This paper is concerned with the continuous relation between models of the plant and the predicted performances of the system designed based on the models. To state the problem more precisely, let P be the transfer matrix of a plant model, and let A be the transfer matrix of interest of the designed system, which is regarded as a performance measure for evaluating the designed responses. A depends upon P and is written as A=A(P). From the practical point of view, it is necessary that the function A(P) should be continuous with respect to P. In this paper we consider the linear quadratic optimal servosystem with integrators (LQI) scheme as the design methodology, and prove that A(P) depends continuously on the plant transfer matrix P if the topology of the family of plants models is the graph topology. A numerical example is given for illustrating the result.

For improving the RSA cryptosystem, more desirable conditions on key structures have been intensively studied. Recently, M.J.Wiener presented a cryptanalytic attack on the use of small RSA secret exponents. To be secure against the Wiener's attack, the size of a secret exponent d should be chosen more than one-quarter of the size of the modulus n = pq (in bits). Besides, it is more desirable, in frequent cases, to make the public exponent e as small as possible. However if small d is chosen first, in such case as the digital signature system with smart card, the size of e is inevitably increased to that of n when we use the conventional key generation algorithm. This paper presents a new algorithm, Algorithm I, for generating of the secure RSA keys against Wiener's attack. With Algorithm I, it is possible to choose the smaller sizes of the RSA exponents under certain conditions on key parameters. For example, with Algorithm I, we can construct the RSA keys with the public exponent e of two-thirds and secret exponent d of one-third of the size of modulus n (in bits). Furthermore we present a modified version of Algorithm I, Algorithm II, for generating of the strong RSA keys having the difficulty of factoring n. Finally we analyze the performances of Algorithm I and Algorithm II.

Optical waveguides are one of the key devices for photonic integrated circuits considered to be one of the candidates for optical interconnects. In particular lossless bend type waveguides are necessary to integrate different optical devices monolithically. In this paper, we report on the bending loss characteristics of the multi-quantum well bend waveguide with respect to the bend radius and lateral optical mode confinement. We show that to decrease the bending loss to less than 0.5 dB, it is necessary to increase either the confinement or the bend radius. For an example, when the confinement is around 85%, the bend radius should be more than 2 mm. We also show the application of the S-bend waveguides to directional coupler type optical switch.

A new effect of barrier metal laid under 1st aluminum layer on electromigration has been found in interconnect vias. This effect can be explained by Si nodules at vias. Stress induced open failure occurred at viaholes and depends on the size of the vias. Stress-migration at vias can be prevented by TiN barrier metal between 1st and 2nd metals. Reliability of electro- and stress-migration at interconnect vias can be explosively improved by using TiN barrier metal.

This paper presents a novel model of optical associative memory using an optoelectronic neurochips, which detects and processes a two-dimensional input image at the same time. The original point of this model is that the optoelectronic neurochips allow direct image processing in terms of parallel input/output interface and parallel neural processing. The operation principle is based on the nonlinear transformation of the input image to the corresponding the point attractor of a fully connected neural network. The learning algorithm is the simulated annealing and the energy of the network state is used as its cost function. The computer simulations show its usefulness and that the maximum number of stored images is 150 in the network with 64 neurons. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate an optical implementation of the model using the optoelectronic neurochip. The chip consists of two-dimensional array of variable sensitivity photodetectors with 8 16 elements. The experimental results shows that 3 images of size 8 8 were successfully stored in the system. In the case of the input image of size 64 64, the estimated processing speed is 100 times higher than that of the conventional optoelectronic neurochips.

Electronics and automobiles were bound together by the introduction of emission regulations in the 1970's. The rapid progress of control technology and semiconductors that typify microcomputers has brought still closer relations between them. Without electronics, it would be impossible to realize features such as pursuit of comfort and environmental and safety measures which should be added to the automobile's fundamental features. In looking ahead to the future, the role of electronics in achieving electric automobiles and the ultimate goal of "automatic driving" is ever-increasing. Everyone knows that automobiles have become indispensable in our lives. In the future, the role of electronics will become increasingly important in order to evolve automobiles even further to allow harmonization with society.

Since carelessness in driving causes a terrible traffic accident, it is an important subject for a vehicle to avoid collision autonomously. Real-time collision detection between a vehicle and obstacles will be a key target for the next-generation car electronics system. In collision detection, a large storage capacity is usually required to store the 3-D information on the obstacles lacated in a workspace. Moreover, high-computational power is essential not only in coordinate transformation but also in matching operation. In the proposed collision detection VLSI processor, the matching operation is drastically accelerated by using a Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) which evaluates the magnitude relationships between an input word and all the stored words in parallel. A new obstacle representation based on a union of rectangular solids is also used to reduce the obstacle memory capacity, so that the collision detection can be parformed only by parallel magnitude comparison. Parallel architecture using several identical processor elements (PEs) is employed to perform the coordinate transformation at high speed based on the COordinate Rotation DIgital Computation (CORDIC) algorithms. The collision detection time becomes 5.2 ms using 20 PEs and five CAMs with a 42-kbit capacity.

The two-dimensional nested cellular automata array presented here as a method for testing CCD arrays accommodates a set of spatial bilateral inhibition and excitation, and thus generates spatio-temporal artificial chaotic signals. Adequate use of the spatio-temporal pulses achieves exact line detection that is completely different from the template-matching scheme used by conventional methods.

The Akebono satellite observed the Australian Omega signals when it passed about 1000km over the Omega station. In this paper, we compare the observed Omega signal intensities with the values obtained using a full wave calculation and we discuss a mechanism of modulation of the signals. The relative spatial variations of the calculated Omega intensities are quite consistent with those observed, but the absolute calculated intensities themselves are several dB larger than the observed intensities. This difference in intensity may be due to the horizontal inhomogeneity of the D region, which is not modeled in the full wave calculation, or to an incorrect assumption about radiation characteristics of the Omega antenna. It is found that modulation of the observed signals is caused by the interference between the waves with different k vectors.

An omnidirectional microstrip antenna using a parasitic cylinder is presented. A rectangular patch is formed on a dielectric substrate and it's completely covered with an aluminum cylinder which is somewhat shorter than a half of free space wavelength. Under such configuration the aluminum cylinder works as a parasitic element. This antenna can provides uniform omnidirectional radiation patterns and a broad frequency bandwidth. In this paper an experimental method for designing such an element is described. Measured input impedance characteristics, current distribution around the surface of the cylinder and patterns are also shown. By properly adjusting the coupling intensity between the patch and the parasitic cylinder a broad bandwidth antenna element can be realized. Some methods to adjust the coupling intensity are shown. A wide bandwidth element up to 14% for VSWR1.5 is obtained. Arranging many patches lengthways on a substrate and placing metallic cylinders around each patches, we can realize a high-gain and broad bandwidth collinear antenna.

The regulatory mechanism of protein synthesis on a messenger RNA was analyzed from view point of the optimal control and discussed about availability for artificial production of peptide and protein. The transient movements of a ribozome through a messenger RNA with its production of peptide was based on the theory proposed by Gordon (1968). The optimal state of total process was defined as the state at which the time dependent change of each process of peptide synthesis has been minimized during a given time interval. This biological problem was converted into mathematical one by setting state variables and utilizing the optimal control theory with the help of Hamiltonian function. The first process of transition of a ribozome on a messenger RNA showed the largest change and with progress of state, the magnitude of change of each process decreased and became a simpler pattern. The effect of weighting coefficient relating with individual process was not confined only to its proper process but extended to all other processes. Each process was affected from all other processes. These were manifestations of effective and rational control strategies particularly for regulation of the sequential reaction in peptide synthesis. Such results were originated in the operation of the optimal control. By simulating physiological experimental data, it is possible to predict at what process and at what degree, the synthesis is regulated in order to achieve the optimal synthesis state. By analyzing the optimal synthesis process in combination with physiological experimental data, it would be possible to create artificial peptide and protein.

When used for automotive applications, microcomputers have to meet two requirements more demanding than those for general use. One of these requirements is to respond to external events within a time scale of microseconds; the other is the high quality and high reliability necessary for the severe environmental operating conditions and the ambitious market requirements inherent to automotive applications. These needs especially the latter one have been responded to by further elaboration of each basic technology involved in semiconductor manufacturing. At the same time, various logic parts have been built into the microcomputer. This paper deals with several design approaches to the high quality and high reliability objective. First, testability improvement by the logical separation method focusing on the logic simulation model for generating test vectors, which enables us to reduce the time required for test vector development in half. Next, noise suppression methods to gain electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Then, simplified memory transistor's analysis to evaluate the V/I-characteristics directly via external pins without opening the model seal, removing the passivation and placing a probe needle on the chip. Finally, increased reliability of on-chip EPROM using a special circuit raising the threshold value by approximately 1(V) compared to EPROM's without such a circuit.

The beam propagation method (BPM) is a powerful and manageable method for the analysis of wave propagation along weakly guiding optical waveguides. However, the effects of reflected waves are not considered in the original BPM. In this paper, we propose two simple modifications of the BPM to make it relevant in characterizing abrupt discontinuities in weakly guiding waveguides at which a significant amount of reflection is expected to be observed. Validity of the present modifications is confirmed by the numerical results for abrupt discontinuities in step-index slab waveguides and butt-joints between different slab waveguides.

In a previous article, an optical array imaging system has been presented. In this system, first, a set of array data is collected by repeatedly illuminating the object with laser light from each array element, detecting the reflected light as interferogram, and extracting the reflected wave field based on the spatial heterodyne detection. Then, an eigenvalue analysis is applied to the data to derive the wave field that would backpropagate and focus at a single point on the object; in this case, the iterative algorithm is used which indicates that the object point may have the largest reflectivity. It was shown experimentally that the single-point-focusing was attained for objects having several such parts with almost the same reflectivities. A preliminary study by computer simulation, however, indicates that the probability with which the wave focuses at multiple object points would not be small enough, resulting in a degraded image with ghost image components. In this paper, the array data within subaperture regions are selectively used to attain the single-point-focusing and obtain a good image for any object. First, it is shown analytically that the change in the dimension or center position of the aperture is effective to change the eigenvector so that it attains the single-point-focusing. Then, a procedure to find the optimum subapertures and a measure evaluating the degree of single-point-focusing for the eigenvector are presented. The method is examined in detail using experimentally obtained array data, and the results show that the method is effective in obtaining good images for any objects without sacrificing image resolution. When we compare the imaging system to an automatic focusing camera, it may be said that the additional processings enhance the capability of automatic focusing to a great degree.

This paper presents an equation capable of briefly evaluating the length of white noise sequence to be sent as a training signal. The equation is formulated by utilizing the formula describing the convergence property, which has been derived from the IIR filter expression of the NLMS algorithm. The result revealed that the length is directly proportional to I/[K(2-K)] where K is a step gain and I is the number of the adaptive filter taps.

In this paper, we propose a polynomial time algorithm for computing the expected maximum number of vertex-disjoint s-t paths in a probabilistic basically series-parallel directed graph and a probabilistic series-parallel undirected graph with distinguished source s and sink t(st), where each edge has a mutually independent failure probability and each vertex is assumed to be failure-free.

Fuzzy control is suitable for automotive control, because fuzzy control achieves controllability as good as control by humankind. However, since automotive control requires milli-second response and learning control, and the fuzzy system in automobiles requires fewer components (built-in type), a custom fuzzy inference LSI is needed for automotive control. We then indicated requirements of a fuzzy inference LSI suitable for automotive control and fabricated a fuzzy inference LSI using 1.5 µm CMOS process technique. This fabricated fuzzy LSI is designed to utilize in various automotive control experiments such as engine control, cruise control, brake control and steering control. The number of input variables is six, the number of output variables is two, the maximum number of production rules is 256, and the inference time is 63 microseconds (under the condition of six inputs, two outputs and 256 rules). The features of the fuzzy LSI are high speed inference, a built-in type, learning control ability and a memory structure separating into a rule memory and a membership function memory. A fuzzy control system is implemented only by the addition of two devices: the fuzzy LSI and an EPROM. The fuzzy LSI was applied to a rough road durability test aiming at the automatic driving equivalent to the human driver operation. In the test, fuzzy control and linear control were compared in terms of the compensation steering degrees. Linear steering control had a high rate of compensation steering of less than thirty degrees. On the other hand, the accumulated steering compensation of less than twenty degrees in the fuzzy control was about one third that in the linear control. The fuzzy steering control had the same steering compensations as that of human steering. The fuzzy LSI fabricated for various experiments is too large (10.7 mm10.9 mm) to adopt as automotive parts. Therefore, we studied a smaller-sized fuzzy LSI by limiting functions, by changing the parallel processing into sequential processing and by thinning out the memory data of input membership functions. The number of input variables is four, the number of output variables is two, the maximum number of production rules is 160 and the expected inference time is 140 micro-seconds (in the worst case). The obtained chip is small enough (4.8 mm4.8 mm) for automotive applications. Since the chip contains all the memories that are needed to execute fuzzy inference, the chip can be built in a microprocessor as a fuzzy inference co-processor without any other circuits.

The ray-tracing algorithm can synthesize very realistic images. However, the ray tracing is very time consuming. To solve this problem, a load balancing strategy using temporal coherence between images in an animation is presented for balancing computational loads among processing elements of a parallel processng system. Our parallel processing model is based on a space subdivision method for the ray-tracing algorithm. A subdivided object space is distributed among processing elements of the parallel system. To clarify the effectiveness of the load balancing strategy, we examine the system performance by computer simulation.

This paper gives a model to explain one phenomenon found in the process of creative concept formation, i.e. the phenomenon that people often get trapped in some state where the mental world remains nebulous and sometimes suddenly make a jump to a new concept. This phenomenon has been qualitatively explained mainly by the philosophers but there have not been models for explaining it quantitatively. Such model is necessary in a new research field to study the systems for aiding human creative activities. So far, the work on creation aid has not had theoretical background and the systems have been built based only on trial and error. The model given in this paper explains some aspects of the phenomena found in creative activities and give some suggestions for the future systems for aiding creative concept formation.

This paper presents a method of translating natural language specifications of communication protocols into algebraic specifications. Such a natural language specification specifies action sequences performed by the protocol machine (program). Usually, a sentence implicitly specifies the state of the protocol machine at which the described actions must be performed. The authors propose a method of analyzing the implicitly specified states of the protocol machine taking the OSI session protocol specification (265 sentences) as an example. The method uses the following properties: (a) syntactic properties of a natural language (English in this paper); (b) syntactic properties introduced by the target algebraic specifications, e.g., type constraints; (c) properties specific to the target domain, e.g., properties of data types. This paper also shows the result of applying this method to the main part of the OSI session protocol specification (29 paragraphs, 98 sentences). For 95 sentences, the translation system uniquely determines the states specified implicitly by these sentences, using only (a) and (b) described above. By using (c) in addition, each implicitly specified state in the remaining three sentences is uniquely determined.