An impedance-isolation technique is proposed for on-chip ESD protection design for radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs), which has been successfully verified in a 0.25-µm CMOS process with thick top-layer metal. With the resonance of LC-tank at the operating frequency of the RF circuit, the impedance (especially, the parasitic capacitance) of the ESD protection devices can be isolated from the RF input node of low-noise amplifier (LNA). Therefore, the LNA can be co-designed with the proposed impedance-isolation technique to simultaneously achieve excellent RF performance and high ESD robustness. The power gain (S21-parameter) and noise figure of the ESD protection circuits with the proposed impedance-isolation technique have been experimentally measured and compared to those with the conventional double-diodes ESD protection scheme. The proposed impedance-isolation technique had been demonstrated to be suitable for on-chip ESD protection design for RF ICs.

High-Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is an ultra-sensitive magnetic sensor. After the discovery of the high-Tc superconducting materials, the performance of the high-Tc SQUID has been improved and stabilized. One strong candidate for application is a detection system of magnetic foreign matters in industrial products. There is a possibility that ultra-small metallic foreign matter has been accidentally mixed with industrial products such as lithium ion batteries. If this happens, the manufacturer of the product suffers a great loss recalling products. The outer dimension of metallic particles less than 100 micron cannot be detected using X-ray imaging, which is commonly used for the inspection. Therefore a highly sensitive system for small foreign matters is required. We developed detection systems based on high-Tc SQUID for industrial products. We could successfully detect small iron particles of less than 50 micron on a belt conveyer. These detection levels were hard to be achieved using conventional X-ray detection or other methods.

The heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure based on the time position of the electrocardiogram (ECG) R-waves. There is a discussion whether or not we can obtain the HRV pattern from blood pressure (BP). In this paper, we propose a method for estimating HRV from a BP signal based on a HIF algorithm and carrying out experiments to compare BP as an alternative measurement of ECG to calculate HRV. Based on the hypotheses that ECG and BP have the same harmonic behavior, we model an alternative HRV signal using a nonlinear algorithm, called heart instantaneous frequency (HIF). It tracks the instantaneous frequency through a rough fundamental frequency using power spectral density (PSD). A novelty in this work is to use fundamental frequency instead of wave-peaks as a parameter to estimate and quantify beat-to-beat heart rate variability from BP waveforms. To verify how the estimate HRV signals derived from BP using HIF correlates to the standard gold measures, i.e. HRV derived from ECG, we use a traditional algorithm based on QRS detectors followed by thresholding to localize the R-wave time peak. The results show the following: 1) The spectral error caused by misestimation of time by R-peak detectors is demonstrated by an increase in high-frequency bands followed by the loss of time domain pattern. 2) The HIF was shown to be robust against noise and nuisances. 3) By using statistical methods and nonlinear analysis no difference between HIF derived from BP and HRV derived from ECG was observed.

Lower-dimensional transformations in similar sequence matching show different performance characteristics depending on the type of time-series data. In this paper we propose a hybrid approach that exploits multiple transformations at a time in a single hybrid index. This hybrid approach has advantages of exploiting the similar effect of using multiple transformations and reducing the index maintenance overhead. For this, we first propose a new notion of hybrid lower-dimensional transformation that extracts various features using different transformations. We next define the hybrid distance to compute the distance between the hybrid transformed points. We then formally prove that the hybrid approach performs similar sequence matching correctly. We also present the index building and similar sequence matching algorithms based on the hybrid transformation and distance. Experimental results show that our hybrid approach outperforms the single transformation-based approach.

Liquid-phase detection of biological targets utilizing magnetic marker and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer is shown. In this method, magnetic markers are coupled to the biological targets, and the binding reaction between them is detected by measuring the magnetic signal from the bound markers. Detection can be done in the liquid phase, i.e., we can detect only the bound markers even in the presence of unbound (free) markers. Since the detection principle is based on the different magnetic properties between the free and bound markers, we clarified the Brownian relaxation of the free markers and the Neel relaxation of the bound markers. Usefulness of the present method is demonstrated from the detection of the biological targets, such as biotin-coated polymer beads, IgE and Candida albicans.

We have proposed and successfully demonstrated a two step method for localizing defects on an LSI chip. The first step is the same as a conventional laser-SQUID (L-SQUID) imaging where a SQUID and a laser beam are fixed during LSI chip scanning. The second step is a new L-SQUID imaging where a laser beam is stayed at the point, located in the first step results, during SQUID scanning. In the second step, a SQUID size (Aeff) and the distance between the SQUID and the LSI chip (ΔZ) are key factors limiting spatial resolution. In order to improve the spatial resolution, we have developed a micro-SQUID and the vacuum chamber housing both the micro-SQUID and the LSI chip. The Aeff of the micro-SQUID is a thousand of that of a conventional SQUID. The minimum value of ΔZ was successfully reduced to 25 µm by setting both the micro-SQUID and an LSI chip in the same vacuum chamber. The spatial resolution in the second step was shown to be 53 µm. Demonstration of actual complicated defects localization was succeeded, and this result suggests that the two step localization method is useful for LSI failure analysis.

In this paper, we propose a subcarrier resource allocation algorithm for managing the video quality degradation for multiuser orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) systems. The proposed algorithm exploits the unequal importance existing in different picture types for video coding and the diversity of subcarriers for multiuser systems. A model-based performance metric is first derived considering the error concealment and error propagation properties of the H.264 video coding structure. Based on the information on video quality enhancement existing in a packet to be transmitted, we propose the distortion management algorithm for balancing the subcarriers and power usages for each user and minimizing the overall video quality degradation. In the simulation results, the proposed algorithm demonstrates a more gradual video quality degradation for different numbers of users compared with other resource allocation schemes.

In this paper, we investigate a coded solution to compensate for the nonlinear distortion of TDMA satellite waveforms. Based on a Volterra-type channel model and the turbo principle, we present a turbo-like system that includes a simple rate-1 encoder at the transmit side in addition to a conventional channel encoder; the receive side iteratively equalizes the nonlinear channel effect and decodes the received symbols. Some other design alternatives are also explored and computer simulated performance is presented. Numerical results show that significant improvement over conventional approaches can be achieved by the proposed turbo system.

MPLS-based path technology shows promise as a means of realizing reliable IP networks. Real-time services such as VoIP and video-conference supplied through a multi-domain MPLS network must be able to guarantee end-to-end QoS of the inter-domain paths. Thus, it is important to allocate an appropriate QoS class to the inter-domain paths in each domain traversed by the inter-domain paths. Because each domain has its own policy for QoS class allocation, it is necessary to adaptively allocate the optimum QoS class based on estimation of the QoS class allocation policies in other domains. This paper proposes two kinds of adaptive QoS class allocation schemes, assuming that the arriving inter-domain path requests include the number of downstream domains traversed by the inter-domain paths and the remaining QoS value toward the destination nodes. First, a measurement-based scheme, based on measurement of the loss rates of inter-domain paths in the downstream domains, is proposed. This scheme estimates the QoS class allocation policies in the downstream domains, using the measured loss rates of path requests. Second, a state-dependent type scheme, based on measurement of the arrival rates of path requests in addition to the loss rates of paths in the downstream domains, is also proposed. This scheme allows an appropriate QoS class to be allocated according to the domain state. This paper proposes an application of the Markov decision theory to the modeling of state-dependent type scheme. The performances of the proposed schemes are evaluated and compared with those of the other less complicated non-adaptive schemes using a computer simulation. The results of the comparison reveal that the proposed schemes can adaptively increase the number of inter-domain paths accommodated in the considered domain, even when the QoS class allocation policies change in the other domains and the arrival pattern of path requests varies in the considered domain.

This letter analyzes quantum-based scheduling of real-time tasks when each task is allowed to have a different quantum size. It is shown that generalized quantum-based scheduling dominates preemption threshold scheduling in the sense that if tasks are schedulable by preemption threshold scheduling then the tasks must be schedulable by generalized quantum-based scheduling, but the converse does not hold. To determine the schedulability of tasks in quantum-based scheduling, a method to calculate the worst case response time is also presented.

Several quasi-orthogonal STBCs (QOSTBCs) designs using four transmit antennas have been proposed. However, these STBC codes do not maintain full diversity due to the limitations of their complex orthogonal design. In this paper, we propose a code selection method with single-phase feedback which eliminates most of the interference by selecting the QOSTBC with less interference from among two predefined QOSTBCs. The BER performance improvement is investigated in relation with the single-phase feedback scheme at the expense of one bit.

This paper describes a general quantum lower bounding technique for the communication complexity of a function that depends on the inputs given to two parties connected via paths, which may be shared with other parties, on a network of any topology. The technique can also be employed to obtain a lower-bound of the quantum communication complexity of some functions that depend on the inputs distributed over all parties on the network. As a typical application, we apply our technique to the distinctness problem of deciding whether there are a pair of parties with identical inputs, on a k-party ring; almost matching upper bounds are also given.

Jitter is the variation of latencies, when real-time Intellectual Properties (IPs) are accessing data from the data storages. It is a critical factor for such IPs from the Quality-of-Service (QoS) perspective. Jitter of a real-time IP can be measured by how frequently it experiences the underflows and overflows from its data queue in read mode and write mode, respectively. Such failures critically depend on the bus arbitration scheme which determines the bus acquisition order of IPs. The proposed idea allows IPs to inform the bus arbiter of the status of their data buffers when they assert bus requests. Such information helps the bus arbiter to determine the bus acquisition order while greatly reducing the jitter. The experimental results show that our method effectively eliminates the overflows and underflows of real-time IPs by dynamically preempting the jitter-critical bus requests.

With the rapid progress of electronic and information technology, an expectation for the realization of body area network (BAN) by means of ultra wide band (UWB) techniques has risen. Although the signal from a single UWB device is very low, the energy absorption may increase significantly when many UWB devices are simultaneously adorned to a human body. An analysis method is therefore required from the point of view of biological safety evaluation. In this study, two approaches, one is in the time domain and the other is in the frequency domain, are proposed for the specific energy absorption (SA) and the specific absorption rate (SAR) calculation. It is shown that the two approaches have the same accuracy but the time-domain approach is more straightforward in the numerical analysis. By using the time-domain approach, SA and SAR calculation results are given for multiple UWB pulse exposure to an anatomical human body model under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) UWB limit.

This letter presents an analytical method for 64-QAM CDMA systems equipped with a multipath interference canceler (MPIC) over multipath fading channels. Numerical results obtained from the proposed analysis indicate that an MPIC is required in order to mitigate the effects of multipath interference and to effectively increase the system capacity.

Construction of quaternion design for Space-Time-Polarization Block Codes (STPBCs) is a hot but difficult topic. This letter introduces a novel way to construct high dimensional quaternion designs based on any existing low dimensional quaternion orthogonal designs(QODs) for STPBC, while preserving the merits of the original QODs such as full diversity and simple decoding. Furthermore, it also provides a specific schema to reach full diversity and maximized code gain by signal constellation rotation on the polarization plane.

Several problems in built-in-jitter-measurement (BIJM) system designs have been identified in recent years. The problems are associated with the external low-jitter sampling clock, chip area, timing resolution, or the measurement range via the process voltage temperature (PVT) variation effect. In this work, there are three proposed approaches and one conventioanl method that improve BIJM systems. For the system level, a proposed real equivalent-signal sampling technique is utilized to clear the requirement of the external low-jitter sampling clock. The proposed Vernier caliper structure is applied to reduce chip area cost for the designated timing resolution. At the circuit level, the proposed auto focus technique eliminates the PVT variation effect for the measurement range. The stepping scan technique is the conventional method that employed to minimize the area cost of counter circuits. All of these techniques were implemented in the 0.35 µm CMOS process. Furthermore, these techniques are successfully verified in 14 ps circuit resolution and a 500*750 µm chip area for the 100-400 MHz measurement range.

The heterodyne laser interferometer acts as an ultra-precise measurement apparatus in semiconductor manufacture. However the periodical nonlinearity property caused from frequency cross-talk is an obstacle to improve the high measurement accuracy in nanometer scale. In order to minimize the nonlinearity error of the heterodyne interferometer, we propose a frequency cross-talk compensation algorithm using an artificial intelligence method. The feedforward neural network trained by back-propagation compensates the nonlinearity error and regulates to minimize the difference with the reference signal. With some experimental results, the improved accuracy is proved through comparison with the position value from a capacitive displacement sensor.

An elementary formal system, EFS for short, is a kind of logic program over strings, and regarded as a set of rules to generate a language. For an EFS Γ, the language L(Γ) denotes the set of all strings generated by Γ. We consider a new form of EFS, called a restricted two-clause EFS, and denote by rEFS the set of all restricted two-clause EFSs. Then we study the learnability of rEFS in the exact learning model. The class rEFS contains the class of regular patterns, which is extensively studied in Learning Theory. Let Γ* be a target EFS in rEFS of learning. In the exact learning model, an oracle for superset queries answers "yes" for an input EFS Γ in rEFS if L(Γ) is a superset of L(Γ*), and outputs a string in L(Γ*)-L(Γ), otherwise. An oracle for membership queries answers "yes" for an input string w if w is included in L(Γ*), and answers "no", otherwise. We show that any EFS in rEFS is exactly identifiable in polynomial time using membership and superset queries. Moreover, for other types of queries, we show that there exists no polynomial time learning algorithm for rEFS by using the queries. This result indicates the hardness of learning the class rEFS in the exact learning model, in general.

This paper is concerned with timing synchronization of high rates UWB signals operating in a dense multipath environment, where access must tackle inter-frame interference (IFI), inter-symbol interference (ISI) and even multi-user interference (MUI). A training-based joint timing and channel estimation scheme is proposed, which is resilient to IFI, ISI, MUI and pulse distortion. A low-complexity detection scheme similar to transmit-reference (TR) scheme comes out as a by-product. For saving the training symbols, we further develop an extended decision-directed (DD) scheme. A lower bound on the probability of correct detection is derived which agrees well with the simulated result for moderate to high SNR values. The results show that the proposed algorithm achieves a significant performance gain in terms of mean square error and bit error rate in comparison to the "timing with dirty templates" (TDT) algorithms.