Side match and overlap match vector quantizers for images

A class of vector quantizers with memory that are known as finite state vector quantizers (FSVQs) in the image coding framework is investigated. Two FSVQ designs, namely side match vector quantizers (SMVQs) and overlap match vector quantizers (OMVQs), are introduced. These designs take advantage of the 2-D spatial contiguity of pixel vectors as well as the high spatial correlation of pixels in typical gray-level images. SMVQ and OMVQ try to minimize the granular noise that causes visible pixel block boundaries in ordinary VQ. For 512 by 512 gray-level images, SMVQ and OMVQ can achieve communication quality reproduction at an average of 1/2 b/pixel per image frame, and acceptable quality reproduction. Because block boundaries are less visible, the perceived improvement in quality over ordinary VQ is even greater. Owing to the structure of SMVQ and OMVQ, simple variable length noiseless codes can achieve as much as 60% bit rate reduction over fixed-length noiseless codes.     

Novel heterojunction real-space transfer logic transistorstructures: a model-based investigation

Ensemble Monte Carlo simulations are employed in order to explore the feasibility of a novel real-space transfer logic transistor (RSTLT) structure. The operational principles of the proposed RSTLT are based on the concept of hot electron real-space transfer (RST), including the fact that the spatial location of electron RST is determined by applied bias and heterointerface energy barrier height in a multiterminal heterojunction microstructure. The results of two-dimensional, self-consistent steady-state and transient simulations demonstrate that the proposed RSTLT features ultrafast current switching which can be used to realize NOT/EQUIVALENT logic functions in a single heterojunction device. The logic operation is easily extended to NOR/AND functions. A conservative estimate of the characteristic delay time for current switching is ~3 ps in the proposed RSTLT structure     

Rotative quadrature phase-shift keying

A rotative quadrature phase-shift keying (RQPSK) modulation scheme is proposed. By rotating the QPSK signal constellation by pi /2 either clockwise or anticlockwise during a symbol duration, the conventional QPSK scheme can be modified to transmit 3 bits per symbol to achieve both power and bandwidth efficiency.<>     

Diffraction coefficients and field patterns of obtuse angledielectric wedge illuminated by E-polarized plane wave

The diffraction problem is treated for the incidence of an E -polarized plane wave on both interfaces of an obtuse dielectric wedge. Based on the dual integral equation, the total field is obtained by the sum of the physical optics solution and the edge-diffracted correction term. Calculated diffraction coefficients and field patterns are plotted in figures for a wedge angle of 120°, incident angles of 60° and 70°, and relative dielectric constants of 2 and 10. It is shown that the Neumann expansion to the nonuniform currents provides a more accurate correction to the physical optics currents than the multiple expansion as the angle of dielectric wedge increases     

An improved two-switch flyback converter with regenerative clamping

A novel soft-switching two-switch flyback converter is proposed in this article. This converter is composed of two active power switches, a flyback transformer and two passive regenerative clamping circuits. The proposed converter has the advantages of a low-cost circuit configuration, a simple control scheme, high efficiency, and a wide operating range. The circuit topology, analysis, design considerations and experimental results of the new flyback converter are presented.     

An inter-lighting interference cancellation scheme for MISO-VLC systems

In this paper, we propose an inter-lighting interference cancellation (ILIC) scheme to reduce the interference between adjacent light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and enhance the transmission capacity of multiple-input–single-output (MISO)-visible light communication (VLC) systems. In indoor environments, multiple LEDs have normally been used as lighting sources, allowing the design of MISO-VLC systems. To enhance the transmission capacity, different data should be simultaneously transmitted from each LED; however, that can lead to interference between adjacent LEDs. In that case, relatively low-received power signals are subjected to large interference because wireless optical systems generally use intensity modulation and direct detection. Thus, only the signal with the highest received power can be detected, while the other received signals cannot be detected. To solve this problem, we propose the ILIC scheme for MISO-VLC systems. The proposed scheme preferentially detects the highest received power signal, and this signal is referred as interference signal by an interference component generator. Then, relatively low-received power signal can be detected by cancelling the interference signal from the total received signals. Therefore, the performance of the proposed scheme can improve the total average bit error rate and throughput of a MISO-VLC system.     

Construction of a haptic-enabled broadcasting system based on the MPEG-V standard

With rapid developments in communications technology and digital multimedia, there has been increasing demand in recent years for realistic broadcasting technology beyond conventional audio-visual media. In response to this demand, this paper presents an example of the construction of a haptic-enabled broadcasting system based on the MPEG-V standard that was established recently. The construction processes of the proposed haptic-enabled broadcasting system include various types of media acquisition, haptic content creation by modeling and authoring, transmission, rendering, and interaction. This paper illustrates the data flow within the system, from the creation of haptic contents to the rendering of these contents to the end user, and explains a method of building the system with the MPEG-V standard. The constructed haptic-enabled broadcasting system allows users to have more immersive interaction with the synthesized haptic multimedia, which is closely synchronized with audio-visual data.     

Optimized contrast enhancement for real-time image and video dehazing

A fast and optimized dehazing algorithm for hazy images and videos is proposed in this work. Based on the observation that a hazy image exhibits low contrast in general, we restore the hazy image by enhancing its contrast. However, the overcompensation of the degraded contrast may truncate pixel values and cause information loss. Therefore, we formulate a cost function that consists of the contrast term and the information loss term. By minimizing the cost function, the proposed algorithm enhances the contrast and preserves the information optimally. Moreover, we extend the static image dehazing algorithm to real-time video dehazing. We reduce flickering artifacts in a dehazed video sequence by making transmission values temporally coherent. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm effectively removes haze and is sufficiently fast for real-time dehazing applications.     

Enhanced efficiency of organic photovoltaic cells with Sr2SiO4:Eu2+ and SrGa2S4:Eu2+ phosphors

We report the effect of yellow Sr₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ and green SrGa₂S₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors on the efficiency of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Each phosphor was coated on the back side of indium tin oxide (ITO)/glass substrates by spin coating with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The maximum absorption wavelength of the active layer in the OPV cells was ～512 nm. The emission peaks of Sr₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ and SrGa₂S₄:Eu²⁺ were maximized at 552 nm and 534 nm, respectively. The short circuit current density (J_sc) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the OPV cells with Sr₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ (8.55 mA/cm² and 3.25%) and with SrGa₂S₄:Eu²⁺ (9.29 mA/cm² and 3.3%) were higher than those of the control device without phosphor (7.605 mA/cm² and 3.04%). We concluded that phosphor tuned the wavelength of the incident light to the absorption wavelength of the active layer, thus increasing the J_sc and PCE of the OPV cells.     

Low temperature annealing behaviors of the titanium films formed by the ionized sputtering process on (001) silicon substrates

We investigated the low temperature reactions between the Ti films created by the ionized sputtering process and the (001) single crystal silicon wafers using high resolution transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffractometry. We observed that the amorphous Ti-Si intermixed layer is formed at the Ti-Si interface whose thickness increased with the thickness of the deposited Ti films. The amorphous interlayer grew upon annealing treatments at the temperatures below 450°C. We also observed that the crystallization of the amorphous interlayer occurred upon annealing at 500°C. The first formed phase is Ti₅Si₃ in contact with Ti films, which is epitaxial with Ti films. Upon further annealing at 500°C, the Ti₅Si₄ phase and C49 TiSi₂ phase formed in the regions close to Ti films and Si substrates, respectively.