Applying the problem-based learning approach in teaching digital integrated circuit design

The Conference proceedings' website is located at http://www.cetl.hku.hk/conference2010/conf_proc.htmConference Theme: Enhancing Learning Experiences in Higher EducationThe problem-based learning (PBL) method has been applied to curriculum development in some areas of electrical engineering. The overall result has been a positive learning experience for students. However, PBL has not, as yet, been used in the area of digital integrated circuit (IC) design. IC design is in a revolutionary phase at present. It could even be said that IC design is at the beginning of a new epoch. Design is moving toward nano-size. Thus, design techniques are advancing so rapidly that existing design knowledge quickly becomes obsolete. The IC design industry needs engineers with an integrated design perspective, real hands-on experience and well developed skills in problem solving, communications and continuous self-learn…postprin

WISE: Warped impulse structure estimation for time-domain linear macromodeling

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Overview of the Naval Postgraduate School Petite Amateur Navy Satellite (PANSAT)

Publication: AIAA/USU Conference on Small SatellitesTechnical Session I: New Hardware In SpaceThe Petite Amateur Navy Satellite (PANSAT) was launched aboard the STS-95 Discovery Shuttle. The historic Shuttle flight noted mainly by John Glenn's return to space also marks the Naval Postgraduate School's first small satellite in space. PANSAT, which is in a circular, low-Earth orbit (LEO), is the culmination of 50 officer students' graduate theses over approximately a nine-year period. The satellite continues to support the educational mission at NPS and will soon provide on-orbit capability of store-and-forward digital communications for the amateur radio community using direct sequence, spread spectrum modulation. The spacecraft includes the communications payload, electrical power subsystem, digital control subsystem, and structure. This paper describes the overall architecture of the spacecraft bus, a discussion of the NPS command ground station, and some lessons learned

IIR approximation of FIR filters via discrete-time vector fitting

We present a novel technique for approximating finite-impulse-response (FIR) filters with infinite-impulse-response (IIR) structures through extending the vector fitting (VF) algorithm, used extensively for continuous-time frequency-domain rational approximation, to its discrete-time counterpart called VFz. VFz directly computes the candidate filter poles and iteratively relocates them for progressively better approximation. Each VFz iteration consists of the solutions of an overdetermined linear equation and an eigenvalue problem, with real-domain arithmetic to accommodate complex poles. Pole flipping and maximum pole radius constraint guarantee stability and robustness against finite-precision implementation. Comparison against existing algorithms confirms that VFz generally exhibits fast convergence and produces highly accurate IIR approximants. © 2008 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

VISA: Versatile impulse structure approximation for time-domain linear macromodeling

We develop a rational function macromodeling algorithm named VISA (Versatile Impulse Structure Approximation) for macromodeling of system responses with (discrete) time-sampled data. The ideas of Walsh theorem and complementary signal are introduced to convert the macromodeling problem into a non-pole-based Steiglitz-McBride (SM) iteration (a class of first- and second-order interpolations) without initial guess and eigenvalue computation. We demonstrate the fast convergence and the versatile macromodeling requirement adoption through a P-norm approximation expansion, using examples from practical data.published_or_final_versionThe 15th Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASP-DAC 2009), Taipei, Taiwan, 18-21 January 2010. In Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference Proceedings, 2010, p. 37-4

HR approximation of FIR filters via discrete-time hybrid-domain vector fitting

We present a discrete-time hybrid-domain vector fitting algorithm, called HD-VFz, for the HR approximation of FIR filters with an arbitrary combination of time- and frequency-sampled responses. The core routine involves a two-step pole refinement process based on a linear least-squares solve and an eigenvalue problem. Through hybrid-domain data approximation and digital partial fraction basis with relative stability consideration, HD-VFz exhibits fast computation and remarkable fitting accuracy in both time and frequency domains. © 2009 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Advancements in using a machine design project for teaching introductory electrical engineering

Project-based learning is commonly used in teaching electrical/electronic engineering content. This paper analyses a proposed course that used a Rube Goldberg machine design project for introductory electrical engineering teaching. To facilitate students' learning, two main enhancements of the original course development are described: i) a refurnished project vehicle and new curriculum-framing questions have been proposed to assist students achieving the course's learning outcomes, and ii) tools for idea cultivation, design progress monitoring and design/learning collaboration technologies have been proposed to assist students to direct their learning. © 2013 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

GHM: A generalized Hamiltonian method for passivity test of impedance/admittance descriptor systems

A generalized Hamiltonian method (GHM) is proposed for passivity test of descriptor systems (DSs) which describe impedance or admittance input-output responses. GHM can test passivity of DSs with any system index without minimal realization. This frequency-independent method can avoid the time-consuming system decomposition as required in many existing DS passivity test approaches. Furthermore, GHM can test systems with singular D + DT where traditional Hamiltonian method fails, and enjoys a more accurate passivity violation identification compared to frequency sweeping techniques. Numerical results have verified the effectiveness of GHM. The proposed method constitutes a versatile tool to speed up passivity check and enforcement of DSs and subsequently ensures globally stable simulations of electrical circuits and components. Copyright 2009 ACM.published_or_final_versio

Utility-Oriented Placement of Actuator Nodes with a Collaborative Serving Scheme for Facilitated Business and Working Environments

Places to be served by cyber-physical systems (CPS) are usually distributed unevenly over the area. Thus, different areas usually have different importance and values of serving. In other words, serving power can be excessive or insufficient in practice. Therefore, actuator nodes (ANs) in CPS should be focused on serving around points of interest (POIs) with considerations of “service utility.” In this paper, a utility-oriented AN placement framework with a collaborative serving scheme is proposed. Through spreading serving duties among correctly located ANs, deployment cost can be reduced, utility of ANs can be fully utilized, and the system longevity can be improved. The problem has been converted into a binary integer linear programming optimization problem. Service fading, 3D placements, multiscenario placements, and fault-tolerant placements have been modeled in the framework. An imitated example of a CPS deployment in a smart laboratory has been used for evaluations.published_or_final_versio

Building a smart laboratory environment at a university via a cyber-physical system

Contemporary activities in laboratories have become versatile and complicated, and can be significantly affected by the environment of the laboratory. Thus, a smart laboratory environment is needed to interpret and manipulate (implicit) environmental quantities, for improving and retaining the performance of laboratory activities. This paper presents a deployment of a cyber-physical system (CPS) gathering and acting on relevant information about physical quantities in laboratories. In particular, the proposed CPS can measure, analyze and regulate the thermal comfort. Improvements have been proposed to enhance the functionality of the system. Evaluations of an on-site deployment indicate the functionality of the proposed CPS. © 2013 IEEE.published_or_final_versio