A real time dynamic data acquisition and processing system for velocity, density, and total temperature fluctuation measurements

The real time Dynamic Data Acquisition and Processing System (DDAPS) is described which provides the capability for the simultaneous measurement of velocity, density, and total temperature fluctuations. The system of hardware and software is described in context of the wind tunnel environment. The DDAPS replaces both a recording mechanism and a separate data processing system. DDAPS receives input from hot wire anemometers. Amplifiers and filters condition the signals with computer controlled modules. The analog signals are simultaneously digitized and digitally recorded on disk. Automatic acquisition collects necessary calibration and environment data. Hot wire sensitivities are generated and applied to the hot wire data to compute fluctuations. The presentation of the raw and processed data is accomplished on demand. The interface to DDAPS is described along with the internal mechanisms of DDAPS. A summary of operations relevant to the use of the DDAPS is also provided

A Test chip approach to routine process control

A procedure for determining process control and yield prediction is presented which primarily serves to evaluate the quality and repeatability of critical fabrication steps, but also serves to quantify process capabilities and limitations for future design considerations. This can be accomplished through the use of a specially designed test chip. The test chip is designed for use in determining the process control and fabrication capability of the Microelectronic Engineering Department\u27s fabrication lab of Rochester Institute of Technology

Sistema de caracterización de dispositivos RRAM

Este proyecto tendrá como objetivo la realización de un sistema de caracterización de dispositivos RRAM. El trabajo se concentrará en el diseño de un escenario capaz de posicionarse sobre dichos dispositivos para aplicarle barridos de tensión y estudiar su comportamiento. El sistema incorporará un software específico para configurar el conexionado del sistema y lanzar el procedimiento de medida, controlando la instrumentación involucrada mediante bus GPIB. A su vez, el sistema permitirá representar gráficamente los datos medidos, así como guardarlos para poder ser cargados en otro momento.This project will develop a RRAM devices characterization system. This work will be focused on the design of an stage capable of positioning over these devices while applying voltage sweeps on them in order to analyze their behavior. The system will also integrate a specific software to assist the setup procedure as well as for triggering the measurement, remotely controlling all the involved instrumentation through GPIB bus. In turn, the system will allow graphing the measured data, as well as save the data to be able to be loaded in another moment.Proyecto Fin de Carrera de la Univ. de Granada. Departamento de Electrónica y Tecnología de ComputadoresGranaSAT: Grupo de Electrónica Aeroespacia

Design and fabrication of a long-life Stirling cycle cooler for space application. Phase 3: Prototype model

A second-generation, Stirling-cycle cryocooler (cryogenic refrigerator) for space applications, with a cooling capacity of 5 watts at 65 K, was recently completed. The refrigerator, called the Prototype Model, was designed with a goal of 5 year life with no degradation in cooling performance. The free displacer and free piston of the refrigerator are driven directly by moving-magnet linear motors with the moving elements supported by active magnetic bearings. The use of clearance seals and the absence of outgassing material in the working volume of the refrigerator enable long-life operation with no deterioration in performance. Fiber-optic sensors detect the radial position of the shafts and provide a control signal for the magnetic bearings. The frequency, phase, stroke, and offset of the compressor and expander are controlled by signals from precision linear position sensors (LVDTs). The vibration generated by the compressor and expander is cancelled by an active counter balance which also uses a moving-magnet linear motor and magnetic bearings. The driving signal for the counter balance is derived from the compressor and expander position sensors which have wide bandwidth for suppression of harmonic vibrations. The efficiency of the three active members, which operate in a resonant mode, is enhanced by a magnetic spring in the expander and by gas springs in the compressor and counterbalance. The cooling was achieved with a total motor input power of 139 watts. The magnetic-bearing stiffness was significantly increased from the first-generation cooler to accommodate shuttle launch vibrations

Guided-wave structural health monitoring

Guided-wave (GW) approaches have shown potential in various initial laboratory demonstrations as a solution to structural health monitoring (SHM) for damage prognosis. This thesis starts with an introduction to and a detailed survey of this field. Some critical areas where further research was required and those that were chosen to be addressed herein are highlighted. Those were modeling, design guidelines, signal processing and effects of elevated temperature. Three-dimensional elasticity-based models for GW excitation and sensing by finite dimensional surface-bonded piezoelectric wafer transducers and anisotropic piezocomposites are developed for various configurations in isotropic structures. The validity of these models is extensively examined in numerical simulations and experiments. These models and other ideas are then exploited to furnish a set of design guidelines for the excitation signal and transducers in GW SHM systems. A novel signal processing algorithm based on chirplet matching pursuits and mode identification for pulse-echo GW SHM is proposed. The potential of the algorithm to automatically resolve and identify overlapping, multimodal reflections is discussed and explored with numerical simulations and experiments. Next, the effects of elevated temperature as expected in internal spacecraft structures on GW transduction and propagation are explored based on data from the literature incorporated into the developed models. Results from the model are compared with experiments. The feasibility of damage characterization at elevated temperatures is also investigated. An extension of the modeling effort for GW excitation by finite-dimensional piezoelectric wafer transducers to composite plates is also proposed and verified by numerical simulations. At the end, future directions for research to make this technology more easily deployable in field applications are suggested.Ph.D.Aerospace EngineeringUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77498/1/Raghavan_PhD_thesis_GWSHM.pd

The few touch digital diabetes diary : user-involved design of mobile self-help tools for peoplewith diabetes

Paper number 2, 4, 5 and 7 are not available in Munin, due to publishers' restrictions: 2. Årsand E, and Demiris G.: "User-Centered Methods for Designing Patient-Centric Self-Help Tools", Informatics for Health and Social Care, 2008 Vol. 33, No. 3, Pages 158-169 (Informa Healthcare). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17538150802457562 4. Årsand E, Olsen OA, Varmedal R, Mortensen W, and Hartvigsen G.: "A System for Monitoring Physical Activity Data Among People with Type 2 Diabetes", pages 173-178 in S.K. Andersen, et.al. (eds.) "eHealth Beyond the Horizon - Get IT There", Proceedings of MIE2008, Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Volume 136, May 2008, ISBN: 978-1-58603-864-9 5. Årsand E, Tufano JT, Ralston J, and Hjortdahl P.: "Designing Mobile Dietary Management Support Technologies for People with Diabetes", Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 2008 Volume 14, Number 7, Pp. 329-332 (Royal Society of Medicine Press). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/jtt.2008.007001 7. Årsand E, Walseth OA, Andersson N, Fernando R, Granberg O, Bellika JG, and Hartvigsen G.: "Using Blood Glucose Data as an Indicator for Epidemic Disease Outbreaks", pages 199-204 in R. Engelbrecht et.al. (eds.): "Connecting Medical Informatics and Bio-Informatics", Proceedings of MIE2005, Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Volume 116, August 2005, ISBN: 978-1-58603-549-5. Check availabilityParadoxically, the technological revolution that has created a vast health problem due to a drastic change in lifestyle also holds great potential for individuals to take better care of their own health. The first consequence is not addressed in this dissertation, but the second represents the focus of the work presented, namely utilizing ICT to support self-management of individual health challenges. As long as only 35% of the patients in Norway achieve the International Diabetes Federation‟s goal for blood glucose (HbA1c), actions and activities to improve blood glucose control and related factors are needed. The presented work focuses on the development and integration of alternative sensor systems for blood glucose and physical activity, and a fast and effortless method for recording food habits. Various user-interface concepts running on a mobile terminal constitute a digital diabetes diary, and the total concept is referred to as the “Few Touch application”. The overall aim of this PhD project is to generate knowledge about how a mobile tool can be designed for supporting lifestyle changes among people with diabetes. Applying technologies and methods from the informatics field has contributed to improved insight into this issue. Conversely, addressing the concrete use cases for people with diabetes has resulted in the achievement of ICT designs that have been appreciated by the cohorts involved. Cooperation with three different groups of patients with diabetes over several years and various methods and theories founded in computer science, medical informatics, and telemedicine have been combined in design and research on patient-oriented aids. The blood glucose Bluetooth adapter, the step counter, and the nutrition habit registration system that have been developed were all novel and to my knowledge unique designs at the time they were first tested, and this still applies to the latter two. Whether it can be claimed that the total concept presented, the Few Touch application, will increase quality of life, is up to future research and large-scale tests of the system to answer. However, results from the Type 2 diabetes half-year study showed that several of the participants did adjust their medication, food habits and/or physical activity due to use of the application