2D Image Construction from Low Resolution Response of a New Non‐invasive Measurement for Medical Application

This paper presents an application of digital signal processing to data acquired by the radio imaging method (RIM) that was adopted to measure moisture distribution inside the human body. RIM was originally developed for the mining industry; we are applying the method to a biomedical measurement because of its simplicity, economy, and safety. When a two‐dimensional image was constructed from the measured data, the method provided insufficient resolution because the wavelength of the measurement medium, a weak electromagnetic wave in a VHF band, was longer than human tissues. We built and measured a phantom, a model simulating the human body, consisting of two water tanks representing large internal organs. A digital equalizer was applied to the measured values as a weight function, and images were reconstructed that corresponded to the original shape of the two water tanks. As a result, a two‐dimensional image containing two individual peaks corresponding to the original two small water tanks was constructed. The result suggests the method was applicable to biomedical measurement by the assistance of digital signal processing. This technique may be applicable to home‐based medical care and other situations in which safety, simplicity, and economy are important.     

Floating-patch MEMS antennas on HRS substrate for millimetre-wave applications

Novel floating-patch micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) antennas are proposed for millimetre-wave applications. The floating-patch MEMS antennas are fabricated on a high resistivity silicon (HRS) substrate using surface micromachining technology. Simulation and experimental results for reflection coefficients and radiation patterns are presented.     

A transmit MIMO scheme with frequency domain pre-equalization for wireless frequency selective channels

In this paper, we introduce a transmit multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) scheme with frequency domain pre-equalization for a multipath or frequency selective channel. In this scheme, MIMO processing in the frequency domain is performed at the transmitter or base station so that the receiver or mobile station only requires limited processing. This scheme provides high data rates and also inherits from the frequency domain equalization the property of relatively low complexity in severe multipath environments. The MIMO transmit processing is derived by minimizing the minimum mean square errors (MMSE), and expressions for the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio and error probability based on the Gaussian approximation of the interference term are provided. Some important associated issues, such as channel errors and computational complexity, are also investigated. Numerical simulations are also provided and these demonstrate the improved performance of our proposed scheme compared to other transmit MIMO schemes. In particular, they show that the proposed system can attain multipath or frequency diversity of the channel.     

Bias-temperature instabilities of polysilicon gate HfO/sub 2/ MOSFETs

Bias-temperature instabilities (BTI) of HfO/sub 2/ metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) have been systematically studied for the first time. NMOS positive BTI (PBTI) exhibited a more significant V/sub t/ instability than that of PMOS negative BTI (NBTI), and limited the lifetime of HfO/sub 2/ MOSFETs. Although high-temperature forming gas annealing (HT-FGA) improved the interface quality by passivating the interfacial states with hydrogen, BTI behaviors were not strongly affected by the technique. Charge pumping measurements were extensively used to investigate the nature of the BTI degradation, and it was found that V/sub t/ degradation of NMOS PBTI was primarily caused by charge trapping in bulk HfO/sub 2/ rather than interfacial degradation. Deuterium (D/sub 2/) annealing was found to be an excellent technique to improve BTI immunity as well as to enhance the mobility of HfO/sub 2/ MOSFETs.     

Dynamics modeling and analysis of a biped walking robot actuated by a closed-chain mechanism

We developed a new type of human-sized biped walking robot (BWR) driven by the closed-chain type of joint actuator. Each leg of the robot is composed of three pitch joints and one roll joint. In all, a 15 degree-of-freedom robot including four arm joints and three joints for the head was developed. The BWR was developed to walk autonomously such that all leg joints are actuated by small 90 W dc motors/drivers and dc batteries and controllers which are boarded. The joint actuator for the BWR is composed of the four-bar-link mechanism driven by the ball screw which has high strength and high gear ratio. A dynamics modeling of the developed BWR for forward walking is presented in which the revolute joint dynamics are transformed into the prismatic joint dynamics of the ball screw. Also, an analysis on the four-bar-link mechanism applied to the joint actuator and on the structure of the BWR is shown. The design specification of the actuating motor for the BWR is analyzed through the torque analysis of the four-bar-link actuator. Through walking experiments of the BWR, the walking performance and trajectory tracking ability is shown. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A self-resonant frequency-modulated micromachined passive pressure transensor

In this paper, we report on the design, fabrication, and test of a passive pressure transensor. The sensor uses the self-resonant frequency modulation of an integrated coil to detect the pressure variations. This modulation is generated by the relative displacement of a ferrite core attached to a silicone rubber membrane. This scheme simplifies the packaging of the passive transensor by removing the requirement for a separate capacitor to form the resonator. A 30-turn 1.7-/spl mu/H coil having dimensions of 3/spl times/3 mm/sup 2/ is used in a prototype design yielding a sensitivity of 9.6 kHz/kPa with a cylindrical ferrite core of 0.95-mm diameter and 0.5-mm height. We also present a theoretical model of the sensor that shows good agreement with the experimental data. This model can be a useful tool for further optimization of the senors.     

Data retention characteristics of sub-100 nm NAND flash memory cells

In contrast to the conventional theories, we have revealed that the most distinguished mechanism in the data retention phenomenon after Fowler-Nordheim (FN) stress in sub-100 nm NAND Flash memory cells is the annihilation of interface states. Interface state generation rate increases rapidly as the channel width of NAND flash cell decreases. Comparison of interface states and stress-induced leakage current (SILC) component during retention mode shows that the annihilation of interface states strongly affects data retention characteristics of the programmed cells.     

Adaptive contour smoothing based on inter-region contrast

An adaptive contour smoothing algorithm designed as a preprocessor for shape coders is presented. In the method, the degree of the adaptive smoothing is controlled based on the significance of each contour point, which is quantified according to inter-region contrast in an intensity image. The actual smoothing consists of an expansion operator and a thinning algorithm.     

Vibration control of a flexible structure using a hybrid mount

This paper presents vibration control of a flexible beam structure using a hybrid mount which consists of elastic rubber and piezoelectric stack actuator. After identifying stiffness and damping properties of the rubber and piezoelectric elements, a mechanical model of the hybrid mount is established. The mount model is then incorporated with the beam structure, and the governing equation of motion is obtained in a state space. A sliding mode controller is designed in order to actively attenuate the vibration of the beam structure subjected to high-frequency and small magnitude excitations. The controller is experimentally realized and measured control responses such as acceleration of the beam structure and force transmission through the hybrid mount are evaluated and presented in both frequency and time domains.