Pico Processor Using Verilog HDL

© ASEE 2009The Pico processor is a scaled down RISC processor hence the name “Pico”. Pico processors form an integral part in a network. They act as co-processors to Network processors. The network processors are in-charge of various complex functions such as routing, packet switching, queuing, encryption, decryption, pattern matching, computation and other such tasks. Many Pico processors work in parallel with the network processor, which leads to reduced computing time and improved performance (speed). This in turn increases the processing power of the network processor. One of the main uses of the Pico processor is to take care of the computation part of the network processor. Our project aims to further improve the performance of the network processor by increasing the processing speed of the Pico processor. We can do this by altering the architecture of the current Pico processors to accommodate a five stage pipeline. By doing so, we can manage to increase the speed of execution of each instruction by up to five times. The five stages which we have incorporated in our architecture are Instruction Fetch, Instruction Decode, Execute, Memory I/O and Write Back. The Pico processor is designed and simulated with ModelSim 6.2c. The logic synthesis of the Pico processor is performed using Quartus II software. The simulation results demonstrate the correct functions of the designed Pico processor. Significant performance enhancement has been observed in the designed Pico processor

Solitons created by chirped initial profiles in coherent pulse propagation

"Solitons created by chirped initial profiles in coherent pulse propagation", L.V.Hmurcik and D.J.Kaup, Journal of the Optical Society of America, vol 69, p 597 (1979).If an incident pulse is chirped, the critical parameters for self-induced transparency to occur in coherent pulse propagation can no longer be obtained from the well-known McCall-Hahn area theorem. We have been able to obtain these parameters by solving the Zakharov-Shabat eigenvalue equation for the bound-state eigenvalues. We find that critical (threshold) areas will be increased for a chirped incident pulse in almost all cases, except for a box profile or for a pulse that is approximately box-like in shape. In these latter cases, the chirped critical areas will instead decrease for the second and all higher branches. The first branch’s critical area is always increased due to chirping

Dual Slope ADC Design from Power, Speed and Area Perspectives

© ASEE 2009The increasing digitalization in all spheres of electronics applications, from telecommunications systems to consumer electronics appliances, requires analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with a higher sampling rate, higher resolution, and lower power consumption. In this paper, the design optimization of a 8-bit dual-slope ADC from power, speed and area perspectives is proposed. The proposed ADC consists of an analog part (including an integrator and a comparator) and a digital part (including a controller, counter and 8-bit register). Both D and T flip-flops are utilized in the ADC design to demonstrate its influence on area, performance (speed) and power by using different types of flip-flops. The layout of the ADC is designed with Mentor Graphics IC Station. The netlisted is extracted from the layout to include the parasitic capacitances for a more accurate power analysis. PSPICE power simulation is performed to read the power consumption of the ADC for the given inputs. Some efforts on reducing the power consumption of the ADC are also made. For example, the clock signal feeding to the flip-flops is revised to be data dependent so that the clock may be disabled to avoid unnecessary switches whenever it is possible. In this way, the overall power consumption of the ADC is reduced. Double-edge triggered (DET) flip-flops are also used in register circuitry. Since the DET flip-flops trigger at both the rising and falling edges, the clock signal is utilized to the fullest. The proposed dualslope ADC can be used for applications requiring an optimum chip area, minimum power consumption and excellent performance

EKG De-noising using 2-D Wavelet Techniques

© ASEE 2009The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a recording of the potential produced by the heart, taken from specific predetermined parts of the body such as arms, legs or points on the chest. It plays an important role in medical field as monitoring of human body and the diagnosis of many heart related problems depend on the recording. Hence its accurate measurement is a must. This paper presents the study of filtering the noises present in an EKG waveform using 2-D wavelet techniques. Wavelets are mathematical functions that cut up data into different frequency components, and then study each component with a resolution matched to its scale. Wavelets are predominantly used for image processing techniques. Hence to use a 2-D technique over a 1-D signal, an EKG should be represented as a mesh or a 2-D image map. Such an image map, or an EKG map in this case, can be used by wavelet processing for de-noising purposes. The de-noising procedure is performed using three steps: decomposition, thresholding and reconstruction. The paper discusses the mentioned steps in detail

Teaching MEMS Curriculum in Electrical Engineering Graduate Program

© ASEE 2010Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) refer to devices and systems in the size range of 1 micron (1 micron=10-6m) to 1000 microns. Due to their small size, MEMS technology has the advantages of low weight, low cost, low power consumption and high resolution. MEMS have found broad applications in automobile, inertial navigation, light display, optical and RF communications, biomedicine, etc. World’s MEMS market is growing rapidly each year. To meet the strong market demands on MEMS engineers and researchers, we developed MEMS curriculum in our master program in School of Engineering since Fall 2005. In this paper, we shared our experience in teaching the MEMS curriculum in master program of Electrical Engineering department. Three core courses have been developed for MEMS curriculum. The course description, goals, prerequisites, as well as the topics covered in these courses are discussed. Multimedia technology is used in the teaching to enhance the teaching results. Several MEMS course projects using ANSYS simulation are designed to help student accumulate experience in MEMS device design and simulation. Students are fascinated by the MEMS field and continue their master project/thesis research in MEMS. The MEMS curriculum attracted tremendous interest among students, and the students’ feedback on the course have been excellent. This is part of our efforts to prepare students for the future need of economy revival

Using Laplace Transforms to Build a Linear/Non-linear Speedometer

© ASEE 2010Consider the design of a speedometer (as used in a car, for example) using conventional mechanical linkages and a rotating magnet. We begin by modeling a linear speedometer. Later we introduce real-life nonlinearities. With the system linear, Laplace transforms make the solution of the problem easy and complete compared to solutions using differential equations. In the second case, we analyze several nonlinear effects. Although Laplace transforms are only accurate for linear systems, they can be used as is for several real-world nonlinearities, or they can be adapted for use with any generic nonlinearity by using a lookup table. Analysis and computations are done using MATLAB

EKG De-noising using 1-D Wavelets Techniques

© ASEE 2009The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a graphic recording or display of the time- variant voltages produced by the myocardium during the cardiac cycle. The P, QRS, and T waves reflect the rhythmic electrical depolarization and re-polarization of the myocardium associated with the contractions of the atria and ventricles. The electrocardiogram is generally used clinically in diagnosing various diseases and conditions associated with the heart. It also serves as a timing reference for other measurements. Hence its accurate measurement is a must. A normal EKG waveform consists of common mode noises such as dc electrode offset potential and 50 or 60 Hz ac-induced interference. This paper presents the study of filtering these noises using 1-Dimensional wavelets theory. Wavelets are mathematical functions that cut up data into different frequency components, and then study each component with a resolution matched to its scale. They have advantages over traditional Fourier methods in analyzing physical situations where the signal contains discontinuous and sharp spikes

The performance evaluation of a grid-tied microgrid with hydrogen storage and a hydrogen fuel cell stack

In a heat-power system, the use of distribute energy generation and storage will improve system’s efficiency, reliability, and emission. This work is focused on the comprehensive performance evaluation of a grid-tied microgrid, which consists of a PV system, a hydrogen fuel cell stack, a PEM electrolyzer, and a hydrogen tank. The performance indexes of this microgrid are compared with one without energy storage or a fuel cell stack. As a result, the environment effect and the service quality in the first system is higher than those in the second one. But they both have the same overall performance index

Minimizing Common Mode Interferences in the Measurement of Bio-Signals

Bio-signals are signals that can be measured from a living being. Electrical bio-signals are the result of depolarization and repolarization of the cells in a specialized tissue, organ or cell system. Accurate reading and analysis of signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG) etc. is very important as they are used clinically in diagnosing diseases. Hum interference is caused by magnetic and electric fields from power lines and transformers cutting across the measuring electrodes and patients. This type of noise seems to be ever-present, although the modern noise reduction techniques are successful in minimizing this in signal recordings. We discuss a method to minimize such interference using a pre-amplifier design with a very high common mode rejection ratio of 131 dB at 60 Hz and high input impedance. A comparison of the design with the commercially available Instrumentation Amplifier is also done. We verify our results using computer simulation of an ECG signal via the software Multisim

Improving teaching tools and techniques of teaching graduate engineering courses based on students’ learning styles and multiple intelligences

© ASEE 2009Our study proposes to improve teaching tools and techniques of teaching graduate engineering courses using students’ Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences (MI). Thirty volunteers answered commercially available Learning Style and MI tests in our Electrical Engineering department. Learning styles are grouped as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (VAK) and are determined by the VAK learning style test. Learning styles are reflected in different academic strengths, weaknesses, and skills. Studies show that the differences between learning styles will affect both a person’s choice of profession and their success in this profession, both in education and in the world of business. People who work at something that fits their learning style have a better chance of becoming successful in it