A mixed-signal 0.18-μm CMOS SoC for DVD systems with432-MSample/s PRML read channel and 16-Mb embedded DRAM

This paper describes a fully integrated single-chip CMOS mixed-signal system on a chip (SoC) for DVD RAM and ROM systems. It integrates a 32-b RISC CPU, formatter, servo digital signal processor (DSP), 16-Mb DRAM, error correction code (ECC), ATA interface, and partial-response-maximum-likelihood (PRML) read channel with 7-b interpolated parallel analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Increasing the bus bandwidth by using embedded DRAM, a hardware ECC engine, and four parallel digital finite-impulse response (FIR) filters contributes to the high playback speed of 16×. PR(3,4,4,3) architecture has been used in the read channel system for optical disc systems. The obtained wide tangential tilt margin of ±0.6° is due to the use of this PRML read channel technique. The interpolated parallel scheme has attained a high number of effective bits of 6.3 for 72-Mz input frequency at 432-MSample/s operation without any calibration technique, with low power consumption of 180 mW in a small core size of 1.05 mm². This SoC has been fabricated in 0.18-μm 1PS3AL CMOS embedded DRAM technology. It contains 24 million transistors in a 144-mm ² die and consumes 1.2 W at 432-MSample/s operation. This low power consumption allows the use of a low-cost plastic package. As a result, we can compose highly reliable DVD RAM and ROM systems with this SoC and some tiny components     

Automatic parameter optimization of the local model fitting method for single-shot surface profiling

The local model fitting (LMF) method is a single-shot surface profiling algorithm. Its measurement principle is based on the assumption that the target surface to be profiled is locally flat, which enables us to utilize the information brought by nearby pixels in the single interference image for robust LMF. Given that the shape and size of the local area is appropriately determined, the LMF method was demonstrated to provide very accurate measurement results. However, the appropriate choice of the local area often requires prior knowledge on the target surface profile or manual parameter tuning. To cope with this problem, we propose a method for automatically determining the shape and size of local regions only from the single interference image. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through experiments.     

Effects of a humidity-stabilizing sheet on the color and K value of beef stored at cold temperatures

The effects of a humidity-stabilizing sheet containing glycerol, on the color and K value of beef stored at cold temperatures were investigated in this study. A drip-absorbing sheet seems to be effective for the preservation of meat quality, while a humidity-stabilizing sheet containing glycerol prevents the increase of metmyoglobin in cold stored beef. Maintaining samples wrapped in humidity-stabilizing sheets containing glycerol at low temperature for 7days was a functional method for conserving the concentration of inosine monophosphate. Beef samples wrapped in sheets containing glycerol had lower K values than samples wrapped in sheets not containing glycerol. When the surface of the meat starts to desiccate, the humidity-stabilizing sheet releases moisture that has been absorbed from the beef in the early stages of storage. Thus, glycerol could potentially play a role as a humidity-stabilizing controller and color preservative. This research suggests that a humidity-stabilizing sheet containing glycerol is a useful moisture controller and prevents deterioration of meat quality, discoloration, and desiccation.     

Characteristics of Spherical Shock Wave and Circular Pulse Jet Generated by Discharge of Propagating Shock Wave at Open End of Tube

When the shock wave propagating in the straight circular tube reaches at the open end, the impulsive wave is generated by the emission of a shock wave from an open end, and unsteady pulse jet is formed near the open end behind the impulsive wave under the specific condition. The pulse jet transits to spherical shock wave with the increase in the strength of shock wave. The strength is dependent on the Mach number of shock wave, which attenuates by propagation distance from the open end. In this study, the mechanism of generating the unsteady pulse jet, the characteristics of the pressure distribution in the flow field and the emission of shock wave from straight circular tube which has the infinite flange at open end are analyzed numerically by the TVD method. Strength of spherical shock wave, relation of shock wave Mach number, distance decay of spherical shock wave and directional characteristics are clarified.     

Alumina nanofibers obtained from poly(vinyl alcohol)/boehmite nanocomposites

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/boehmite nanocomposite (precursor) nanofibers were formed by electrospinning using a PVA aqueous solution of dispersed boehmite nanoparticles as the spinning solution. The alumina nanofibers were obtained by calcination of the precursor nanofibers between 500 and 1200°C. The specific surface area of the precursor nanofibers was around 6 m²/g, and that of the γ‐alumina nanofibers calcined at 500°C was around 300 m²/g. The specific surface areas and the fiber diameters were not affected by the alumina contents in the precursors. Also, the diameter of the alumina nanofibers was not affected by the calcination temperature of the precursor nanofibers. The pore characteristics of the alumina nanofibers decreased with increased calcination temperature due to the sintering, and nonporous α‐alumina nanofibers were obtained by calcination of the precursor nanofibers at 1200°C. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

High-sensitivity and wide-dynamic-range 10 Gbit/s APD/preamplifieroptical receiver module

InAlAs avalanche photodiodes (APD) and SiGe-HBT preamplifier 10 Gbit/s optical receiver modules have been developed. The measured back-to-back minimum sensitivity and the optical overload with a pseudorandom binary sequence of 2³¹ - 1 at a bit error rate of 10^-9 are -29.5 and +0.4 dBm, respectively. The dynamic range is 29.9 dB. These results show the highest sensitivity and the widest dynamic range yet reported for 10 Gbit/s APD receivers