A new SPICE model of power P-I-N diode based on asymptotic waveformevaluation

A new SPICE subcircuit model for power p-i-n diodes is proposed in this paper. The model is based on a moment-matching approximation of the ambipolar diffusion equation. It is shown that both the quasistatic model and the lumped charge model can be obtained as ion-order moment-matching approximations while new and more accurate models can be obtained from higher-order solutions. The proposed model takes into account emitter recombination in the highly doped end regions, conductivity modulation in the base and the moving-boundaries effect during reverse-recovery, showing good convergence properties and fast simulation times. Comparisons between the results of the SPICE model and both numerical device simulations and experimental results are presented     

Modeling pentode-like characteristics of recessed-gate staticinduction transistor

A new analytical model is described for the pentode-like region of the characteristics of recessed-gate SIT structures. The model allows one to investigate the transition from saturating characteristics of long channel JFET's to nonsaturating behavior of SIT devices, taking into account realistic device geometry     

A short term −12° head down tilt does not mimic microgravity in terms of human gonadal function

A significant reversible decrease in testosterone (T) has been associated with microgravity in male rodents and humans. Urinary T excretion increases in primates under hypergravity. Hypogonadism is somehow related to abnormally high levels of leptin (L), a hormone produced by the adipose tissue which has been found to increase under microgravity simulation conditions like head down bed rest (HDBR). The aim of this study was to assess hemodynamic and pituitary-adrenal and -gonadal adaptation to an acute HDBR test to be eventually used on a routine basis to get better prepared to next space flights. The Authors performed a 1 hour ?12° HDBR in 6 male and 6 female volunteers who underwent heart rate and blood pressure measurement together with a blood draw three times at 30 min intervals from the start to the end of the test for L, T, estradiol (E₂), LH, androstenedione (A), cortisol (F), ACTH. 12 age- and sexmatched control subjects followed the same protocol except for keeping the sitting position all the time. According to the ANOVA for repeated measures, no changes occurred in L, T, E₂ or LH whereas A, F and ACTH significantly decreased independently of gender. During HDBR systolic blood pressure decreased in both genders, diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly only in men and HR showed a more clear-cut decrease in women than in men. As a conclusion, such an acute steep-slope HDBR protocol may be efficiently used to testing immediate individual haemodynamic or adrenal response to microgravity but is not suitable for studies concerning gonadal adaptation.     

A fast time-domain algorithm for the simulation of switching powerconverters

An efficient algorithm for the simulation of switched-mode power converters is developed. A Chebyshev series expansion is used to effectively solve the differential equations describing the system in each topology. The power of the new simulation technique lies both in the simple, but accurate, polynomial approximation for the state transition matrices and in the ability to explicitly obtain the instants at which the switching of the circuit topology takes place. The simulation technique is illustrated with reference to a simple Buck converter operating at a constant frequency. The derivation of the new algorithm is presented and its performance is analyzed. The case of a rapidly varying input forcing function is analyzed. Examples illustrating the generality and the computational efficiency of the algorithm are presented     

Design of IGBT with integral freewheeling diode

A new power structure integrating a freewheeling diode in the termination region of a punch-through (PT) insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is presented. The proposed solution requires virtually no silicon area penalty with respect to a standard IGBT. Static and dynamic experimental results show the correct behavior of both IGBT and freewheeling diode. Further, it is shown that the lateral diode surrounding the multicellular IGBT can support IGBT direct current with low on-state voltage drop. The operation mechanisms of the composite structure and design techniques to improve structure dynamic behavior are investigated through two-dimensional numerical device simulations     

A 2.5-GHz DDFS-PLL With 1.8-MHz Bandwidth in 0.35-$mu$m CMOS

A wideband frequency synthesizer architecture is presented. The proposed topology employs a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) to control the output frequency of an offset-PLL. In this way, the synthesizer features a very fine frequency resolution, 24 Hz, as in delta-sigma fractional-N PLLs, but without being affected by the quantization-induced phase noise. This, in turn, allows enlarging the loop bandwidth. The frequency synthesizer is designed to be employed as a direct modulator for Bluetooth transmitter in a low-cost 0.35-mum CMOS technology. At 2.5GHz it achieves 1.8-MHz bandwidth, while the settling time within 30ppm for an 80-MHz step is 3 mus. The integrated phase noise gives less than 1 degree of rms phase error and the worst-case spur is 48dBc at 1 MHz, well below the specifications. Power dissipation is 120 mW for the PLL core, 50 mW for the DDFS plus DACs, and 19 mW for the GFSK modulator.     

Low power double edge-triggered flip-flop using one latch

A low power double edge-triggered (DET) flip-flop using a single latch is presented. In the proposed circuit data are sampled into the latch during a short transparency period for each edge of the clock signal. The proposed flip-flop requires small silicon area and has lower power dissipation with respect to previously reported DET flip-flops     

Effect of aging in new oak, one-year-used oak, chestnut barrels and bottle on color, phenolics and gustative profile of three monovarietal red wines

This study provides specific information about the influence of storage in bottle and in 225-L barrels made from oak (new and used for 1 year) and chestnut wood on color indexes, spectrophotometric evaluable polyphenols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids and gustative attributes of three monovarietal red wines (Piedirosso, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). The results of the analysis of variance show that wood type has a significant influence on chromatic characteristics, on vanilline reactive flavans, on low molecular weight phenolics and on astringency of wines. The effect depends on the type of wine. Therefore, both traditional and alternative wood containers could be used as an instrument to regulate the polymerization, oxidation and copigmentation reaction of wine phenolics and the sensory properties of red wine. The maturation in chestnut wood could be an interesting challenge to widen the supply of red wines maturated in wood, but its use needs more care than oak.     

Effect of winemaking practices on color indexes and selected bioactive phenolics of Aglianico wine

ABSTRACT:  Phenolic compounds are responsible for the sensory properties of wine as well as the properties beneficial to human health. The objective of this study was to establish the effect of the use of SO₂ and pectolitic enzymes in the prefermentative phase, maceration time, and oak aging on color, anthocyanins, tannins, (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin, rutin, trans -resveratrol, and quercetin content of Aglianico wine. Color indexes and phenolics were analyzed by HPLC and spectrophotometric methods. The addition of SO₂ and pectolitic enzymes before fermentation caused an increase in color intensity, color stability, total phenolics, anthocyanins, (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin rutin, trans -resveratrol, and quercetin content in Aglianico wine. Longer maceration times gave wines richer in total phenolics and with better chromatic characteristics. Storage in oak caused a decrease in anthocyanins, (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin, trans -resveratrol, and quercetin content but an increase in total phenolic content, and a stabilizing effect on color also occurred.     

Activation of parasitic bipolar transistor during reverse recovery of MOSFET's intrinsic diode

The activation of the parasitic bipolar transistor during reverse recovery of the internal diode of a power MOSFET used as a fly-back diode in a half-bridge circuit topology is investigated. Experimental observations, obtained by means of a non-destructive tester, and 2D MEDICI simulations indicate that, among the various physical and geometrical parameters of MOSFET elementary cell, the resistance associated to the contact on the source region plays the most relevant role during the activation process.