Globally optimal transmitter placement for indoor wireless communication systems

A global optimization technique is applied to solve the optimal transmitter placement problem for indoor wireless systems. An efficient pattern search algorithm - DIviding RECTangles (DIRECT) of Jones et al.- has been connected to a parallel three-dimensional radio propagation ray tracing modeler running on a 200-node Beowulf cluster of Linux workstations. Surrogate functions for a parallel wideband code-division multiple-access (WCDMA) simulator were used to estimate the system performance for the global optimization algorithm. Power coverage and bit-error rate are considered as two different criteria for optimizing locations of a specified number of transmitters across the feasible region of the design space. This paper briefly describes the underlying radio propagation and WCDMA simulations and focuses on the design issues of the optimization loop.     

Capacity-achieving codes for finite-state channels with maximum-likelihood decoding

Codes on sparse graphs have been shown to achieve remarkable performance in point-to-point channels with low decoding complexity. Most of the results in this area are based on experimental evidence and/or approximate analysis. The question of whether codes on sparse graphs can achieve the capacity of noisy channels with iterative decoding is still open, and has only been conclusively and positively answered for the binary erasure channel. On the other hand, codes on sparse graphs have been proven to achieve the capacity of memoryless, binary-input, output-symmetric channels with finite graphical complexity per information bit when maximum likelihood (ML) decoding is performed. In this paper, we consider transmission over finite-state channels (FSCs). We derive upper bounds on the average error probability of code ensembles with ML decoding. Based on these bounds we show that codes on sparse graphs can achieve the symmetric information rate (SIR) of FSCs, which is the maximum achievable rate with independently and uniformly distributed input sequences. In order to achieve rates beyond the SIR, we consider a simple quantization scheme that when applied to ensembles of codes on sparse graphs induces a Markov distribution on the transmitted sequence. By deriving average error probability bounds for these quantized code ensembles, we prove that they can achieve the information rates corresponding to the induced Markov distribution, and thus approach the FSC capacity.     

Reliable Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed Passive Optical Network Using Novel Protection Scheme

A novel, reliable wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) with self-protection capability is proposed. By utilizing the routing characteristics of N x N arrayed waveguide grating, the proposed architecture can provide automatic protection against any fiber cut between central office and optical network unit (ONU). Compared with the conventional schemes, this scheme adopts colorless ONUs, thus leading to a decrease in the costs of operation, administration, and maintenance, as well as the production cost. Without the performance degradation, the proposed WDM-PON scheme can offer a reliable network service. In the experiment, the protection performance was demonstrated in the carrier-distributed 1.25-Gb/s WDM transmission over 20-km single-mode fiber.     

Grating lobe reduction in ultrasonic synthetic focusing

Two novel schemes of data acquisition in synthetic aperture ultrasonic imaging systems using a linear array transducer are presented to solve the troublesome grating lobe problem. Simulation and experimental results show that in both schemes the grating lobes are significantly reduced without appreciable degradation of the main lobe characteristics.<>     

CMOS digital duty cycle correction circuit for multi-phase clock

A digital duty cycle correction circuit with a fixed-delay rising-edge output is proposed for use in applications with the multi-phase clock and the standby mode. Two integrators are used in the duty cycle detector to eliminate the effect of reference voltage variations. The output duty cycle is adjusted to 50/spl plusmn/0.25% throughout the input duty cycle range from 20% to 80% at the frequency of 1.25 GHz. 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology is used in this work.     

A low-noise L-band EDFA with a 1500-nm Raman-pumped dispersion-compensating fiber section

This report presents a low-noise L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) with a dispersion-compensating Raman amplifier. With an optimized prestage and 1500-nm Raman-pump laser diodes, the proposed EDFA achieved an internal noise figure of less than 4.5 dB over a 33-nm flat gain bandwidth within 0.5 dB at -2 dBm of large signal input power.     

Preparation and Characterization of Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3 Thermoelectric Thin-Film Devices for Power Generation

A device based on a new double-layer-leg thin-film concept has been successfully fabricated by flip-chip bonding of 242 pairs of n-type Bi₂Te₃ and p-type Sb₂Te₃ thin-film legs electrodeposited on top substrates to those processed on bottom substrates. Based on the output voltage–current curve, the internal resistance of the double-layer-leg thin-film device was measured to be 3.47 kΩ at an apparent temperature difference of 25.9 K across the device. The actual temperature difference across the thin-film legs was estimated to be 3.51 K, which is ～13% of the apparent temperature difference ΔT of 25.9 K applied across the thin-film device. The double-layer-leg thin-film device exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 0.43 V and maximum output power of 13.1 μW at an apparent temperature difference ΔT of 25.9 K.     

Single, Depolarized, CW Supercontinuum-Based Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed Passive Optical Network Architecture With C-Band OLT, L-Band ONU, and U-Band Monitoring

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel bidirectional wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical network architecture that fully utilizes the superior optical properties of an incoherent continuous-wave (CW) supercontinuum (SC) source. The proposed architecture, which incorporates low-cost Fabry-Perot laser diodes that have been wavelength locked by spectrum-sliced beams from a depolarized 130-nm-bandwidth CW SC source, is based on a unique wavelength band allocation scheme of the C-band for an optical line terminal (OLT), the L-band for optical network units (ONUs), and the U-band for channel monitoring. A cost-effective network that features a single broadband source at the OLT, and no additional wavelength- band-selective monitoring beam reflector at each ONU can be readily achieved. The experimental demonstration presented in this paper is carried out at a data rate of 622 Mb/s over a 25-km standard single-mode fiber.     

Performance characteristics of SOI DRAM for low-power application

Process integration of cell capacitors that can circumvent the usual difficulties of large topographic height difference and high-temperature process are presented. A 16 Mbit silicon-on-insulator (SOI) DRAM with a 0.3 μm design rule is successfully fabricated and analyzed for processing integrity and circuit performance based on process integration of the cell capacitor using the pattern-bonded SOI (PBSOI) technology. Measurements for the strobe access time (tRAC) acid the operation current (I_ccl) show significant improvement (over 25%) for the SOI DRAM compared to those for the 16 Mbit bulk counterpart with the same circuit and layout. On the transistor side, ultra-low-voltage transistor technology using the body bias control schemes is also implemented and investigated. Devices with small leakage current and almost ideal subthreshold swing are obtained. The results give us guidance for transistor and process schematics for low-voltage DRAM application