Dynamic range

About: Dynamic range is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7576 publications have been published within this topic receiving 101739 citations. The topic is also known as: DNR & DR.

Instrument for Measuring Water Waves

Abstract: The variation of wave height is sensed by a probe whose capacitance is linearly dependent on wave height and controls the repetition rate of a blocking oscillator. The variation of repetition interval is converted into amplitude modulation at the recording site. The wide dynamic range (1000:1) of the electronic portion of the instrument permits the measurement of ripples with the same accuracy whether they are on calm or rough water. The dynamic range of the instrument is limited by the characteristics of the probe. The instrument requires no balancing, has a frequency range of 0 to 100 cps and a sensitivity which is adjustable. The maximum sensitivity used in the field was 8.0v/cm water displacement and the noise level at this sensitivity corresponds to 0.032 mm rms water displacement.

Design of High Dynamic Range Fully Integratable Translinear Filters

Abstract: This paper addresses the non-linear noise and dynamic-range properties of bipolar and MOS (both in weak and in strong inversion) translinear integrators, following a systematic top-down approach. Several design principles to achieve an optimal dynamic range are derived. A qualitative comparison of a bipolar or weak-inversion class-AB translinear integrator and the well-known linear g_{m}-C integrator reveals that the former is an interesting candidate, especially for low-voltage and/or low-power operation. As an example, a ±1.65-V bipolar translinear integrator is presented that makes dynamic-range optimization possible by adjusting just one bias current. Its application in an audio filter yields a 63-dB dynamic range and a virtual dynamic range of 76 dB, while the current consumption can be as low as 310 nA.

Ultra-Low-Frequency Tri-Component Fiber Optic Interferometric Accelerometer

Abstract: We demonstrate a high-performance ultra-low-frequency tri-component fiber optic interferometric accelerometer (FOIA), designed particularly for application in seismic observation of ocean-floor deployment, with high sensitivity, low noise level, and large dynamic range. Experimental results show that the sensitivity of the FOIA is 57 dB re rad/g, and the noise levels of the three orthogonal components are 0.163, 0.181, and $\mathrm {0.153~ \mu g}$ , respectively, within the operating frequency band (0.005–50 Hz). The dynamic range of the system is higher than 117.03 dB. Actual observational results of an M4.3 seismic event show that the prototypical system can clearly record the seismic wave, with unambiguous demarcation of S-wave and P-wave, and locate the hypocenter of the earthquake.

Cmos active pixel sensor with improved dynamic range and method of operation, method for identifying moving objects and hybrid array with ir detector

Abstract: A CMOS imaging array includes a plurality of individual pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each pixel is constructed the same and includes a photodetector (e.g., photodiode) receiving incident light and generating an output. A first, relatively lower gain, wide dynamic range amplifier circuit is provided responsive to the output of the photodetector. The first circuit is optimized for a linear response to high light level input signals. A second, relatively higher gain, lower dynamic range amplifier circuit is also provided which is responsive to the output of the photodetector. The second circuit is optimized to provide a high signal to noise ratio for low light level input signals. Output select circuits directing the output of the first and second circuits to first and second output multiplexes. In one embodiment, the two outputs can be used to detect motion of an object in a scene. In another embodiment, a hybrid image sensor includes an infrared detector array bonded to the CMOS array which functions as a dual amplifier readout integrated circuit (ROIC).

Impact of Decorrelation Techniques on Sampling Noise in Radio-Frequency Applications

Abstract: Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) noise limits the dynamic range of many radio-frequency systems for test and measurement, sensor, and communications applications. Improvements in the total dynamic range (as measured by the SNR) can be achieved by combining M ADCs in parallel, yielding an increase in SNR of M if the noise is fully uncorrelated across ADC units. However, the presence of correlated noise will limit the SNR improvement to a factor less than M. Noise in an ADC is due to thermal processes, quantization, and clock jitter. In an array of ADCs, thermal and quantization noise are independently generated in each ADC, but if a common clock is used, its jitter will generate correlated sampling noise in all the ADCs in the array. In this paper, we analyze and experimentally measure the impact of previously proposed harmonic decorrelation techniques on the sampling noise of an array of parallel ADCs driven by a common clock, sampling at an intermediate frequency. Both theory and experiments reveal that the decorrelation techniques reduce the total sampling noise by half, which is a result that could substantially relax clock requirements for high-dynamic-range systems and thus reduce clock costs.