Decision feedback detection with error compensation for hybrid space-time block codes

Spatial division multiplexing (SDM) techniques increase the total throughput by transmitting independent information streams through multiple transmit antennas whereas space time coding (STC) techniques utilize diversity gain. Hybrid space-time block code (STBC) schemes proposed combine the above two techniques to maximize the link performance. We propose a decision feedback detection method to improve the performance of the hybrid STBC scheme for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). In this scheme, we take the error propagation effect into account to enhance the detection performance. Simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms the conventional hybrid STBC detection algorithm by more than 3dB at 1% frame error rate for frequency selective fading channels.     

Doping Effects on Thermoelectric Properties in the Mg2Sn System

A weak point of Mg₂X thermoelectrics is the absence of a p-type composition, which motivates research into the Mg₂Sn system. Mg₂Sn thermoelectrics were fabricated by a vacuum melting method and a spark plasma sintering process. As a result, Mg₂Sn single phases were acquired in a wide range of Mg-to-Sn atomic ratios (67:33 to 71:29), showing slightly different thermoelectric characteristics. However, the thermoelectric properties of the undoped system were not sufficient for application in commercial production. To maximize the p-type characteristics, many atoms [Ni (VIIIA), Cu (IB), Ag (IB), Zn (IIB), and In (IIIB)] were doped into the Mg₂Sn phase. Among them, the power factor values increased only in the Ag-doped case. Ag-doping resulted in a power factor that was more than 10 times larger than the value in the undoped case. This result could be important for developing p-type polycrystalline thermoelectrics in the Mg₂X (X?=?Si, Sn) system. However, other atoms [Ni (VIIIA), Cu (IB), Zn (IIB), and In (IIIB)] were not determined to act as acceptor atoms. The maximum ZT value for the Ag-doped Mg₂Sn thermoelectric was more than 0.18, which is comparable to the value for the n-type Mg₂Si system.     

Inverted Staggered Poly-Si Thin-Film Transistor With Planarized SOG Gate Insulator

In this letter, we have studied the inverted staggered thin-film transistor (TFT) using a spin-on-glass (SOG) gate insulator and a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) by Ni-mediated crystallization of amorphous silicon. The p-channel poly-Si TFT exhibited a field-effect mobility of 48.2 cm²/V ldr s, a threshold voltage of -4.2 V, a gate-voltage swing of 1.2 V/dec, and a minimum off-current of < 4 times 10^-13A/ mum at V_ds = -0.1 V. Therefore, the gate planarization technology by SOG can be applicable to low-cost large-area poly-Si active-matrix displays.     

A Liquid Metal Based Multimodal Sensor and Haptic Feedback Device for Thermal and Tactile Sensation Generation in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used for training, gaming, and entertainment, and the value of VR is continually increasing as a contact-free technology. For an immersive VR experience, measuring finger movements and providing appropriate feedback to the hand are as important as visual information, given the necessity of the hands for activities in daily life. Thus, a hand-worn VR device with motion sensors and haptic feedback is desirable. In this paper, a multimodal sensing and feedback glove is developed with soft, stretchable, lightweight, and compact sensor and heater sheets manufactured by direct ink writing (DIW) of liquid metal, eutectic gallium-indium (eGaIn). In the sensor sheet, ten sensors and three vibrators are embedded to measure finger movements and provide vibro-haptic feedback. The other heater sheet provides thermo-haptic sensation in accurate and rapid manner via model-based feedback control even under stretched conditions. The multimodal sensing and feedback glove allows users to feel the contact status and discriminate materials with different temperature. Performance of the proposed multimodal glove is verified under VR environments including touching and pushing two blocks of different materials and grabbing a heated metal ball submerged in hot water.     

Hierarchically Assembled Mesenchymal Stem Cell Spheroids Using Biomimicking Nanofilaments and Microstructured Scaffolds for Vascularized Adipose Tissue Engineering

Composite multicellular spheroids composed of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and synthetic biodegradable nanofilaments are fabricated. Extracellular‐matrix‐mimicking nanofilaments, prepared from transverse fragmentation of semicrystalline poly(L ‐lactic acid) nanofibers and subsequent surface modification with cell adhesive peptides, are used to form composite multicellular spheroids with MSCs by cellular self‐assembly. The size of the composite spheroids could be readily controlled with the integrated amount of the nanofilaments. The composite spheroids show enhanced adipogenic potential compared to homotypic spheroids. The resultant spheroids are used as building blocks for 3D biohybrid construction with the assistance of a microstructured scaffold fabricated by a direct polymer melt deposition process. An angiogenic growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, is also locally delivered in a sustained fashion from the heparinized scaffold surface for facile neovascularization of adipogenic tissue. The produced multiscaled and multifunctional hybrid MSC construct enable the successful formation of vascularized adipose tissue in vivo.     

Aptamer‐Functionalized Multidimensional Conducting‐Polymer Nanoparticles for an Ultrasensitive and Selective Field‐Effect‐Transistor Endocrine‐Disruptor Sensors

An endocrine disruptor (ED) is a type of xenobiotic compound that can cause serious diseases related to the estrous cycle, as well as various types of cancer. At low ED concentrations, estrogen receptors may respond as they would under physiological conditions. In this work, aptamer‐functionalized multidimensional conducting‐polymer (3‐carboxylate polypyrrole) nanoparticles (A_M_CPPyNPs) are fabricated for use in an FET sensor to detect bisphenol A (BPA). The multidimensional system, M_CPPyNPs, is first produced by means of dual‐nozzle electrospray of pristine CPPyNPs and vapor deposition polymerization of additional conducting polymer. The M_CPPyNPs are then immobilized on an amine‐functionalized (–NH₂) interdigitated‐array electrode substrate, through the formation of covalent bonds with amide groups (–CONH). The amine‐functionalized BPA‐binding aptamer is then introduced in the same way as that for M_CPPyNP immobilization. The resulting A_M_CPPyNP‐based FET sensors exhibit ultrasensitivity and selectivity towards BPA at unprecedentedly low concentrations (1 fm ) and among molecules with similar structures. Additionally, due to the covalent bonding involved in the immobilization processes, a longer lifetime is expected for the FET sensor.     

Performance analysis of an enhanced DQRUMA/MC-CDMA protocol for voice traffic

The original distributed-queueing request update multiple-access (DQRUMA)/multicode code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) protocol was developed as a channel access protocol for wireless packet CDMA networks. This protocol has recently attracted considerable attention. We modify the original protocol, which was designed for data traffic only, to additionally accommodate voice traffic and call it the A-Protocol. We propose a new packet CDMA protocol that enhances the A-Protocol by improving the utilization of receivers in a base station and call it the E-Protocol. In the E-Protocol, an access request is attempted with a randomly chosen code at a request minislot. We analytically evaluate the performance of both protocols and compare analytical results with computer simulation. Analytical results agree well with simulation results.     

Performance analysis of error propagation effects in the DFE for ATSC DTV receivers

The paper analyzes the error propagation phenomenon in the decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for the receivers of Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) and presents the performance upper-limits of the DFE by comparing various error propagation cases and the no-error propagation case. As one approach to the performance limit, we consider a blind DFE, adopting a trellis decoder with a trace-back depth of 1 as a decision device. Through simulation, we show how much the DFE performance in ATSC DTV receivers is affected by error propagation. We found that while blind equalization is preferable to decision-directed (DD) equalization at signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values less than 18 dB, DD equalization is superior to blind equalization at SNR values greater than 18 dB. In addition, symbol error rate curves quantitatively show that the performance difference in the DFE caused by error propagation becomes clearer at the trellis decoder following the DFE. The analysis results presented are very informative for developing equalization algorithms for ATSC DTV receivers.     

Improvement of the field emission characteristics of an oxidized porous polysilicon using annealed Pt/Ti surface emitter electrode

The field emission characteristics of an oxidized porous polysilicon were investigated with different annealing temperatures. Pt/Ti, Ir, and Au/NiCr were used as surface emitter electrodes, and Pt/Ti emitter showed highly efficient and stable electron emission characteristic compared with the conventional Au/NiCr electrode. Thin Ti layer played an important role in promotion of adhesion of Pt to SiO₂ surface and uniform distribution of electric field on the OPPS surface. Additionally, the Ti layer efficiently blocked the diffusion of emitter metal, which resulted in more reliable emission characteristics. Pt/Ti emitter annealed at 350 °C/1 h showed the highest efficiency of 3.36% at V_ps=16 V, which resulted from the improvement of interfacial contact characteristics of thin emitter metal to an oxidized porous polysilicon. Annealing above 400 °C showed that Pt/Ti and Ir emitter electrode were thermally more stable than Au/NiCr emitter.     

Multi-objective module placement for 3-D system-on-package

System-on-package (SOP) is a viable alternative to system-on-chip (SOC) for meeting the rigorous requirements of today's mixed-signal system integration. Thermal integrity is arguably the most crucial issue in three-dimensional (3-D) SOP due to the compact nature of the 3-D integration. In addition, the power supply noise issue becomes more serious as the supply voltage continues to decrease while the number of active devices consuming power increases. We propose a 3-D module and decap (decoupling capacitance) placement algorithm that evenly distributes the thermal profile and reduces the power supply noise. In addition, we allocate white spaces around the modules that require decaps to suppress the power supply noise while minimizing the area overhead. In our experimentation, we achieve improvements in both maximum temperature and decap amount with only small increase in area, wirelength, and runtime.