Testing interconnections to static RAMs

A method for testing the interconnections of ordinary static RAMs with a processor that has a boundary-scan register and an IEEE 1149.1 test-access port is described. The method uses an enhanced boundary-scan-register design that manipulates the test-access-port controller states to meet the static RAM's timing constraints. The implementation is more economical than a boundary-scan register that strictly conforms to IEEE 1149.1. Test operation is more efficient, requiring a third of the number of scan operations. A test-pattern set and a method for detecting and diagnosing the interconnection faults on RAMs are also described. The test-pattern set can be enhanced as necessary to increase coverage and diagnosing ability and to handle any RAM configuration. The implementation of the proposed boundary-scan register is independent of the test algorithm used. It is believed that the methodology is extendable to RAMs that use an access protocol different from the one described, for example dynamic RAMs and synchronous RAMs     

Development of a simple low-cost solar simulator for indoor collector testing

Indoor test methods for solar collectors are widely accepted and recommended by ASHRAE. The development of a solar simulator for indoor testing and the certification procedure for photo-thermal solar devices is discussed in this paper. The system consists of 14 quartz halogen lamps and provides a testing area of about 1 × 1 m. The irradiance can be varied from 400 to 1500 W/m². This is achieved by varying the input power supplied to individual lamps. The radiation output characteristics of a single lamp have been studied. The distribution of intensity over the covered area of 1·20 × 1·20 m has been recorded using a precision Eppley pyranometer.A variety of collectors—evacuated tubular collectors and flat-plate collectors of both liquid and air heating types—has been tested under sufficiently stable insolation conditions. Results for a conventional solar air heater are presented together with suggestions for further improvements.     

Range map superresolution-inpainting,and reconstruction from sparse data

Range images often suffer from issues such as low resolution (LR) (for low-cost scanners) and presence of missing regions due to poor reflectivity, and occlusions. Another common problem (with high quality scanners) is that of long acquisition times. In this work, we propose two approaches to counter these shortcomings. Our first proposal which addresses the issues of low resolution as well as missing regions, is an integrated super-resolution (SR) and inpainting approach. We use multiple relatively-shifted LR range images, where the motion between the LR images serves as a cue for super-resolution. Our imaging model also accounts for missing regions to enable inpainting. Our framework models the high resolution (HR) range as a Markov random field (MRF), and uses inhomogeneous MRF priors to constrain the solution differently for inpainting and super-resolution. Our super-resolved and inpainted outputs show significant improvements over their LR/interpolated counterparts. Our second proposal addresses the issue of long acquisition times by facilitating reconstruction of range data from very sparse measurements. Our technique exploits a cue from segmentation of an optical image of the same scene, which constrains pixels in the same color segment to have similar range values. Our approach is able to reconstruct range images with as little as 10% data. We also study the performance of both the proposed approaches in a noisy scenario as well as in the presence of alignment errors.     

Crystal structure,phonon modes,and bond characteristics of AgPb2B2V3O12 (B = Mg,Zn) microwave ceramics

AgPb₂B₂V₃O₁₂ (B = Mg, Zn) ceramics with low sintering temperature were synthesized via the conventional solid-state reaction route. Rietveld refinements of the X-ray diffraction patterns confirm cubic symmetry with space group . The number of observed vibrational modes and those predicted by group theoretical calculations also confirm the space group. At the optimum sintering temperature of 750°C/4 hours, AgPb₂Mg₂V₃O₁₂ has a relative permittivity of 23.3 ± 0.2, unloaded quality factor () of 26 900 ± 500 GHz (), and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency of 19.3 ± 1 ppm/°C, while AgPb₂Zn₂V₃O₁₂ has the corresponding values of 26.4 ± 0.2, 28 400 ± 500 GHz () and –18.4 ± 1 ppm/°C at 590°C/4 hours. Microwave dielectric properties of a few reported garnets and Pb₂AgB₂V₃O₁₂ (B = Mg, Zn) ceramics were correlated with their intrinsic characteristics such as the Raman shifts as well as width of A_1g Raman bands. Higher quality factor was obtained for lower full width at half-maxima (FWHMs) values of A_1g modes. The increase in B-site bond valence contributes to high and low |τ_f| with the substitution of Zn²⁺ by Mg²⁺. Furthermore, the high ionic polarizability and unit cell volume with Zn²⁺substitution contribute to increased relative permittivity.     

Estimation of the Kubelka—Munk scattering coefficient from single particle scattering parameters

Computer colour matching of paints is based on the determination of the Kubelka—Munk absorption (K) and scattering coefficients (S) of pigments. K and S are sensitive to particle size in the range of sizes employed in paint technology. The K—M theory does not provide any guidelines for the correction of the values of K and S with a change in particle size. On the other hand the Mie theory linear scattering coefficient can be calculated from a knowledge of size and refractive index of the pigment. A number of relations correlating the K—M scattering coefficient and the linear scattering coefficient have been proposed in the literature. Attempts are made to estimate the K—M scattering coefficient using a relation suggested by Mudgett and Richards and to make a comparison with experimental values. The Mie theory equations being complex, simplified equations applicable to pigment sizes for the calculation of Mie theory parameters are proposed. The viability of the simplified equations has been established by comparing the results with those obtained using the full Mie equations.The K—M scattering coefficient for titanium dioxide pigments has been determined from reflectance measurements. The particle size of titanium dioxide has been determined by a light scattering method. The K—M scattering coefficient calculated from the linear scattering coefficient obtained using the simplified expressions agrees with experimental results. This suggests a method for the correction of the values of K and S with changes in pigment particle size.     

Design and analysis of RF MEMS shunt switch for V-band applications

Microsystem Technologies - In this paper, we have designed and simulations of RF MEMS shunt switch. The electro-mechanical and electromagnetic analysis of the switch have been done using COMSOL...     

Ascorbic acid imprinted polymer-modified graphite electrode: A diagnostic sensor for hypovitaminosis C at ultra trace ascorbic acid level

A new kind of molecularly imprinted polymer-modified graphite electrode was fabricated by “grafting-to” approach, incorporating sol–gel technique, for the detection of acute deficiency in serum ascorbic acid level (SAAL), manifesting hypovitaminosis C. The modified electrode exhibited ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation at less positive potential (0.0 V) than the earlier reported methods, resulting in a limit of detection as low as 6.13 ng mL⁻¹ (RSD = 1.2%, S/N = 3). The diffusion coefficient (1.096 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹), rate constant (7.308 s⁻¹), and Gibb's free energy change (−12.59 kJ mol⁻¹) due to analyte adsorption, were also calculated to explore the kinetics of AA oxidation. The proposed sensor was found to enhance sensitivity substantially so as to detect ultra trace level of AA in the presence of other biologically important compounds (dopamine, uric acid, etc.), without any cross interference and matrix complications from biological fluids and pharmaceutical samples.     

Synchronizing the IEEE 1149.1 test access port for chip leveltestability

IEEE STD 1149.9 is a widely accepted testability standard in the industry. Although its mandatory provisions focus narrowly on board level assembly verification testing, primarily via the boundary-scan register, its test access port (TAP) and many optional provisions make the standard usable for a much broader range of applications. Since its inception, numerous extensions and applications have been proposed that allow the standard's TAP to be used at the system level for general system-level test and maintenance tasks and at the chip level for accessing chip-level testability features. Chip-level applications thus far have used the port for accessing the chip's scan design or for simple triggering of on-chip built-in self-test features via the RUNBIST instruction. Applications requiring general access to chipwide testability features that operate at the full chip-clock rate have been rare, primarily because of one of the standard's basic tenets-namely, its dedicated test clock. This strategy enhances the test port to let it operate with two clocks. One is used while accessing IEEE 1149.1-compliant features, the other while accessing chip manufacturing test features     

Assessment of fish mercury levels in the upper St. Lawrence River,Canada

The stretch of the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, between the Moses–Saunders power dam to the eastern outlet of Lake St. Francis in Québec, is currently listed as an Area of Concern (AOC), and has restrictive fish consumption advisories in place, largely due to high mercury levels. This study examined long-term temporal trends of mercury concentrations in northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch from the St. Lawrence River, including the Cornwall AOC. In addition, differences in fish mercury concentrations among river sections were compared for each species using historical (1975–1979) and recent (2000–2011) data. Statistically significant declines in mercury concentrations were observed in all river sections for yellow perch (~ 40%), as well as in northern pike and walleye in at least one river section. For the river section encompassing the AOC, recent mercury concentrations are 33–59% lower than historical mercury concentrations for all four species. Further, a comparison of recent mercury concentrations between the AOC river section and other Ontario lakes/rivers suggests that AOC mercury values are within the 75th percentile of values for other Ontario water bodies in three of the four species considered. However, current fish mercury values for the AOC river section remain higher than one or more upstream river sections. These results indicate that recovery is still ongoing in this AOC.     

Optimal operation and tracking control of vapor-recompressed batch distillation

Vapor recompressed batch distillation (VRBD) is an energy-integrated configuration which works on the principle of a heat pump. Operation of such a column is challenging due to unsteady, nonlinear dynamics and strong interplay between separation and energy efficiency. In this paper, a two-step approach is proposed for optimal operation and control of such a column. Initially, an openloop optimal operation policy is generated for maximization of an overall performance index using offline optimization. To this end, three performance indices are proposed to capture interplay between separation and energy efficiency. Subsequently, a model-based output feedback controller is designed to track this optimal performance trajectory. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated using a benzene-toluene separation case study wherein it is shown that the proposed approach helps to achieve optimal operation in the presence of operational disturbances.