Behavioral, Parameterized, and Broadband Modeling of Wired Interconnects with Internal Discontinuities

We present a complete workflow for the extraction of behavioral reduced-order models of wired interconnect links, including an explicit dependence on geometrical or material parameters describing internal discontinuities that may affect the quality of signal transmission. Thanks to the adopted structure, the models are easily identified from sampled frequency responses at discrete points in the parameter space. Such responses are obtained from off-the-shelf full-wave solvers. A novel algorithm is used for checking and enforcing model stability and passivity, two fundamental requirements for reliably running stable transient simulations. Finally, an ad hoc procedure is devised to synthesize the models as parameterized circuit equivalents, compatible with any SPICE solver. Several examples illustrate and validate the workflow, confirming the suitability of the proposed approach for what-if, parameter sweep, design centering, and optimization through time-domain simulations, possibly including nonlinear devices and terminations

Realization of transfer impedances using distributed RC elements in a common ground Linvill configuration

One of several synthesis procedures available for the realization of a transfer admittance is that of Linvill. This synthesis procedure employs an active element, a negative impedance converter (NIC), to shift the poles of passive immittance functions from the negative real axis into the complex plane to realize the desired transfer immittance function. The Linvill synthesis procedure is extended to networks containing cascaded distributed RC elements and the conditions which must be satisfied to realize a transfer impedance using these distributed elements are defined

Stability, Causality, and Passivity in Electrical Interconnect Models

Modern packaging design requires extensive signal integrity simulations in order to assess the electrical performance of the system. The feasibility of such simulations is granted only when accurate and efficient models are available for all system parts and components having a significant influence on the signals. Unfortunately, model derivation is still a challenging task, despite the extensive research that has been devoted to this topic. In fact, it is a common experience that modeling or simulation tasks sometimes fail, often without a clear understanding of the main reason. This paper presents the fundamental properties of causality, stability, and passivity that electrical interconnect models must satisfy in order to be physically consistent. All basic definitions are reviewed in time domain, Laplace domain, and frequency domain, and all significant interrelations between these properties are outlined. This background material is used to interpret several common situations where either model derivation or model use in a computer-aided design environment fails dramatically.We show that the root cause for these difficulties can always be traced back to the lack of stability, causality, or passivity in the data providing the structure characterization and/or in the model itsel

Simulated lumped-parameter system reduced-order adaptive control studies

Two methods of interpreting the misbehavior of reduced order adaptive controllers are discussed. The first method is based on system input-output description and the second is based on state variable description. The implementation of the single input, single output, autoregressive, moving average system is considered

A gravitational torque energy harvesting system for rotational motion

This thesis describes a novel, single point-of-attachment, gravitational torque energy harvesting system powered from rotational motion. The primary aim of such a system is to scavenge energy from a continuously rotating host in order to power a wireless sensor node. In this thesis, a wireless tachometer was prototyped. Most published work on motion-driven energy harvesters has used ambient vibrations in the environment as the energy source. However, none of the reported devices have been designed to harvest energy directly from continuous ambient rotation. There are important applications such as tire pressure sensing and condition monitoring of machinery where the host structure experiences continuous rotation. In this work, it is shown that in many applications, a rotational energy harvester can offer significant improvements in power density over its vibration-driven counterparts. A prototype single point-of-attachment rotational energy harvester was conceived using a simple direct-current generator. The rotational source was coupled to the stator and an offset mass was anchored on the rotor to create a counteractive gravitational torque. This produces a relative angular speed between rotor and stator which causes power to be generated. Power transfer from the generator to a load was maximised by enforcing an input impedance match between the generator’s armature resistance and the input impedance of a boost converter which in this case, functioned as a resistance emulator. Energy storage and output voltage regulation were implemented using supercapacitors and a wide-input buck regulator respectively. When excess power was generated, it was stored in the supercapacitors and during low source rotation speeds, i.e. insufficient harvested power, the supercapacitors will discharge to maintain operation of the interface electronics. A detailed optimisation procedure of a boost converter was conducted in Matlab in order to minimise the power loss, resulting in a maximum voltage gain of 11.1 and measured circuit efficiency of 96 %. A state-space control model of the harvester electronics was developed in the analogue domain using classical control techniques and this showed the system to be closed-loop stable. A final prototype of the rotational energy harvesting system was built and this comprised an input impedance controller, wireless transmitter and tachometer. The entire system has a measured end-to-end efficiency which peaked at 58 % from a source rotation of 1400 RPM with the generator producing 1.45 W under matched load conditions

Digital Filters

The new technology advances provide that a great number of system signals can be easily measured with a low cost. The main problem is that usually only a fraction of the signal is useful for different purposes, for example maintenance, DVD-recorders, computers, electric/electronic circuits, econometric, optimization, etc. Digital filters are the most versatile, practical and effective methods for extracting the information necessary from the signal. They can be dynamic, so they can be automatically or manually adjusted to the external and internal conditions. Presented in this book are the most advanced digital filters including different case studies and the most relevant literature