In this paper, Morse code is selected as a communication adaptive device for persons whose hand coordination and dexterity are impaired by such ailments as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and other severe handicaps. Morse code is composed of a series of dots, dashes, and space intervals, and each element is transmitted by sending a signal for a defined length of time. A suitable adaptive automatic recognition method is needed for persons with disabilities due to their difficulty in maintaining a stable typing rate. To overcome this problem, the proposed method combines the support vector machines method with a variable degree variable step size LMS algorithm. The method is divided into five stages: tone recognition, space recognition, training process, adaptive processing, and character recognition. Statistical analyses demonstrated that the proposed method elicited a better recognition rate in comparison to alternative methods from the literature.

In this paper, an ultra-low power variable-resolution sigma-delta (ΣΔ) modulator for biomedical application is presented. The resolution of proposed modulator can be adjusted by switching its sampling frequency and architecture. The architecture is switched between second-order single-loop modulator and fourth-order cascaded second stage noise shaped modulator to reach different resolution requirement. The proposed sigma-delta modulator is implemented by single phase integrators based on a fully differential switched-capacitor circuit. The digital cancellation logic is embedded in the chip so that it would easily be integrated with biomedical instrument for effective acquisition. Experimental results of the proposed variable-resolution ΣΔ modulator fabricated in standard CMOS 0.18 µm technology confirm the expected specifications from 65 dB signal-to-noise distortion to 96 dB with 1 kHz bandwidth and power consumption range from 48 µW to 360 µW with a 1.8 V battery supply.

Assistive technology (AT) is becoming increasingly important for improving the mobility and language learning capabilities of persons with disabilities, thus enabling them to function independently and to improve their social opportunities. The Morse code has been shown to be a valuable tool in assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication, and rehabilitation for people with neuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy. In this paper, we designed and implemented a wireless environmental control aid system using the Morse code as an adapted access communication tool, which includes three types of switch: single-switch, double-switch, and six-switch types. People with disabilities can easily control all types of electronic appliance without restrictions owing to spatial arrangements using a signal transmission based on radio frequency (RF). Experimental results revealed that three participants with disabilities were able to gain access to electronic facilities after six weeks of practice with the new system.

This paper describes a smart thermal sensing chip with an integrated vertical bipolar transistor sensor, a Sigma Delta Modulator (SDM), a Micro-Control Unit (MCU), and a bandgap reference voltage generator for biomedical application by using 0.18 µm CMOS process. The npn bipolar transistors with the Deep N-Well (DNW) instead of the pnp bipolar transistor is first adopted as the sensor for good isolation from substrate coupling noise. In addition to data compression, Micro-Control Unit (MCU) plays an important role for executing auto-calibration by digitally trimming the bipolar sensor in parallel to save power consumption and to reduce feedback complexity. It is different from the present analog feedback calibration technologies. Using one sensor, instead of two sensors, to create two differential signals in 180phase difference input to SDM is also a novel design of this work. As a result, in the range of 0 to 80 or body temperature (375), the inaccuracy is less than 0.1 or 0.05 respectively with one-point calibration after packaging. The average power consumption is 268.4 µW with 1.8 V supply voltage.