Recent works on MIMO receiver design were mainly focused on sphere decoding, which provides a trade-off between the performance and complexity by suitably choosing the “radius” or the number of candidates in the search space. Meanwhile, another approach, called poly-diagonalization and trellis detection, has been proposed to compromise the complexity and performance. In this paper, we compare various MIMO receiver algorithms in terms of both performance and complexity. The performance is evaluated in a frequency selective fading channel environment on the basis of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with channel coding, for which the generation of soft decision values is crucial. The simulations show that the poly-diagonalization approach matches the performance of sphere decoding at similar computational complexity.

High resolution direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation algorithm for array antennas becomes popular in these days. However, there are several error factors such as mutual coupling among the elements in actual array. Hence array calibration is indispensable to realize intrinsic performance of the algorithm. In the many applications, it is preferable that the calibration can be done in the practical environment in operation. In such a case, the incident wave becomes coherent multipath wave. Calibration of array in the multipath environment is a hard problem, even when DOA of elementary waves is known. To realize array calibration in the multipath environment will be useful for some applications even if reference signals are required. In this report, we consider property of reference waves in the multipath environment and derive a new calibration technique by using the multipath coherent reference waves. The reference wave depends on not only the DOA but also complex amplitude of each elementary wave. However, the proposed technique depends on the DOA only. This is the main advantage of the technique. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique.

Probabilistic model checking is an emerging technology for analyzing systems which exhibit stochastic behaviors. The verification of a larger system using probabilistic model checking faces the same state explosion problem as ordinary model checking. Probabilistic symmetry reduction is a technique to tackle this problem. In this paper, we study probabilistic symmetry reduction for a system with a ring buffer which can describe various applications. A key of probabilistic symmetry reduction is identifying symmetry of states with respect to the structure of the target system. We introduce two functions; Shiftδ and Reverse to clarify such symmetry. Using these functions, we also present pseudo code to construct a quotient model. Then, we show two practical case studies; the one-dimensional Ising model and the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Behaviors of them were verified, but suffered from the state explosion problem. Through the case studies, we show that probabilistic symmetry reduction takes advantage of reducing the size of state space.

In this paper, we propose a spatially adaptive gradient-projection algorithm for the H.264 video coding standard to remove coding artifacts using local statistics. A hybrid method combining a new weighted constrained least squares (WCLS) approach and the projection onto convex sets (POCS) approach is introduced, where weighting components are determined on the basis of the human visual system (HVS) and projection set is defined by the difference between adjacent pixels and the quantization index (QI). A new visual function is defined to determine the weighting matrices controlling the degree of global smoothness, and a projection set is used to obtain a solution satisfying local smoothing constraints, so that the coding artifacts such as blocking and ringing artifacts can be simultaneously removed. The experimental results show the capability and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.

This paper introduces an interactive expression editing system that allows users to design facial expressions easily. Currently, popular example-based methods construct face models based on the examples of target face. The shortcoming of these methods is that they cannot create expressions for novel faces: target faces not previously recorded in the database. We propose a solution to overcome this limitation. We present an interactive facial-geometric-feature animation system for generating expressions of novel faces. Our system is easy to use. By click-dragging control points on the target face, on the computer screen display, unique expressions are generated automatically. To guarantee natural animation results, our animation model employs prior knowledge based on various individuals' expressions. One model prior is learned from motion vector fields to guarantee effective facial motions. Another, different, model prior is learned from facial shape space to ensure the result has a real facial shape. Interactive animation problem is formulated in a maximum a posterior (MAP) framework to search for optimal results by combining the priors with user-defined constraints. We give an extension of the Motion Propagation (MP) algorithm to infer facial motions for novel target faces from a subset of the control points. Experimental results on different facial animations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Moreover, one application of our system is exhibited in this paper, where users create expressions for facial sketches interactively.

In this article, we present a new image-stabilization technology for still images based on blind deconvolution and introduce it to a consumer digital still camera. This technology consists of three features: (1)double-exposure-based PSF detection, (2)efficient image deblurring filter, and (3)edge-based ringing reduction. Without deteriorating the deblurring performance, the new technology allows us to reduce processing time and ringing artifacts, both of which are common problems in image deconvolution.

This paper presents a circuit that improves supply noise rejection using an active inductor circuit. Compared to the conventional designs, the proposed supply noise suppression circuit has better characteristics such as low current consumption and small die size with noise rejection. The circuit was fabricated using 0.13 µm UMC CMOS technology. The experimental results showed that the supply noise was suppressed by 61% with only an increase in size of 20.0 µm 2.5 µm, and the current consumption was under 2 mA.

Recently, assuming ideal brick-wall transmit filtering, we proposed a frequency-domain block signal detection (FDBD) with maximum likelihood detection employing QR decomposition and M-algorithm (called QRM-MLD) for the reception of single-carrier (SC) signals transmitted over a frequency-selective fading channel. QR decomposition (QRD) is applied to a concatenation of the propagation channel and discrete Fourier transform (DFT). However, a large number of surviving paths is required in the M-algorithm to achieve sufficiently improved bit error rate (BER) performance. The introduction of filtering can achieve improved BER performance due to larger frequency diversity gain while keeping a lower peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) than orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). In this paper, we develop FDBD with QRM-MLD for filtered SC signal reception. QRD is applied to a concatenation of transmit filter, propagation channel, and DFT. We evaluate BER and throughput performances by computer simulation. From performance evaluation, we discuss how the filter roll-off factor affects the achievable BER and throughput performances and show that as the filter roll-off factor increases, the required number of surviving paths in the M-algorithm can be reduced.

Utilizing available channels to improve the network performance is one of the most important targets for the cognitive MAC protocol design. Using antenna technologies is an efficient way to reach this target. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a novel cognitive MAC protocol, called Polarization-based Long-range Communication Directional MAC Protocol (PLRC-DMAC), for Cognitive Ad Hoc Networks (CAHNs). The proposed protocol uses directional antennas to acquire better spatial reuse and establish long-range communication links, which can support more nodes to access the same channel simultaneously. Moreover, the PLRC-DMAC also uses polarization diversity to allow nodes in the CAHN to share the same channel with Primary Users (PUs). Furthermore, we also propose a Long-range Orientation (LRO) algorithm to orient the long-range nodes. Simulation results show that the LRO algorithm can accurately orient the long-range nodes, and the PLRC-DMAC can significantly increase the network throughput as well as reduce the end-to-end delay.

Navigation systems providing route-guidance and traffic information are one of the most widely used driver-support systems these days. Most navigation systems are based on the map paradigm which plots the driving route in an abstracted version of a two-dimensional electronic map. Recently, a new navigation paradigm was introduced that is based on the augmented reality (AR) paradigm which displays the driving route by superimposing virtual objects on the real scene. These two paradigms have their own innate characteristics from the point of human cognition, and so complement each other rather than compete with each other. Regardless of the paradigm, the role of any navigation system is to support the driver in achieving his driving goals. The objective of this work is to investigate how these map and AR navigation paradigms impact the achievement of the driving goals: productivity and safety. We performed comparative experiments using a driving simulator and computers with 38 subjects. For the effects on productivity, driver's performance on three levels (control level, tactical level, and strategic level) of driving tasks was measured for each map and AR navigation condition. For the effects on safety, driver's situation awareness of safety-related events on the road was measured. To find how these navigation paradigms impose visual cognitive workload on driver, we tracked driver's eye movements. As a special factor of driving performance, route decision making at the complex decision points such as junction, overpass, and underpass was investigated additionally. Participant's subjective workload was assessed using the Driving Activity Load Index (DALI). Results indicated that there was little difference between the two navigation paradigms on driving performance. AR navigation attracted driver's visual attention more frequently than map navigation and then reduces awareness of and proper action for the safety-related events. AR navigation was faster and better to support route decision making at the complex decision points. According to the subjective workload assessment, AR navigation was visually and temporally more demanding.

For the easy design of very small normal-mode helical antennas (NMHAs), an equation that helps determine the self-resonant structures of these antennas is developed. For this purpose, the expression for the capacitance of an NMHA is established. The accuracy of this design equation is confirmed by comparing the results obtained using the equation with the simulation results.

Due to the reuse factor reduction, the attendant increase in co-channel interference (CCI) becomes the limiting factor in the performance of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based cellular systems. In the previous work, we proposed the least mean square-blind joint maximum likelihood sequence estimation (LMS-BJMLSE) algorithm, which is effective for CCI cancellation in OFDM systems with only one receive antenna. However, LMS-BJMLSE requires a long training sequence (TS) for channel estimation, which reduces the transmission efficiency. In this paper, we propose a subcarrier identification and interpolation algorithm, in which the subcarriers are divided into groups based on the coherence bandwidth, and the slowest converging subcarrier in each group is identified by exploiting the correlation between the mean-square error (MSE) produced by LMS and the mean-square deviation (MSD) of the desired channel estimate. The identified poor channel estimate is replaced by the interpolation result using the adjacent subcarriers' channel estimates. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can reduce the required training sequence dramatically for both the cases of single interference and dual interference. We also generalize LMS-BJMLSE from single antenna to receiver diversity, which is shown to provide a huge improvement.

We studied the interaction of Bis-diethylaminosilane (SiH2[N(C2H5)2]2, BDEAS) with a hydroxylized Si (001) surface for SiO2 thin-film growth using density functional theory (DFT). BDEAS was adsorbed on the Si surface and reacted with the H atom of hydroxyl (-OH) to produce the di-ethylaminosilane (-SiH2[N(C2H5)2], DEAS) group and di-ethylamine (NH(C2H5)2, DEA). Then, DEAS was able to react with another H atom of -OH to produce DEA and to form the O-(SiH2)-O bond at the inter-dimer, inter-row, or intra-dimer site. Among the three different sites, the intra-dimer site was the most probable when it came to forming the O-(SiH2)-O bond.

Gate delay evaluation is always a vital concern for high-performance digital VLSI designs. As the feature size of VLSIs decreases to the nano-meter region, the work to obtain an accurate gate delay value becomes more difficult and time consuming than ever. The conventional methods usually use iterative algorithms to ensure the accuracy of the effective capacitance Ceff, which is usually used to compute the gate delay with interconnect loads and to capture the output signal shape of the real gate response. Accordingly, the efficiency is sacrificed. In this paper, an accurate and efficient approach is proposed for gate delay estimation. With the linear relationship of gate output time points and Ceff, a polynomial approximation is used to make the nonlinear effective capacitance equation be solved without iterative method. Compared to the conventional methods, the proposed method improves the efficiency of gate delay calculation. Meanwhile, experimental results show that the proposed method is in good agreement with SPICE results and the average error is 2.8%.

A novel method is proposed to estimate the 3D relative positions of an articulated body from point correspondences in an uncalibrated monocular image sequence. It is based on a camera perspective model. Unlike previous approaches, our proposed method does not require camera parameters or a manual specification of the 3D pose at the first frame, nor does it require the assumption that at least one predefined segment in every frame is parallel to the image plane. Our work assumes a simpler assumption, for example, the actor stands vertically parallel to the image plane and not all of his/her joints lie on a plane parallel to the image plane in the first frame. Input into our algorithm consists of a topological skeleton model and 2D position data on the joints of a human actor. By geometric constraint of body parts in the skeleton model, 3D relative coordinates of the model are obtained. This reconstruction from 2D to 3D is an ill-posed problem due to non-uniqueness of solutions. Therefore, we introduced a technique based on the concept of multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) with a motion-smoothness function between consecutive frames to automatically find the optimal solution for this ill-posed problem. Since reconstruction configurations are obtained from our closed-form equation, our technique is very efficient. Very accurate results were attained for both synthesized and real-world image sequences. We also compared our technique with both scaled-orthographic and existing perspective approaches. Our proposed method outperformed other approaches, especially in scenes with strong perspective effects and difficult poses.

In order to reduce PtSi Schottky barrier height (SBH) for electron, we investigated modulation of PtSi work function by alloying with low work function metal, such as Hf (3.9 eV) and Yb (2.7 eV). Pt (10-20 nm)/Hf, Yb (0-10 nm)/n-Si(100) stacked structures were in-situ deposited at room temperature by RF magnetron sputtering method. In case of PtxHf1 - xSi formed at 400/60 min annealing in N2, SBH for electron was reduced from 0.85 eV to 0.53 eV with Hf thickness without increase of sheet resistance. Yb incorporation also affected the SBH modulation, however, the sheet resistance increased with increase of Yb thickness.

In this study, we propose a method to reduce the mutual coupling between two J-shaped folded monopole antennas (JFMAs), which cover the IEEE 802.11 b/g (2400-2484 MHz) band. First, the change in mutual coupling with the spacing between the two antenna elements is investigated by considering two feeding models, and the effects of changes in the coupling on the antenna efficiency are studied. Subsequently, we try the method to reduce mutual coupling, the method involves the use of a bridge line that links the two antennas. The mutual coupling can be significantly reduced and the total antenna efficiency can be improved by linking two shorting strips with the bridge line. In a past study, we had found that in the case of L-shaped folded monopole antennas (LFMAs), the mutual coupling and antenna efficiency vary with the linking location on the bridge line. Moreover, we compare the characteristics of the LFMA and JFMA and show that the JFMA is effective when miniaturized.

The fabricated 1.55 µm high power superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLEDs) with 115 mW maximum output power and 3 dB bandwidth of 50 nm, using active multi-mode interferometer (MMI), showed high coupling efficiency of 66% into single-mode fiber, which resulted in maximum fiber-coupled power of 77 mW.

In this paper, we report the fabrication and device characteristics of InP/InGaAs double heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) with buried SiO2 wires. The SiO2 wires were buried in the collector and subcollector layers by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition toward reduction of the base-collector capacitance under the base electrode. A current gain of 22 was obtained at an emitter current density of 1.25 MA/cm2 for a DHBT with an emitter width of 400 nm. The DC characteristics of DHBTs with buried SiO2 wires were the same as those of DHBTs without buried SiO2 wires on the same substrate. A current gain cutoff frequency (fT) of 213 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) of 100 GHz were obtained at an emitter current density of 725 kA/cm2.

This paper proposes a novel blind multiuser detection scheme using CMA (Constant Modulus Algorithm) adaptive array. In the proposed scheme, the received signal is processed in two steps. In the primary step, only one user is captured by the CMA adaptive array, and at the same time, the other users' directions of arrival (DOA) are estimated. In the secondary step, initial weight vectors are set based on the estimated DOAs, and it processes with CMAs again to capture the other users in parallel. Thus, all the users are detected exactly and recovered separately. The Least-squares CMA is applied as an optimization algorithm to improve the performance of the proposed scheme, and the performances using the proposed scheme with linear arrays and circular arrays are discussed in detail. Simulation results are presented to verify the performance of the proposed scheme.