A 2.7-V GSM RF transceiver IC

A 2.7-V RF transceiver IC is intended for small, low-cost global system for mobile communications (GSM) handsets. This chip includes a quadrature modulator (QMOD) and an offset phase locked loop (OPLL) in the transmit path and a dual IF receiver that consists of a low noise amplifier (LNA) with an active-bias circuit, two Gilbert-cell mixers, a programmable gain linear amplifier (PGA), and a quadrature demodulator (QDEM). The IC also contains frequency dividers with a very high frequency voltage controlled oscillator (VHF-VCO) to simplify the receiver design. The system evaluation results are the phase error of 2.7° r.m.s. and the noise transmitted in the GSM receiving band of -163 dBc/Hz for transmitters and the reference sensitivity of -105 dBm for receivers. Power-control functions are provided for independent transmit and receive operation. The IC is implemented by using bipolar technology with f_T=15 GHz, r'_bb=150 Ω, and 0.6-μm features     

Using magnetic field pulses with a slow sweep rate to produce uniform current distribution in multifilamentary superconducting wire

A detailed discussion is presented on the change in current distribution which takes place in a twisted multifilamentary superconducting wire induced by successive magnetic field pulses with a slow sweep-rate. The number of the field pulses required for a localized current-distribution to become uniform is estimated. Some modification of existing theories is necessary to describe the phenomenon. The results obtained are confirmed by systematic measurements of the net flux penetration into the wire during each cycle of field pulses.     

On the distribution of a transport current inside a multifilamentary superconducting wire in a rapidly changing transverse magnetic field

For the current distribution inside a multifilamentary superconducting wire carring a dc transport current in a rapidly changing transverse magnetic field, inconsistencies with the existing models are shown by the following experimental evidence: when a transverse magnetic field is applied, the distribution of transport current is not unaltered but is forced to concentrate into the inner circular cross section region during a characteristic time constant τ_c, called the coupling time constant. Secondly, the characteristic time constant for the transport current distribution inside the inner region to approach a uniform distribution is not τ_c but a new time constant τ₁ called the ‘uniforming time constant’, though the variation in the distribution does not occur unless the external magnetic field changes with time.It is shown that the model of the current distribution based on the above experimental evidence exhibits a remarkable difference from the existing models, especially for the wires containing very fine superconducting filaments.     

Magnetic field dependence of ac losses in multi-filamentary superconducting wires

The magnetic field dependence of ac losses due to nonlinear flux penetration into superconducting filaments, ie, nonlinearity between an applied magnetic field and a penetrated flux, has been studied experimentally for multi-filamentary superconducting wires with Nb-Tl filaments and Cu matrix. In order to observe this effect, ac loss measurements were extensively carried out for the cases of applied transverse ac magnetic fields ranging from 0.06 to 50 Hz in frequency and from 10^?3 to 0.2 T in amplitude. Shifting of the frequency corresponding to the peak of the eddy current loss with the amplitude of applied magnetic fields was revealed experimentally. The results obtained were explained by taking into account the magnetic field dependence of the effective permeability of the wire originated from nonlinear flux penetration into superconducting filaments. The associated frequency dependence of the hysteresis loss is also discussed.     

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     

Direct measurement of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum with polyethylene glycol-modified enzymes and sulfated alpha-cyclodextrin

We have developed an automated method for measuring high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in serum without prior separation, using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified enzymes and sulfated alpha-cyclodextrin. When cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase enzymes were modified with PEG, they showed selective catalytic activities towards lipoprotein fractions, with the reactivity increasing in the order: low-density lipoprotein < very-low-density lipoprotein approximately chylomicron < HDL. In the presence of magnesium ions, alpha-cyclodextrin sulfate reduced the reactivity of cholesterol, especially in chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoprotein, without the need for precipitation of those lipoprotein fractions. The combination of PEG-modified enzymes with alpha-cyclodextrin sulfate provided selectivity for the determination of HDL-cholesterol in serum in the presence of a small amount of dextran sulfate without the need for precipitation of lipoprotein aggregates. The results of the HDL-cholesterol assayed in serum by this direct method correlated well with those obtained by precipitation-based methods and also that by an ultracentrifugation method.     

Crystallization of amorphous carbon at high static pressure and high temperature

Amorphous carbons prepared from furfuryl alcohol resin have been studied in a high-pressure apparatus of octahedral anvil type at pressures up to 18 GPa and at temperatures up to 2000° C. The amorphous carbons, when heated under pressure, crystallized first into graphite at 450 to 600°C and then into diamond at 1120 to 2000° C. The temperatures for the onset of these crystallizations,T ₉ andT _d, were determined by a simple technique. As the temperature for the preparation of the amorphous carbons was raised from 700 to 1000° C,T ₉ at 15 GPa increased slightly whereasT _d at the same pressure turned from a decrease into an increase beyond 750° C for the preparation temperature. For amorphous carbon prepared at 850° C,T _g increased a little whileT _d decreased markedly with increasing pressure.     

Development and applications of lightning arresters fortransmission lines

A lightning arrester with a series gap for transmission lines has been developed to prevent faults due to lightning. It has shown excellent performance since 1986 on 77 kV service lines in heavy lightning regions. A 275 kV lightning arrester has also been developed, and a field test was started on a service line in 1988. The authors describe the requirements for lightning arresters for transmission lines, design concepts, specifications, and operational records on the 77 kV lines for three years. The gapped-type lightning arrester is considered the most practical given the existing technology. To obtain light and small lightning arresters, an ethylene-propylene rubber shed was adopted for external insulation and a special pressure relief mechanism was introduced in place of the pressure relief guide of the station arresters. The follow current can be cut off within a period of 0.25 to 0.5 cycles even under contaminated and wet conditions     

ac magnetic instability in non-ideal type-II superconductors

The theoretical approach is carried out with the combined thermal and magnetic equations which are based on the critical state model for non-ideal type-II superconductors and include controllable physical parameters. Also, the behaviour of flux jumps is studied on Nb-Ti-Zr ternary alloy wires in the temperature region 1.8–9.0 K under various heat transfer conditions. The ac field method applied here has the advantage of determining flux jump fields more exactly than the linear sweep method.