Zero-quantised discrete cosine transform prediction technique for video encoding

A new analytical model to eliminate redundant discrete cosine transform (DCT) and quantisation (Q) computations in block-based video encoders is proposed. The dynamic ranges of the quantised DCT coefficients are analysed, then a threshold scheme is derived to determine whether the DCT and Q computations can be skipped without video quality degradation. In addition, fast DCT/inverse DCT (IDCT) algorithms are presented to implement the proposed analytical model. The proposed analytical model is compared with other comparable analytical models reported in the literature. Both the theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed analytical model can greatly reduce the computational complexity of video encoding without any performance degradation and outperforms other analytical models     

Minimizing hydrogen content in silicon oxynitride by thermal oxidation of silicon-rich silicon nitride

This work reports a detailed study of the re-oxidation effects on the hydrogen content and optical properties of silicon oxynitride films grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) with N₂O, NH₃ and SiH₄ as the precursors. Results showed that the silicon oxynitride deposited with gas flow rates of NH₃/N₂O/SiH₄ = 20/500/20 (sccm) has favorable properties for integrated waveguide applications. The refractive index of this layer is about 1.57 at 632.8 nm wavelength and the layer has a comparative low density of NH bonds. With a high temperature re-oxidation of the as-deposited film, the hydrogen content of the oxynitride film was reduced from 2.255 × 10²² to 6.98 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³ which is attributed to the removal of excess silicon oxidation and hydrogen bonds.     

Influence of multi-finger layout on the subthreshold behavior of nanometer MOS transistors

This work studies the effects of number of gate finger on the DC subthreshold characteristics of multi-finger nanoscale MOS transistors. We found in not optimally-tempered nanoscale (gate length = 90 nm) MOS transistors that the significantly deteriorated subthreshold characteristics can be effectively improved by increasing the number of gate finger. This observation was explained with a modified subthreshold slope model based on voltage-doping transformation theory. Hence, the multi-finger structure does not only enhance the operation frequency, it also improves the subthreshold DC characteristics of the nanoscale MOS transistors.     

Degradation behaviors of GaN light-emitting diodes under high-temperature and high-current stressing

A number of commercially available multiple-quantum well (MQW) InGaN/GaN blue LEDs with wavelengths of about 460 nm and a power of 1 mW were stressed at temperatures ranging from 25 to 120 °C at several accelerated DC currents. Both the forward and reverse current voltage characteristics as well as the electroluminescent spectra of the LEDs were monitored. These effects also resulted in the pronounced degradation of light efficiency and device operation lifetime. We found that the degradation of photonic characteristics, correlated very well with the generation-recombination current which is governed by the defect density. The device degradation is much faster at high temperatures. At nominal operation current and at room temperature, the light intensity degradation reaches a saturation level before the light dyes out. These results shed new lights upon the design and lifetime specifications for the emerging commercial solid-state lighting devices.     

Performance enhancement of III–V compound multijunction solar cell incorporating transparent electrode and surface treatment

To enhance the performance of tandem‐type III–V compound multijunction solar cells, the transparent indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO) film was used to replace conventional metal electrode for increasing the incident light area. For performing ohmic contact between the n‐AlInP window layer and the ITO film, a transition layer of Au/AuGeNi thin metals was used and investigated. Besides, to improve ohmic performance and to passivate the surface states, (NH₄)₂S_x surface treatment was used. The conversion efficiency of the (NH₄)₂S_x‐treated triple‐junction solar cells was increased more than 3.09%. Furthermore, an improved oblique SiO₂/SiO₂/ITO triple antireflection structure was designed to reduce the reflectivity of illuminating sunlight. The conversion efficiency of the (NH₄)₂S_x‐treated triple‐junction solar cell with improved antireflection structure could be improved more than 4.23%. Simple and effective approaches were designed to improve the performances of tandem‐type III–V triple‐junction solar cells. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self-Sensing Actuation With Adaptive Control in Applications With Switching Trajectory

This paper presents the application of self-sensing actuation (SSA) to facilitate the implementation of piezoelectric actuator in an intelligent mechatronic system. SSA is a technique to employ smart materials, such as piezoelectric materials, simultaneously as a sensor and an actuator; thereby increasing the level of integration of the system. The piezoelectric actuator is equipped with an exclusive adaptive controller amidst its nonlinearities and system's disturbance. The application area to be discussed is a microdispensing system, which is an example of a micromanufacturing process, combining a fluidic system and a positioning system.     

Variable Digital Filter With Group Delay Flatness Specification or Phase Constraints

In this paper, we consider the design of finite-impulse response variable digital filters (VDFs) with variable cutoff frequency or variable fractional delay. We propose the design of VDFs with minimum integral squared error and constraints on the maximum error deviation in conjunction with flatness group delay specification or phase constraints. These specifications allow the VDFs to have approximately linear phase, especially in the passband. As these specifications are required to be satisfied for all the filters generated by the VDF with controllable spectral characteristics, the linear constraints resulting from the flatness specification are relaxed to inequality constraints. To make the optimization problem tractable for the phase constrained problem, suitable approximations are employed in the paper. The design problem is formulated as an optimization problem with a quadratic cost function and infinite number of constraints. A numerical scheme with adaptive grid step size is proposed for solving the optimization problem.     

Bacterium‐Templated Polymer for Self‐Selective Ablation of Multidrug‐Resistant Bacteria

The recognition and inactivation of specific pathogenic bacteria remain an enormous scientific challenge and an important therapeutic goal. Therefore, materials that can selectively target and kill specific pathogenic bacteria, without harming beneficial strains are highly desirable. Here, a material platform is reported that exploits bacteria as a template to synthesize polymers with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristic by copper‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization for self‐selective killing of the bacteria that templates them with no antimicrobial resistance. The bacteria‐templated polymers show very weak fluorescence in aqueous media, however, the fluorescence is turned on upon recognition of the bacteria used as the template to synthesize the polymer even at a low concentration of 600 ng mL^?1. Moreover, the incorporated AIE fluorogens (AIEgens) can act as an efficient photosensitizer for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation after bacteria surface binding, which endows the templated polymers with the capability for selective bacterial killing. The bacterium‐templated synthesis is generally applicable to a wide range of bacteria, including clinically isolated multidrug‐resistant bacterial strains. It is envisioned that the bacterium‐templated method provides a new strategy for bacteria‐specific diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

Magnetostatic surface wave straight-edge resonators

The performance of the magnetostatic surface wave straight-edge resonator (MSSW-SER) is presented. The resonator uses a rectangular YIG film to propagate MSSWs where the straight edge serves as a reflector. Problems arising from coupling to width mode resonances and their effect on the main resonance are investigated. Through a careful choice of YIG and transducer parameters, the interference effects of the width mode resonances with the main resonance are minimized. As a result, highQ tunable microwave resonators with a tuning range from 2–20 GHz, insertion loss less than 10 dB, and spurious rejection better than 10 dB could be designed and fabricated. This MSSW resonator could be used to construct a tunable low-phase-noise feedback oscillator. However, the tuning range of this MSW feedback oscillator is limited by the phase change of the external amplifier circuit.     

Tuning the colour of white polymer light emitting diodes

Colour tuning of white polymer light emitting diode (LED) light sources can be attained by various methods at various stages in the production process of the lamps and/or by the design of the active material incorporated in the LEDs. In this contribution we will describe the methods and discuss the physical background of colour tuning. Furthermore, the material design has led to polymers which are more stable during electrical stress, so that colour shift during lifetime can be excluded for white polymer LEDs.