A visible-light and infrared video database for performance evaluation of video/image fusion methods

Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing - In general, the fusion of visible-light and infrared images produces a composite representation where both data are pictured in a single image. The...     

Analysis of an Approximate Decorrelating Detector

In this paper an approximate decorrelating detector is analyzed on the basis of a first order approximation to the inverse crosscorrelation matrix of signature waveforms. The approximation is fairly accurate for systems with low crosscorrelations and is exact in the two-user synchronous case. We present an exact as well as approximate analysis of the bit-error-rate performance of this detector on a channel that is subject to flat fading, and also specifically for the case of random signature waveforms. The detector outperforms the conventional matched filter receiver in terms of BER. The approximate decorrelator (while not being near-far resistant like the decorrelating detector) is fairly robust to imperfections in power control. Power trade-off regions are identified which characterize the significant advantage that the approximate decorrelator provides over the matched filter receiver. The reduced complexity of the approximate decorrelator and performance gains over the conventional matched filter makes it a viable alternative for implementation in practical CDMA systems, in particular in those where the signature waveforms span many symbol intervals.     

A new programming model for dependable adaptive real-time applications

The CORTEX project envisions a new class of applications comprising (possibly many) smart components, called sentient objects, that can sense their environment and interact with it and each other by accepting and producing events. These interactions might occur in ways that demand predictable and sometimes guaranteed quality of service (QoS). However, achieving predictability is difficult given the objects' changing environments dictated by unstable and mobile object populations, unpredictable network load, varying connectivity, and failed system components. We devised an innovative programming model that aims to reconcile uncertainty with an application's required predictability. The model is based on fulfilling two predicates - coverage stability and no-contamination - by programs or protocols subject to varying conditions of system timeliness.     

Criterion for signal extraction in underdetermined mixtures of bounded support

This work studies the problem of recovering a complex signal (source) from an underdetermined linear mixture of bounded sources. We assume some a priori information of the desired signal in the form of a training sequence and complete absence of knowledge from the other sources, except for their bounded character. The main contribution of this letter is the proposal of a bounded component analysis of the training error that tries to condense the relevant information of the observations in a linear estimate of the desired signal. This subspace can be later used for subsequent refined estimation of the signal of interest. Simulations corroborate the good performance of the proposed method in high SNR scenarios.     

White Electroluminescence by Supramolecular Control of Energy Transfer in Blends of Organic‐Soluble Encapsulated Polyfluorenes

Here, it is demonstrated that energy transfer in a blend of semiconducting polymers can be strongly reduced by non‐covalent encapsulation of one constituent, ensured by threading of the conjugated strands into functionalized cyclodextrins. Such macrocycles control the minimum intermolecular distance of chromophores with similar alignment, at the nanoscale, and therefore the relevant energy transfer rates, thus enabling fabrication of white‐light‐emitting diodes (CIE coordinates: x = 0.282, y = 0.336). In particular, white electroluminescence in a binary blend of a blue‐emitting, organic‐soluble rotaxane based on a polyfluorene derivative and the green‐emitting poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐alt‐benzothiadiazole ( F8BT ) is achieved. Morphological and structural analyses by atomic force microscopy, fluorescence mapping, µ‐Raman, and fluorescence lifetime microscopy are used to complement optical and electroluminescence characterization, and to enable a deeper insight into the properties of the novel blend.     

Sub-1 V band-gap based and MOS threshold-voltage based voltage references in 0.13 µm CMOS

Portable and implantable device applications require low supply voltage reference circuits due to increasing trend for lower power requirements. Voltage references have been proposed for operation below 1 V for CMOS and a comprehensive analysis of the behavior of the different topologies is needed for ultra-low power designs, in order to select the right circuit topology for a given requirement. This work compares two major classes of voltage reference topologies: threshold voltage (V_T0)-based and (V_G0) bandgap voltage-based reference circuits. Four different topologies of voltage-reference designs with 1-V supply were designed and fabricated in 130 nm CMOS process. Monte Carlo analysis shows the variability of the references and of their temperature coefficients (TC), and the results are compared to measured samples. Simulations and measurements show that the threshold voltage-based references are more susceptible to the variations in the CMOS fabrication process.     

1.2 nm capacitance equivalent thickness gate stacks on Si-passivated GaAs

Experiments to increase the specific capacitance of MOS capacitors consisting of HfO₂ on a passivating interfacial layer (IL) of amorphous Si (a-Si) on GaAs are described. XPS analysis of the layers and electrical measurements on the capacitors are combined to study the evolution of the gate stack during deposition and subsequent heat treatments. It is shown that oxidation of the a-Si IL is a major factor in preventing the attainment of a scaled capacitance equivalent thickness (CET). By controlling the deposition of the layers, the gate metal and the heat treatments, a highly scaled gate stack with a CET of 1.2 nm and a leakage reduction of more than 4 orders of magnitude with respect to SiO₂/Si was realized.     

Analysis of high voltage step-up nonisolated DC–DC boost converters

A high voltage step-up nonisolated DC–DC converter based on coupled inductors suitable to photovoltaic (PV) systems applications is proposed in this paper. Considering that numerous approaches exist to extend the voltage conversion ratio of DC–DC converters that do not use transformers, a detailed comparison is also presented among the proposed converter and other popular topologies such as the conventional boost converter and the quadratic boost converter. The qualitative analysis of the coupled-inductor-based topology is developed so that a design procedure can be obtained, from which an experimental prototype is implemented to validate the theoretical assumptions.     

A New Hand-Held Microsystem Architecture for Biological Analysis

This paper presents a hand-held microsystem based on new fully integrated magnetoresistive biochips for biomolecular recognition (DNA hybridization, antibody antigen interaction, etc.). Magnetoresistive chip surfaces are chemically treated, enabling the immobilization of probe biomolecules such as DNA or antibodies. Fluid handling is also integrated in the biochip. The proposed microsystem not only integrates the biochip, which is an array of 16times16 magnetoresistive sensors, but it also provides all the electronic circuitry for addressing and reading out each transducer. The proposed architecture and circuits were specifically designed for achieving a compact, programmable and portable microsystem. The microsystem also integrates a hand-held analyzer connected through a wireless channel. A prototype of the system was already developed and detection of magnetic nanoparticles was obtained. This indicates that the system may be used for magnetic label based bioassays     

Automatic Synthesis of Motion Estimation Processors Based on a New Class of Hardware Architectures

A new class of fully parameterizable multiple array architectures for motion estimation in video sequences based on the Full-Search Block-Matching algorithm is proposed in this paper. This class is based on a new and efficient AB2 single array architecture with minimum latency, maximum throughput and full utilization of the hardware resources. It provides the ability to configure the target processor within the boundary values imposed for the configuration parameters concerning the algorithm setup, the processing time and the circuit area. With this purpose, a software configuration tool has been implemented to determine the set of possible configurations which fulfill the requisites of a given video coder. Experimental results using both FPGA and ASIC technologies are presented. In particular, the implementation of a single array processor configuration on a single-chip is illustrated, evidencing the ability to estimate motion vectors in real-time.