Engineers have long been fascinated by how efficient and how fast biological neural networks are capable of performing such complex tasks as recognition. Such networks are capable of recognizing input data from any of the five senses with the necessary accuracy and speed to allow living creatures to survive. Machines which perform such complex tasks as recognition, with similar ac curacy and speed, were difficult to implement until the technological advances of VLSI circuits and systems in the late 1980's. Since then, the field of VLSI Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have witnessed an exponential growth and a new engineering discipline was born. Today, many engineering curriculums have included a course or more on the subject at the graduate or senior under graduate levels. Since the pioneering book by Carver Mead; "Analog VLSI and Neural Sys tems," Addison-Wesley, 1989; there were a number of excellent text and ref erence books on the subject, each dealing with one or two topics. This book attempts to present an integrated approach of a single research team to VLSI ANNs Engineering."

CMOS Data Converters for Communications distinguishes itself from other data converter books by emphasizing system-related aspects of the design and frequency-domain measures. It explains in detail how to derive data converter requirements for a given communication system (baseband, passband, and multi-carrier systems). The authors also review CMOS data converter architectures and discuss their suitability for communications. The rest of the book is dedicated to high-performance CMOS data converter architecture and circuit design. Pipelined ADCs, parallel ADCs with an improved passive sampling technique, and oversampling ADCs are the focus for ADC architectures, while current-steering DAC modeling and implementation are the focus for DAC architectures. The principles of the switched-current and the switched-capacitor techniques are reviewed and their applications to crucial functional blocks such as multiplying DACs and integrators are detailed. The book outlines the design of the basic building blocks such as operational amplifiers, comparators, and reference generators with emphasis on the practical aspects. To operate analog circuits at a reduced supply voltage, special circuit techniques are needed. Low-voltage techniques are also discussed in this book. CMOS Data Converters for Communications can be used as a reference book by analog circuit designers to understand the data converter requirements for communication applications. It can also be used by telecommunication system designers to understand the difficulties of certain performance requirements on data converters. It is also an excellent resource to prepare analog students for the new challenges ahead.

The main aim of this book is to give an overview of MEMS mechanical transducers. The text focuses mainly on examples of commercial and research devices; however, attention is also given to manufacturing techniques and materials, as well as the basic principles behind the operation of these devices.

High voltage engineering is extremely important for the reliable design, safe manufacture and operation of electric devices, equipment and electric power systems. The 21st International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, organized by the 90 years old Budapest School of High Voltage Engineering, provides an excellent forum to present results, advances and discussions among engineers, researchers and scientists, and share ideas, knowledge and expertise on high voltage engineering. The proceedings of the conference presents the state of the art technology of the field. The content is simultaneously aiming to help practicing engineers to be able to implement based on the papers and researchers to link and further develop ideas.

There is a growing understanding that the progress of the conventional silicon technology will reach its physical, engineering and economic limits in near future. This fact, however, does not mean that progress in computing will slow down. What will take us beyond the silicon era are new nano-technologies that are being pursued in university and corporate laboratories around the world. In particular, molecular switching devices and systems that will self-assemble through molecular recognition are being designed and studied. Many labora tories are now testing new types of these and other reversible switches, as well as fabricating nanowires needed to connect circuit elements together. But there are still significant opportunities and demand for invention and discovery be fore nanoelectronics will become a reality. The actual mechanisms of transport through molecular quantum dots and nanowires are of the highest current ex perimental and theoretical interest. In particular, there is growing evidence that both electron-vibron interactions and electron-electron correlations are impor tant. Further progress requires worldwide efforts of trans-disciplinary teams of physicists, quantum chemists, material and computer scientists, and engineers."

Even as we enter the nanotechnology era, we are now encountering the 50th anniversary of the invention of the IC. Will silicon continue to be the pre-eminent material and will MooreTM s Law continue unabated, albeit in a broader economic venue, in the nanotechnology era? This monograph addresses these issues by a re-examination of the scientific and technological foundations of the micro-electronics era. By better assessing and understanding the past five decades of this era, it is proposed that a firmer foundation can be laid for the research that will ensue and possibly provide a glimpse of what is next to come in the nanotechnology era."

The book presents a new, powerful model of neuronal networks, consisting of a three-dimensional neuronal culture in which 3D neuronal networks are coupled to micro-electrode-arrays (MEAs). It discusses the main advantages of the three-dimensional system compared to its two-dimensional counterpart, and shows that the network dynamics, recorded during both spontaneous and stimulated activity, differs between the two models, with the 3D system being better able to emulate the in vivo behaviour of neural networks. The book offers an extensive analysis of the system, from the theoretical background, to its design and applications in neuro-pharmacological studies. Moreover, it includes a concise yet comprehensive introduction to both 2D and 3D neuronal networks coupled to MEAs, and discusses the advantages, limitations and challenges of their applications as cellular and tissue-like in vitro experimental model systems.

The book describes the main physical processes and phenomena in pulsed electric breakdown. The knowledge and the control of the electric breakdown of liquids is important not only for the insulation inside power systems but it is also used for the creation and information of high voltage and high current pulses. Such high-voltage micro- and nanosecond pulses find wide application in experimental physics, electro discharge technology, physics of dielectrics, radar detection and ranging, high-speed photography.

The study of circuits is the foundation on which most other courses in the electrical engineering curriculum are based. For this reason the first course in circuit analysis must be appropriate to the succeeding specializations, which may be classified into two groups. One is a specialization in electro nics, microelectronics, communications, computers etc. , or so-called low current, low-voltage engineering. The other is in power electronics, power systems, energy conversion devices etc. , or so-called high-current, high voltage engineering. It is evident that although there are many common teaching topics in the basic course of circuit analysis, there are also certain differences. Unfortunately most of the textbooks in this field are written from the 'electronic engineer's viewpoint', i. e. with the emphasis on low current systems. This brought the author to the conclusion that there is a definite disad vantage in not having a more appropriate book for the specializations in high-current, high-voltage engineering. Thus the idea for this book came into being. The major feature distinguishing this book from others on circuit analysis is in delivering the material with a very strong connection to the specializations in the field of power systems, i. e. in high-current and high voltage engineering. The author believes that this emphasis gives the reader more opportunity for a better understanding and practice of the material which is relevant for power system network analysis, and to prepare students for their further specializations.

Electrical drives lie at the heart of most industrial processes and make a major contribution to the comfort and high quality products we all take for granted. They provide the controller power needed at all levels, from megawatts in cement production to milliwatts in wrist watches. Other examples are legion, from the domestic kitchen to public utilities. The modern electrical drive is a complex item, comprising a controller, a static converter and an electrical motor. Some can be programmed by the user. Some can communicate with other drives. Semiconductor switches have improved, intelligent power modules have been introduced, all of which means that control techniques can be used now that were unimaginable a decade ago. Nor has the motor side stood still: high-energy permanent magnets, semiconductor switched reluctance motors, silicon micromotor technology, and soft magnetic materials produced by powder technology are all revolutionising the industry. But the electric drive is an enabling technology, so the revolution is rippling throughout the whole of industry.

Low-Power Digital VLSI Design: Circuits and Systems addresses both process technologies and device modeling. Power dissipation in CMOS circuits, several practical circuit examples, and low-power techniques are discussed. Low-voltage issues for digital CMOS and BiCMOS circuits are emphasized. The book also provides an extensive study of advanced CMOS subsystem design. A low-power design methodology is presented with various power minimization techniques at the circuit, logic, architecture and algorithm levels. Features: Low-voltage CMOS device modeling, technology files, design rules Switching activity concept, low-power guidelines to engineering practice Pass-transistor logic families Power dissipation of I/O circuits Multi- and low-VT CMOS logic, static power reduction circuit techniques State of the art design of low-voltage BiCMOS and CMOS circuits Low-power techniques in CMOS SRAMS and DRAMS Low-power on-chip voltage down converter design Numerous advanced CMOS subsystems (e.g. adders, multipliers, data path, memories, regular structures, phase-locked loops) with several design options trading power, delay and area Low-power design methodology, power estimation techniques Power reduction techniques at the logic, architecture and algorithm levels More than 190 circuits explained at the transistor level.

This book describes scalable and near-optimal, processor-level design space exploration (DSE) methodologies. The authors present design methodologies for data storage and processing in real-time, cost-sensitive data-dominated embedded systems. Readers will be enabled to reduce time-to-market, while satisfying system requirements for performance, area, and energy consumption, thereby minimizing the overall cost of the final design.

This book is concerned with electromechanical systems, particularly the interaction between and the control of the electrical (electronic) and mechanical components. As electronics is becoming increasingly important in controlling machines, the problems of mechanical engineering can be less and less separated from those of electronic engineering and control engineering. This graduate-level text fills a gap in the literature by considering these problems from a unified perspective; it requires only a background in undergraduate mechanical engineering as a prerequisite. The first part of the book deals with electromechanical sensors and actuators, beginning with a review of mechanics and electrodynamics. These fundamentals are then applied to simple devices such as stepper motors, DC motors, and piezoelectric devices. Part two focuses on issues involving control, and begins with a review of classical control theory. Subsequent chapters discuss computer-controlled electromechanical systems, residual vibration, and active damping.

In Thermal and Power Management of Integrated Circuits, power and thermal management issues in integrated circuits during normal operating conditions and stress operating conditions are addressed. Thermal management in VLSI circuits is becoming an integral part of the design, test, and manufacturing. Proper thermal management is the key to achieve high performance, quality and reliability. Performance and reliability of integrated circuits are strong functions of the junction temperature. A small increase in junction temperature may result in significant reduction in the device lifetime.

This book reviews the significance of the junction temperature as a reliability measure under nominal and burn-in conditions. The latest research in the area of electro-thermal modeling of integrated circuits will also be presented. Recent models and associated CAD tools are covered and various techniques at the circuit and system levels are reviewed. Subsequently, the authors provide an insight into the concept of thermal runaway and how it may best be avoided. A section on low temperature operation of integrated circuits concludes the book.

Understanding and predicting the performance of electromechanical systems is crucially important in the design of many modern products, and today s engineers and researchers are constantly seeking methods for optimizing these complex systems.

This important text/reference highlights a unique combination of numerical tools and strategies for handling the challenges of multiphysics simulation. As multiphysics simulation is a broad and rapidly growing field, requiring an array of technical skills in different intersecting disciplines, this book presents a specific focus on electromechanical systems as the target application.

Topics and features: introduces the concept of design via simulation, along with the role of multiphysics simulation in today s engineering environment; discusses the importance of structural optimization techniques in the design and development of electromechanical systems; provides an overview of the physics commonly involved with electromechanical systems for applications such as electronics, magnetic components, RF components, actuators, and motors; reviews the governing equations for the simulation of related multiphysics problems; outlines relevant (topology and parametric size) optimization methods for electromechanical systems; describes in detail several multiphysics simulation and optimization example studies in both two and three dimensions, with sample numerical code.

Researchers and engineers in industry and academia will find this work to be an invaluable reference on advanced electromechanical system design. The book is also suitable for students at undergraduate and graduate level, and many of the design examples will be of interest to anyone curious about the unique design solutions that arise from the coupling of optimization methods with multiphysics simulation techniques."

Sensors and Sensory Systems for an Electronic Nose reviews the current state of progress in the development of an electronic instrument capable of olfaction. The instrument -- the so-called electronic nose -- has enormous potential for application in such areas as product flavor control and environmental monitoring. The book discusses the essential elements of an electronic nose, such as chemical sensors, signal processing, and pattern recoginiton techniques. It is also one of the first contributions to the new and exciting field of machine olfaction.

Reuse Techniques for VLSI Design is a reflection on the current state of the art in design reuse for microelectronic systems. To that end, it is the first book to garner the input of leading experts from both research and application areas. These experts document herein not only their more mature approaches, but also their latest research results. Firstly, it sets out the background and support from international organisations that enforce System-on-a-Chip (SoC) design by reuse- oriented methodologies. This overview is followed by a number of technical presentations covering different requirements of the reuse domain. These are presented from different points of view, i.e., IP provider, IP user, designer, isolated reuse, intra-company or inter-company reuse. More general systems or case studies, e.g., metrics, are followed by comprehensive reuse systems, e.g., reuse management systems partly including business models. Since design reuse must not be restricted to digital components, mixed- signal and analog reuse approaches are also presented. In parallel to the digital domain, this area covers research in reuse database design. Design verification and legal aspects are two important topics that are closely related to the realization of design reuse. These hot topics are covered by presentations that finalize the survey of outstanding research, development and application of design reuse for SoC design. Reuse Techniques for VLSI Design is an invaluable reference for researchers and engineers involved in VLSI/ASIC design.

Since the publication of the first edition of this book, advances in algorithms, logic and software tools have transformed the field of data fusion. The latest edition covers these areas as well as smart agents, human computer interaction, cognitive aides to analysis and data system fusion control. Besides aiding you in selecting the appropriate algorithm for implementing a data fusion system, this book guides you through the process of determining the trade-offs among competing data fusion algorithms, selecting commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tools, and understanding when data fusion improves systems processing. Completely new chapters in this second edition explain data fusion system control, DARPA's recently developed TRIP model, and the latest applications of data fusion in data warehousing and medical equipment, as well as defence systems.

This handbook on power systems consists of a set of 4 volumes. These books are carefully planned and designed to provide the state of art material on major aspects of electrical power systems, short-circuit currents, load flow, harmonics and protective relaying. Many aspects of power systems are transparent between different types of studies and analyses; knowledge of short-circuit currents and symmetrical component is required for protective relaying, and fundamental frequency load flow is required for harmonic analysis. Currently, power systems, large or small, are analyzed on digital computers with appropriate software. However, it is necessary to understand the theory and basis of these calculations to debug and decipher the results. The material is organized with sound theoretical base, practical applications, and case studies based on the author's 45+ years of experience with real world problems.

Design of Low-Voltage, Low-Power CMOS Operational Amplifier Cells describes the theory and design of the circuit elements that are required to realize a low-voltage, low-power operational amplifier. These elements include constant-gm rail-to-rail input stages, class-AB rail-to-rail output stages and frequency compensation methods. Several examples of each of these circuit elements are investigated. Furthermore, the book illustrates several silicon realizations, giving their measurement results. The text focuses on compact low-voltage low-power operational amplifiers with good performance. Six simple high-performance class-AB amplifiers are realized using a very compact topology making them particularly suitable for use as VLSI library cells. All of the designs can use a supply voltage as low as 3V. One of the amplifier designs dissipates only 50uW with a unity gain frequency of 1.5 MHz. A second set of amplifiers run on a supply voltage slightly above 1V. The amplifiers combine a low power consumption with a gain of 120 dB. In addition, the design of three fully differential operational amplifiers is addressed. Design of Low-Voltage, Low-Power CMOS Operational Amplifier Cells is intended for professional designers of analog circuits. It is also suitable for use as a text book for an advanced course in CMOS operational amplifier design."

Knowledge itself is soon obsolete; It is a blunt instrument. Only by understanding can problems be solved and progress achieved. Reliability in performance of electronic equipment, in the face of demands for continuing miniaturisation and the anticipated abolition of lead containing solders, represents a major engineering challenge. The involvement of numerous disciplines; such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, manufacturing, and materials engineering together with physicists and computer specialists, adds to the complexity of the situation. Nevertheless, with electronics being the World's largest industrial sector, the potential rewards to the winners are substantial. This book aims to provide the ingredients for understanding, together with knowledge of reliability in interconnection technology and of the implementation of lead free solders. It is strongly contended that such a combination forms the necessary basis for greater structural integrity and enhanced performance The text is essentially in three parts: The intentions of the Part I component {The Materials Perspective, Chapters 1 6) are to present a snapshot of the current, but rapidly changing, global scene and to establish a firm understanding of the fundamentals surrounding interconnection performance. With potential readers possessing a broad spectrum of knowledge and expertise, this is essential. It could be argued that the reason for the limited progress made in this field to date has been due to the difficulties encountered in communicating effectively across the discipline boundaries.

A Practical Guide to Analog Behavioral Modeling for IC System Design presents a methodology for abstracting an IC system so that the designer can gain a macroscopic view of how sub-systems interact, as well as verify system functionality in various applications before committing to a design. This will prevent problems that may be caused late in the design-cycle by incompatibilities between the individual blocks that comprise the overall system. This book will focus on the techniques of modelling IC systems through analog behavioral modeling and simulation. It will investigate a practical approach by which designers can put together these systems to analyze topological and architectural issues to optimize IC system performance. Highlights: Discussions on modeling and simulation from SPICE to behavioral simulators Comparison of various hardware description languages and a discussion on the effects of language standardization Explanation on how to reduce time-to-market by decreasing design-cycle time through modeling and simulation Contains more than 25 building block examples that can be used to construct mixed-signal IC system models Analysis of 4 different IC systems using various levels of model detail This book is intended for the practicing engineer who would like to gain practical knowledge in applications of analog behavioral modelling for IC system design.