In this paper, two new modulation schemes, Multi-Pulse Modulation (MPM) and Differential Multi-Pulse Modulation (DMPM) have been proposed in order to increase the total data rate and improve the error performance. By these schemes, the modulated pulse that had been used for transmitting only one data bit in each pulse-pair in conventional TR-UWB system, can be used for transmitting more than one bit data depending on the level of modulation. Moreover, the error performance has been improved by these new modulation schemes because for the same Eb/N0, the energy per pulse has increased. In addition, these new modulation schemes are applied to a multiple access system. The simulation results show that the total throughput performance of the proposed system has been improved, nearly 2-4 times when compared to the conventional TR-UWB communication system.

A highly collision-resistive RFID system multiplexes communications between thousands of tags and a single reader in combination with time-domain multiplexing code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), CRC error detection, and re-transmission for error recovery. The collision probability due to a random selection of CDMA codes and TDMA channels bounds the number of IDs successfully transmitted to a reader during a limited time frame. However, theoretical analysis showed that the re-transmission greatly reduced the collision probability and that an ID error rate of 2.510-9 could be achieved when 1,000 ID tags responded within a time frame of 400 msec in ideal communication channels. The proposed collision-resistive communication scheme for a thousand multiplexed channels was modeled on a discrete-time digital expression and an FPGA-based emulator was built to evaluate a practical ID error rate under the presence of background noise in communication channels. To achieve simple anti-noise communication in a multiple-response RFID system, as well as unurged re-transmission of ID data, adjusting of correlator thresholds provides a significant improvement to the error rate. Thus, the proposed scheme does not require a reader to request ID transmission to erroneously responding tags. A reader also can lower noise influence by using correlator thresholds, since the scheme multiplexes IDs by CDMA-based communication. The effectiveness of the re-transmission was confirmed experimentally even in noisy channels, and the ID error rate derived from the emulation was 1.910-5. The emulation was useful for deriving an optimum set of RFID system parameters to be used in the design of mixed analog and digital integrated circuits for RFID communication.

This paper proposes a new method for image segmentation and extraction using nonlinear cellular networks. Flexible segmentation of complicated natural scene images is achieved by using resistive-fuse networks, and each segmented regions is extracted by nonlinear oscillator networks. We also propose a nonlinear cellular network circuit implementing both resistive-fuse and oscillator dynamics by using pulse-modulation techniques. The basic operation of the nonlinear network circuit is confirmed by SPICE simulation. Moreover, the 1010-pixel image segmentation and extraction are demonstrated by high-speed circuit simulation.

The ultrasonic wave is widely used for acquiring perceptual information necessary for indoor/outdoor navigation of mobile robots, where the system is implemented as a sound navigation and ranging system (sonar). A robot equipped with multiple ultrasonic sonars is likely to exhibit undesirable operation due to erroneous measurements resulting from cross-talk among the sonars. Each sonar transmits and receives a pulse-modulated ultrasonic wave for measuring the range and identifying its own signal. We propose a technique for generating pulse patterns for multiple concurrently operated ultrasonic sonars. The approach considers pulse-pattern generation as a combinatorial optimization problem which can be solved by a genetic algorithm (GA). The aim is to acquire a pulse pattern satisfying certain conditions in order to avoid cross-talk or keep the probability of erroneous measurement caused by cross-talk low. We provide a method of genotype coding for the generation of the pulse pattern. Furthermore, in order to avoid a futile search encountered when the conventional technique is used, we propose an improved genotype coding technique that yields considerably different results from those of the conventional technique.

A merged analog-digital circuit architecture is proposed for implementing intelligence in SoC systems. Pulse modulation signals are introduced for time-domain massively parallel analog signal processing, and also for interfacing analog and digital worlds naturally within the SoC VLSI chip. Principles and applications of pulse-domain linear arithmetic processing are explored, and the results are expanded to the nonlinear signal processing, including an arbitrary chaos generation and continuous-time dynamical systems with nonlinear oscillation. Silicon implementations of the circuits employing the proposed architecture are fully described.

This paper proposes a nonlinear oscillator network model for gray-level image segmentation suitable for massively parallel VLSI implementation. The model performs image segmentation in parallel using nonlinear analog dynamics. Because of the limited calculation precision in VLSI implementation, it is important to estimate the calculation precision required for proper operation. By numerical simulation, the necessary precision is estimated to be 5 bits. We propose a nonlinear oscillator network circuit using the pulse modulation approach suitable for an analog-digital merged circuit architecture. The basic operations of the nonlinear oscillator circuit and the connection weight circuit are confirmed by SPICE circuit simulation. The circuit simulation results also demonstrate that image segmentation can be performed within the order of 100 µs.