OFDM with reduced peak-to-average power ratio by multiple signal representation

In this paper two highly effective, flexible and distortionless peak power reduction schemes for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (ofdm) with low amount of additional complexity and almost vanishing redundancy are presented. The schemes work with arbitrary numbers of subcarriers and signal sets. The first approach generates a set of several alternative multicarrier signals and selects that transmit signal with the lowest peak power value. The second method optimally combines partial transmit sequences to minimize the peak-to-average power ratio (PAR-coefficient). The schemes are analyzed theoretically and their performance is covered by simulations.     

Design and analysis of UW-OFDM signals

Unique word-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (UW-OFDM) is a novel signaling concept where the guard interval is implemented as a deterministic sequence, the so-called unique word. The UW is generated by introducing a certain level of redundancy in the frequency domain. Different data estimation strategies and the favourable bit error ratio (BER) performance of UW-OFDM, as well as comparisons to competing concepts have already extensively been discussed in previous papers. This work focuses on the different possibilities on how to generate UW-OFDM signals. The optimality of the two-step over the direct approach in systematic UW-OFDM is proved analytically, we present a heuristic algorithm that allows a fast numerical optimization of the redundant subcarrier positions, and we show that our original intuitive approach of spreading the redundant subcarriers in systematically encoded UW-OFDM by minimizing the mean redundant energy is practically also optimum w.r.t. transceiver based cost functions. Finally, we derive closed form approximations of the statistical symbol distributions on individual subcarriers as well as the redundant energy distribution and compare them with numerically found results.     

Channel Sounding System for MM-Wave Bands and Characterization of Indoor Propagation at 28 GHz

The aim of this work is to present a vector network analyzer based channel sounding system capable of performing measurements in the range from 2 to 50 GHz. Further, this paper describes an indoor measurement campaign performed at 26–30 GHz. The sounding system is capable of receiving two channels and transmitting one. Using this feature a channel measurement has been performed using both a directional horn antenna and a virtual uniform circular array (UCA) at the same time. This allows for comparative studies of measured channels with two different antennas in a simultaneous way. The measurement has been conducted with 42 measurement positions distributed along a 10 m long path through an indoor laboratory environment. The transmitter was positioned such that measurements were conducted both in line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight scenarios. The measurements showed good agreement between the measurement data collected with the horn antenna and the data collected with the UCA. The propagation environment was found to be sparse both in delay and angular domain for the given scenario. Based on the performed measurement campaign together with validation measurements of the system stability, it is found that the system works as expected.     

Parallel feedforward class-AB control circuits for low-voltage bipolar rail-to-rail output stages of operational amplifiers

A new family of class-AB control circuits for bipolar rail-to-rail output stages of operational amplifiers is presented. Step by step, we report the development of five simple class-AB control circuits showing the advantages of using parallel feedforward. The circuits have been designed in such a way that temperature, supply voltage and process parameters have little influence. To test the output stages, one of them has been implemented in a very simple two-stage operational amplifier on a semi-custom chip. Measurements show a bandwidth of 2.5 MHz, a gain of 40 dB, a quiescent current of 23µA and a maximum output current of 250µA. Simulation results of three other simple operational amplifiers with the new class-AB control circuits are shown, which have a higher gain and maximum output current.     

Gain-coupled DFB lasers with a titanium surface Bragg grating

The improved performance of gain-coupled DFB lasers incorporating a titanium surface Bragg grating and a strained layer multiquantum well active region for operation at 1.55 μm is presented. Besides the essentially simplified fabrication process, the incorporation of the metallic, absorptive grating yields stable singlemode operation with a high sidemode suppression     

Simulations for the Development of Thermoelectric Measurements

In thermoelectricity, continuum theoretical equations are usually used for the calculation of the characteristics and performance of thermoelectric elements, modules or devices as a function of external parameters (material, geometry, temperatures, current, flow, load, etc.). An increasing number of commercial software packages aimed at applications, such as COMSOL and ANSYS, contain vkernels using direct thermoelectric coupling. Application of these numerical tools also allows analysis of physical measurement conditions and can lead to specifically adapted methods for developing special test equipment required for the determination of TE material and module properties. System-theoretical and simulation-based considerations of favorable geometries are taken into account to create draft sketches in the development of such measurement systems. Particular consideration is given to the development of transient measurement methods, which have great advantages compared with the conventional static methods in terms of the measurement duration required. In this paper the benefits of using numerical tools in designing measurement facilities are shown using two examples. The first is the determination of geometric correction factors in four-point probe measurement of electrical conductivity, whereas the second example is focused on the so-called combined thermoelectric measurement (CTEM) system, where all thermoelectric material properties (Seebeck coefficient, electrical and thermal conductivity, and Harman measurement of zT) are measured in a combined way. Here, we want to highlight especially the measurement of thermal conductivity in a transient mode. Factors influencing the measurement results such as coupling to the environment due to radiation, heat losses via the mounting of the probe head, as well as contact resistance between the sample and sample holder are illustrated, analyzed, and discussed. By employing the results of the simulations, we have developed an improved sample head that allows for measurements over a larger temperature interval with enhanced accuracy.     

Hardness and Fracture Toughness of Solid Solutions of Mg2Si and Mg2Sn

Semiconductors - Thermoelectric material development typically aims at maximizing produced electrical power and efficiency of energy conversion, even though sometimes, this means adding expensive...     

A Direct Approach to Organic/Inorganic Semiconductor Hybrid Particles via Functionalized Polyfluorene Ligands

Controlled Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization of 7′‐bromo‐9′,9′‐dioctyl‐fluoren‐2′‐yl‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐[1,3,2]dioxaborolane initiated by bromo(4‐tert‐butoxycarbonylamino‐phenyl)(tri‐tert‐butylphosphine)palladium ( 1 ) or bromo(4‐diethoxyphosphoryl‐phenyl)(tri‐tert‐butylphosphine)palladium ( 2 ) yields functionalized polyfluorenes (M_n = 4 × 10³ g mol^?1, M_w/M_n < 1.2) with a single amine or phosphonic acid, respectively, end‐group. High temperature synthesis of cadmium selenide quantum dots with these functionalized polyfluorenes as stabilizing ligands yields hybrid particles consisting of good quality (e.g. emission full width at half maximum of 30 nm; size distribution σ < 10%) inorganic nanocrystals with polyfluorene attached to the surface, as corroborated by transmission electron microscopy analysis and analytical ultracentrifugation. Sedimentation studies on particle dispersions show that a substantial portion (ca. half) of the phosphonic acid terminated polyfluorene ligands is bound to the inorganic nanocrystals, versus ca. 5% for the amino‐functionalized polyfluorene ligands. Single particle micro‐photoluminescence spectroscopy shows an efficient and complete energy transfer from the polyfluorene layer to the inorganic quantum dot.