-level modeling. The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of this methodology, guided by an assertion coverage metric on the modules of an industry design.     

Implementation of an LVQ neural network with a variable size: algorithmic specification, architectural exploration and optimized implementation on FPGA devices

This paper presents an optimizing methodology for the implementation of a Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) neural network in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device. Starting from an algorithmic specification in the form of a Factorized and Conditioned Data Dependence Graph (GFCDD), we suggest a design methodology of the LVQ-dedicated architecture. This formal methodology is called AAA, “Algorithm Architecture Adequation”. Using graph transformations, it allows the generation of an optimized circuit implementation at the Register Transfer Level (RTL). It is associated to the SynDEx-IC software tool. Based on this formal methodology, we are able to explore and generate various LVQ network implementations by varying the LVQ sizes while minimizing the hardware resources and the design time. In addition, real-time constraints should be respected to ensure a reliable classification of vigilance states in humans from electroencephalographic signals (EEG). To validate our approach, the optimized LVQ implementation was tried on two types of Virtex devices.     

Energy-Efficient Computations on FPGAs

Recently, energy dissipation for computations on FPGAs has become an important performance metric. In this paper, we summarize our recent efforts in developing an algorithm-level design methodology for optimizing the energy performance of FPGA based implementations. For kernels, our design methodology consists of four steps: domain selection, domain-specific energy modeling, domain-space exploration and low-level simulation. To achieve system-level energy-efficiency, we outline a design methodology that integrates the kernel-level design methodology. Both the design methodologies can be used to achieve not only energy-efficiency but also latency, area, and power efficiency. We consider signal processing kernels as illustrative examples and demonstrate energy and time efficient algorithms and implementations for these on FPGAs. Example energy performance optimization through algorithmic optimizations include the 29–51% improvement in energy performance for a matrix multiplication kernel, 57–78% improvement for a FFT kernel and the 10–60% improvement for a floating-point LU decomposition kernel over state-of-the-art implementations. Similarly, an improvement of 41 to 46% in energy performance was achieved by the system-level design approach over a greedy approach for a MVDR adaptive beamforming application. Finally we briefly describe a high-level tool for obtaining parameterized and energy-efficient designs on FPGAs.This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under award No. CCR-0311823.     

Synthesis of multistable equilibrium linkage systems using an optimization approach

This paper introduces a methodology for designing multistable equilibrium (MSE) systems. The methodology derives design criteria that relate system equilibrium characteristics to a potential energy curve. These design criteria are then used in a performance index that guides a candidates potential energy to approach the desired potential energy curve. As an example, a four-bar linkage with linear translational springs attached demonstrates the design methodology and the difficulties inherent in synthesizing MSE systems. To solve for the unknown design variables of the example problem a genetic algorithm is used.     

Integrated design of a linear/neuro-adaptive controller in the presence of norm-bounded uncertainties

Adaptive neural controllers are often criticised for the lack of clear and easy design methodologies that relate adaptive neural network (NN) design parameters to performance requirements. This study proposes a methodology for the design of an integrated linear-adaptive model reference controller that guarantees component-wise boundedness of the tracking error within an a priori specified compact domain. The approach is based on the design of a robust invariant ellipsoidal set where both the NN reconstruction error and the neuro-adaptive control are considered as bounded persistent uncertainties. We show that all the performance and control requirements for the closed-loop system can be expressed as linear matrix inequality constraints. This brings the advantage that feasibility and optimal design parameters can be effectively computed while solving a linear optimisation problem. An advantage of the method is that it allows a systematic and quantitative evaluation of the interplay between the design parameters and their impact on the requirements. This produces an integrated linear/neuro-adaptive performance-oriented design methodology. A numerical example is used to illustrate the approach.     

Improved design methodology for an existing automated transportation system with automated guided vehicles in a seaport container terminal

In this paper, we propose an improved design methodology to meet the changing demands of an existing automated container transportation system in which automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are used. This system is called an AGV transportation system. To achieve an improved design, it is essential to detect and correct any occurring bottlenecks. For this purpose, we exhaustively enumerate design proposals by constructing a logic tree. As a case study to verify the proposed methodology, we apply the methodology to an existing AGV transportation system. From the enumerated design proposals, we suggest design policies by considering the actual constraints of the transportation system. Finally, we redesign the transportation system as rapidly as possible. On the other hand, we keep system balancing into account; then, we derive a suitable demand and input number of AGVs under given specifications for a transportation system.     

A methodology for architectural design of multimedia multiprocessor SoCs

Multiprocessor SoCs are increasingly important for multimedia systems. This article presents a methodology for the architectural design of multimedia multiprocessor SoCs and illustrates its advantages using a generic implementation of a real-time gesture recognition application. The proposed methodology covers all the important architectural aspects from processor allocation to memory and network design. We demonstrate our methodology with our design of an experimental SoC for real-time video analysis.     

Experience to understand: a methodology for integrating users into the design for kitchen interactions

The kitchen is a place where many interactions happen every day. It is a place where new technologies and tradition meet. What makes a place a smart kitchen? This article describes our research over 29 months with a group representing typical users—we will call them the kitchen heroes. We involved them in a process of interaction design (IxD) for the kitchen following the tradition of participatory design (PD), to find out the potential of such a collaboration. We asked ourselves how could we, together with the intended users design for better, seamless interaction in the kitchen? Our research showed that designing for kitchen demands a high and consistent level of engagement of all the stakeholders if we are to design a truly smart and human-centred kitchen. How then, could we integrate them into the interaction design process? As an answer we developed a methodology for the integration of all the stakeholders into the whole design process. We focused on the early design phases and the ways to trigger engagement. The methodology we developed is named EPUI and consists of four parts: exploration, participation, understanding and integration. This article illustrates the EPUI methodology for successfully integrating kitchen users into the kitchen interaction design and fruitful participatory design. It is based on and combines benefits from methodologies such as PD, ADR, PADR, while in the article we explain how it also contributes to their flaws. Additionally, we present our lessons learned while implementing the EPUI methodology and offer tools to both seasoned and less-experienced researchers.     

Conceptual Design of Discrete-Event Systems Using Templates

This work describes the research conducted in the quest for designing better software for discrete-event system (DES) control. The think-aloud data from an exploratory observational study of solving DES control problems, together with other relevant research, led to the proposal of a novel approach to DES problem solving called the template design methodology. This methodology does not require the introduction of new control theory; it is rather an reinterpretation of the existing modelling framework. It provides a high-level overview of a DES design, and facilitates the use of template models. Software supporting this methodology was implemented as an extension to existing DES software. The methodology and the implementation were subsequently evaluated using 12 subjects. Significant improvements in the speed of problem solving as well as positive evaluations by the subjects were observed. The usability data do not show any drawbacks to applying the methodology.     

Design of multivariable feedback systems with simple unstable plant

This paper proposes a design methodology for distributed linear multivariable feedback systems with simple unstable plants (a simple unstable plant has either first- or second-order unstable poles). The methodology developed provides a global characterization of all realizable compensators which stabilize a given simple unstable plant. A design example is given to show that this methodology can be used to generate, in an appropriate computer-aided design environment, controllers which are optimal with respect to designer-specified criteria. Additionally, it is shown that the nature of the design methodology gives geometric insight into the dynamics of the process whereby an unstable plant is stabilized.     

Teaching a Software Design Methodology

This paper describes an approach to teaching a software design methodology used at The Wang Institute of Graduate Studies. The approach is general enough to be used with any of the currently popular design methodologies. Students are first taught the principles underlying the methodology, and the standards used with it. This phase is done in a series of lectures. In the second phase, students are presented with a real design problem, and asked to solve it using the methodology. They are monitored in this process by an expert in the methodology whose job is to assure that the students adhere to the methodology, but who makes no design decisions.     

Refinement Methodology for Ada

This paper presents Refinement Methodology (RM) for the design of Ada® programs. The methodology combines stepwise refinement and the information hiding principle. The steps of the methodology are explained and illustrated by an example. A part of the methodology is a collection of rules by which procedures acquire parameters (called first and second rules for parameters).     

The effects of movement of attractors and pictorial content of rewards on users' behaviour in virtual environments: an empirical study in the framework of perceptual opportunities

Technological developments in Virtual Reality (VR) appear to outpace progress in design methodology of VR. The theory of Perceptual Opportunities (POs) has previously been proposed as a basis of such a design methodology (Blade and Padgett, 2002). This paper presents the first empirical study investigating the effect of representation of POs on users' behaviour in Virtual Environments (VEs). The current study has a methodological focus, using POs as a framework and desktop VR as a experimental environment. The application of an experimental paradigm is illustrated with two experiments. Evidence was found for an effect of movement type on choice of objects in a simple VE. Implications for VE design and the methodology of empirical research in the framework of POs are discussed.