Time-budgeting: a component based development methodology for real-time embedded systems

The design of a complex embedded control system involves integration of large number of components. These components need to interact in a timely fashion to achieve the system level end-to-end requirements. In practice, the component level timing specification consists of design attributes like component task mapping, task period and schedule definition but often lack details on their real-time (functional) requirements. As we observe, there is no systematic methodology in place for decomposing the feature level timing requirements into component level timing requirements. This paper proposes an early stage time-budgeting methodology to bridge the above gap. A salient proposal of this methodology is to consider parameterized component timing-requirements. A key step in the methodology involves computing a set of constraints by relating component requirements with feature requirements. This enables the separation of timing constraints from functionality decomposition, and facilitates early optimization of the component time-budget for a complex component based embedded system. This paper formalizes the proposed methodology by using Parametric Temporal Logic. A case study involving two advanced features from the automotive domain, namely Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Mitigation is given to demonstrate the methodology.     

Investigation on microwave absorption capacity of nanocomposites based on metal oxides and graphene

Graphene and its nanocomposites were prepared via solution mixing process. Graphene based polymer nanocomposites were prepared by two step process. Firstly, graphene/poly(3-methyl thiophene)(PMT)/BaTiO₃ nanocomposite was prepared by in situ chemical oxidation polymerization technique. In the second step these nanocomposites were dispersed in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix by solution blending process. All the four nanocomposites in TPU [30 % modified graphene (P1), 30 % Poly(3-methyl thiophene) (P2), 30 % graphene/PMT/BaTiO₃ (P3) and 15 % graphene/PMT/BaTiO₃ + 15 % Fe₃O₄ (P4)] were analyzed by different analytical techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microwave absorbing property was measured by Agilent vector network analyzer (ENA E5071C) in the X-band region (8–12 GHz). Microwave absorption result was interpreted with the help of complex permittivity and permeability of the prepared materials. Matching of both dielectric loss and magnetic loss is essential for an effective radar absorbing material (RAM). P1, P2, P3 and P4 showed the maximum return loss of ?14.37, ?9.3, ?30.02 and ?47.59 dB respectively. Thermal stability of the RAMs was determined by the help of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) instrument. Among the all, P4 showed better thermal property. All results support their use as RAM in different field.     

An integrated technology CAD system for process and devicedesigners

A workstation-based integrated system with a highly interactive X/Motif user interface is discussed. At present, TSUPREM3, TSUPREM4 and TPISCES have been integrated into this system. The components of the integrated TCAD system include a generic process recipe editor, a mask editor, a 2-D wafer structure builder (using 1-D/2-D process simulation profiles), a mesh generator for 2-D device simulation, a device simulation recipe editor, and graphical postprocessors for both process and device analysis. The user of this system inputs the specification of a process recipe and the layout of the device structure to be fabricated. The system then runs process and device simulation using incremental and shared simulation strategies to generate wafer structure and electrical device characteristics. An interactive user interface guides the user through the process and device simulation flow. thereby aiding what-if analysis of process and device tradeoffs     

Analysis of arbitrarily shaped microstrip patch antennas using the Sommerfeld formulation

Triangular patch modeling is used for analysis of arbitrarily shaped microstrip patch antennas over a single lossy dielectric medium. Since the Sommerfeld formulation is used, both the single dielectric layer (over which the microstrip patch is located) and the ground plane are considered to be infinitely wide. Typical numerical results are presented for rectangular, circular, semicircular, pentagonal, and triangular patch antennas. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A Branching Time Temporal Framework for Quantitative Reasoning

Temporal logics such as Computation Tree Logic (CTL) and Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) have become popular for specifying temporal properties over a wide variety of planning and verification problems. In this paper we work towards building a generalized framework for automated reasoning based on temporal logics. We present a powerful extension of CTL with first-order quantification over the set of reachable states for reasoning about extremal properties of weighted labeled transition systems in general. The proposed logic, which we call Weighted Quantified Computation Tree Logic (WQCTL), captures the essential elements common to the domain of planning and verification problems and can thereby be used as an effective specification language in both domains. We show that in spite of the rich, expressive power of the logic, we are able to evaluate WQCTL formulas in time polynomial in the size of the state space times the length of the formula. Wepresent experimental results on the WQCTL verifier.     

Quantified Computation Tree Logic

Computation Tree Logic (CTL) is one of the most syntactically elegant and computationally attractive temporal logics for branching time model checking. In this paper, we observe that while CTL can be verified in time polynomial in the size of the state space times the length of the formula, there is a large set of reachability properties which cannot be expressed in CTL, but can still be verified in polynomial time. We present a powerful extension of CTL with first-order quantification over sets of reachable states. The extended logic, QCTL, preserves the syntactic elegance of CTL while enhancing its expressive power significantly. We show that QCTL model checking is PSPACE-complete in general, but has a rich fragment (containing CTL) which can be checked in polynomial time. We show that this fragment is significantly more expressive than CTL while preserving the syntactic beauty of CTL.     

Observations of high temperature impinging-jet boiling phenomena

A high-speed video camera and microphone were used to capture the flow behavior and boiling sound of a free-surface water jet impinging on a high temperature surface during quench cooling. It was found that depending on the superheat of the surface considerably different flow patterns appeared. For cases where the initial surface temperature was above about 300 °C an almost explosive pattern appeared. This was in contrast to slightly lower temperatures where a liquid sheet flow structure was apparent. The change in phenomena was accompanied by a sudden change in the boiling sound and an increase in the heat transfer rate.     

A monitor wafer based controller for semiconductor processes

A monitor wafer based controller is described. The controller can be applied to equipment with or without in-situ sensors. The controller incorporates a novel multivariable adaptation methodology for the feedback controller that employs a layered process/equipment model. The layered model consists of an intrinsic component that corresponds to the initial settings to outputs model and an extrinsic component that transforms the inputs and the outputs of the intrinsic model. The adaptation strategy tunes the extrinsic model only and thus the adaptation strategy is independent of the intrinsic model form. The controller determines whether the process and equipment have changed state by using model based SQC to compare product parameter measurements with the composite model predictions. If a change in state is deduced, a model tuner is activated which adapts the extrinsic model to reflect the new state. To adapt the model, a local experiment design technique is applied that perturbs the equipment settings. Finally, a stepwise optimization technique that permits the specification and utilization of user preference toward changing some process inputs over others is used for determining the new process recipe. We report the controller's application to the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of silicon nitride (PECVD Nitride) process run on Applied Materials Precision Reactor (AMT 5000). The controller has been tested in two ways. First, single and multiple faults were introduced in the process equipment. Second, the controller performance was observed during an extended period of routine use. These evaluations indicate that the controller is able to detect process state change and to adjust the process recipe to keep the process on target     

Stripping and recycling of metal ions in aqueous nitric acid solutions: Experimental and molecular dynamics insights

Stripping of metal ions (i.e., Cs⁺ and Na⁺) in presence of ionophore such as dibenzo-18-crown-6, (DB18C6) from the ionic liquid phase to the aqueous nitric acid phase by molecular dynamics simulation is reported. The experimentally determined stripping percentages of Na⁺ (i.e., 43.4, 38.5, 34.4, and 31.9%) were found to be higher than the same for Cs⁺ (i.e., 32.6, 32.0, 31.3, and 30.2%). The nonbonded and the hydrogen bond energies between Na⁺ and water (i.e., −356.41 and −363.77 kcal/mol) were higher when compared with Cs⁺ (i.e., −212.43 and −221.04 kcal/mol). The spatial distribution functions further confirmed that the surfaces of Na⁺ were very closely distributed around the active sides of water whereas for Cs⁺, it was distributed very far from the water molecules. In the penultimate section, the effect of methanol to the aqueous phase was studied so as to enhance the extraction efficiency of the complex.