High-Gain Transimpedance Amplifier With DC Photodiode Current Rejection

This master\u27s thesis deals with the design of a differential high-gain transimpedance amplifier in TSMC\u27s 0.18 um mixed signal process that utilizes a DC photodiode current cancellation loop and a switching automatic gain control (AGC) with a bilinear gain curve. The amplifier is designed to satisfy the demands of Optical Coherence Tomography applications where the receiver is expected to measure the envelope power of an amplitude modulated sinusoidal optical signal that incorporates a large DC component. Methods of increasing dynamic range and gain linearity through the use of DC photodiode current cancellation and bilinear gain are explored. Effects of changing DC photodiode current on the overall system response is also demonstrated

RF/IF hardware design -- implementing the AD607 receiver subsystem for BPSK demodulation.

The goal of this project was to build a circuit specifically to demodulate a 500MHz binary-phase shift keyed (BPSK) input using the AD607, a low power receiver/IF (intermediate frequency) subsystem designed and built by our project sponsor Analog Devices. The circuit was implemented by utilizing features of the AD607 as well as modifying its design with external components to produce a Costas Loop. To achieve this goal it was necessary to complete three main tasks: simulate the design in software, construct the hardware, and test the results to meet the appropriate specifications

Quantification of sediment sources in the city of Venice, Italy.

The main objectives for this project were to document sewer outlets and wall damage, as well as to estimate the contribution of masonry debris to sedimentation in the canal system of Venice, Italy. A visual survey was performed at low tide in order to locate and document sewer outlets and canal wall damage. Using existing information and data collected during this project, an estimate of the contribution of plaster, sewage, and other components to sedimentation in the canals was calculated