The problem of test generation for VLSI circuits computationally requires prohibitive costs. Parallel processing on a multiprocessor system is one of available methods in order to speedup the process for such time-consuming problems. In this paper, we analyze the performance of parallel test generation for combinational circuits. We present two types of parallel test generation systems in which the communication methods are different; vector broadcasting (VB) and fault broadcasting (FB) systems, and analyze the number of generated test vectors, the costs of test vector generation, fault simulation and communication, and the speedup of these parallel test generation systems, where the two types of communication factors; the communication cut-off factor and the communication period, are applied. We also present experimental results on the VB and FB systems implemented on a network of workstations using ISCAS'85 and ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits. The analytical and experimental results show that the total number of test vectors generated in the VB system is the same as that in the FB system, the speedup of the FB system is larger than that of the VB, and it is effective in reducing the communication cost to switch broadcasted data from vectors to faults.

We study Lempel-Ziv-Yokoo algorithm [1, Algorithm 4] for universal data compression. In this paper, we give a simpler implementation of Lempel-Ziv-Yokoo algorithm than the original one [1, Algorithm 4] and show its asymptotic optimality for a stationary ergodic source.

Overheads caused by frequently communicating α-β values among numerous parallel search processes not only degrade greatly the performance of existing parallel α-β search algorithm but also make it impractical to implement these algorithms in parallel hardware. To solve this problem, the proposed architecture reduces the overheads by using specially designed multi-value arbiters to compare and global broadcasting buses to communicate α-β values. In addition, the architecture employs a set of α-β search control units (α-β SCU's) with distributed α-β registers to accelerate the search by searching all subtrees in parallel. Simulation results show that the proposed parallel architecture with 1444 (38 38) (α-β SCU's) searching in parallel can achieve 179 folds of speed-up. To verify the parallel architecture, we implemented a VLSI chip with 3 α-β SCU's. The chip can achieve a search speed of 13,381,345 node-visits per second, which is more than three orders of improvement over that of existing parallel algorithms.

Introducing a mathematical model of image noise, we formalize the problem of fitting a conic to point data as statistical estimation. It is shown that the reliability of the fitted conic can be evaluated quantitatively in the form of the covariance tensor. We present a numerical scheme called renormalization for computing an optimal fit and at the same time evaluating its reliability. We also present a scheme for visualizing the reliability of the fit by means of the primary deviation pair. Our method is illustrated by showing simulations and real-image examples.

In this paper, we study the following node-to-node and node-to-set routing problems in r-dimensional torus Trn with r 2 and n 4 nodes in each dimension: given at most 2r - 1 faulty nodes and non-faulty nodes s and t in Trn, find a fault-free path s t; and given at most 2r - k faulty nodes and non-faulty nodes s and t1,..., tk in Trn, find k fault-free node-disjoint paths s ti, 1 i k. We give an O(r2) time algorithm which finds a fault-free path s t of length at most d(Trn) + 1 for the node-to-node routing, where d(Trn) is the diameter of Trn. For node-to-set routing, we show an O(r3) time algorithm which finds k fault-free node-disjoint paths s ti, 1 i k, of length at most d(Trn) + 1. The upper bounds on the length of the found paths are optimal. From this, Rabin diameter of Trn is d(Trn) + 1.

To overcome the problem of narrow viewing angle in active matrix liquid crystal displasy(LCDs) in the twisted nematic mode(TN mode), we have proposed a new LCD mode using a bend-alignment cell with an optical compensator. In this new mode, we have successfully obtained a black state with almost no leakage over a wide viewing angle range with very fast response. We describe the fundamental principle and design rule of the optical compensator and discuss the properties obtained in theoretical and experimental term.

This paper presents a binary neural network approach for link activation problems in multihop radio networks. The goal of the NP-complete problems is to find a conflict-free link activation schedule with the minimum number of time slots for specified communication requirements. The neural network is composed of NM binary neurons for scheduling N links in M time slots. The energy functions and the motion equations are newly defined with heuristic methods. The simulation results through 14 instances with up to 419 links show that the neural network not only surpasses the best existing neural network in terms of the convergence rate and the computation time, but also can solve large scale instances within a constant number of iteration steps.

It is an important problem in fields of radar, sonar, and so on to estimate parameters of closely spaced multiple signals. The MUSIC algorithm with the forward-backward (FB) spatial smoothing is considered as the most effective technique at present for the problem with coherent signals in a variety of fields. We have applied this in Laser Microvision. Recently, Shimotahira has proposed the Kernel MUSIC algorithm, which is applicable to cases when signal vectors and noise vectors are orthogonal. It also utilizes Gaussian elimination of the covariance matrix instead of eigenvalue analysis to estimate noise vectors. Although the amount of computation by the Kernel MUSIC algorithm became lighter than that of the conventional MUSIC algorithm, the covariance matrix was formed to estimate noise vectors and also all noise vectors were used to analyze the MUSIC eigenspectrum. The heaviest amount of computation in the Kernel MUSIC algorithm exists in the transformation of the covariance matrix and the analysis of the MUSIC eigenspectrum. We propose a more straightforward algorithm to estimate noise vectors without forming a covariance matrix, easier algorithm to analyze the MUSIC eigenspectrum. The superior characteristics will be demonstrated by results of numerical simulation.

A laser power optimizing method for multi-pulse recording is described. Multi-pulse recording uses the recording pulse formed by bias part and comb part. To obtain best readout signal characteristics and reduce the time for optimizing, new mark pattern is recorded and then two parts of the recording pulse are individually adjusted by evaluating the detected signals during pre-write testing. At the optimized laser power by this method, a good qualitative eyepattern was obtained. As a result, this new method proves to be suitable for the multi-pulse recording and adapted to various disks with different recording properties.

A new ATM switch architecture, named shared multibuffering, features great advantages on memory access speed for a large switch, and overall size of buffer memories to achieve excellent cell-loss performance. We have developed a 622-Mb/s 88 shared multibuffer ATM switch with multicast functions and hierarchical queueing functions to accommodate 156-Mb/s, 622-Mb/s and 2.4-Gb/s interfaces. Implementation of the shared multibuffer ATM switch is described with respect to the four sorts of 0.8-µm BiCMOS LSIs and ATM switch boards. The switch board/type-1, with C1-LSI, allows to accommodate effectively 156-Mb/s and 622-Mb/s interfaces, which is suitable for an ATM access system. The switch board/type-2, with C2-LSI, can provide multicast functions and accommodate a 2.4-Gb/s interface. By using four switch boards, it is possible to apply them to a 2.4-Gb/s ATM loop system.

This paper first presents the performance analysis of the NACF algorithm. The results show the possibility of the degradation in the convergence speed. To improve the convergence speed, the bias term is introduced into the NACF algorithm and its efficiency is investigated through the computer simulations.

High-resolution algorithms for the detection and estimation of Directions Of Arrival (DOA) such as MUSIC, lead to accurate results but require the computation of the noise-subspace through an expensive covariance matrix eigendecomposition. Adaptive estimators of the noise-subspace can be very useful in a non-stationary environment when the convergence is possible with a few number of snapshots. Some adaptive methods are presented showing that an indirect noise-subspace estimation through a signal subspace estimation can be advantageous both in terms of convergence rate and computation complexity during each update. Some computer simulations examples showing performances are provided.

This paper provides an architectural study of optical ring trunk-transmission networks using either Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM). A timeslot arrangement algorithm for distributed controlled TDM rings is proposed that minimizes the number of slots (wavelengths) required in bi-directional ring networks. This algorithm is applied in a straightforward manner to wavelength arrangement in WDM ring networks. The technique, characterized by timeslot (or wavelength) conversion, realizes common add/drop procedures in all Add/Drop Multiplexers (ADMs) when they are connected logically in a mesh topology. A self-healing algorithm is also proposed for network restoration. It offers good performance in terms of protection line-capacity, restoration delay, and survivability against multiple failures.

The transform coding scheme is often used for data compression of images, but the blocking effects peculiar to the scheme appear more clearly in reproduced images as a coding rate (bits/pixel) decreases. These effects can sometimes be viewed as a periodical square-grid overlaying the images. In this paper,we propose a new method for selectively measuring the above blocking effects among several types of image degradation by means of the techniques of nonlinear signal processing for spectral infomation (cepstral techniques), in order to compare the amount of blocking effects for the different coding images. First a two-component model which consists of DC and AC images, is discussed from a viewpoint of subimage-by-subimage coding, and some basic properties of cepstral information for the model are investigated. Then we show a procedure to compute the cepstral information for two-dimensional image signals taking the horizontal and vertical directions ioto account, and introduce a cepstral mean square error (CMSE) as a new measure to estimate the amount of blocking effects. The computer simulation results for some test images using different coding schemes show that the amount of blocking effects in each image can be easily measured and estimated by this method even when the blocking effects appear slightly.

This paper proposes fast FIR digital filter structures using the minimal number of adders. Filter coefficients are expressed with canonic signed digit (CSD) code and Hartley's technique is used to minimize the number of adders and subtractors. The proposed filters implemented as wired logic are fast because the structure having the shortest critical path is selected. Two algorithms are given to obtain such fast structures. In many examples the critical path length of the filter structures obtained using the proposed method is equal to that of the conventional CSD structures. This paper also presents a new design method of FIR filters using the mixed integer programming (MILP). Utilization of common expressions in Hartley's technique widens the CSD coefficient space. Thus the MILP may lead to better frequency responses. Superior frequency responses are actually obtained in many simulations.

We report recent progress in the development of Liquid Crystal(LC) materials for the TN-TFT and ECB-TFT technologies, which require LC materials with positive and negative dielectric anisotropy, respectively. Many kinds of new LC materials have been synthesized and have been evaluated based on their fundamental physical properties. We have succeeded in identifying new LC materials, and developing new LC mixtures based on those, so that the current typical requirements of TFT-LCDs e.g. fast switching times, low power consumption, good viewing angles and wide operation temperature ranges together with high reliability can be fulfilled.

The characteristics of a-Si bottom-gate TFT test devices with several kinds of inorganic "quasi-black matrix," such as metal, semiconductor, and insulator, on the top were investigated for various black matrix(BM) resistivities. In the Ia-Vg characteristics, for a BM sheet resistance of about1 1012 Ω/, a high off current and large Vth shift were observed due to the back-gating effects when the BM is charged up. Accrding to the ac dynamic characteristics, there was almost no leakage due to the capacitive coupling between source and drain after 16.6 msec(one frame) when the BM sheet resistance was above 7 1013 Ω/ . It was found that hydrogenated amorphous silicon germanium(a-SiGe:H) film, which has enough optical density, with the sheet resistance above the order of 1014 Ω/ is a promising candidate for an inorganic BM on TFT array.

In retrieving information from databases widely distributed in a network, the first thing to do is to search and find the database where the required information is stored. We call this the information searches rather than the retrievals. In this paper, we present a search and retrieval method for multimedia information, especially images. First, we formalize the general elements of information search and introduce a new search concept based on entropy reduction. Next, we discuss recent new technologies for image retrieval and introduce a new image retrieval system called VideoReality. Third, we present several methods of searching in the network- for example, the Internet robot TITAN, and a new search method for images distributed in the network that is based on the hierarchical structure of image retrieval. Finally, we discuss the network control and design concepts appropriate for information search and retrival.

The up and coming multimedia services are based on real-time high-speed networks. For efficient operation of such services, real-time and precise network management is essential. In this paper, we show that presently available MIB designs are severely inadequate to support real-time network management. We point out and analyze the management constraints and bottlenecks. The concept of quality of management of management information is introduced and its importance in practical network management is discussed. We have proposed a new MIB architecture that will raise the quality of management information to meet the requirements of managing high-speed networks and multimedia services. Experimental results from a prototype implementation of the new MIB architecture are presented.

For reducing requirement of large memory and minimizing computation complexity in a large-vocabulary continuous speech recognition system, speech segmentation plays an important role in speech recognition systems. In this paper, we formulate the speech segmentation as a two-phase problem. Phase 1 (frame labeling) involves labeling frames of speech data. Frames are classified into three types: (1) silence, (2) consonant and (3) vowel according to two segmentation features. In phase 2 (syllabic unit segmentation) we apply the concept of transition states to segment continuous speech data into syllabic units based on the labeled frames. The novel class of hyperrectangular composite neural networks (HRCNNs) is used to cluster frames. The HRCNNs integrate the rule-based approach and neural network paradigms, therefore, this special hybrid system may neutralize the disadvantages of each alternative. The parameters of the trained HRCNNs are utilized to extract both crisp and fuzzy classification rules. In our experiments, a database containing continuous reading-rate Mandarin speech recorded from newscast was utilized to illustrate the performance of the proposed speaker independent speech segmentation system. The effectiveness of the proposed segmentation system is confirmed by the experimental results.