This book covers system-level design optimization and implementation of hybrid energy storage systems. The author introduces various techniques to improve the performance of hybrid energy storage systems, in the context of design optimization and automation. Various energy storage techniques are discussed, each with its own advantages and drawbacks, offering viable, hybrid approaches to building a high performance, low cost energy storage system. Novel design optimization techniques and energy-efficient operation schemes are introduced. The author also describes the technical details of an actual prototype implementation of a 300 W scale hybrid energy storage system.

This thesis focuses on the dynamics of autonomous Boolean networks, on the basis of Boolean logic functions in continuous time without external clocking. These networks are realized with integrated circuits on an electronic chip as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) with roughly 100,000 logic gates, offering an extremely flexible model system. It allows fast and cheap design cycles and large networks with arbitrary topologies and coupling delays. The author presents pioneering results on theoretical modeling, experimental realization, and selected applications. In this regard, three classes of novel dynamic behavior are investigated: (i) Chaotic Boolean networks are proposed as high-speed physical random number generators with high bit rates. (ii) Networks of periodic Boolean oscillators are home to long-living transient chimera states, i.e., novel patterns of coexisting domains of spatially coherent (synchronized) and incoherent (desynchronized) dynamics. (iii) Excitable networks exhibit cluster synchronization and can be used as fast artificial Boolean neurons whose spiking patterns can be controlled. This work presents the first experimental platform for large complex networks, which will facilitate exciting future developments.

This book contains a selection of papers presented at the 17th AISEM ( Associazione Italiana Sensori e Microsistemi ) National Conference on Sensors and Microsystems, held in Brescia, 5-7 February, 2013. The conference highlighted state-of-the-art results from both theoretical and applied research in the field of sensors and related technologies. This book presents material in an interdisciplinary approach, covering many aspects of the disciplines related to sensors, including physics, chemistry, materials science, biology and applications."

This book presents a comprehensive, systematic approach to the development of vision system architectures that employ sensory-processing concurrency and parallel processing to meet the autonomy challenges posed by a variety of safety and surveillance applications. Coverage includes a thorough analysis of resistive diffusion networks embedded within an image sensor array. This analysis supports a systematic approach to the design of spatial image filters and their implementation as vision chips in CMOS technology. The book also addresses system-level considerations pertaining to the embedding of these vision chips into vision-enabled wireless sensor networks.Describes a system-level approach for designing of vision devices and embedding them into vision-enabled, wireless sensor networks; Surveys state-of-the-art, vision-enabled WSN nodes; Includes details of specifications and challenges of vision-enabled WSNs; Explains architectures for low-energy CMOS vision chips with embedded, programmable spatial filtering capabilities; Includes considerations pertaining to the integration of vision chips into off-the-shelf WSN platforms."

This book presents physical understanding, modeling and simulation, on-chip characterization, layout solutions, and design techniques that are effective to enhance the reliability of various circuit units. The authors provide readers with techniques for state of the art and future technologies, ranging from technology modeling, fault detection and analysis, circuit hardening, and reliability management.

Embedded software is ubiquitous today. There are millions of lines of embedded code in smart phones, and even more in systems responsible for automotive control, avionics control, weapons control and space missions. Some of these are safety-critical systems whose correctness, timely response, and reliability are of paramount importance. These requirement pose new challenges to system designers. This necessitates that a proper design science, based on "constructive correctness" be developed. Correct-by-construction design and synthesis of embedded software is done in a way so that post-development verification is minimized, and correct operation of embedded systems is maximized. This book presents the state of the art in the design of safety-critical, embedded software. It introduced readers to three major approaches to specification driven, embedded software synthesis/construction: synchronous programming based approaches, models of computation based approaches, and an approach based on concurrent programming with a co-design focused language. It is an invaluable reference for practitioners and researchers concerned with improving the product development life-cycle.

This book comprises the proceedings of 1st International Conference on Computational Advancement in Communication Circuits and Systems (ICCACCS 2014) organized by Narula Institute of Technology under the patronage of JIS group, affiliated to West Bengal University of Technology. The conference was supported by Technical Education Quality Improvement Program (TEQIP), New Delhi, India and had technical collaboration with IEEE Kolkata Section, along with publication partner by Springer. The book contains 62 refereed papers that aim to highlight new theoretical and experimental findings in the field of Electronics and communication engineering including interdisciplinary fields like Advanced Computing, Pattern Recognition and Analysis, Signal and Image Processing. The proceedings cover the principles, techniques and applications in microwave & devices, communication & networking, signal & image processing, and computations & mathematics & control. The proceedings reflect the conference's emphasis on strong methodological approaches and focus on applications within the domain of Computational Advancement in Communication Circuits and Systems. The content also emphasizes the emerging technologies in the Electronics and Communication field together in close examinations of practices, problems and trends.

The subject of this book is to introduce a model-based quantitative performance indicator methodology applicable for performance, cost and reliability optimization of non-volatile memories. The complex example of flash memories is used to introduce and apply the methodology. It has been developed by the author based on an industrial 2-bit to 4-bit per cell flash development project. For the first time, design and cost aspects of 3D integration of flash memory are treated in this book.

Cell, array, performance and reliability effects of flash memories are introduced and analyzed. Key performance parameters are derived to handle the flash complexity. A performance and array memory model is developed and a set of performance indicators characterizing architecture, cost and durability is defined.

Flash memories are selected to apply the Performance Indicator Methodology to quantify design and technology innovation. A graphical representation based on trend lines is introduced to support a requirement based product development process.

The Performance Indicator methodology is applied to demonstrate the importance of hidden memory parameters for a successful product and system development roadmap.

"Flash Memories "offers an opportunity to enhance your understanding of product development key topics such as:

. Reliability optimization of flash memories is all about threshold voltage margin understanding and definition;
. Product performance parameter are analyzed in-depth in all aspects in relation to the threshold voltage operation window;
. Technical characteristics are translated into quantitative performance indicators;
. Performance indicators are applied to identify and quantify product and technology innovation within adjacent areas to fulfill the application requirements with an overall cost optimized solution; . Cost, density, performance and durability values are combined into a common factor - performance indicator - which fulfills the application requirements"

Overcoming the agility limitations of conventional frequency synthesizers in multi-band OFDM ultra wideband is a key research goal in digital technology. This volume outlines a frequency plan that can generate all the required frequencies from a single fixed frequency, able to implement center frequencies with no more than two levels of SSB mixing. It recognizes the need for future synthesizers to bypass on-chip inductors and operate at low voltages to enable the increased integration and efficiency of networked appliances. The author examines in depth the architecture of the dividers that generate the necessary frequencies from a single base frequency and are capable of establishing a fractional division ratio.

Presenting the first CMOS inductorless single PLL 14-band frequency synthesizer for MB-OFDMUWB makes this volume a key addition to the literature, and with the synthesizer capable of arbitrary band-hopping in less than two nanoseconds, it operates well within the desired range on a 1.2-volt power supply. The author's close analysis of the operation, stability, and phase noise of injection-locked regenerative frequency dividers will provide researchers and technicians with much food for developmental thought.

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Since register transfer level (RTL) design is less about being a bright engineer, and more about knowing the downstream implications of your work, this book explains the impact of design decisions taken that may give rise later in the product lifecycle to issues related to testability, data synchronization across clock domains, synthesizability, power consumption, routability, etc., all which are a function of the way the RTL was originally written. Readers will benefit from a highly practical approach to the fundamentals of these topics, and will be given clear guidance regarding necessary safeguards to observe during RTL design.

The book summarizes the findings and contributions of the European ARTEMIS project, CESAR, for improving and enabling interoperability of methods, tools, and processes to meet the demands in embedded systems development across four domains - avionics, automotive, automation, and rail. The contributions give insight to an improved engineering and safety process life-cycle for the development of safety critical systems. They present new concept of engineering tools integration platform to improve the development of safety critical embedded systems and illustrate capacity of this framework for end-user instantiation to specific domain needs and processes. They also advance state-of-the-art in component-based development as well as component and system validation and verification, with tool support. And finally they describe industry relevant evaluated processes and methods especially designed for the embedded systems sector as well as easy adoptable common interoperability principles for software tool integration.

Starting Electronics is unrivalled as a highly practical introduction for technicians, non-electronic engineers, software engineers, students, and hobbyists. Keith Brindley introduces readers to the functions of the main component types, their uses, and the basic principles of building and designing electronic circuits. Breadboard layouts make this very much a ready-to-run book for the experimenter, and the use of readily available, inexpensive components makes this practical exploration of electronics easily accessible to all levels of engineer and hobbyist.

Other books tell readers what to do, but sometimes fail to explain why - Brindley gives readers hands-on confidence in addition to real scientific knowledge, and insight into the principles as well as the practice. All written explanations and steps are supplemented with numerous photos, charts, tables and graphs. Concepts and practical aspects are explained thoroughly with mathematical formulae and technical schematic drawings.

Each chapter introduces a concept or tool, explains the basic theory, and provides clear instructions for a simple experiment to apply the concept or tool, with quiz sections and answers, at the end of each chapter. New chapters on multimeters and soldering will be added, covering the fundamentals and experiments, with a basic parts list and an expanded and updated buyer s guide.
Guides the reader through the basics of electronics, from fundamentals of theory to practical work and experimentsStructured for learning and self-study: each chapter introduces a concept or tool, explains the basic theory, and provides clear instructions for a simple experiment to apply the concept or tool, with quiz sections and answers, at the end of each chapterNew chapters on multimeters and soldering, covering the fundamentals and experiments, with a basic parts list. Expanded and updated buyer s guide to accompany parts lists"

This book describes the integration, characterization and analysis of cost-efficient thin-film transistors (TFTs), applying zinc oxide as active semiconductors. The authors discuss soluble gate dielectrics, ZnO precursors, and dispersions containing nanostructures of the material, while different transistor configurations are analyzed with respect to their integration, compatibility, and device performance. Additionally, simple circuits (inverters and ring oscillators) and a complementary design employing (in)organic semiconducting materials are presented and discussed. Readers will benefit from concise information on cost-efficient materials and processes, applied in flexible and transparent electronic technology, such as the use of solution-based materials and dispersion containing nanostructures, as well as discussion of the physical fundamentals responsible for the operation of the thin-film transistors and the non-idealities of the device.

This book provides readers specializing in ultra-low power supply design for self-powered applications an invaluable reference on reconfigurable switched capacitor power converters. Readers will benefit from a comprehensive introduction to the design of robust power supplies for energy harvesting and self-power applications, focusing on the use of reconfigurable switched capacitor based DC-DC converters, which is ideal for such applications. Coverage includes all aspects of switched capacitor power supply designs, from fundamentals, to reconfigurable power stages, and sophisticated controller designs.

This book presents techniques for energy reduction in adaptive embedded multimedia systems, based on dynamically reconfigurable processors. The approach described will enable designers to meet performance/area constraints, while minimizing video quality degradation, under various, run-time scenarios. Emphasis is placed on implementing power/energy reduction at various abstraction levels. To enable this, novel techniques for adaptive energy management at both processor architecture and application architecture levels are presented, such that both hardware and software adapt together, minimizing overall energy consumption under unpredictable, design-/compile-time scenarios.

This thesis explores a route to induce and control the structure formation process in thin films by the use of strong electric fields. We investigate, establish and apply the use of the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) lithography as a versatile patterning tool on the sub-micrometre and nanometre length scales for functional materials. Thin films are ubiquitous, they are found in nature and used in almost every aspect of daily life. While film instabilities are often undesirable in nature and technology, they can be utilized to produce structures by precisely controlling the destabilization of the film. EHD lithography utilizes instabilities induced by means of an electric field to fabricate periodic structures. EHD patterning is set to become a competitive candidate for low-cost lithographic technology for a number of applications. Herein, the applied potential of this lithographic process is explored by expanding its applicability to a broad range of materials and by a simultaneous patterning of multilayer systems or functional polymers yielding hierarchical architectures with novel functionalities.
EHD pattern formation enables for instance, the fabrication of multi-scale structured arrays as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active platforms. Furthermore, crystalline and conductive polymers are patterned using the EHD approach and the underlying structure formation mechanisms are discussed. This extension towards functional material systems offers interesting prospects for potential applications. Findings of this thesis are very promising for use in optoelectronic devices.

As electronic designers pack more and more circuits onto a single chip to create increasingly complex devices, they run into a daunting obstacle: intermodulation distortion. This distortion occurs when are circuits are too closely placed together and their operating frequencies begin to interfere with each other. This manual addresses all aspects of intermodulation distortion. From the basics of circuit design, to cutting-edge techniques, it offers practitioners hands-on guidance for their challenging projects.

One of the most notable features of nanometer scale CMOS technology is the increasing magnitude of variability of the key device parameters affecting performance of integrated circuits. The growth of variability can be attributed to multiple factors, including the difficulty of manufacturing control, the emergence of new systematic variation-generating mechanisms, and most importantly, the increase in atomic-scale randomness, where device operation must be described as a stochastic process. In addition to wide-sense stationary stochastic device variability and temperature variation, existence of non-stationary stochastic electrical noise associated with fundamental processes in integrated-circuit devices represents an elementary limit on the performance of electronic circuits. In an attempt to address these issues, Stochastic Process Variation in Deep-Submicron CMOS: Circuits and Algorithms offers unique combination of mathematical treatment of random process variation, electrical noise and temperature and necessary circuit realizations for on-chip monitoring and performance calibration. The associated problems are addressed at various abstraction levels, i.e. circuit level, architecture level and system level. It therefore provides a broad view on the various solutions that have to be used and their possible combination in very effective complementary techniques for both analog/mixed-signal and digital circuits. The feasibility of the described algorithms and built-in circuitry has been verified by measurements from the silicon prototypes fabricated in standard 90 nm and 65 nm CMOS technology.

An emerging trend in the automobile industry is its convergence with information technology (IT). Indeed, it has been estimated that almost 90% of new automobile technologies involve IT in some form. "Smart" driving technologies that improve safety as well as "green" fuel technologies are quite representative of the convergence between IT and automobiles. The smart driving technologies include three key elements: sensing of driving environments, detection of objects and potential hazards and the generation of driving control signals including warning signals.

Although radar-based systems are primarily used for sensing the driving environments, the camera has gained importance in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

This book covers system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs including both algorithms and hardware related with image sensing and object detection by using the camera for smart driving systems. It introduces a variety of algorithms such as lens correction, super resolution, image enhancement and object detections from the images captured by low-cost vehicle camera. This is followed by implementation issues such as SoC architecture, hardware accelerator, software development environment and reliability techniques for automobile vision systems.

This book is aimed for the new and practicing engineers in automotive and chip-design industries to provide some overall guidelines for the development of automotive vision systems.

It will also help graduate students understand and get started for the research work in this field."

This book explores energy efficiency techniques for high-performance computing (HPC) systems using power-management methods. Adopting a step-by-step approach, it describes power-management flows, algorithms and mechanism that are employed in modern processors such as Intel Sandy Bridge, Haswell, Skylake and other architectures (e.g. ARM). Further, it includes practical examples and recent studies demonstrating how modem processors dynamically manage wide power ranges, from a few milliwatts in the lowest idle power state, to tens of watts in turbo state. Moreover, the book explains how thermal and power deliveries are managed in the context this huge power range. The book also discusses the different metrics for energy efficiency, presents several methods and applications of the power and energy estimation, and shows how by using innovative power estimation methods and new algorithms modern processors are able to optimize metrics such as power, energy, and performance. Different power estimation tools are presented, including tools that break down the power consumption of modern processors at sub-processor core/thread granularity. The book also investigates software, firmware and hardware coordination methods of reducing power consumption, for example a compiler-assisted power management method to overcome power excursions. Lastly, it examines firmware algorithms for dynamic cache resizing and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) for memory sub-systems.

This book will provide readers with deep insight into the intriguing science of thermoelectric thin films. It serves as a fundamental information source on the techniques and methodologies involved in thermoelectric thin film growth, characterization and device processing. This book involves widespread contributions on several categories of thermoelectric thin films: oxides, chalcogenides, iodates, nitrides and polymers. This will serve as an invaluable resource for experts to consolidate their knowledge and will provide insight and inspiration to beginners wishing to learn about thermoelectric thin films. Provides a single-source reference on a wide spectrum of topics related to thermoelectric thin films, from organic chemistry to devices, from physical chemistry to applied physics, from synthesis to device implementation; Covers several categories of thermoelectric thin films based on different material approaches such as oxides, chalcogenides, iodates, nitrides and polymers; Discusses synthesis, characterization, and device processing of thermoelectric thin films, as well as the nanoengineering approach to tailor the properties of the used materials at the nanoscale level.

This book describes innovative techniques to address the testing needs of 3D stacked integrated circuits (ICs) that utilize through-silicon-vias (TSVs) as vertical interconnects. The authors identify the key challenges facing 3D IC testing and present results that have emerged from cutting-edge research in this domain. Coverage includes topics ranging from die-level wrappers, self-test circuits, and TSV probing to test-architecture design, test scheduling, and optimization. Readers will benefit from an in-depth look at test-technology solutions that are needed to make 3D ICs a reality and commercially viable.

This book is based on a graduate course entitled, Ubiquitous Healthcare Circuits and Systems, that was given by one of the editors at his university. It includes an introduction and overview to the field of biomedical ICs and provides information on the current trends in research. The material focuses on the design of biomedical ICs rather than focusing on how to use prepared ICs.