This volume presents an integrated survey of the most recent research, engineering development and commercial application of amorphous and microcrystalline semiconductor optoelectronic devices. The emphasis throughout the book is on understanding the physical fundamentals with a view towards designing and implementing practical optoelectronic devices.

To ensure the security and economy of future power system operation in the context of a high degree of renewable energy penetration, this thesis proposes a new distributed algorithm called generalized master-slave-splitting (G-MSS) theory and a new transmission-distribution coordinated energy management (TDCEM) method that is based on the G-MSS theory. The thesis studies the mathematical properties of the G-MSS theory in detail. Based on the G-MSS theory, a distributed TDCEM method - which involves distributed security analysis, distributed voltage stability analysis, distributed economic dispatch and distributed optimal power flow for an integrated transmission-distribution system - is then developed for the first time. The thesis demonstrates that the proposed TDCEM method significantly contributes to more reliable and optimal operation in power systems. The book will benefit researchers, scientists and engineers in the field of power system operation and optimization.

This book discusses the development of promising technologies for compact antennas for high data-rate communications. It discusses and analyzes the design of compact ultra-wideband (UWB) and multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antennas, providing essential know-how for designers, practicing engineers and scientists. These wireless communication technologies enable consumers to have convenient access to a wide range of services - anytime, anywhere. And the introduction of wireless mobile access points eliminates the limitations to communication imposed by geographical location. The Internet has allowed people to access and share information much more rapidly, but in order to achieve higher data rates with the limited available resources and imposed constraints, wireless communication technology needs to be pushed beyond the physical limits of the propagation channel. This book contributes to achieving this goal.

This book focuses on the modelling methodology of microstrip interconnects, discussing various structures of single-input multiple-output (SIMO) tree interconnects for signal integrity (SI) engineering. Further, it describes lumped and distributed transmission line elements based on single-input single-output (SIMO) models of symmetric and asymmetric trees, and investigates more complicated phenomenon, such as interbranch coupling. The modelling approaches are based on the analytical methods using the Z-, Y- and T-matrices. The established method enables the S-parameters and voltage transfer function of SIMO tree to be determined. Providing illustrative results with frequency and time domain analyses for each tree interconnect structure, the book is a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and graduate students in fields of analogue, RF/microwave, digital and mixed circuit design, SI and manufacturing engineering.

This book presents techniques necessary to predict cardiac arrhythmias, long before they occur, based on minimal ECG data. The authors describe the key information needed for automated ECG signal processing, including ECG signal pre-processing, feature extraction and classification. The adaptive and novel ECG processing techniques introduced in this book are highly effective and suitable for real-time implementation on ASICs.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of both theoretical and pragmatic aspects of resource-allocation and scheduling in multiprocessor and multicore hard-real-time systems. The authors derive new, abstract models of real-time tasks that capture accurately the salient features of real application systems that are to be implemented on multiprocessor platforms, and identify rules for mapping application systems onto the most appropriate models. New run-time multiprocessor scheduling algorithms are presented, which are demonstrably better than those currently used, both in terms of run-time efficiency and tractability of off-line analysis. Readers will benefit from a new design and analysis framework for multiprocessor real-time systems, which will translate into a significantly enhanced ability to provide formally verified, safety-critical real-time systems at a significantly lower cost.

This book explores near-threshold computing (NTC), a design-space using techniques to run digital chips (processors) near the lowest possible voltage. Readers will be enabled with specific techniques to design chips that are extremely robust; tolerating variability and resilient against errors. Variability-aware voltage and frequency allocation schemes will be presented that will provide performance guarantees, when moving toward near-threshold manycore chips. * Provides an introduction to near-threshold computing, enabling reader with a variety of tools to face the challenges of the power/utilization wall; * Demonstrates how to design efficient voltage regulation, so that each region of the chip can operate at the most efficient voltage and frequency point; * Investigates how performance guarantees can be ensured when moving towards NTC manycores through variability-aware voltage and frequency allocation schemes.

This book offers readers comprehensive coverage of security policy specification using new policy languages, implementation of security policies in Systems-on-Chip (SoC) designs - current industrial practice, as well as emerging approaches to architecting SoC security policies and security policy verification. The authors focus on a promising security architecture for implementing security policies, which satisfies the goals of flexibility, verification, and upgradability from the ground up, including a plug-and-play hardware block in which all policy implementations are enclosed. Using this architecture, they discuss the ramifications of designing SoC security policies, including effects on non-functional properties (power/performance), debug, validation, and upgrade. The authors also describe a systematic approach for "hardware patching", i.e., upgrading hardware implementations of security requirements safely, reliably, and securely in the field, meeting a critical need for diverse Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Provides comprehensive coverage of SoC security requirements, security policies, languages, and security architecture for current and emerging computing devices; Explodes myths and ambiguities in SoC security policy implementations, and provide a rigorous treatment of the subject; Demonstrates a rigorous, step-by-step approach to developing a diversity of SoC security policies; Introduces a rigorous, disciplined approach to "hardware patching", i.e., secure technique for updating hardware functionality of computing devices in-field; Includes discussion of current and emerging approaches for security policy verification.

This book is devoted to embedded systems (ESs), which can now be found in practically all fields of human activity. Embedded systems are essentially a special class of computing systems designed for monitoring and controlling objects of the physical world. The book begins by discussing the distinctive features of ESs, above all their cybernetic-physical character, and how they can be designed to deliver the required performance with a minimum amount of hardware. In turn, it presents a range of design methodologies. Considerable attention is paid to the hardware implementation of computational algorithms. It is shown that different parts of complex ESs could be implemented using models of finite state machines (FSMs). Also, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are very often used to implement different hardware accelerators in ESs. The book pays considerable attention to design methods for FPGA-based FSMs, before the closing section turns to programmable logic controllers widely used in industry. This book will be interesting and useful for students and postgraduates in the area of Computer Science, as well as for designers of embedded systems. In addition, it offers a good point of departure for creating embedded systems for various spheres of human activity.

In the past four years we have witnessed rapid development in technology and significant market penetration in many applications for LED systems. New processes and new materials have been introduced; new standards and new testing methods have been developed; new driver, control and sensing technologies have been integrated; and new and unknown failure modes have also been presented. In this book, Solid State Lighting Reliability Part 2, we invited the experts from industry and academia to present the latest developments and findings in the LED system reliability arena. Topics in this book cover the early failures and critical steps in LED manufacturing; advances in reliability testing and standards; quality of colour and colour stability; degradation of optical materials and the associated chromaticity maintenance; characterization of thermal interfaces; LED solder joint testing and prediction; common failure modes in LED drivers; root causes for lumen depreciation; corrosion sensitivity of LED packages; reliability management for automotive LEDs, and lightning effects on LEDs. This book is a continuation of Solid State Lighting Reliability: Components to Systems (published in 2013), which covers reliability aspects ranging from the LED to the total luminaire or system of luminaires. Together, these two books are a full set of reference books for Solid State Lighting reliability from the performance of the (sub-) components to the total system, regardless its complexity.

An indispensible guide to the uses of optical ICs, this practical volume examines the theory, fabrication techniques, and applications of the latest generation of optical devices. Focusing on the hybrid type of OIC, the book discusses passive waveguide devices, functional optical waveguide devices, micro-fabrication, optical waveguide theory, and current research problems.

This book presents the technology of millimetre waves and Terahertz (THz) antennas. It highlights the importance of moderate and high-gain aperture antennas as key devices for establishing point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radio links for far-field and near-field applications, such as high data-rate communications, intelligent transport, security imaging, exploration and surveillance systems. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the key antenna technologies developed for the mm wave and THz domains, including established ones - such as integrated lens antennas, advanced 2D and 3D horn antennas, transmit and reflect arrays, and Fabry-Perot antennas - as well as emerging metasurface antennas for near-field and far-field applications. It describes the pros and cons of each antenna technology in comparison with other available solutions, a discussion supplemented by practical examples illustrating the step-by-step implementation procedures for each antenna type. The measurement techniques available at these frequency ranges are also presented to close the loop of the antenna development cycle. In closing, the book outlines future trends in various antenna technologies, paving the way for further developments. Presenting content originating from the five-year ESF research networking program 'Newfocus' and co-authored by the most active and highly cited research groups in the domain of mm- and sub-mm-wave antenna technologies, the book offers a valuable guide for researchers and engineers in both industry and academia.

Contains case studies conducted at six facilities to evaluate the technical, environmental and cost impacts associated with the implementation of technologies for reducing the volume and toxicity of printed circuit board metals-containing sludges and solvent wastes. Analyses of these data are the ba

This book discusses non-conventional digital signal processing based on direct processing of delta-sigma modulated bit-stream. The main attributes of low-pass delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters are: simple and inexpensive design, robustness of design to component tolerances, low-power consumption, high input impedance, high resolution (more than 20 bits) and possibility of direct arithmetic operation on its bit-stream. The author presents a number of theoretical and simulation results related to newly proposed linear and non-linear circuits such as delta-sigma adders, delta-sigma rectifiers, delta-sigma RMS and AGC circuits, delta-sigma frequency deviation meters, etc. The proposed circuits are not application limited and can be used in instrumentation, sensor application, bio-medical application, communications, etc. Presents novel linear and nonlinear circuits for direct processing of delta-sigma modulated bit-stream; The proposed circuits are supported by theoretical and simulation results; Recommends potential applications of the proposed circuits, and proposes ideas for further investigation.

This book provides readers with guidelines for designing integrated multi-MHz-switching converters for input voltages/system supplies up to 50V or higher. Coverage includes converter theory, converter architectures, circuit design, efficiency, sizing of passives, technology aspects, etc. The author discusses new circuit designs, new architectures and new switching concepts, including dead-time control and soft-switching techniques that overcome current limitations of these converters. The discussion includes technology related issues and helps readers to choose the right technology for fast-switching converters. This book discusses benefits and drawbacks in terms of integration, size and cost, efficiency and complexity, and enables readers to make trade-offs in design, given different converter parameters. Describes a study for increasing switching frequencies up to 30 MHz at input voltages up to 50V or higher in the scaling of the size of switching converter passives; Analyzes various buck converter implementations and shows that a preference due to higher efficiency depends on the operating point, on the available switch technologies, and on the implementation of the high-side supply generation; Describes an efficiency model based on a four-phase model, which enables separation of loss causes and loss locations.

This book provides a unified treatment of Flip-Flop design and selection in nanometer CMOS VLSI systems. The design aspects related to the energy-delay tradeoff in Flip-Flops are discussed, including their energy-optimal selection according to the targeted application, and the detailed circuit design in nanometer CMOS VLSI systems. Design strategies are derived in a coherent framework that includes explicitly nanometer effects, including leakage, layout parasitics and process/voltage/temperature variations, as main advances over the existing body of work in the field. The related design tradeoffs are explored in a wide range of applications and the related energy-performance targets. A wide range of existing and recently proposed Flip-Flop topologies are discussed. Theoretical foundations are provided to set the stage for the derivation of design guidelines, and emphasis is given on practical aspects and consequences of the presented results. Analytical models and derivations are introduced when needed to gain an insight into the inter-dependence of design parameters under practical constraints. This book serves as a valuable reference for practicing engineers working in the VLSI design area, and as text book for senior undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students (already familiar with digital circuits and timing).

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This book describes simple to complex ASIC design practical scenarios using Verilog. It builds a story from the basic fundamentals of ASIC designs to advanced RTL design concepts using Verilog. Looking at current trends of miniaturization, the contents provide practical information on the issues in ASIC design and synthesis using Synopsys DC and their solution. The book explains how to write efficient RTL using Verilog and how to improve design performance. It also covers architecture design strategies, multiple clock domain designs, low-power design techniques, DFT, pre-layout STA and the overall ASIC design flow with case studies. The contents of this book will be useful to practicing hardware engineers, students, and hobbyists looking to learn about ASIC design and synthesis.

This book introduces the basic fundamentals, models, emulators and analyses of mem-elements in the circuit theory with applications. The book starts reviewing the literature on mem-elements, models and their recent applications. It presents mathematical models, numerical results, circuit simulations, and experimental results for double-loop hysteresis behavior of mem-elements. The authors introduce a generalized memristor model in the fractional-order domain under different input and different designs for emulator-based mem-elements, with circuit and experimental results. The basic concept of memristive-based relaxation-oscillators in the circuit theory is also covered. The reader will moreover find in this book information on memristor-based multi-level digital circuits, memristor-based multi-level multiplier and memcapacitor-based oscillators and synaptic circuits.

This book explores integrated gate drivers with emphasis on new gallium nitride (GaN) power transistors, which offer fast switching along with minimum switching losses. It serves as a comprehensive, all-in-one source for gate driver IC design, written in handbook style with systematic guidelines. The authors cover the full range from fundamentals to implementation details including topics like power stages, various kinds of gate drivers (resonant, non-resonant, current-source, voltage-source), gate drive schemes, driver supply, gate loop, gate driver power efficiency and comparison silicon versus GaN transistors. Solutions are presented on the system and circuit level for highly integrated gate drivers. Coverage includes miniaturization by higher integration of subfunctions onto the IC (buffer capacitors), as well as more efficient switching by a multi-level approach, which also improves robustness in case of extremely fast switching transitions. The discussion also includes a concept for robust operation in the highly relevant case that the gate driver is placed in distance to the power transistor. All results are widely applicable to achieve highly compact, energy efficient, and cost-effective power electronics solutions.

This book provides a practical, hands-on approach to teach the foundation of 2.5D/3D heterogeneous design. Based on the author's extensive, industrial experience, this book enables integrated circuit design techniques that provide more memory to the logic chip, also allowing for mixing chips and intellectual property blocks from any vendor to build a more complex chip, more efficiently and cost effectively. Various practical examples and industrial projects are presented throughout the book, including questions and term projects at the end of each chapter. This book is a great resource for practicing engineers and can be used at universities to teach a course at the senior undergraduate and graduate level.

This book describes a new design methodology that allows optimization-based synthesis of RF systems in a hierarchical multilevel approach, in which the system is designed in a bottom-up fashion, from the device level up to the (sub)system level. At each level of the design hierarchy, the authors discuss methods that increase the design robustness and increase the accuracy and efficiency of the simulations. The methodology described enables circuit sizing and layout in a complete and automated integrated manner, achieving optimized designs in significantly less time than with traditional approaches.

This book provides readers with a variety of tools to address the challenges posed by hot carrier degradation, one of today's most complicated reliability issues in semiconductor devices. Coverage includes an explanation of carrier transport within devices and book-keeping of how they acquire energy ("become hot"), interaction of an ensemble of colder and hotter carriers with defect precursors, which eventually leads to the creation of a defect, and a description of how these defects interact with the device, degrading its performance.

Reveals Innovative Research on BN Nanotubes and Nanosheets Nanotubes and Nanosheets: Functionalization and Applications of Boron Nitride and Other Nanomaterials is the first book devoted to nanotubes and nanosheets made of boron nitride (BN). It shows how the properties of BN nanotubes and nanosheets have led to many exciting applications where carbon (C) materials cannot be used, including high-temperature metal-ceramic-based composites, substrates for graphene and other semiconducting layers in electronic devices, reusable absorbents for oil and other contaminants, dry solid lubricants, and biomedical applications. Researchers working on various aspects of BN nanomaterials share their knowledge and current work on the applications of BN nanotubes and nanosheets. They describe numerous applications, including BN nanotube-reinforced metal-ceramic-based composites, field emission, desalination, cleanup of oil spillages, biosensing and bioimaging, drug delivery, biomedical applications, and energy storage using BCN and TiO2 nanorods and nanosheets as electrode materials. The book also covers C and other nanotubes and nanosheets to give readers a broad view of the latest nanomaterials research.

This text sets out to provide a source of design techniques for leading to reduction in expense, size and weight of directional couplers and filters. It also gives step-by-step procedures for enhancing circuit performance. Numerous design examples and verified measured results for ultrawideband, bandpass, periodic and co-directional couplers are provided.

This book describes the state-of-the art of industrial and academic research in the architectural design of heterogeneous, multi/many-core processors. The authors describe methods and tools to enable next-generation embedded and high-performance heterogeneous processors to confront cost-effectively the inevitable variations by providing Dependable-Performance: correct functionality and timing guarantees throughout the expected lifetime of a platform under thermal, power, and energy constraints. Various aspects of the reliability problem are discussed, at both the circuit and architecture level, the intelligent selection of knobs and monitors in multicore platforms, and systematic design methodologies. The authors demonstrate how new techniques have been applied in real case studies from different applications domain and report on results and conclusions of those experiments. Enables readers to develop performance-dependable heterogeneous multi/many-core architectures Describes system software designs that support high performance dependability requirements Discusses and analyzes low level methodologies to tradeoff conflicting metrics, i.e. power, performance, reliability and thermal management Includes new application design guidelines to improve performance dependability