In this paper, we focus on an OFDM peak power reduction method that uses clipping and filtering. This method can reduce the peak power of OFDM via clipping, and can also reduce the out-band emission via filtering, even if a nonlinear amplifier is used. However, the filtering causes peak power regeneration. For purposes of reducing the effect of peak power regeneration, we propose an adaptive clipping level control method for OFDM peak power reduction, as part of a technique using clipping and filtering. In this method, the clipping level is optimized by checking the peak power regrowth which is caused by inserting a filter, by using a multi-stage filtering simulator. Thus the peak power is adjusted to the target PAPR. If the target PAPR is decided to be the saturation power of an amplifier, the bit error rate performance is improved without increasing the out-band emission. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed system, we evaluate its performance by using computer simulation.

BiCMOS provides the benefits of both bipolar and CMOS technologies and enables the integration of RF SOCs.

This paper proposes a pilot channel assisted minimum mean square error (MMSE) combining scheme in orthogonal frequency and code division multiplexing (OFCDM) based on actual signal-to-interference power ratio (SIR) estimation, and investigates the throughput performance in a broadband channel with a near 100-MHz bandwidth. In the proposed MMSE combining scheme, the combining weight of each sub-carrier component is accurately estimated from the channel gain, noise power, and transmission power ratio of all the code-multiplexed channels to the desired one, by exploiting the time-multiplexed common pilot channel in addition to the coded data channel. Simulation results elucidate that the required average received signal energy per bit-to-noise spectrum density ratio (Eb/N0) for the average packet error rate (PER) = 10-2 is improved by 0.6 and 1.2 dB by using the proposed MMSE combining instead of the conventional equal gain combining (EGC) in a 24-path Rayleigh fading channel (exponential decay path model, maximum delay time is approximately 1 µsec) in an isolated cell environment, when the number of multiplexed codes = 8 and 32, respectively, with the spreading factor of 32. Furthermore, when the average received Eb/N0 = 10 dB, the achievable throughput, i.e., the number of simultaneously multiplexed codes for the average PER = 10-2 in the proposed MMSE combining, is increased by approximately 1.3 fold that of the conventional EGC.

This paper presents a comparison of the throughput performance employing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) with packet combining, such as Type-I with packet combining (simply Chase combining hereafter) and Type-II (Incremental redundancy hereafter), using turbo coding in a multipath fading channel in high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA). We apply a multipath interference canceller (MPIC) to remove the influence of severe multipath interference. Link level simulation results show that the maximum throughput using Incremental redundancy with 64QAM is improved by approximately 5-8% compared to that using Chase combining, and that the required average received signal energy of 12 code channels per chip-to-background noise spectrum density (Ec/N0) at the throughput of 4 Mbps with Incremental redundancy is decreased by approximately 1.0 dB rather than that with Chase combining when the vehicular speed is higher than approximately 30 km/h. Furthermore, we elucidate based on the system level simulation that although no improvement is obtained in a slow mobility environment such as the average vehicular speed of 3 km/h, the achieved throughput of Incremental redundancy is increased by approximately 5-6% and 13% for the average vehicular speed of 30 km/h and 120 km/h, respectively, compared to that with Chase combining.

Software with design flaws increases maintenance costs, decreases component reuse, and reduces software life. Even well-designed software tends to deteriorate with time as it undergoes maintenance. Work on restructuring object-oriented designs involves estimating the quality of the designs using metrics, and automating transformations that preserve the behavior of the designs. However, these factors have been treated almost independently of each other. A long-term goal is to define transformations preserving the behavior of object-oriented designs, and automate the transformations using metrics. In this paper, we describe a genetic algorithm based restructuring approach using metrics to automatically modify object-oriented designs. Cohesion and coupling metrics based on abstract models are defined to quantify designs and provide criteria for comparing alternative designs. The abstract models include a call-use graph and a class-association graph that represent methods, attributes, classes, and their relationships. The metrics include cohesion, inheritance coupling, and interaction coupling based on the behavioral similarity between methods extracted from the models. We define restructuring operations, and show that the operations preserve the behavior of object-oriented designs. We also devise a fitness function using cohesion and coupling metrics, and automatically restructure object-oriented designs by applying a genetic algorithm using the fitness function.

We design a four-reflector offset antenna satisfying the cross-polarization elimination condition and the broadband characteristics condition which consists of one primary horn, three subreflectors and one main reflector. The cross-polarization elimination condition for the four-reflector offset antennas is expressed by the equations of hyperbolas with the coordinate axes of the reciprocal of equivalent focal lengths. The configurations of the reflector system are derived simply from the graphical representation because four-reflector offset antennas satisfying these relationships exist on the hyperbolas with the coordinate axes of the reciprocal of equivalent focal lengths. Furthermore, we clarified that the derived condition for having planar phase front applying the broadband characteristics condition is independent of frequency. An actual design example for the four-reflector offset antennas satisfying the cross-polarization elimination condition and the condition for having planar phase front, both of which are independent of frequency is shown. The design method using the graphical representation is simpler than that of the tri-reflector offset antennas.

This paper discusses self-similarity in cell dwell time of a mobile terminal, the discovery of which was described in our previous paper, and its effects on teletraffic of mobile communication networks. We have evaluated various teletraffic statistics, such as cell dwell time and channel occupancy time, of a mobile terminal based on measurements of motion for various types of vehicles. Those results show that cell dwell time follows a long-tailed log-normal distribution rather than the exponential distribution that has been used for modeling. Here, we first elaborate on self-similarity in cell dwell time of various vehicles. We then evaluate self-similarity in channel occupancy time. For future mobile multimedia communication systems employing a micro-cell configuration, it is anticipated that data communication will be the main form of communication and that call holding time will be long. For such cases, we have shown that channel occupancy time will be greatly affected by the cell dwell time of the mobile terminal, and that self-similarity, a characteristic that is not seen in conventional systems, will consequently appear. We have also found that hand-off frequently fails as self-similarity in cell dwell time of a mobile terminal becomes stronger.

This paper proposes a signal-to-interference power ratio (SIR) measurement method that employs the transmission gap of a data channel (TGDC) interval for precise link adaptation, in order to eliminate the influence of severe multipath interference (MPI) from a shared packet channel and to decrease further the instantaneous variations in interference components for high-speed packet transmission in the forward link using adaptive data modulation associated with the multipath interference canceller (MPIC). Computer simulation results elucidate that the required received signal energy per chip-to-background noise power spectrum density ratio (Ec/N0) based on the SIR measurement employing TGDC at the throughput of 4.2 Mbps is decreased by approximately 2.0 dB compared to the conventional method without TGDC using chip-based interference power measurement for the number of paths L = 1, and by approximately 1.5 dB compared to the conventional method using symbol-based interference power measurement for L = 2, respectively. Therefore, we show that the adaptive data modulation with the SIR measurement exploiting the TGDC interval achieves almost the maximum (i.e., almost ideal selection) throughput, without changing the SIR measurement method according to the propagation conditions such as the number of multipaths.

An L-band low quiescent current and low distortion SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) driver amplifier having a self base bias control circuit is described. Since the size of this bias circuit is small and it does not need an external control circuit, it is easy to be integrated with the driver amplifier on a single chip. According to the output power level, the self base bias control circuit, which is the combination of a constant base voltage circuit and p-metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) FET current mirror with a constant current source, automatically controls the base voltage, and allows low quiescent current at low output power level and low distortion at high output power level. The simulated results show that the driver amplifier having the self base bias control circuit achieves 1 dB power compression point (P1 dB) improvement of 2.4 dB compared with the driver amplifier having a conventional constant base voltage under the same quiescent current condition. The fabricated driver amplifier with the proposed bias circuit shows high P1 dB of 15.0 dBm with low quiescent current of 15.3 mA.

A Multiwavelength Brillouin/Erbium fibre laser which operates in long-wavelength band (L-band) is demonstrated with an approximate comb spacing of 10 GHz. The laser configuration consists of a long EDF to enable the L-band amplification and two 3-dB couplers to take a portion of the generated BEFL signal and re-inject it into the SMF to seed a cascaded BEFL line in the same direction as the first BEFL line. 20 lines including the anti-Stokes are obtained with the maximum Brillouin pump and 980 nm-pump power of 8.9 mW and 92 mW, respectively.

A novel common emitter common collector transistor pair (CECCTP) mixer is presented. A LO pumped CECCTP enables even harmonic mixing operation, and a balanced CECCTP mixer configuration enables the suppression of both 2fLO and fIM2 which are undesirable component for direct conversion mixer. A 2 GHz-band balanced CECCTP mixer is fabricated in SiGe HBT process, and the direct conversion characteristics are measured. It performs conversion gain of 8.8 dB, NF of 14.9 dB and IIP2 of 42.3 dBm when LO power is -6 dBm, supplied voltage is 3 V and current is 5 mA.

Detection loss due to phase error in a carrier tracking loop is analyzed and simulated for a code division multiple access system with BPSK and QPSK modulations in a Rayleigh fading channel. For a specific BER, the detection loss due to phase error is defined as an increase of required SNR to maintain the same BER without phase error. A nonlinear Fokker-Planck method is employed to analyze first-order PLL (phase locked loop) performance. From the simulation results, it is confirmed that the phase noise induces significant detection loss, which eventually leads to degradation of the BER performance.

Call demand suddenly and greatly increases in the aftermath of a major disaster, because people want to check on their families and friends in the stricken area. Many call attempts in mobile cellular systems are blocked due to the limited radio frequency resources. In this paper, as a solution to this problem, limiting the holding time of calls is investigated and a dynamic holding time limit (DHTL) method, which varies the holding time limit dynamically based on the number of call attempts, is proposed. The effect of limiting the holding time is investigated first using a computer simulation with a constant and heavy traffic load model. This simulation shows that the average holding time of calls is decreased as the holding time limit is reduced. But it also shows limiting the holding time decreases the number of calls blocked and forced call terminations at handover considerably. Next, a simple estimation method for the holding time limit, which reduces the blocking rate to the normal rate for increasing call demand, is described. Finally, results are given of a simulation, which show that the DHTL method keeps good performance for a sudden and great traffic load fluctuation condition.

A new blocking artifact reduction algorithm is proposed that uses block classification and feedforward neural network filters in the spatial domain. At first, the existence of blocking artifact is determined using statistical characteristics of neighborhood block, which is then used to classify the block boundaries into one of four classes. Thereafter, adaptive inter-block filtering is only performed in two classes of block boundaries that include blocking artifact. That is, in smooth regions with blocking artifact, a two-layer feedforward neural network filters trained by an error back-propagation algorithm is used, while in complex regions with blocking artifact, a linear interpolation method is used to preserve the image details. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm produces better results than the conventional algorithms.

This paper reviews the advantages of the silicon three-dimensional MMIC technology such as low loss transmission lines, high integration level, and high Q-factor on-chip inductors. Coupled to the masterslice concept, this technology also offers simple design procedure, short turn-around-time, low cost, and potential integration with LSI circuits. A K-band amplifier and an up-converter demonstrate the high frequency operation and low-power consumption benefits of the Si 3-D MMIC technology. A C-band Si-bipolar single-chip transceiver is proposed to illustrate the high integration level offered by the masterslice concept. Finally, the recent advances we achieved toward high Q-factor on-chip inductors provide the design of the S-band low noise amplifier presented in this paper.

New methods for digital image watermarking based on the characteristics of vector quantization (VQ) are proposed. In contrast with conventional watermark embedding algorithms to embed only one watermark at a time into the original source, we present one algorithm to embed multiple watermarks for copyright protection. The embedding and extraction processes are efficient for implementing with conventional VQ techniques, and they can be accomplished in parallel to shorten the processing time. After embedding, embedder would output one watermarked reconstruction image and several secret keys associated with the embedded watermarks. These secret keys are then registered to the third party to preserve the ownership of the original source in order to prevent the attackers from inserting counterfeit watermarks. Simulation results show that under no attacks, the embedded watermarks could be perfectly extracted. If there are some intentional attacks in our simulation, all the watermarks could survive to protect the copyrights. Therefore, we are able to claim the robustness, usefulness, and ease of implementation of our algorithm.

In a wireless home network, shadowing is frequently caused by human bodies or furniture. Therefore, relay transmission function is considered for the hub station in Wireless Homelink when the direct communication of terminals is obstructed. However, in relaying high rate isochronous data such as video streams, the bandwidth resource of Wireless Homelink may be crammed with those data. In this paper, we propose an efficient relay scheme--"Pipeline Repeater" for Wireless Homelink. The proposed scheme spatially multiplexes the relay transfer of the isochronous data using antenna directivity. The Pipeline Repeater can relay the isochronous packets as an efficient use of the limited frequency band, and it can be achieved to repeat the high rate data with delay of only one frame. To verify the proposed scheme, we conduct measurements in some actual home environments, and perform the numerical analyses and computer simulations based on the measurements. Our results confirm the efficiency of the Pipeline Repeater scheme.

The conventional average model for a pulse width modulator employed in a voltage-mode-controlled pulse width modulated converter tends to be numerically unstable when the on-time duty ratio becomes sufficiently small. This paper presents a new average model for a voltage-mode control modulator that is not susceptible to such numerical problems. The validity of the proposed model is confirmed with cycle-by-cycle simulations using an exact discrete-time model.

Reactive near field reflection characteristics of commercial RF absorbers are investigated to determine the minimum size of a reactive-field anechoic box necessary for measuring the reactive near field of an ESPAR antenna. The reflectivity of the absorber placed in close proximity to an antenna is inversely proportional to the distance between the antenna and the absorber. For carbon filled urethane foam tapered absorbers, we find that the backscattered reflection characteristics mainly depend on their tapered height rather than the thickness of absorber base. As a result, we show that carbon filled urethane foam pyramidal and wave surface shaped absorbers can be used to make reactive-field anechoic boxes. A prototype of a reactive-field anechoic box is presented and the distance from the absorber to the antenna is reduced to a wavelength. The prototype is verified by comparing its performance with that obtained from a large anechoic chamber.

We observed the log normal, log-Weibull and K-distributed sea-clutter from high sea state 7 with an X-band radar for grazing angles between 3.1 and 17.5. To determine the sea-clutter amplitude statistics, we introduced the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), which is more rigorous fit of the distribution to the data than the least-squares method.