Low Power Resonant Rotary Global Clock Distribution Network Design

Along with the increasing complexity of the modern very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit design, the power consumption of the clock distribution network in digital integrated circuits is continuously increasing. In terms of power and clock skew, the resonant clock distribution network has been studied as a promising alternative to the conventional clock distribution network. Resonant clock distribution network, which works based on adiabatic switching principles, provides a complete solution for on-chip clock generation and distribution for low-power and low-skew clock network designs for high-performance synchronous VLSI circuits.This dissertation work aims to develop the global clock distribution network for one kind of resonant clocking technologies: The resonant rotary clocking technology. The following critical aspects are addressed in this work: (1) A novel rotary oscillator array (ROA) topology is proposed to solve the signal rotation direction uniformity problem, in order to support the design of resonant rotary clocking based low-skew clock distribution network; (2) A synchronization scheme is proposed to solve the large scale rotary clocking generation circuit synchronization problem; (3) A low-skew rotary clock distribution network design methodology is proposed with frequency, power and skew optimizations; (4) A resonant rotary clocking based physical design flow is proposed, which can be integrated in the current mainstream IC design flow; (5) A dynamic rotary frequency divider is proposed for dynamic frequency scaling applications. Experimental and theoretical results show: (1) The efficiency of the proposed methodology in the construction of low-skew, low-power resonant rotary clock distribution network. (2) The effectiveness of the dynamic rotary frequency divider in extending the operating frequency range of the low-power resonant rotary based applications.Ph.D., Electrical Engineering -- Drexel University, 201

Shuttle/spacelab MMAP/electromagnetic environment experiment phase B definition study

Progress made during the first five months of the Phase B definition study for the MMAP/Electromagnetic Environment Experiment (EEE) was described. An antenna/receiver assembly has been defined and sized for stowing in a three pallet bay area in the shuttle. Six scanning modes for the assembly are analyzed and footprints for various antenna sizes are plotted. Mission profiles have been outlined for a 400 km height, 57 deg inclination angle, circular orbit. Viewing time over 7 geographical areas are listed. Shuttle interfaces have been studied to determine what configuration the antenna assembly must have to be shared with other experiments of the Microwave Multi-Applications Payload (MMAP) and to be stowed in the shuttle bay. Other results reported include a frequency plan, a proposed antenna subsystem design, a proposed receiver design, preliminary outlines of the experiment controls and an analysis of on-board and ground data processing schemes

NASA patent abstracts bibliography: A continuing bibliography. Section 1: Abstracts (supplement 32)

Abstracts are provided for 136 patents and patent applications entered into the NASA scientific and technical information system during the period July through December 1987. Each entry consists of a citation , an abstract, and in most cases, a key illustration selected from the patent or patent application

SIRU development. Volume 1: System development

A complete description of the development and initial evaluation of the Strapdown Inertial Reference Unit (SIRU) system is reported. System development documents the system mechanization with the analytic formulation for fault detection and isolation processing structure; the hardware redundancy design and the individual modularity features; the computational structure and facilities; and the initial subsystem evaluation results

Advanced tracking and data relay experiments study: Multimode transponder experiment equipment

Plans and implementation concepts were developed for a series of experiments utilizing a Multimode Transponder mounted in an aircraft working either through a spacecraft or directly with a ground station which would simulate a TDRSS user working through the TDRSS. The purpose of the experiments is to determine the best modulation and encoding techniques for combating RFI in discreet bands. The experiments also determine the feasibility and accuracy of range and range rate measurements with the various modulation and encoding techniques. An analysis of the Multimode Transponder and ground support equipment is presented, and the additional equipment required to perform the experiments described above is determined

A 128K-bit CCD buffer memory system

A prototype system was implemented to demonstrate that CCD's can be applied advantageously to the problem of low power digital storage and particularly to the problem of interfacing widely varying data rates. 8K-bit CCD shift register memories were used to construct a feasibility model 128K-bit buffer memory system. Peak power dissipation during a data transfer is less than 7 W., while idle power is approximately 5.4 W. The system features automatic data input synchronization with the recirculating CCD memory block start address. Descriptions are provided of both the buffer memory system and a custom tester that was used to exercise the memory. The testing procedures and testing results are discussed. Suggestions are provided for further development with regards to the utilization of advanced versions of CCD memory devices to both simplified and expanded memory system applications

A multisensing setup for the intelligent tire monitoring

The present paper offers the chance to experimentally measure, for the first time, the internal tire strain by optical fiber sensors during the tire rolling in real operating conditions. The phenomena that take place during the tire rolling are in fact far from being completely understood. Despite several models available in the technical literature, there is not a correspondently large set of experimental observations. The paper includes the detailed description of the new multi-sensing technology for an ongoing vehicle measurement, which the research group has developed in the context of the project OPTYRE. The experimental apparatus is mainly based on the use of optical fibers with embedded Fiber Bragg Gratings sensors for the acquisition of the circumferential tire strain. Other sensors are also installed on the tire, such as a phonic wheel, a uniaxial accelerometer, and a dynamic temperature sensor. The acquired information is used as input variables in dedicated algorithms that allow the identification of key parameters, such as the dynamic contact patch, instantaneous dissipation and instantaneous grip. The OPTYRE project brings a contribution into the field of experimental grip monitoring of wheeled vehicles, with implications both on passive and active safety characteristics of cars and motorbikes