Quadrature Mismatch Shaping for Digital-to-Analog Converters

Quadrature sigma-delta analog-to-digital converters require a feedback path for both the I and the Q parts of the complex feedback signal. If two separate multibit feedback digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are used, mismatch among the unit DAC elements leads to additional mismatch noise in the output spectrum as well as an I/Q imbalance. This paper proposes new quadrature bandpass (QBP) mismatch shaping techniques. In our approach, the I and Q DACs are merged into one complex DAC, which leads to near-perfect I/Q balance. To select the unit DAC elements of the complex multibit DAC, the well-known butterfly shuffler and tree structure are generalized towards a complex structure, and necessary constraints for their correct functioning are derived. Next, a very efficient first-order QBP shaper implementation is proposed. Finally, the newly presented complex structures are simulated to prove their effectiveness and are compared with each other with respect to performance     

Nondiffusive weak localization in two-dimensional systems with spin-orbit splitting of the spectrum

The effect of spin splitting caused by structural asymmetry (Rashba’s contribution) and bulk asymmetry (Dresselhaus’s contribution) on the magnetoconductance of two-dimensional structures with high mobility of charge carriers is studied. The theory of weak localization with regard to both of the contributions is developed. The theory is valid in the entire region of classically low magnetic fields for arbitrary relations between the frequencies of spin precession and elastic collisions. The suppression of the correction for antilocalization is demonstrated in the case of equal contributions of structural anisotropy and bulk anisotropy to the spin splitting. The effect of the contribution, cubic in the wave vector, to the spin splitting on the quantum magnetoresistance is studied.     

Nash equilibria of packet forwarding strategies in wireless ad hoc networks

In self-organizing ad hoc networks, all the networking functions rely on the contribution of the participants. As a basic example, nodes have to forward packets for each other in order to enable multihop communication. In recent years, incentive mechanisms have been proposed to give nodes incentive to cooperate, especially in packet forwarding. However, the need for these mechanisms was not formally justified. In this paper, we address the problem of whether cooperation can exist without incentive mechanisms. We propose a model,based on game theory and graph theory to investigate equilibrium conditions of packet forwarding strategies. We prove theorems about the equilibrium conditions for both cooperative and noncooperative strategies. We perform simulations to estimate the probability that the conditions for a cooperative equilibrium hold in randomly generated network scenarios.. As the problem is involved, we deliberately restrict ourselves to a static configuration. We conclude that in static ad hoc networks where the relationships between the nodes are likely to be stab le-cooperation needs to be encouraged.     

Hopping and optical absorption of electrons in nano-porous crystal 12CaO·7Al2O3

Recently it has been discovered that a nano-porous main group oxide 12CaO·7Al₂O₃ (C12A7) can be converted from a wide-gap insulator to a good transparent conductor. Using ab initio modelling we explain good conductivity of this material by very small barriers for hopping of localised electrons between neighbouring positive cages. We show that optical absorption of C12A7 in infrared region and at energies higher than 2.7 eV is due to inter-cage and intra-cage electron transitions, respectively. The proposed mechanisms can be useful in further search for conducting transparent media.     

Impact of lead-free soldering processes on the performance of signal relay contacts

Various legislations, rules and regulations in Europe [Restrictions of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (ROHS)] and Japan (Recycling Law for Home Electric Appliances) have either targeted restrictions or a full ban on the use of lead, to be enforced from 2001, 2005, and 2006 onwards. Next to these regulations, marketing arguments are becoming more and more important for so called "GREEN" products. Up to now, mainly tin-lead alloys have been used in electronics. The process temperatures usually applied have been in the range of 230/spl deg/C. All currently discussed lead-free alternatives for professional electronics need process temperatures which are at least 30/spl deg/C higher. In addition, the process duration is significantly longer. The combination of higher process temperatures and longer duration together results in a significant thermal stress on the precision mechanics of the relay. In order to guarantee proper functioning of the relay after the solder process with maximum process temperatures of 255/spl deg/C, the dimensional changes of the plastic parts must be less than a few micrometers in order to guarantee stable contact forces. The outgassing of the used insulating and sealing materials must be minimal in order not to pollute or contaminate the contacts. With the lead-free version of the IM relay, an identical performance and the same reliability during electrical and climatic endurance tests can be expected, even though relays were processed with typical lead-free soldering processes with temperatures up to 255/spl deg/C.     

Alternating-direction implicit (ADI) formulation of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method: algorithm and material dispersion implementation

The alternating-direction implicit finite-difference time-domain (ADI-FDTD) technique is an unconditionally stable time-domain numerical scheme, allowing the /spl Delta/t time step to be increased beyond the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy limit. Execution time of a simulation is inversely proportional to /spl Delta/t, and as such, increasing /spl Delta/t results in a decrease of execution time. The ADI-FDTD technique greatly increases the utility of the FDTD technique for electromagnetic compatibility problems. Once the basics of the ADI-FDTD technique are presented and the differences of the relative accuracy of ADI-FDTD and standard FDTD are discussed, the problems that benefit greatly from ADI-FDTD are described. A discussion is given on the true time savings of applying the ADI-FDTD technique. The feasibility of using higher order spatial and temporal techniques with ADI-FDTD is presented. The incorporation of frequency dependent material properties (material dispersion) into ADI-FDTD is also presented. The material dispersion scheme is implemented into a one-dimensional and three-dimensional problem space. The scheme is shown to be both accurate and unconditionally stable.     

Analytical multipoint moment matching reduction of distributed thermal networks

In this paper, the multipoint moment matching method for model order reduction of discretized linear thermal networks is extended to distributed linear thermal networks. As a result, from the analytical canonical forms of distributed linear thermal networks, reduced thermal networks are derived analytically. This direct construction of the reduced network, from the exact analytical solutions, avoids the inevitable inaccuracies inherent in conventional surface and volume meshing. It allows nearly exact reduced thermal network construction by domain decomposition for arbitrarily complicated structures.     

Failure analysis of a broken tooth

Several days after heart surgery, a patient discovered his upper right canine tooth had broken at the root. Such tooth damage, recognized post-operatively, is usually assumed to be caused by blunt mechanical force from an instrument used by the anesthesiologist during placement of a breathing tube at the start of surgery. In this case, the patient had saved the crown portion of the broken tooth, and it was possible to examine the root fracture characteristics. The curvature and direction of the crack path and natural tooth situation suggested that failure could be described through a cantilever beam model. This was confirmed when a whole extracted sample tooth was embedded and broken by a measured force in a manner consistent with the model. The resulting fracture surface matched that of the patient’s broken canine tooth. However, the high load and force direction necessary to fracture the root was inconsistent with forces applied during the anesthesia procedure. The failure analysis and further investigation indicated tooth clenching on the breathing tube during recovery was the likely cause of fracture. This paper presents an alternate explanation for intubation-related dental injury, demonstrates the practicality of fractographic analysis of biological materials, and introduces a methodology for simulating in vitro tooth settings for mechanical testing.     

Heat Transfer by Radiation through a Vapor Gap under Conditions of Film Boiling of Liquid

Theoretical models of heat transfer by radiation through a vapor gap under conditions of film boiling of liquid are treated, namely, a general wave model for a gap of arbitrary thickness and an approximate model of geometrical optics. Calculations are performed of heat transfer by radiation under conditions of film boiling of water on hot surfaces of refractory metal and molten oxide. Practical recommendations are given to calculate the distribution of the power of absorbed radiation in a water layer.