Real-time CAM-based Hough transform algorithm and its performance evaluation

Abstract. This paper proposes a highly parallel Hough transform algorithm for real-time straight-line extraction and its hardware implementation on a content-addressable memory (CAM). To achieve high-speed processing, incrementation for voting, which composes the Hough transform, and calculations for coordinate updating are carried out for the every scan line, not every edge pixel, and extracting maxima in Hough space is executed by parallel comparing. Moreover, variously weighted voting achieves more accurate line extraction in spite of the quantization error and noise in the image space. In the implementation, the CAM acts as a PE (processing-element) array that effectively performs highly parallel processing for the Hough transform and also as a memory for two-dimensional Hough space, and both voting and peak extraction are directly executed by the CAM. Evaluations of CAM hardware size, processing time and the accuracy of line extraction show that a real-time and high-resolution Hough transform for a 256256 picture can be achieved using a single CAM chip with current VLSI technology. This CAM-based Hough transform algorithm promises to be an important step towards the realization of a real-time and compact image-understanding system. Received: 15 August 1998 / Accepted: 15 March 2000     

Development of a liquid tin microjet target for an efficient laser-produced plasma extreme ultraviolet source

A regenerative tin liquid microjet target was developed for a high average power extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source. The diameter of the target was smaller than 160 microm and good vacuum lower than 0.5 Pa was maintained during the operation. A maximum EUV conversion efficiency of 1.8% at the Nd:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser intensity of around 2 x 10(11) Wcm(2) with a spot diameter of 175 microm (full width at half maximum) was observed. The angular distribution of the EUV emission remained almost isotropic, whereas suprathermal ions mainly emerged toward the target normal.     

Splitting a configuration in a simplex

This paper presents a new method of partition, named-splitting, of a point set ind-dimensional space. Given a pointG in ad-dimensional simplexT, T(G;i) is the subsimplex spanned by G and the ith facet ofT. LetS be a set ofn points inT, and let be a sequence of nonnegative integers ₁, ..., n_d+1 satisfying _i=1 ^d+1 ₁=n The-splitter of (T, S) is a pointG inT such thatT(G;i) contains at least _i points ofS in its closure for everyi=1, 2, ...,d + 1. The associated dissection is the re-splitting.The existence of a-splitting is shown for any (T, S) and, and two efficient algorithms for finding such a splitting are given. One runs inO(d²n logn + d³n) time, and the other runs inO(n) time if the dimensiond can be considered as a constant. Applications of re-splitting to mesh generation, polygonal-tour generation, and a combinatorial assignment problem are given.     

Dual frequency open-loop electric potential microscopy for local potential measurements in electrolyte solution with high ionic strength

Recent development of open-loop electric potential microscopy (OL-EPM) has enabled to measure local potential distribution at a solid/liquid interface. However, the operating environment of OL-EPM has been limited to a weak electrolyte solution (<1 mM). This has significantly limited its application range in biology and chemistry. To overcome this limitation, we have developed dual frequency (DF) mode OL-EPM. In the method, an ac bias voltage consisting of two frequency components at f(1) and f(2) is applied between a tip and sample. The local potential is calculated from the amplitudes of the f(1) and |f(1) - f(2)| components of the electrostatic force. In contrast to the conventional single frequency (SF) mode OL-EPM, the detection of the 2f(1) component is not required in DF mode. Thus, the maximum bias modulation frequency in DF mode is twice as high as that in SF mode. The high bias modulation frequency used in DF mode prevents the generation of electrochemical reactions and redistribution of ions and water, which enables to operate OL-EPM even in a strong electrolyte solution. In this study, we have performed potential measurements of nanoparticles on a graphite surface in 1 and 10 mM NaCl solution. The results demonstrate that DF mode OL-EPM allows measurements of local potential distribution in 10 mM electrolyte solution.     

Role of disorder-order transformation in consolidation of ceramics

The ordering of stacking-disordered silicon carbide prepared from the elements by high energy ball milling was investigated during sintering. A sharp increase in density in the temperature region 1700–1800°C was associated with a decrease in the disorder. Samples which had low disorder density showed a more continuous sintering behavior with temperature. Highly dense (up to 99% relative density) SiC can be obtained at 1900°C under a pressure of 70 MPa with no hold time. Similar results were observed for structurally disordered carbon with 10 at% of boron. The sintering behavior exhibited an abrupt density increase in the narrow temperature region of 1450–1600°C and was associated with disorder-order transformation.     

A coaxial pulsed plasma thruster using chemical propellants

Pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) have the advantages of mechanical simplicity and robustness compared to other electric propulsion systems. However the thrust power ratio of PPTs is lower than that of other electric propulsion systems. To enhance the thrust performance of the PPT, we propose to use several combustible solid chemicals as coaxial PPT propellants to replace Teflon^® (Polytetrafluoroethylene: PTFE). With the design, the force obtained thermodynamically is expected to augment the PPT thrust power ratio with the help of the chemical energy contained in the propellants. As a result, the thrust power ratio is increased using hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene-ammonium perchlorate (HTPB-AP)-based propellants compared to the case of ordinary Teflon. The discharge current and voltage waveform does not change even when the propellant is changed. These findings could indicate that the impulse bits by gasdynamic contribution are lager in the case of chemical solid propellants than in the case of Teflon.     

Recent Progress on Non‐oriented Silicon Steel

Control of crystalline orientation and consequent enhancement of magnetic properties are important for decreasing core loss of non‐oriented silicon steel as well as grain‐oriented silicon steel. Through the development of special process techniques to produce clean refined steel, it is now possible to use any element to improve the crystalline texture control of steel without producing harmful effects. Utilization of these effects have actually lowered the core loss and raised the magnetic flux density of the products, and a product series of high‐efficiency non‐oriented silicon steel has been developed. Recently, demand has grown for non‐oriented silicon steel with particular properties, such as lower core loss at high frequencies or high strength, as high‐speed motors have progressed in regard to high efficiency and miniaturization. In response to this trend, non‐oriented thin gauge silicon steel with a thickness of 0.20 and 0.15mm and high strength non‐oriented thin gauge silicon steel with the same thickness but a yield strength of more than 570MPa and 780MPa have been developed.     

Encapsulation of radioactive metals inside multilayered polyhedral shells of carbon as a barrier to radionuclide release

A carbon nanoencapsulate has a polyhedral outer shell of nested, concentric layers of carbon. The shell defines an internal cavity where a metal is encapsulated. Although the rare-earth carbides readily hydrolyze in moist air, the carbides in these carbon shells did not degrade after exposure to air for considerable lengths of time. This means that the carbide particle is physically enclosed within the carbon cavity completely, and the cavity protects it perfectly against attack of water molecules. Considering intrinsic chemical stability of carbon under oxygen free condition, this structure may be a perfect barrier to extremely long-term release of radionuclides. Because encapsulation of LaC₂ within carbon nanoparticles increased drastically from by-product to major product, it would be possible to find the optimized condition that complete encapsulation is achieved. Intrinsic stability of carbon and carbon coated waste nanoparticles may provide an improved barrier to radionuclide release by groundwater.     

Plan for first phase of safety demonstration tests of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR)

Safety demonstration tests using the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) will be conducted for the purpose of demonstrating inherent safety features of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) as well as providing the core and plant transient data for validation of HTGR safety analysis codes. The first phase safety demonstration test items include the reactivity insertion test and the coolant flow reduction test. In the reactivity insertion test, which is the control rod withdrawal test, one pair out of 16 pairs of control rods is withdrawn, simulating a reactivity insertion event. The coolant flow reduction test consists of the partial loss of coolant flow test and the gas circulators trip test. In the partial loss of coolant flow test, primary coolant flow rate is slightly reduced by control system. In the gas circulators trip test one and two out of three gas circulators are run down, simulating coolant flow reduction events. The gas circulators trip tests, in which position of control rods are kept unchanged, are simulation tests of anticipated transients without scram (ATWS).     

Orthogonal queries in segments

We consider theorthgonal clipping problem in a set of segments: Given a set ofn segments ind-dimensional space, we preprocess them into a data structure such that given an orthogonal query window, the segments intersecting it can be counted/reported efficiently. We show that the efficiency of the data structure significantly depends on a geometric discrete parameterK named theProjected-image complexity, which becomes Θ(n ²) in the worst case but practically much smaller. If we useO(m) space, whereK log^4d−7 n≥m≥n log^4d−7 n, the query time isO((K/m)^1/2 log^{max{4, 4d−5}} n). This is near to an Ω((K/m)^1/2) lower bound.