Accuracy of the zero crossings of the second directional derivative as an edge detector

In this paper the accuracy of the second directional derivative edge detector is analyzed, based on a number of idealized edge models. The results are compared with those for the Laplacian edge detector. Errors are shown to be small under a number of conditions. These conditions are less severe for the second directional derivative than for the Laplacian edge detector. Spurious or phantom edges can be removed by checking the sign of the third directional derivative, though this is not enough to remove all large errors. Indeed, it is also shown that large errors will be obtained if no threshold is set on the magnitude of a third order derivative.This work was supported by the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (NFWO).     

Correlation between shielding effectiveness measurements andalternative methods for the characterization of shielding materials

The correlation between different methods for the characterization of shielding materials is discussed. It is found that a good agreement is obtained using basic methods, such as a four-point resistance measurement, or standard shielding effectiveness methods and using other methods allowing a quick control in the field during injection moulding process     

The gamma-filter-a new class of adaptive IIR filters withrestricted feedback

Generalized feedforward filters, a class of adaptive filters that combines attractive properties of finite impulse response (FIR) filters with some of the power of infinite impulse response (IIR) filters, are described. A particular case, the gamma filter, generalizes Widrow's adaptive transversal filter (adaline) to an infinite impulse response filter. Yet, the stability condition for the gamma filter is trivial, and LMS adaptation is of the same computational complexity as the conventional transversal filter structure. Preliminary results indicate that the gamma filter is more efficient than the adaptive transversal filter. The authors extend the Wiener-Kopf equation to the gamma filter and develop some analysis tools     

Reflectance pulse oximetry measurements from the retinal fundus

Conventional transmission pulse oximetry is a noninvasive technique for the continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) from peripheral vascular beds such as the finger tip or earlobe. It is proposed to exploit the unique transparency of the ocular media to make reflectance pulse oximetry measurements on the retinal fundus. This technique potentially offers significant advantages over conventional pulse oximetry, primarily in the ability to monitor cerebral, as opposed to peripheral, oxygen saturation. An in vitro system has been developed to simulate the retinal circulation and ocular optics. This system consists of a flexible cuvette located in a model eye and an extracorporeal blood circuit to simulate arterial blood flow. The system was used to investigate the relationship between SaO₂ and the R/IR ratio in reflectance pulse oximetry. To enable in vivo measurements to be made, a standard haptic contact lens was modified to hold the pulse oximeter probe in front of the pupil. In a preliminary study, the lens was fitted to an awake volunteer and cardiac-synchronous signals were detected by the retinal pulse oximeter     

Initial deployment of fibre in the local network for narrowband use in Spain: Technology,engineering and cost

This paper covers: (1) the field trials, with fibre in the local network systems, being conducted in Spain and intended for delivery telephone-based services to residential customers; (2) the technical and functional requirements of these types of system intended for commercial (regular) deployment to be started around late 1993/early 1994, and (3) the most relevant initial deployment scenarios and persubscriber investment aspects. The field trials are located in Madrid and in Barcelona: their rationale, technical characteristics and the lessons learned so far are described. Such trials are providing insight into what requirements and objectives are anticipated to be needed should such new technology be an actual alternative to copper-based subscriber loops. The requirement for such fibre in the local network systems intended for regular deployment in the near term are indicated, including technical and functional requirements of the optical line terminals (OLTs) (at local exchanges) and optical network units (ONUs) (located near customer premises); transmission requirements and optical distribution network (ODN) requirements and design aspects. For starting regular deployment, three preferred scenarios are identified. The chief parameters affecting persubscriber investments are illustrated including the number of fibres per ONU, and the number of users being served from each ONU. It is shown that in order to achieve cost parity with copper loop (which requires an initial investment of between $600 and $800) a capacity of some 60 narrowband (64 kb/s) channels per ONU should be required.     

All-fiber active add-drop wavelength router

We describe a fiber Bragg grating Mach-Zehnder interferometer (FBG-MZI) which utilizes active phase control. The active FBG-MZI is operated as a wavelength router, where the grating-selected wavelength channel can be actively routed. We believe this is the first demonstration of an all fibre FBG-MZI wavelength router.     

A 1-V 15 μW High-Accuracy Temperature Switch

A CMOS temperature switch with uncalibrated high accuracy is presented. The circuit is based on the classical CMOS bandgap reference structure, using parasitic PNPs and a PTAT multiplier. The circuit was designed in a standard digital 0.18 m CMOS process. The temperature switch has an in-designed hysteresis of 1.2°C around a threshold value of 128°C. At the switching-threshold all matched transistors have also matched operating conditions, yielding a temperature threshold that is highly independent of transistor output resistance and supply voltage. The chip area was minimized using a novel and generic strategy. With a chip area of only 0.03 mm², the onwafer 3 spread of the threshold temperature is 1.1°C. Power consumption is only 15 A at 1 volt supply.     

Multivariate autoregressive models for classification ofspontaneous electroencephalographic signals during mental tasks

This article explores the use of scalar and multivariate autoregressive (AR) models to extract features from the human electroencephalogram (EEG) with which mental tasks can be discriminated. This is part of a larger project to investigate the feasibility of using EEG to allow paralyzed persons to control a device such as a wheelchair. EEG signals from four subjects were recorded while they performed two mental tasks. Quarter-second windows of six-channel EEG were transformed into four different representations: scalar AR model coefficients, multivariate AR coefficients, eigenvalues of a correlation matrix, and the Karhunen-Loeve transform of the multivariate AR coefficients. Feature vectors defined by these representations were classified with a standard, feedforward neural network trained via the error backpropagation algorithm. The four representations produced similar results, with the multivariate AR coefficients performing slightly better and more consistently with an average classification accuracy of 91.4% on novel, untrained, EEG signals     

Reliability life-testing and failure-analysis of GaAs monolithicKu-band driver amplifiers

`Gallium-arsenide monolithic microwave integrated-circuit (MMIC) Ku-band driver amplifiers were life tested under accelerated high temperature, DC and RF conditions until failure. These MMIC are used in various applications such as radar and satellite communication systems. The failure mechanisms controlling their reliability must be understood in order to improve the lifetime for these and other applications. This paper discusses the experimental procedures, statistical evaluation of the data and failure analysis of the devices. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of RF life testing of dual-gate driver amplifiers. The majority of the devices failed catastrophically due to high drain current, while others failed parametrically due to low output power. Failure analysis indicates that degradation of the Si₃N₄ dielectric layer to be the main failure mechanism in these MMIC. Statistical analysis revealed an activation energy of 0.87 eV and a median lifetime of 5.8·10⁴ hours at 140°C channel temperature, which is consistent with surface-phenomena failure mechanisms     

Orthogonal transmultiplexers in communication: a review

This paper presents conventional and emerging applications of orthogonal synthesis/analysis transform configurations (transmultiplexer) in communications. It emphasizes that orthogonality is the underlying concept in the design of many communication systems. It is shown that orthogonal filter banks (subband transforms) with proper time-frequency features can play a more important role in the design of new systems. The general concepts of filter bank theory are tied together with the application-specific requirements of several different communication systems. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to increase the visibility of emerging communication applications of orthogonal filter banks and to generate more research activity in the signal processing community on these topics