Interpolated Coarse Models for Microwave Design Optimization With Space Mapping

The efficiency of space-mapping optimization depends on the quality of the underlying coarse model, which should be sufficiently close to the fine model and cheap to evaluate. In practice, available coarse models are often cheap, but inaccurate (e.g., a circuit equivalent of the microwave structure) or accurate, but too expensive (e.g., a coarse-mesh model). In either case, the space-mapping optimization process exhibits substantial computational overhead due to the excessive fine model evaluations necessary to find a good solution if the coarse model is inaccurate, or due to the cost of the parameter extraction and surrogate optimization sub-problems if the coarse model is too expensive. In this paper, we use an interpolation technique, which allows us to create coarse models that are both accurate and cheap. This overcomes the accuracy/cost dilemma described above, permitting significant reduction of the space-mapping optimization time. Examples verify the performance of our approach.     

Response correction techniques for surrogate‐based design optimization of microwave structures

Simulation‐based optimization has become an important design tool in microwave engineering. However, using electromagnetic (EM) solvers in the design process is a challenging task, primarily due to a high‐computational cost of an accurate EM simulation. In this article, we present a review of EM‐based design optimization techniques exploiting response‐corrected physically based low‐fidelity models. The surrogate models created through such a correction can be used to yield a reasonable approximation of the optimal design of the computationally expensive structure under consideration (high‐fidelity model). Several approaches using this idea are reviewed including output space mapping, manifold mapping, adaptive response correction, and shape‐preserving response prediction. A common feature of these methods is that they are easy to implement and computationally efficient. Application examples are provided. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2012.     

Multilevel microwave design optimization with automated model fidelity adjustment

A computationally efficient algorithm for electromagnetic (EM)‐simulation‐driven design optimization of microwave structures is proposed. Our technique exploits variable‐fidelity EM simulations and the multilevel design approach where an approximate optimum of the lower accuracy but faster EM model of the structure under design is used as a starting point for optimizing a more accurate model. Several enhancements of the basic multifidelity method are introduced, including an efficient algorithm of optimizing EM models that is based on local response surface approximations, as well as automated adjustment of model fidelity. Convergence of the procedure to the optimum design is ensured by defaulting to the higher fidelity model whenever the prediction given by the lower fidelity fails to improve the design. Distribution of the computational effort between the models of different fidelity allows for making larger steps in the design space at a low cost, as well as substantial reduction of the number of high‐fidelity model evaluations, because the high‐fidelity model is only referred to in the last design stage. The article provides comprehensive numerical verification of our technique. Substantial computational savings are demonstrated in comparison to the benchmark methods: over 40% on average as compared to a basic version of the multifidelity optimization approach and over 95% as compared to direct optimization of the high‐fidelity model. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 24:281–288, 2014.     

Oligomer and Polymer Formation in Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D<Subscript>3</Subscript>) – Hydrosilane Systems Under Catalysis by tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane

Summary Reactions of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, D₃, with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane, ^HMM^H, 1,1,1,3,3-pentamethyldisiloxane, ^HMM, phenyldimethylsilane and phenylmethylsilane catalyzed by tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane were studied. These reactions lead to ring opening of D₃ by the SiH reactant producing open chain oligomers with hydrosilane functionality at one or both chain ends. The reactivity of the hydrosilanes toward D₃ decreases in the series: PhMeSiH₂ > ^HMM^H > PhMe₂SiH > ^HMM. Competitive self-oligomerization of ^HMM^H and ^HMM also occurs. Primary products of these processes are able to enter into reactions with the SiH and D₃ reactants; some also undergo cyclization. Thus, consecutive and competitive processes lead to a series of various oligohomologues. Gas chromatography in conjunction with chemical ionization mass spectroscopy permitted identification of structure and determination of the basic directions of these oligomerization processes. Polysiloxanes of higher molecular weight may be also formed in some of these systems. The reactions, which occur in the systems studied, are rationalized on the basis of the mechanism involving the hydride transfer from silicon to trivalent boron. This includes the transient formation of tertiary trisilyloxonium borate which decomposes by the hydride transfer to one of the silicon atoms of the trisilyloxonium center. Footnote: This paper is dedicated to Professor Ian Manners in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of organometallic polymers.     

Electroreduction of laccase covalently bound to organothiol monolayers on gold electrodes

Cerrena unicolor laccase was immobilized on the gold electrode by covalent bonding to self-assembled monolayers of mercaptoundecanoic or mercaptopropionic acids. STM images of immobilized laccase proved high population of the laccase molecules on the monolayer modified electrode. The SERS experiments in concert with resonance Raman effect confirmed that the structure at the “blue” copper site of the immobilized protein remained intact. The accessibility of individual copper sites for electron exchange with the gold electrode surface was investigated by voltammetry. The electrode behavior of laccase is different in the presence and absence of oxygen, showing that the immobilized enzyme is reactive towards oxygen. Addition of two common mediators improved the electrical connectivity of the enzyme with the electrode, increased the catalytic efficiency of immobilized laccase and switched the onset of catalytic current to the potentials of the mediator. Immobilization of laccase on well-organized mercaptoundecanoic acid separates efficiently the enzyme from the electrode and does not allow easy access of mediators to the surface. Attachment of the enzyme at smaller distance from the electrode by means of significantly shorter spacer molecule—mercaptopropionic acid improved the efficiency of catalytic reduction of oxygen on the monolayer modified electrode.     

Precise control of reflection response in bandwidth‐enhanced planar antennas

In this work, the issues of bandwidth enhancement of planar antennas and the relevance of precise and automated response control through numerical optimization have been investigated. Using an example of a planar antenna with parasitic radiator we illustrate possible effects of even minor modifications of the antenna geometry (here, applied to the ground plane) on its reflection performance. In particular, a proper handling of geometry parameters may lead to considerable broadening of the antenna bandwidth. For the sake of computational efficiency, the adjustment of geometry parameters is carried out using surrogate‐based optimization methods exploiting coarse‐discretization EM simulations as the underlying low‐fidelity antenna model. Additionally, suitably defined penalty function allows us to precisely control the maximum in‐band reflection so that sufficient margin to accommodate possible manufacturing tolerances can be achieved. The optimized designs of the two antenna structures considered in this work exhibit over 1.75 GHz (>31%) and 2.15 GHz (>38%) bandwidth, respectively, for the center frequency of 5.6 GHz. Simulation results are validated using measurements of the fabricated prototypes. Comparison with state‐of‐the‐art designs is also provided. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 26:653–659, 2016.     

Path Loss Modelling for Location Service Applications

The aim of this paper is the path loss modelling for the radiolocation services in radio communication networks, particularly in cellular networks. The main results of the measurements obtained in the physical layer of the UMTS are introduced. A new method for the utilization of the multipath propagation phenomenon to improve the estimation of the distance between the MS （mobile station） and the BS （base station） is outlined. This method significantly increases the quality of location services in systems which use a radio interface with DS （direct sequence） CDMA （code division multiple access）.     

Comments on “Aliasing Properties of Circular MISRs”

The analysis of aliasing probability presented in a recent article, Aliasing Properties of Circular MISRs [1], is based on an error model that cannot adequately represent real circuits. We show why conclusions presented in [1] should not be used in practice, substantiating our claim with experimental results.This work was supported in part by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and in part by the British Columbia Advanced Systems Institute     

Expedited simulation‐driven design optimization of UWB antennas by means of response features

In this work, a method for fast design optimization of broadband antennas is considered. The approach is based on a feature‐based optimization (FBO) concept where reflection characteristics of the structure at hand are formulated in terms of suitably defined feature points. Redefinition of the design problem allows for reducing the design optimization cost, because the dependence of feature point coordinates on antenna dimensions is less nonlinear than for the original frequency characteristics (here, S‐parameters). This results in faster convergence of the optimization algorithm. The cost of the design process is further reduced using variable‐fidelity electromagnetic (EM) simulation models. In case of UWB antennas, the feature points are defined, among others, as the levels of the reflection characteristic at its local in‐band maxima, as well as location of the frequency point which corresponds to acceptable reflection around the lower corner frequency within the UWB band. Also, the number of characteristic points depends on antenna topology and its dimensions. Performance of FBO‐based design optimization is demonstrated using two examples of planar UWB antennas. Moreover, the computational cost of the approach is compared with conventional optimization driven by a pattern search algorithm. Experimental validation of the numerical results is also provided.     

Structure generation and performance comparison of elliptic Gm‐C filters

Starting from a set of matrices describing a general G_m‐C filter topology, a procedure is developed for generating structures of lowpass filters. As the matrices and the filter topologies have a one‐to‐one correspondence, an algebraic method is used to identify filter topologies with desired properties, here, transfer functions with finite jω‐axis transmission zeros, specifically elliptic filters. Sensitivity expressions for these structures are derived and a performance comparison based on a set of chosen criteria is made. For a specified elliptic transfer function, filters with only grounded capacitors and those containing also floating capacitors emerge as alternative realizations, as are filters with a single input and those with distributed inputs. For third‐order functions, a detailed comparison is performed of leapfrog (LF) and inverse follow‐the‐leader‐feedback (IFLF), the most popular special cases, and of topologies that have also floating capacitors (LF_f, IFLF_f), as well as of a novel configuration that uses also distributed inputs (DI_f) and leads to a reduced element count. Design guidelines and restrictions are given, which follow from the derived results with focus on the circuits' sensitivity performance and other properties important for IC implementation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.