Showing papers in "IEEE Potentials in 2006"

Biosensors: a tutorial review

Abstract: This paper discusses various biosensors in detail, where the biosensor consists of bioelement and a sensor element. The bioelement may be an enzyme, antibody, living cells etc., and the sensing element may be electric current, electric potential, and so on. This survey initially introduces the basic concept of the biosensors. High-level overviews of different types of biosensors are given and the working principles, constructions, advantages and applications of many biosensors are also presented. In addition to these MEMS have given rise to a whole new class of biosensors which involve the transduction of mechanical energy and are based on mechanical phenomena.

Digital signatures

Abstract: Many traditional and newer businesses and applications have recently been carrying out enormous amounts of electronic transactions, which have led to a critical need for protecting the information from being maliciously altered, for ensuring the authenticity, and for supporting nonrepudiation. Just as signatures facilitate validation and verification of the authenticity of paper documents, digital signatures serve the purpose of validation and authentication of electronic documents. This technology is rather new and emerging and is expected to experience growth and widespread use in the coming years.

Digital rights management

Abstract: Digital rights management broadly refers to a set of policies, techniques and tools that guide the proper use of digital content. A DRM plays important roles in several processes that are involved in the flow of content. The major functionalities of this DRM system are: packaging of the raw content for easy distribution and tracking, content protection for tamper-proof transmission, delivery of content offline on CDs and DVDs and delivering content on-demand over peer-to-peer networks. Thus a set of standards related to various aspects of DRM are practiced in order to ensure fairness, interoperability and also for the consumer confidence.

Magnetic levitation

Abstract: Magnetic levitation is a way of using electromagnetic fields to levitate objects without any noise. It employs diamagnetism, which is an intrinsic property of many materials referring to their ability to temporarily expel a portion of an external magnetic field. As a result, diamagnetic materials are repelled by strong magnetic fields. This repulsive force, however, is very weak compared with the attractive force due to magnetic fields. Maglev is the means of floating one magnet over another. This maglev system is divided into two types attractive systems and repulsive systems, which are referred to as electromagnetic suspension and electrodynamics suspension. Thus many countries spend billions of dollars to use this maglev system.

A review of vector quantization techniques

Abstract: The fundamental principles of quantization and the two basic types of quantization techniques-scalar and vector-have been introduced. The concept of VQ, its salient features, design of code book, and advantages/disadvantages has been dealt with in detail. VQ is a data compression technique, producing a reconstruction with as small a distortion as possible. The quality of the reconstruction depends on the amount of data that is discarded. The performance of different classes of VQ techniques like structured and unstructured VQ, memory and memoryless VQ, the types of VQ under each of these categories have been discussed. This article has surveyed these to a certain extent, and much more remains if a detailed analysis is required

Paradigm shift - an introduction to fuzzy logic

Abstract: FUZZY LOGIC SUGGESTS inaccuracy and imprecision. Webster's dictionary defines the word fuzzy as \" not clear, distinct, or precise; blurred. \" In a broad sense, fuzzy logic refers to fuzzy sets, which are sets with blurred boundaries, and, in a narrow sense, fuzzy logic is a logical system that aims to formalize approximate reasoning. Fuzzy logic is an approach to computer science that mimics the way a human brain thinks and solves problems. The idea of fuzzy logic is to approximate human decision making using natural language terms instead of quantitative terms. It is formally defined as a form of knowledge representation suitable for notions that cannot be defined precisely, but which depend upon their contexts. It enables computerized devices to reason more like humans. Fuzzy-logic technology has created a paradigm shift evident through many scientific and industrial applications. Interestingly, fuzzy science started in the questioning minds of philosophers. Confused and inquisitive , from Buddha, to Aristotle, to Plato, these ancient philosophers were constantly searching for a \" rule of law \" beyond true or false. Observing that computer logic was incapable of representing subjective ideas such as \" very hot \" or \" very cold, \" in 1965, Zadeh published his ideas of fuzzy set theory that made it possible for computers to distinguish between different shades of gray, similar to the process of human reasoning. He described fuzzy mathematics, devising precise rules for combining vague expressions such as \" somewhat fast, \" \" very hot, \" and \" usually wrong, \" which are particularly useful for controlling robots, machine tools, and various electronic systems. Prof. Terano was inspired by Zadeh's work and introduced fuzzy logic to the Japanese scientific community in 1972. As Bart Kosko, a Zadeh protégé and a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Southern California said: \" Fuzziness begins where Western logic ends. \" Japan embraced the technology and adapted it to physical control systems. In 1980, F.L. Smidth & Co. of Copenhagen began marketing the first commercial fuzzy expert system: a computer program that controlled the fuel-intake rate and gas flow of a rotating kiln used to make cement. From Hitachi's subway system, to Nissan's fuzzy auto transmission and antiskid braking systems , to Yamaichi Security's fuzzy stock-market investment program for signaling shifts in market sentiment, to Matsushita's fuzzy automobile-traffic controller, Japan has been taking the lead in fuzzy-logic research and development …

Thermal crisis: challenges and potential solutions

Abstract: This paper describes integrated circuits (IC), which is denser, faster and cheaper. In the increasing system integration, as well as aggressive technology scaling, IC thermal issues now stand in the way of improved IC performance and by increasing transistors counts and aggressive frequency scaling result in as significant increase in chip-power density, and also its temperature. In order to avoid thermal crisis, we must simultaneously and cooperatively address thermal issues at each stage of the design process: during packaging and cooling design, architecture design, circuit design, fabrication and the development of novel devices

Engineering strained silicon-looking back and into the future

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to explain the basics behind straining and report on the current process technologies available to strain CMOS devices. Strained Si enhances the performance of CMOS devices by increasing carrier mobility without having to make them smaller. As the benefits to be gained from scaling transistors continue to decrease, the commercial interest in using strained Si for CMOS devices has spiked. Additionally, strained Si still retains its integratability in CMOS manufacturing processes, unlike any other semiconductor material. Thus the real test for engineers lies in the ability to cost-effectively develop and apply strained Si technology into current CMOS process. Thus new methods for straining Si is integrated into IC manufacturing as industry interest in this technology continues to grow and also increases the speed, performance and functions of the circuits

Pulse-width modulation for microcontroller servo control

Abstract: 27 0278-6648/06/$20.00 © 2006 IEEE ANIMATRONICS ARE USED in the movie industry to bring aliens, dinosaurs, and man-eating sharks to life. Many mechanical devices are used to impart realism to these puppets. Large motors and hydraulics are employed to control limbs, necks, and other areas requiring high torque. Small motors are used to create facial expressions, control eyes, and provide fluidity of movement to add life to these robots. A common motor used in animatronics is a servo motor. Instead of providing constant rotation, like most motors, servos are used for precise angular positioning but are often limited to only 180◦ of maximum rotation. Dozens of servos are used to control the facial expressions of a robotic puppet. Even a simple android might have five servos controlling just the eyes. The latex skin or muscles of an android’s face are connected to the servo’s shaft so that the servo can contort the face into different expressions. Servos are also common in devices such as radio-controlled cars to control steering, radio-controlled airplanes to control rudders, or even in the cruise control systems of cars. Servos are ideal for applications requiring absolute positioning of a motor shaft. Microcontrollers are an excellent and inexpensive device for controlling servos. In order to properly control a servo with a microcontroller, it is necessary to learn a few techniques, such as properly generating a control signal for a servo, which the rest of this article will cover. Servos may be purchased in a prepackaged form, or you can create your own servo with a few common components. Internally, a servo can be thought of as a direct current (dc) motor (which rotates an external motor shaft but provides no way to determine the amount of rotation) with a built-in controller. The control circuitry compares an angular position, determined by a control signal, to the current position of the motor shaft (as shown in Fig. 1). The motor shaft’s angular position is often determined by a potentiometer, which is rotated by the motor shaft. A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor whose center connection has variable resistance, usually controlled by a slider or dial. The potentiometer acts as a variable voltage divider. The voltage from the center connection of the potentiometer represents the angular position the motor shaft is in. Other methods to determine angular position and rotation exist for bigger servos, but a potentiometer is the most common for small servos. The built-in controller generates an internal signal from the voltage controlled by the potentiometer, compares it to the control signal, and then provides power to the dc motor to rotate the shaft in the appropriate direction to match the two. Servos usually require a pulse-width modulated control signal.

Use of low-cost patch antennas in modern wireless technology

Abstract: In this article, an overview of a special type of antenna called patch antennas is presented. Patch antennas are used in several wireless applications like global positioning system (GPS) receivers and radar systems. A patch antenna is constructed by having a conductive patch on a dielectric substrate above a conductive ground plane. A patch antenna can be constructed and integrated on a PCB or within a chip along with other circuit components. The excitation of the patch is via a feed line. This feed will supply the patch with the electrical signal to be converted to an electromagnetic wave. Several feed types exist based on the patch type and application. This article gives an overview of the construction of this type of antenna, its major characteristics, and design parameters along with the technologies in which it is being used

Factors affecting transient overvoltages of electric submersible pumps

Abstract: This article presents a theoretical simulation and analysis of all possible factors due to transient overvoltages (TOVs) that could contribute to electrical failures of electric submersible pump (ESP) motors used in oil fields. A transient calculations software package PSCAD is used to simulate a single cable-fed, 3.3-kV induction motor including the mains of the 33-kV distribution system. The factors studied are cable length, earthing resistance and parameters (insulation permittivity and permeability), opening time of CB and its location, switching via pre-insertion resistance, characteristics of the TVSS and its internal structure, and transformer connections and ratings

Maximizing the hash function of authentication codes

Abstract: A design approach to create small-sized, high-speed implementations of the keyed-hash message authentication code (HMAC) is the focus of this article. The approach showed that the critical path can be further reduced by exploiting special properties of the included hash functions. A significant design effort was made to keep the area low. The experimental results showed that a negligible area penalty was introduce for achieving an increase in throughput up to 390% compared to the competing implementations. Finally, the design was fully tested and verified for the Xilinx Virtex-E FPGA family using a prototype board.

Transient fault-tolerance through algorithms

Abstract: This article describes that single-version enhanced processing logic or algorithms can be very effective in gaining dependable computing through hardware transient fault tolerance (FT) in an application system. Transients often cause soft errors in a processing system resulting in mission failure. Errors in program flow, instruction codes, and application data are often caused by electrical fast transients. However, firmware and software fixes can have an important role in designing an ESD, or EMP-resistant system and are more cost effective than hardware. This technique is useful for detecting and recovering transient hardware faults or random bit errors in memory while an application is in execution. The proposed single-version software fix is a practical, useful, and economic tool for both offline and online memory scrubbing of an application system without using conventional N versions of software (NVS) and hardware redundancy in an application like a frequency measurement system

Effects of MP3 encoding on the sounds of music

Abstract: This paper describes MP3 encoding, which allows compressed digital music and speech files to be stored and played on a variety of media, including personal computers and portable MP3 players. In music, there are different genres, and each genre has different characteristics based upon the range frequencies contained in the music. MP3 encoding can have different perceived effects for each genre of music. Using this information, smaller MP3 files can be created while maintaining, or in some cases improving, perceived quality. File creation time and drive-space usage are reduced while sound quality is retained thus providing a pleasurable listening experience. Thus from the experimental results, the listeners of more dynamic classical pieces and rap music encodes some tracks at higher bit rates.

If approximating nonlinear areas, then consider fuzzy systems

Abstract: The fuzzy system is a knowledge-based system consisting of linguistic if-then rules This article will focus on the Takagi-Sugeno (TS) type models A novel approach of INFUMO has been applied in fault detection The INFUMO was derived using the linfin-norm function approximation The majority of papers focus on the construction of the so-called residual generator, a comparator of the process and the process-model output that creates a residual signal

Information overload and customization

Abstract: IC systems are different from conventional search engines or database systems. IC systems are supposed to be the answer to information overload. They allow users to narrow what they are looking for and get information matching their needs. IC systems are also a bargain of consummate efficiency. The value proposition of such systems is reducing the time spent looking for information

Agent-user etiquette

Abstract: This paper describes the agent-user etiquette. The areas of personal agents and human-computer interaction are the two main contributions. First, it increases understanding of personalization in user-agent interaction. Second, our approach enhances a personal agent's capabilities since it enables developers to build personal agents that will certainly gain higher acceptance among users than traditional personal agents because they take into account the user's interaction and interruption preferences. Thus, to succeed, personal agents should learn how to interact properly with each user in different contexts and how to give them assistance without hindering their work

The art of public speaking for engineers

Abstract: The art of public speaking for engineers is described in this paper. A couple of points are there for presentation skill. First, practice is more essential. However, almost nobody can present a seminar, lecture, or talk without mistake. Thus, the mistakes can be based on poor understanding or bad spelling but not laziness of lack of preparation. Therefore, familiarity with the research itself, background, results, and most importantly, with the presentation order and material is important. The second point in the same vein is that perfection is neither sought nor required. But an honest attempt at a good job is highly appreciated. Finally, when presenting, lighten up and enjoy the chance to interact with the peers and sonic of the famous names heard before. A conference is a meeting place of ideas and knowledge that offers both ideas and attention, but it also takes away new ideas and a newfound confidence in the work

RoHS-what is it?

Abstract: The European Union issued Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction and use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Known as Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), it will be enforced throughout the European community effective 1 July 2006. This new directive is catching on, with countries all over the world recognizing the directive and some incorporating it into their legislation. The aim of this directive is to restrict the use of six substances specifically within all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) traded in the EL member states. These substances are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

Developing job-rotation standards with math

Abstract: In this article, it describes an innovative solution to ensure that the process in an organization is standardized through job rotation. A mathematical solution is proposed to enhance the understanding of contemporary methodology. The three properties of rotational clusters: 1) the clustering should be within closely related bounds of the employee's training, educational, and experience, 2) the clustering should involve jobs of a similar nature, and 3) the clusters should be manageable in size and not cut too far across departmental boundaries. Job rotation for the strategic ends at the top management levels is a systematic practice for successor determination and is even used to avoid hiring outside talent, at the lower echelons, it is a pain to implement. By making job rotations a policy rather than a one-time experiment, employees can be quickly inducted into the strategy

An undergraduate program in bioinformatics

Abstract: In this article undergraduate-level bioinformatics curriculum that is easily tailored to the needs and resources of various institutions are discussed. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary and rapidly evolving field that has emerged from the fields of biology, chemistry, and computer science. Bioinformatics research explores the functional relationships between the composition of the genes within the context of the genome and the structure and function of the proteins encoded by these genes. This model will serve as a framework for and guide towards the rapid development of bioinformatics programs that capitalize on tile strengths of their specific institution

Behavioral software agents for real-time games

Abstract: This paper describes the real time autonomous software agents include intensive simulations such as interactive computer entertainment software. The layered artificial intelligence (AI) architecture presented is based on the subsumption architecture, a proven control system for mobile robots that consists of parallel levels of independent behaviors. Higher-level behaviors modules can subsume lower-level ones through the limited number of inputs and outputs. This AI system can be highly optimized and extended various ways. A C++ program is presented demonstrating simple three-layer AI agents. Experiments with this program show that relatively little memory and processor time required per agent; furthermore, a modern computer game would be able to support thousands of simultaneous agents with this behavior system

OpenMP extension to SMP clusters

Abstract: This article discusses the approaches to apply the OpenMP programming model to symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) clusters using software distributed shared memory (SDSM). The major focus of this article is on the challenges that the prior studies faced and on their solution techniques. Exploiting message-passing primitives explicitly for the openMP synchronization and work-sharing directives enables light interprocess synchronizations. The studies on loop scheduling for SMP clusters will promise significant improvement in system performance. Finally, OpenMP is considered as promising programming model

Rip-up, reroute strategy accelerates routing process

Abstract: This article describes the extension of an already existing routing system and explores the feasibility of combining this with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based maze routing accelerator to speed up the routing process. The routing system makes use of a rip-up and reroute strategy and utilizes an evolution algorithm to make routing decisions. The FPGA hardware accelerator speeds up the process of routing individual nets. The routing processes may be significantly shortened by using the software to determine when nets are to be ripped up and rerouted and the hardware accelerator to perform individual routes. A timing model is developed and measurements are taken to determine the feasibility of the proposal. Theoretical results show that improved routing performance is possible with a combination of hardware and software. Preliminary timing estimates and experiments show that combining the two routing systems could speed up a complex routing problem by a factor of approximation.

Ring in the new for WDM resilient packet ring

Abstract: dard IEEE 802.17 for the resilient packet ring (RPR) aims to combine the appealing functionalities from synchronous optical network/synchronous digital hierarchy (SONET/SDH) networks with the advantages of Ethernet networks. RPR is a ring-based architecture consisting of two counterdirectional optical fiber rings. Similar to SONET/ SDH networks, the RPR is designed to provide fast recovery from a single link or node failure through protection mechanisms that ensure high availability and reliability. SONET/SDH efficiently supports legacy voice service through time-division multiplexing (TDM), in which time is divided into slots and a node sends its traffic in a periodically recurring fixed assigned slot. RPR is designed to carry this legacy TDM traffic with a high level of quality of service (QoS), e.g., low delay jitter. Similar to Ethernet, RPR provides the advantages of low equipment cost and simplicity and achieves an improved bandwidth utilization due to statistical multiplexing. With statistical multiplex-ing, a node is not assigned a prescribed slot for transmission; instead, the node can dynamically adjust its transmission rate according to the variations of the traffic, which is more efficient than TDM transmission for highly variable data traffic , for example, from Web applications. The bandwidth utilization in RPR is further increased by means of spatial reuse. Spatial reuse is achieved in RPR through so-called destination stripping, which means that the destination node takes a transmitted packet off the fiber ring. Thus, a given transmission traverses only the ring segment from the source node to the destination node, allowing other nodes on the ring segment between the destination node and the source node to exchange transmissions at the same time on the same fiber ring. In other words, the destination stripping enables nodes in different ring segments to transmit simultaneously, resulting in spatial reuse and an increased band-width utilization. Furthermore, RPR provides fairness (unlike today's Ethernet) and allows the full ring bandwidth to be utilized under normal (that is, failure free) operation conditions (unlike today's SONET/SDH rings, where 50% of the available bandwidth is reserved for protection). Current RPR networks are single-channel systems; that is, each fiber carries a single wavelength channel and is expected to be primarily deployed in metropolitan areas. Today's metropolitan-area (metro) networks present a significant band-width bottleneck between the increasingly higher-speed local and access networks and the huge bandwidth pipes of backbone networks. This bottleneck, often called a metro gap, prevents end users from tapping into the vast …

Controlling urban traffic with flexible video streaming

Abstract: The existence of open standards for video encoding and protocols for streaming media transmission over IP networks has led to the proposal of such a system. The work presents an open urban traffic control system based in common/commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) philosophy for hardware and software as well as open source and standardized protocols. The proposed system is a suitable solution in terms of scalability, cost, interoperability and performance for traffic control systems