Survey of FPGA applications in the period 2000 – 2015 (Technical Report)

Romoth J, Porrmann M, Rückert U. Survey of FPGA applications in the period 2000 – 2015 (Technical Report).; 2017.Since their introduction, FPGAs can be seen in more and more different fields of applications. The key advantage is the combination of software-like flexibility with the performance otherwise common to hardware. Nevertheless, every application field introduces special requirements to the used computational architecture. This paper provides an overview of the different topics FPGAs have been used for in the last 15 years of research and why they have been chosen over other processing units like e.g. CPUs

Integrated Electronics for Wireless Imaging Microsystems with CMUT Arrays

Integration of transducer arrays with interface electronics in the form of single-chip CMUT-on-CMOS has emerged into the field of medical ultrasound imaging and is transforming this field. It has already been used in several commercial products such as handheld full-body imagers and it is being implemented by commercial and academic groups for Intravascular Ultrasound and Intracardiac Echocardiography. However, large attenuation of ultrasonic waves transmitted through the skull has prevented ultrasound imaging of the brain. This research is a prime step toward implantable wireless microsystems that use ultrasound to image the brain by bypassing the skull. These microsystems offer autonomous scanning (beam steering and focusing) of the brain and transferring data out of the brain for further processing and image reconstruction. The objective of the presented research is to develop building blocks of an integrated electronics architecture for CMUT based wireless ultrasound imaging systems while providing a fundamental study on interfacing CMUT arrays with their associated integrated electronics in terms of electrical power transfer and acoustic reflection which would potentially lead to more efficient and high-performance systems. A fully wireless architecture for ultrasound imaging is demonstrated for the first time. An on-chip programmable transmit (TX) beamformer enables phased array focusing and steering of ultrasound waves in the transmit mode while its on-chip bandpass noise shaping digitizer followed by an ultra-wideband (UWB) uplink transmitter minimizes the effect of path loss on the transmitted image data out of the brain. A single-chip application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is de- signed to realize the wireless architecture and interface with array elements, each of which includes a transceiver (TRX) front-end with a high-voltage (HV) pulser, a high-voltage T/R switch, and a low-noise amplifier (LNA). Novel design techniques are implemented in the system to enhance the performance of its building blocks. Apart from imaging capability, the implantable wireless microsystems can include a pressure sensing readout to measure intracranial pressure. To do so, a power-efficient readout for pressure sensing is presented. It uses pseudo-pseudo differential readout topology to cut down the static power consumption of the sensor for further power savings in wireless microsystems. In addition, the effect of matching and electrical termination on CMUT array elements is explored leading to new interface structures to improve bandwidth and sensitivity of CMUT arrays in different operation regions. Comprehensive analysis, modeling, and simulation methodologies are presented for further investigation.Ph.D

Quantification and segmentation of breast cancer diagnosis: efficient hardware accelerator approach

The mammography image eccentric area is the breast density percentage measurement. The technical challenge of quantification in radiology leads to misinterpretation in screening. Data feedback from society, institutional, and industry shows that quantification and segmentation frameworks have rapidly become the primary methodologies for structuring and interpreting mammogram digital images. Segmentation clustering algorithms have setbacks on overlapping clusters, proportion, and multidimensional scaling to map and leverage the data. In combination, mammogram quantification creates a long-standing focus area. The algorithm proposed must reduce complexity and target data points distributed in iterative, and boost cluster centroid merged into a single updating process to evade the large storage requirement. The mammogram database's initial test segment is critical for evaluating performance and determining the Area Under the Curve (AUC) to alias with medical policy. In addition, a new image clustering algorithm anticipates the need for largescale serial and parallel processing. There is no solution on the market, and it is necessary to implement communication protocols between devices. Exploiting and targeting utilization hardware tasks will further extend the prospect of improvement in the cluster. Benchmarking their resources and performance is required. Finally, the medical imperatives cluster was objectively validated using qualitative and quantitative inspection. The proposed method should overcome the technical challenges that radiologists face

Architecture d'un processeur dédié aux traitements de signaux ultrasoniques en temps réel en vue d'une intégration sur puce

RÉSUMÉ Cette thèse se rapporte à la conception d’une nouvelle architecture d’un système d’appareils d’imagerie médicale par ultrasons (IMU); nous proposons une architecture matérielle d’un processeur dédié au prétraitement de signaux ultrasoniques en temps réel, qui intègre un cœur (core) de traitement, un module d’interpolation et un module d’assignation de priorités qui permet de partager le bus de données d’une mémoire à faible consommation d’énergie. Ce processeur dédié représente une contribution importante aux efforts visant à l’intégration complète d’un système de prétraitement de signaux ultrasoniques à l’intérieur d’une sonde qui fait partie des appareillages ultrasoniques conventionnels ainsi qu’à la mise en œuvre d’un nouveau type d’appareil d’IMU sans fil. La littérature des deux dernières décennies présente diverses approches visant à miniaturiser la technologie de l’IMU. Plusieurs auteurs proposent des solutions en matière d’intégration des circuits frontaux ou de matérialisation de nouveaux algorithmes de traitement des signaux ultrasoniques. Les efforts de recherche dans ce domaine sont propulsés par l’intérêt grandissant des marchés et par le développement de nouvelles applications qui bénéficient de la miniaturisation de cette technologie. De plus, les performances grandissantes des circuits intégrés programmables tels que les FPGA offrent les caractéristiques appropriées pour la mise en œuvre de nouveaux systèmes d’IMU.----------ABSTRACT This Ph.D. thesis is related to the design of a new architecture of ultrasound medical imaging (UMI) system. We propose a fully hardware-based processor dedicated to real-time ultrasonic signal processing, which incorporates a preprocessing core, a low-power memory, an interpolation unit, and a priority assignment unit. This Ph.D. thesis represents an important contribution towards the complete integration of an ultrasound preprocessing system within the probe and the implementation of a new type of wireless UMI device. During the last two decades, several UMI system miniaturization approaches have been presented in the literature. Some Authors proposed their front-end circuit integration and introduced hardware-based ultrasound signal processing units based on new algorithms. Research efforts in this area are driven by the increasing industrial interest on miniaturized UMI devices and by the development of new applications that benefit from the miniaturization of this technology. Moreover, the increasing performance of programmable circuits, such as FPGA, offers appropriate characteristics for the implementation of new UMI systems. Most UMI system architectures found in the literature are based in whole or in part on a software implementation that uses a central processing unit (CPU) or a digital signal processor (DSP). This software approach provides flexibility and facilitates the implementation of processing algorithms which are becoming ever more effective and complex. However, to provide real-time ultrasound image processing, these systems require high-power consumption or are too large for a complete system integration on a single chip (SoC)

Software Defined Radar for Medical Imaging

In this dissertation, we intend to develop a system capable of monitoring vital signs and doing medical imaging using the same materials and technologies. Especially in medical imaging, and more precisely in stroke detection, it is essential to have a portable and low-cost system which could be integrated inside an ambulance. The goal of this work is to demonstrate the potential and feasibility of Software Defined Radio technology as a way to achieve those necessities so well described on the literature. Respiration monitoring was already performed. In Medical Imaging, some good results were achieved and there are more experimental tests ongoing

Ultrasound Imaging

In this book, we present a dozen state of the art developments for ultrasound imaging, for example, hardware implementation, transducer, beamforming, signal processing, measurement of elasticity and diagnosis. The editors would like to thank all the chapter authors, who focused on the publication of this book

Development of a portable time-domain system for diffuse optical tomography of the newborn infant brain

Conditions such as hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and perinatal arterial ischaemic stroke (PAIS) are causes of lifelong neurodisability in a few hundred infants born in the UK each year. Early diagnosis and treatment are key, but no effective bedside detection and monitoring technology is available. Non-invasive, near-infrared techniques have been explored for several decades, but progress has been inhibited by the lack of a portable technology, and intensity measurements, which are strongly sensitive to uncertain and variable coupling of light sources and detector to the scalp. A technique known as time domain diffuse optical tomography (TD-DOT) uses measurements of photon flight times between sources and detectors placed on the scalp. Mean flight time is largely insensitive to the coupling and variation in mean flight time can reveal spatial variation in blood volume and oxygenation in regions of brain sampled by the measurements. While the cost, size and high power consumption of such technology have hitherto prevented development of a portable imaging system, recent advances in silicon technology are enabling portable and low-power TD-DOT devices to be built. A prototype TD-DOT system is proposed and demonstrated, with the long-term aim to design a portable system based on independent modules, each supporting a time-of-flight detector and a pulsed source. The operation is demonstrated of components that can be integrated in a portable system: silicon photodetectors, integrated circuit-based signal conditioning and time detection -- built using a combination of off-the-shelf components and reconfigurable hardware, standard computer interfaces, and data acquisition and calibration software. The only external elements are a PC and a pulsed laser source. This thesis describes the design process, and results are reported on the performance of a 2-channel system with online histogram generation, used for phantom imaging. Possible future development of the hardware is also discussed

NASA Tech Briefs, September 2012

Topics covered include: Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Monitor; Measurement Techniques for Clock Jitter; Lightweight, Miniature Inertial Measurement System; Optical Density Analysis of X-Rays Utilizing Calibration Tooling to Estimate Thickness of Parts; Fuel Cell/Electrochemical Cell Voltage Monitor; Anomaly Detection Techniques with Real Test Data from a Spinning Turbine Engine-Like Rotor; Measuring Air Leaks into the Vacuum Space of Large Liquid Hydrogen Tanks; Antenna Calibration and Measurement Equipment; Glass Solder Approach for Robust, Low-Loss, Fiber-to-Waveguide Coupling; Lightweight Metal Matrix Composite Segmented for Manufacturing High-Precision Mirrors; Plasma Treatment to Remove Carbon from Indium UV Filters; Telerobotics Workstation (TRWS) for Deep Space Habitats; Single-Pole Double-Throw MMIC Switches for a Microwave Radiometer; On Shaft Data Acquisition System (OSDAS); ASIC Readout Circuit Architecture for Large Geiger Photodiode Arrays; Flexible Architecture for FPGAs in Embedded Systems; Polyurea-Based Aerogel Monoliths and Composites; Resin-Impregnated Carbon Ablator: A New Ablative Material for Hyperbolic Entry Speeds; Self-Cleaning Particulate Prefilter Media; Modular, Rapid Propellant Loading System/Cryogenic Testbed; Compact, Low-Force, Low-Noise Linear Actuator; Loop Heat Pipe with Thermal Control Valve as a Variable Thermal Link; Process for Measuring Over-Center Distances; Hands-Free Transcranial Color Doppler Probe; Improving Balance Function Using Low Levels of Electrical Stimulation of the Balance Organs; Developing Physiologic Models for Emergency Medical Procedures Under Microgravity; PMA-Linked Fluorescence for Rapid Detection of Viable Bacterial Endospores; Portable Intravenous Fluid Production Device for Ground Use; Adaptation of a Filter Assembly to Assess Microbial Bioburden of Pressurant Within a Propulsion System; Multiplexed Force and Deflection Sensing Shell Membranes for Robotic Manipulators; Whispering Gallery Mode Optomechanical Resonator; Vision-Aided Autonomous Landing and Ingress of Micro Aerial Vehicles; Self-Sealing Wet Chemistry Cell for Field Analysis; General MACOS Interface for Modeling and Analysis for Controlled Optical Systems; Mars Technology Rover with Arm-Mounted Percussive Coring Tool, Microimager, and Sample-Handling Encapsulation Containerization Subsystem; Fault-Tolerant, Real-Time, Multi-Core Computer System; Water Detection Based on Object Reflections; SATPLOT for Analysis of SECCHI Heliospheric Imager Data; Plug-in Plan Tool v3.0.3.1; Frequency Correction for MIRO Chirp Transformation Spectroscopy Spectrum; Nonlinear Estimation Approach to Real-Time Georegistration from Aerial Images; Optimal Force Control of Vibro-Impact Systems for Autonomous Drilling Applications; Low-Cost Telemetry System for Small/Micro Satellites; Operator Interface and Control Software for the Reconfigurable Surface System Tri-ATHLETE; and Algorithms for Determining Physical Responses of Structures Under Load

Advanced Applications of Rapid Prototyping Technology in Modern Engineering

Rapid prototyping (RP) technology has been widely known and appreciated due to its flexible and customized manufacturing capabilities. The widely studied RP techniques include stereolithography apparatus (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), three-dimensional printing (3DP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), 3D plotting, solid ground curing (SGC), multiphase jet solidification (MJS), laminated object manufacturing (LOM). Different techniques are associated with different materials and/or processing principles and thus are devoted to specific applications. RP technology has no longer been only for prototype building rather has been extended for real industrial manufacturing solutions. Today, the RP technology has contributed to almost all engineering areas that include mechanical, materials, industrial, aerospace, electrical and most recently biomedical engineering. This book aims to present the advanced development of RP technologies in various engineering areas as the solutions to the real world engineering problems