A Zero-Pole Reposition Based, 0.95-mW, 68-dB,Linear-in-dB,Constant-Bandwidth Variable Gain Amplifier

A variable-gain amplifier with very low power consumption and wide tuning range is presented. The operational principle of this unique structure is discussed, its most important formulas are derived and its outstanding performance is verified by simulation in TSMC 0.18-μm N-well CMOS fabrication process. Owing to the novel zero-pole repositioning technique, the proposed circuit demonstrates very high frequency bandwidth of 79 MHz while drawing only 0.52 mA from 1.8 V power supply. The interesting results such as a very small core area of about 0.0025 mm² as well as a wide linear-in-dB and constant-bandwidth tuning range of 68.2 dB along with a very low power consumption of 0.95 mW are achieved utilizing standard CMOS technology. The stability of the proposed VGA is verified through transient sinusoidal response analysis. Full process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variation analysis of the circuit is also investigated through Monte Carlo and corner case analysis in order to approve the robustness of the structure. Monte Carlo simulations show standard deviation values of 4.6 dB and 78.3 MHz in gain and gain-bandwidth product, respectively. These results show that our zero-pole repositioning method would lend itself well for use in low-power and high-frequency applications, especially in high-speed automatic gain control amplifiers.     

一种集成高压感性能量耦合前端的植入式神经电刺激器

本文提出了一种包含片上感性能量耦合前端和高压刺激生成电路的高集成度神经电刺激器。其中高压感性能量耦合前端由高压全波整流桥（交流输入可达100V）,高压串联稳压 器（24V和5V输出）,和包含了带隙基准的线性稳压器（1.8V和3.3V输出）构成。凭借高压串联稳压器的大电压输出（24V）,该神经电刺激器能够在高的电极-组织接触电阻情 况下输出较大的刺激电流。本文所述芯片使用CSMC 1μm 高压BCD工艺制备,芯片面积为5.8 mm2。在13.56 MHz交流输入情况下测试,表现出良好的稳定性。与类似的芯片相比 ,该芯片具有宽输入范围、高输出电压和高集成度的优势,非常适合植入式神经电刺激的应用。     

Tailoring the Optical Properties of Epitaxially Grown Biaxial ZnO/Ge,and Coaxial ZnO/Ge/ZnO and Ge/ZnO/Ge Heterostructures

Heterostructures of epitaxially grown biaxial ZnO/Ge, and coaxial ZnO/Ge/ZnO and Ge/ZnO/Ge heterostructured nanowires with ideal epitaxial interfaces between the semiconductor ZnO sublayer and the Ge sublayer have been fabricated via a two‐stage chemical vapor–solid process. Structural characterization by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction indicates that both the ZnO and Ge sublayers in the heterostructures are single crystalline. A good epitaxial relationship of (100)_ZnO∥(2 0)_Ge exists at the interface between ZnO and Ge in the ZnO/Ge biaxial heterostructure. There is also an epitaxial relationship of (0 0)_ZnO∥(020)_Ge at the interface between the ZnO and Ge substructures in the coaxial ZnO/Ge/ZnO heterostructures, and a good epitaxial relationship of (0 0)_ZnO∥(0 0)_Ge at the interface between ZnO and Ge in the Ge/ZnO/Ge coaxial heterostructure. Structural models for the crystallographic relationship between the wurtzite‐ZnO and diamond‐like cubic‐Ge subcomponents in the heterostructures are given. The optical properties for the synthesized heterostructures are studied by spatially resolved cathodoluminescence spectra at low temperature (20 K). Excitingly, the unique biaxial and coaxial heterostructures display unique new luminescence properties. It is concluded that the ideal epitaxial interface between ZnO and Ge in the prepared heterostructures induces new optical properties. The group II–VI Ge‐based nanometer‐scale heterostructures and their interesting optical properties may inspire great interest in exploring related epitaxial heterostructures and their potential applications in lasers, gas sensors, solar energy conversion, and nanodevices in the future.     

垂直腔面发射激光器中选择性氧化工艺稳定性研究

选择性氧化工艺已经成为制备高性能垂直腔面发射激光器(VCSEL)的关键技术,氧化后形成的氧化层提供了良好的电限制和折射率导引,但选择性氧化速率是呈线性规律还是抛物线规律仍存在很大的争议.在多种温度条件下,做了环形沟槽和环形分布孔的氧化实验,这是在垂直腔面发射激光器中采用的两种结构.实验结果表明,氧化窗口形状对氧化速率的影响也依赖温度条件,并对这种实验现象给出了定性解释.     

Efficient optimization of integrated spiral inductor with bounding of layout design parameters

In this paper we present an efficient method of determining the optimized layout of on chip spiral inductor. The method initially identifies the feasible region of optimization by developing layout design parameter bound curves for a large range of physical inductance values that satisfies the same area specification. For any desired inductance value the upper and lower bounds of the optimization variables are determined graphically. An enumeration algorithm implemented finds the global optimum layout that gives the highest quality factor in less than 1 s of CPU time with less function evaluations. The optimization method also gives the performance of all possible combinations that results the same inductance value. Subsequently important fundamental tradeoff of the design like quality factor and area, quality factor and inductance, quality factor and operating frequency, maximum quality factor and the peak frequency is explored in few seconds. The method also gives other valuable information such as sensitivity of the inductance and quality factor to the layout design parameters. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified using a 3D electromagnetic simulator.     

聚合物光纤在中国的应用发展

聚合物光纤在中国的应用是从20世纪80年代中后期首先在丁艺品的应用开始的，目前已成为聚合物光纤在中国最大的应用领域，随后向广告、显示和装饰装潢应用领域扩展，至20世纪90年代末期，聚合物光纤向照明、传像、传感和短距离数据传输应用发展，现已取得很大的进步。     

基于在线判别式字典学习的鲁棒视觉跟踪

现有子空间跟踪方法较好地解决了目标表观变化和遮挡问题,但是它对复杂背景下目标跟踪的鲁棒性较差。针对此问题,该文首先提出一种基于Fisher准则的在线判别式字典学习模型,利用块坐标下降和替换操作设计了该模型的在线学习算法用于视觉跟踪模板更新。其次,定义候选目标编码系数与目标样本编码系数均值之间的距离为系数误差,提出以候选目标的重构误差与系数误差的组合作为粒子滤波的观测似然跟踪目标。实验结果表明：与现有跟踪方法相比,该文跟踪方法具有较强的鲁棒性和较高的跟踪精度。     

Spectral Efficiency Evaluation for MRC Diversity Schemes Over Generalized Rician Fading Channels

In this paper, closed-form expressions for the capacities per unit bandwidth for generalized Rician fading channels are derived for power and rate adaptation, constant transmit power, channel inversion with fixed rate, and truncated channel inversion adaptation policies. The closed-form solutions are derived for the single antenna reception (without diversity combining) and maximal-ratio combining (MRC) diversity cases. Truncated channel inversion adaptation policy is the best policy for the single antenna reception case, while the channel inversion with fixed rate policy is the best policy for the MRC diversity case. Constant transmit power policy provides the lowest spectral efficiency as compared to the other policies with and without diversity.     

Polynomial-Based Interpolation Filters—Part I: Filter Synthesis

This paper introduces a generalized design method for polynomial-based interpolation filters. These filters can be implemented by using a modified Farrow structure, where the fixed finite impulse response (FIR) sub-filters possess either symmetrical or anti-symmetrical impulse responses. In the proposed approach, the piecewise polynomial impulse response of the interpolation filter is optimized directly in the frequency domain using either the minimax or least mean square criterion subject to the given time domain constraints. The length of the impulse response and the degree of the approximating polynomial in polynomial intervals can be arbitrarily selected. The optimization in the frequency domain makes the proposed design scheme more suitable for various digital signal processing applications and enables one to synthesize interpolation filters for arbitrary desired and weighting functions. Most importantly, the interpolation filters can be optimized in a manner similar to that of conventional linear-phase FIR filters.     

WLAN-GPRS Tight Coupling Based Interworking Architecture with Vertical Handoff Support

There have been parallel technological developments in wireless local network (WLAN) and cellular wide area network (WAN) technologies. This is evidenced by the boom in fast WLANs enabled devices, the spread of 2.5 G networks and the increasing emergence 3 G communication networks, applications and terminals. The prospects of integrating WLAN and cellular WAN technologies with support for seamless handoffs between the two heterogeneous have changed the mentality of researchers from considering WLAN technology as a threat to the future of wide area cellular networks to accepting the technology as a complementary solution. A number of architectures for interworking the two different network types have been proposed mainly based on the loose coupling interworking approach recommended by the ETSI. One of the main weaknesses anticipated with loose coupling architecture is excessive handoff latency, which may lead to data loss, traffic congestion and handoff failure. In this paper an architecture for interworking WLAN and the GPRS networks, based on the ETSI tight coupling approach, is proposed. Fredson Alfred Phiri holds a Master of Engineering Science (MEngSc) degree obtained from Multimedia University, Malaysia in 2005 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Malawi where he graduated in 2001. Mr. Phiri is currently working as a lecturer at the Polytechnic of Namibia (Namibia’s University of Science and Technology) where he also chairs the Electronics and Telecommunications (E-TEL) Research Group. He has previously worked as a lecturer at the University of Malawi, as a Telecommunications Engineer at Technocentre (Malawi), and as a Telecommunication Technician at the Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL). Mr. Phiri’s research interests include Integration of Mobile Data Networks, Network Programming and Powerline Communication. M.B.R. Murthy has obtained his B.E. (Electrical) from Andhra University, College of Engineering, Waltair, India, M.Sc (Engg) in Communication Systems from Regional Engineering College-Rourkela, India and PhD from Karnatak University, Dharwad, India. He has over 32 years of academic experience teaching under graduates and graduate students. He has vast research experience and has 43 publications in reputed journals and international conferences. He is a senior member at IEEE. He had six years of teaching and research experience at Multi Media University Malaysia. Currently he is Professor ECE and Dean PG engineering and R&D in GEC Gudlavalleru, India.