Design of integrated low noise amplifiers (LNA) using embedded passives in organic substrates

The noise figure of a low noise amplifier (LNA) is a function of the quality factor of its inductors. The lack of high-Q inductors in silicon has prevented the development of completely integrated complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) LNAs for high sensitivity applications like global system for mobile communications (GSM) (1.9 GHz) and wideband code-division multiple-access (W-CDMA) (2.1GHz). Recent developments in the design of high-Q inductors (embedded in low cost integrated circuit (IC) packages) have made single-package integration of RF front-ends feasible. These embedded passives provide a viable alternative to using discrete elements or low-Q on-chip passives, for achieving completely integrated solutions. Compared to on-chip inductors with low Q values and discrete passives with fixed Q/sub s/, the use of these embedded passives also leads to the development of the passive Q as a new variable in circuit design. However, higher Q values also result in new tradeoffs, particularly with respect to device size. This paper presents a novel optimization strategy for the design of completely integrated CMOS LNAs using embedded passives. The tradeoff of higher inductor size for higher Q has been adopted into the LNA design methodology. The paper also presents design issues involved in the use of multiple embedded components in the packaging substrate, particularly with reference to mutual coupling between the passives and reference ground layout.     

Global variations in cancer survival. Study Group on Cancer Survival in Developing Countries

Population-based cancer registries from Algeria, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, India, the Philippines, and Thailand are collaborating with the International Agency for Research on Cancer in a study of cancer survival in developing countries. Comparisons with the SEER program results of the National Cancer Institute in the United States, and the EUROCARE study of survival in European countries revealed considerable differences in the survival of patients with certain tumors associated with intensive chemotherapeutic treatment regimes (Hodgkin's disease and testicular tumors), more modest differences in the survival of patients with tumors for which early diagnosis and treatment confer an improved prognosis (carcinomas of the large bowel, breast, and cervix), and only slight differences for tumors associated with poor prognosis (carcinomas of the stomach, pancreas, and lung). With limited resources to meet the challenge of the increasing incidence of cancer expected in the next few decades, health authorities in developing countries should be aware of the importance of investing in a range of cancer control activities, including primary prevention and early detection programs as well as treatment.     

Influence of limit stress states and yield criteria on the prediction of forming limit strains in sheet metals

Several researchers have proposed analytical methods for predicting the forming limit curve (FLC), which has been successfully used as a diagnostic tool in sheetmetal forming. However, these approaches lack ease of adaptability to various situations and also involve considerable complexity. Sing and Rao proposed a new FLC modeling approach based on limit stress states derived from yield criterion and material properties from a simple tensile test. The first aspect of this study addresses the influence of the shape of the forming limit stress curve (FLSC) upon the FLC. The FLC modeled from a singly linear FLSC exhibits good agreement with the experimental curve, unlike those modeled from an elliptical or a piecewise linear FLSC. It is, thus, established that a linearized limit stress locus describes adequately the actural localized neck condition for the materials chosen in this study. Second, the study focuses on the suitability of the different cases of Hill’s yield criterion for satisfactory prediction of FLCs. The FLCs predicted using different cases of Hill’s criterion are compared with experimental FLCs in the case of steel and copper. Different cases of Hill’s criterion provide a wider choice for FLC modeling for different classes of materials. The sensitivity of Hill’s stress exponent is also thoroughly explored for achieving a close correspondence between the predicted and experimental FLCs.     

Options and Opportunities for Energy Management in Malaysian Grid Systems—Putrajaya as a Case Study

This paper presents an opportunity for energy management with an integrated photovoltaic and wind farm for the energy and economic aspects of the commercial area located in Putrajaya. The energy economy accession conforming to the wind speed, temperature, solar irradiation, and energy consumption on a daily basis is taken into consideration. Design analysis is done through the industry standard numerical tool. From the result analysis, the recommended ratio of renewable share minimizing stress to the electric grid is proposed. According to the solutions obtained from the numerical design tool, photovoltaic is recommended to be more energy efficient and economically viable in comparison of the fully crowded wind farm. From the proposed solutions, the photovoltaic is able to provide 51% of the energy consumed and it costs RM 0.365 per kW/h.     

Real-Time Control System Adopted to Energy Storage for Smart Grid Low Wind Applications: A Part of Distributed Renewables in Smart City

In this paper, extensive efforts have been undertaken to design and develop a control system, which is incorporated with an energy storage device that can store energy from low-voltage renewable sources. The developed device acts as a storage element, which can be used to charge small-scale batteries, cellular devices, and other applications in remote places where the grid connection is not available. The circuit is developed using a case-by-case analysis. In order to solve the low output voltage problem, a bipolar junction transistor-metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (BJT-MOSFET) based switch control technology with the Arduino microcontroller has been implemented. The developed control system is extremely efficient in charging batteries through a supercapacitor for low-voltage sources. In this research, a small-scale 200-W portable vertical axis wind turbine is used at a wind speed of 3 m/s. The result shows the efficiency of the proposed system as compared with the conventional systems. The proposed system can be an important tool of the latest distributed energy generation technology which is an important part of a smart city. Lastly, the limitations and future scopes of the development of the control device are discussed for the future barrier. An important future scope identified is to integrate the Internet of Things based mobile interface for remote monitoring for any kind of pandemic situation like COVID-19. Now, it is high time to get our smart city concept aligned with the post COVID pandemic situation and get us prepared smartly for similar future occurrences.     

A double line SIW cavity backed antenna for WLAN applications

A compact double line substrate integrated waveguide (DLSIW) cavity backed antenna is realized using half mode SIW technology for WLAN applications. The existing single line SIW antennas for WLAN applications have low gain and less efficiency. To overcome this limitation, DLSIW structure is proposed. The new DLSIW structure simultaneously achieves better gain, radiation efficiency, and good front to back ratio (FTBR) with compact size. To improve the FTBR, ground extension is made. The size reduction of the proposed design is implemented with half mode SIW topology. The gain and efficiency improved new DLSIW antenna is fabricated using FR4 material and it resonates at 5.27GHz WLAN frequency. The size of antenna is 44 mm × 18.75 mm × 1.6 mm and it has the gain of 5.824 dB. The radiation efficiency and FTBR of the antenna are 69.13% and 13.65 dB, respectively. The design is experimentally tested and compared with earlier WLAN antennas. There is a better accordance between simulated and measured results.     

Effect of pulse reversal on the properties of pulse plated CdSe x Te1−x thin films

CdSe _x Te_1–x thin films with 0 < x < 1 were deposited on titanium and conducting glass substrates by pulse electrodeposition using microprocessor control. Formation of the solid solution takes place for values of x(0 < x < 1). The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction. While the as-deposited films are cubic in nature, those annealed at 475 °C in air indicate hexagonal structure and the lattice parameters increase with increasing value of x. From the optical absorption measurements the band gap of the material was calculated. The value of the band gap varies from 1.42 to 1.70 eV as x varies from 0 to 1. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) characteristics were obtained for all compositions of CdSe _x Te_1–x (x = 0–1). The output parameters for CdSe_0.66Te_0.34 with 9% duty cycle at an intensity of 80 mW cm^–2 using 1 M polysulphide as the redox electrolyte, are V _OC of 398 mV, J _SC of 5.59 mA cm^–2, ff of 0.45, of 4.73%, R _s of 13 , R _sh of 1.50 k. The output parameters were found to increase with 60 ms pulse reversal. After photoetching for 40 s, a V _OC of 481 mV, J _SC of 16.00 mA cm^–2, ff of 0.57, of 5.46%, R _s of 6 , R _sh of 2.16 k were obtained.     

Analysis of Surface Textured Air Bearing Sliders with Rarefaction Effects

A numerical model is developed to study the effect of texture on air bearing sliders for large Knudsen numbers. The effect of texture location, texture size, and density on the pressure generation is studied. First, a textured plane slider parallel to the disk surface is investigated, and the texture parameters are determined that result in optimum pressure generation. Then, a plane inclined slider is studied using optimum texture parameters found in the parallel slider case. Thereafter, the effect of texture on the steady state flying characteristics of an actual magnetic recording slider is investigated. Finally, the flying height modulation, pitch, and roll motion of a textured slider (pico and femto form factors) are determined numerically by exciting the slider using a step on the disk. Comparison of the results for textured and untextured sliders is made. It is found that textured sliders show better dynamic performance compared to the untextured sliders in terms of stiffness and damping.     

Determination on the Effect of Ti Addition on the Microstructural,Mechanical and Wear Behavior of Cu–6Sn Alloy in as—Cast Condition

The objective of this research is to fabricate a ternary alloy (Cu–Sn–Ti), incorporating titanium into bronze with varying weight percentage of titanium (0.5 wt%, 1 wt%) to investigate its impact on microstructural and mechanical properties and wear behavior and to collate these results with those of conventional bronze (Cu–6Sn). The microstructure of the alloys was observed using a metallurgical microscope, and results exhibit a finer grain refinement in the dendritic structure, which causes an improvement in mechanical properties. The mechanical properties were tested (tensile strength, hardness), and they showed an increment in values corresponding to the increase in the weight percentage of titanium. However, owing to the formation of an inclusion (blowhole), there was a reduction in the tensile strength for Cu–6Sn.0.5Ti. The wear analysis was also carried out using a pin-on-disk tribometer with selected parameters of load (10–30 N), sliding distance (1000 m) and sliding velocity (1–3 m/s), and it was noted that there was an increase in the wear rate with an increase in load and distance for all combinations of parameters. There was also an improvement in the wear resistance with an increase in the weight percentage of Ti, in comparison with the conventional base alloy.