This paper presents a very wideband active RC polyphase filter (ARCPF). We propose a unit section of the ARCPF, which is an ordinary RCPF followed by opamps with parallel RC feedback. In the proposed unit section, pole and zero can be assigned independently. By using the unit ARCPFs, a very wideband image rejection filter can be realized by cascading the sections, which can greatly reduce the element value spread. To realize this, CMOS inverter based fully differential OTA which can operate under low supply voltage is also presented. This paper describes a six-stage active RC polyphase filter with 1-100 MHz passband in 0.18 µm CMOS technology.

Human interest in pictures dates back to 14,000 BC. Pictures can be drawn by hand or imaged by optical means. Over time pictures have changed from being rare and unique to ubiquitous and common. They have changed from treasures to transients. This paper summarizes many picture technologies, and discusses their dynamic range, their color and tone scale rendering. This paper discusses the interactions between advances in technology and the interests of its users over time. It is the combination of both technology and society's usage that has shaped imaging since its beginning and continues to do so.

Multi-user MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) systems, in which multiple Mobile Stations (MSs) equipped with multiple antennas simultaneously communicate with a Base Station (BS) equipped with multiple antennas, at the same frequency, are attracting attention because of their potential for improved transmission performance in wireless communications. In the uplink of Space Division Multiplexing based multi-user MIMO (multi-user MIMO/SDM) systems that do not require full Channel State Information (CSI) at the transmitters, selecting active MS antennas, which corresponds to scheduling transmit antennas, is an effective technique. The Full search Selection Algorithm based on exhaustive search (FSA) has been studied as an optimal active MS antenna selection algorithm for multi-user MIMO systems. Unfortunately, FSA suffers from extreme computational complexity given large numbers of MSs. To solve this problem, this paper introduces the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization based Selection Algorithm (GSSA) to uplink multi-user MIMO/SDM systems. GSSA is a suboptimal active MS antenna selection algorithm that offers lower computational complexity than the optimal algorithm. This paper evaluates the transmission performance improvement of GSSA in uplink multi-user MIMO/SDM systems under realistic propagation conditions such as spatially correlated BS antennas and clarifies the effectiveness of GSSA.

A bit-depth scalability is proposed in an adaptive way based on modified inter-layer predictions of the spatial scalability. A simple prediction for high dynamic range (HDR) sequences is implemented to reduce the redundancy of the residual signals between the base layer which contains low dynamic range (LDR) sequences and the enhancement layer which contains HDR sequences by using scaling and offset values.

A compact built-in handset antenna for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system at 2 GHz, comprising two elements array of newly proposed L-shaped folded monopole antenna (LFMA), is evaluated under the multipath radio wave propagation environments. By analyzing the fundamental characteristics, mean effective gain (MEG), correlation, and channel capacity, the significant enhancement in the capability, as a handset MIMO antenna under practical use conditions, was confirmed. The performances were also compared to those of an array antenna comprising two planar inversed-F antenna (PIFA) elements in order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed antenna. The results show that the equivalent or improved performances can be realized, by using the proposed LFMA array with a compact size, taking only the volume of 44% of a PIFA array. The LFMA array provides almost the same bandwidth and enhanced isolation compared with a PIFA array, and the sufficiently low correlation and acceptable effective gain are obtained under the multipath radio wave propagation environments. In addition, a greater channel capacity than a PIFA array is achieved especially when the proposed LFMA array is inclined for the display-viewing mode, and moreover, an almost doubled increase in the channel capacity is obtained by using MIMO transmission compared with single-input single-output (SISO). This study also show that the MEG has much effects on the channel capacity, rather than the correlations, for the proposed antenna.

In this paper, we propose a two-microphone noise reduction method to deal with non-stationary interfering noises in multiple-noise-source environments in which the traditional two-microphone algorithms cannot function well. In the proposed algorithm, multiple interfering noise sources are regarded as one virtually integrated noise source in each subband, and the spectrum of the integrated noise is then estimated using its virtual direction of arrival. To do this, we suggest a direction finder for the integrated noise using only two microphones that performs well even in speech active periods. The noise spectrum estimate is further improved by integrating a single-channel noise estimation approach and then subtracted from that of the noisy signal, finally enhancing the desired target signal. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated and compared with the traditional algorithms in various conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the traditional algorithms in various conditions in terms of objective and subjective speech quality measures.

In this letter, we focus on the selection of the BEM order in the doubly-selective channel estimation. Based on the Jakes' channel model, we take into account the channel spectrum spread caused by observation window effects and the channel estimation error, and propose a method of selecting the optimal BEM order in the sense of minimum mean square error.

This paper proposes a wide-locking range divide-by-3 frequency divider employing 3D helical inductors fabricated in the 0.18-µm 1P6M CMOS technology. The divider consists of an nMOS cross-coupled LC oscillator and two injection MOSFETs in series with the cross-coupled NMOSFETs, and the LC resonator is composed of two 3D helical inductors and varactors. The aim of using 3D inductor is to reduce chip size. At the supply voltage of 1.2 V, the divider free-running frequency is tunable from 2.1 GHz to 2.6 GHz, and at the incident power of 0 dBm the locking range is about 2.11 GHz (29.16%), from the incident frequency 5.99 GHz to 8.1 GHz. The core power consumption is 4.56 mW. The die area is 0.6640.831 mm2.

This paper presents a new method for reconstruction of trigonometric polynomials, a specific class of bandlimited signals, from a number of integrated values of input signals. It is applied in signal reconstruction, spectral estimation, system identification, as well as in other important signal processing problems. The proposed method of processing can be used for precise rms measurements of periodic signal (or power and energy) based on the presented signal reconstruction. Based on the value of the integral of the original input (analogue) signal, with a known frequency spectrum but unknown amplitudes and phases, a reconstruction of its basic parameters is done by the means of derived analytical and summarized expressions. Subsequent calculation of all relevant indicators related to the monitoring and processing of ac voltage and current signals is provided in this manner. Computer simulation demonstrating the precision of these algorithms. We investigate the errors related to the signal reconstruction, and provide an error bound around the reconstructed time domain waveform.

To improve the computation efficiency of the application specific instruction-set processor (ASIP), a strategy of hardware/software collaborative design is usually utilized. In this process, the auto-customization of specific instruction set has always been a key part to support the automated design of ASIP. The key issue of this problem is how to effectively reduce the huge exponential exploration space in the instruction identification process. To address this issue, we first formulate it as a feasible sub-graph enumeration problem under multiple constraints, and then propose a fast instruction identification algorithm based on a new model called basic convex pattern (BCP). The kernel technique in this algorithm is the transformation from the graph exploration to the formula-based computations. The experimental results have indicated that the proposed algorithm has a distinct reduction in the execution time.

The TFT-LCD image has non-uniform brightness that is the major difficulty of finding the visible defect called Mura in the field. To facilitate Mura detection, background signal shading should level off and Mura signal must be amplified. In this paper, Mura signal amplification and background signal flattening method is proposed based on human visual system (HVS). The proposed DC normalized contrast sensitivity function (CSF) is used for the Mura signal amplification and polynomial regression (PR) is used to level off the background signal. In the enhanced image, tri-modal thresholding segmentation technique is used for finding Dark and White Mura at the same time. To select reliable defect, falsely detected invisible region is eliminated based on Weber's Law. By the experimental results of artificially generated 1-d signal and TFT-LCD image, proposed algorithm has novel enhancement results and can be applied to real automated inspection system.

Both the clonal selection algorithm (CSA) and the ant colony optimization (ACO) are inspired by natural phenomena and are effective tools for solving complex problems. CSA can exploit and explore the solution space parallely and effectively. However, it can not use enough environment feedback information and thus has to do a large redundancy repeat during search. On the other hand, ACO is based on the concept of indirect cooperative foraging process via secreting pheromones. Its positive feedback ability is nice but its convergence speed is slow because of the little initial pheromones. In this paper, we propose a pheromone-linker to combine these two algorithms. The proposed hybrid clonal selection and ant colony optimization (CSA-ACO) reasonably utilizes the superiorities of both algorithms and also overcomes their inherent disadvantages. Simulation results based on the traveling salesman problems have demonstrated the merit of the proposed algorithm over some traditional techniques.

In this letter, we propose a coding mode selection method for the AMR-WB+ audio coder based on a decision tree. In order to reduce computation while maintaining good performance, decision tree classifier is adopted with the closed loop mode selection results as the target classification labels. The size of the decision tree is controlled by pruning, so the proposed method does not increase the memory requirement significantly. Through an evaluation test on a database covering both speech and music materials, the proposed method is found to achieve a much better mode selection accuracy compared with the open loop mode selection module in the AMR-WB+.

Spatial filtering is a useful method to suppress undesired reflection from unwanted scatters in Radar Cross Section (RCS) measurements. Actually, it is difficult to prepare an ideal field which satisfies the far-field criterion for RCS measurements of large targets. We applied the filtering method to a bistatic RCS measurement in a near field and investigated the validity of that method by varying the scanning angular span. Electromagnetic simulations show that predicted RCS profiles from near-field data with unwanted scatters closely matched far-field reference data of the test target. In conclusion, the results show that the method is effective for bistatic RCS measurements in practical field enviroments.

This letter proposes a prototyping tool for Web-based Multiuser Online Role-Playing Game (MORPG). The design goal is to make this tool simple and powerful. The tool is comprised of a GUI editor, a translator and a runtime environment. The GUI editor is used to edit state-transition diagrams, each of which defines the behavior of the fictional characters. The state-transition diagrams are translated into C program codes, which plays the role of a game engine in RPG system. The runtime environment includes PHP, JavaScript with Ajax and HTML. So the prototype system can be played on the usual Web browser, such as Firefox, Safari and IE. On a click or key press by a player, the Web browser sends it to the Web server to reflect its consequence on the screens which other players are looking at. Prospected users of this tool include programming novices and schoolchildren. The knowledge or skill of any specific programming languages is not required to create state-transition diagrams. Its structure is not only suitable for the definition of a character behavior but also intuitive to help novices understand. Therefore, the users can easily create Web-based MORPG system with the tool.

This paper proposes an accurate modeling method of the copper interconnect cross-section in which the width and thickness dependence on layout patterns and density caused by processes (CMP, etching, sputtering, lithography, and so on) are fully incorporated and universally expressed. In addition, we have developed specific test patterns for the model parameters extraction, and an efficient extraction flow. We have extracted the model parameters for 0.15 µm CMOS using this method and confirmed that 10% τpd error normally observed with conventional LPE (Layout Parameters Extraction) was completely dissolved. Moreover, it is verified that the model can be applied to more advanced technologies (90 nm, 65 nm and 55 nm CMOS). Since the interconnect delay variations due to the processes constitute a significant part of what have conventionally been treated as random variations, use of the proposed model could enable one to greatly narrow the guardbands required to guarantee a desired yield, thereby facilitating design closure.

In this letter, we propose two computationally efficient precoding algorithms that achieve near-ML performance for multiuser MIMO downlink. The proposed algorithms perform tree expansion after lattice reduction. The first full expansion is tried by selecting the first level node with a minimum metric, constituting a reference metric. To find an optimal sequence, they iteratively visit each node and terminate the expansion by comparing node metrics with the calculated reference metric. By doing this, they significantly reduce the number of undesirable node visit. Monte-Carlo simulations show that both proposed algorithms yield near-ML performance with considerable reduction in complexity compared with that of the conventional schemes such as sphere encoding.

This paper describes a novel high-Q active inductor circuit configuration composed of an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) and an input RC network. Due to the phase rotation made by the input RC network, the active inductor circuit provides high-Q inductive impedance at higher frequencies. According to circuit simulation with design-kit of a 90-GHz-fT SiGe HBT technology, an inductance of more than 0.53 nH and Q of more than 80 can be obtained at quasi-millimeter-wave frequency, 24 GHz. The Q value is tunable by controlling the transconductance of the OTA. These features are also ensured by means of measurements of fabricated active inductor circuit. Since the active inductor circuit needs small chip area, which is 25% of a conventional passive inductor, the proposed active inductor contributes to implement a cost-effective high-Q notch filter for frequencies up to quasi-millimeter-wave frequencies.

This paper proposes an antenna selection method for terminal antennas employing orthogonal polarizations and patterns, which is suitable for outdoor MultiUser Multi-Input Multi-Output (MU-MIMO) systems. In addition, this paper introduces and verifies two other antenna selection methods for comparison. For the sake of simplicity, three orthogonal dipoles are considered, and this antenna configuration using the proposed selection method is compared to an antenna configuration with three vertical or horizontal dipoles. In the proposed antenna selection method, we always choose the vertical dipole, and choose one of two horizontal dipoles, which are orthogonal to each other, based on the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). We measured the MU-MIMO transmission properties and found that the proposed selection method employing the antenna with orthogonal polarizations and patterns can offer fairly high channel capacity in a multiuser scenario.

In the design of Space Time Block Coding (STBC), for an arbitrary complex signal constellation with a size above 2 as well as a real signal matrix with a size above 8, it is difficult to acquire full code rate and full transmit diversity simultaneously. In this letter, an efficient selective receiver switching scheme is proposed for STBC with the full code rate and non-orthogonal design with the example of a 4-by-4 matrix. In the proposed scheme with the aid of beamforming, we divide the received signals into two groups according to the encoded matrix. By this way, we can eliminate the interference from the neighboring signals by more than half.