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Computer Based Characterization of a Spatial-Spectral (s2) Material Signal Processor: Author: Khallaayoun, Ahmed; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: The Spectrum Lab has developed a computer based model for a new generation processor where one of its applications promises improvement in current and future generation Radars. This processor is named the S2CHIP (Spatial Spectral Coherent Holographic Integrating Processor). The purpose of this work is to characterize the S2CHIP under different conditions in terms of signal strength, noise level and dynamic range. The characterization has been done using a new simulator developed at the Spectrum Lab based on the Maxwell-Bloch equations. This tool enabled us to simulate various effects based not...; Download File | View full details

Continuous Real-Time Recovery of Optical Spectral Features Distorted by Fast-Chirped Readout: Author: Bekker, Scott Henry; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Optical signal processors can analyze the spectra of RF signals with bandwidths of hundreds of gigahertz and achieve spectral resolutions of tens of kilohertz, far exceeding the capabilities of conventional analyzers. Modulating a broadband RF signal onto a laser beam and exposing an optical memory material to the modulated light stores the power spectrum of the input signal in the material temporarily. The power spectrum contained within the material is then extracted by measuring the intensity of the light exiting the material while exposing it to a linear frequency chirped laser spanning th...; Download File | View full details

Distributed Control of a Segmented and Shape Memory Alloy Actuated Biologically Inspired Robot: Author: Schubert, Oliver John; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Today's robots are limited in mobility, flexibility, and scalability. Their rigid bodies prevent operation in many environments and often restrict movement to a two-dimensional space. Most robotic vehicles cannot operate in a confined space or unstructured terrain and are incapable of climbing surfaces a fraction of their size. Their stiff bodies significantly reduce their performance and present a major weakness. The next-generation robot must be highly adaptable, flexible and capable of operating in many environments. A possible solution is to create a flexible and scalable segmented snake ...; Download File | View full details

Dual-Polarization Cloud Lidar Design and Characterization: Author: Seldomridge, Nathan Lewis; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Lidar has proven to be a very useful tool in many kinds of atmospheric research and remote sensing applications. Specialized lidar instruments have been built to detect certain atmospheric constituents, some with additional capabilities such as polarization sensitivity or multiple wavelength operation. Many lidar systems are large, expensive and designed for one application only. This thesis describes the design and characterization of a lidar system for the direct detection of clouds, but which is versatile enough to be reconfigured for other applications. The source is an Nd:YAG laser at a w...; Download File | View full details

Electro-Optic Pockels Cell Voltage Sensors for Accelerator Diagnostics: Author: Iverson, Adam Joseph; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Three prototype electro-optic Pockels cell voltage sensors were fabricated, each using a different electro-optic crystal. These sensors were to be used in an electron particle accelerator with a pulse length outside of the working range of operation for current Electrical B-dot probes. The three crystals of interest were bismuth germanium oxide (BGO), bismuth silicon oxide (BSO) and zinc selenide (ZnSe). Each crystal was bench tested at two different wavelengths to determine sensitivity. BSO was shown to be the most sensitive to voltage, followed by ZnSe. BGO was shown to be the least sensitiv...; Download File | View full details

Enhanced Step Mode FTIR Position Control: Author: Inberg, R. Brandon; Date: 2005-12-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents a modification to a typical Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer to achieve finer spatial sampling and increased frequency range for step-scan experiments with little modification to the existing hardware. Commercially available step-scan FTIR spectrometers currently have the ability to measure spectra up to 15798 cm-1, which is limited by a HeNe reference laser used for controlling the mirror's position. The proposed technique involves using a digital signal processor (DSP) to measure the HeNe reference signal and estimate the mirror position. The DSP then outpu...; Download File | View full details

Laser-Assisted Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy and its Applications in Practical Surface Analysis: Author: Karahan, Mehmet Cem; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents the development and the implementation of a combined practical surface analysis platform. The combined system incorporates a Laser Desorption (and Ablation) Mass Spectroscopy (LDMS) system into a Time-of- Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) instrument under a single virtual control platform. This is accomplished via customized instrumentation control as well as data acquisition and analysis routines all implemented on the LabVIEW programming environment. The system is named Laser-Assisted Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (LASIMS). The system has the flexibilit...; Download File | View full details

Microwave Planer-Probe Traveling-Wave Power Dividing-Combining: Author: Dickman, Edward John; Date: 2005-12-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: TAs the millimeterwave and sub-millimeterwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum are increasingly utilized, the need for greater power at those frequencies also increases. Unfortunately, as frequency is increased, the power available from a single solid-state device decreases. Thus, in many applications, the combining of power from several solid-state devices becomes necessary to have usable signal power levels. This thesis presents two such power combining approaches, whose designs are compatible with existing microfabrication techniques that may be used to produce devices operating at ...; Download File | View full details

Modeling and Power Managenent of a Hybrid Wind-Microturbine Power Generation System: Author: Guda, Sreedhar Reddy; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: The goal of this thesis is to evaluate the performance of a hybrid wind-microturbine energy system through computer simulation studies. The primary focus of this study is the development of dynamic models for a standalone wind energy conversion system and a microturbine generation system. The system model developed is suitable for power management in distributed generation studies. The developed model of the wind energy conversion system consists of dynamic models for a wind turbine as well as an electric generator. A detailed model of the wind turbine based on a set of nonlinear curves is pre...; Download File | View full details

Modeling and Transient Degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Author: Pasricha, Sandip; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents a model based approach to describe proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell degradation with time. This degradation study involves analysis of voltage and current profiles of PEM membranes under transient load conditions. The data is collected from 80 membranes in an Independence1000 1000W PEM system over the life span of the membrane. The thesis also presents PEM fuel cell models developed and validated on a 500W SR-12 commercial PEM stack. Several static models from the literature are reviewed in terms of physical effects, parameterized for identification, and compared u...; Download File | View full details

A New Islanding Detection Technique for Distributed Generation: Author: Menon, Vivek Viswanathan; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: The phenomenon of unintentional islanding, which occurs when a distributed generator (DG) continues to feed power into the grid when power flow from the central utility source has been interrupted, can result in serious injury to the linemen who are trying to fix the line. Several strategies have been proposed in the past to avoid such an occurrence. Of the existing islanding detection propositions two schemes one of which is an active technique (the positive feedback technique) and the other one a passive technique (the VU and THD technique) are found by the author to be very effective but no...; Download File | View full details

Non-Intrusive Fuel Cell Load Interaction Monitoring: Author: Lackey, John David; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents the development of a non-intrusive method for monitoring fuel cells. The instrumentation demands that only the readily accessible AC output terminals of the fuel cell be monitored, making it easy to install on an existing fuel cell. The monitoring hardware senses the current and voltage output of the fuel cell and converts the measurements into the digital domain. The original algorithm to process the data was the Non-Intrusive Load Monitor (NILM) system which detects specific events, classifies and stores them. The software that is described in this thesis is a data speci...; Download File | View full details

A Novel Optical Transmission Method using an Inline Phase Modulator: Author: Dong, Yanchang; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents a novel optical communication technique that provides a second, low data rate channel on an existing high-speed fiber optic link. The second channel is derived using an acousto optic fiber phase modulator and interferometeric receiver. This method modulates the optical phase of the primary high speed optical signal with a low frequency sine wave. At the receiving end of the low speed path, an interferometer and band pass fiber are used to recover the low-speed signal. Information is carried on the low frequency sine wave by use of FSK modulation. The method is noninvasive ...; Download File | View full details

Objective Lens for a Miniature Endoscopic Confocal Microscope: Author: El Ferradi, Nabil; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents the design and testing of a micro-objective lens for a miniature endoscopic confocal microscope. The advance of confocal endo-microscopy for in-situ imaging can lead to considerable improvements in inspection, analysis, and diagnosis, especially in the biomedical field. The dimensions of the objective lens developed are 4.0 mm long and 2.0 mm in diameter incorporated into a probe that is 2.0 mm in diameter and 10.0 mm long. The size of the probe will allow it to be inserted in some of the smallest channels in an endoscope. The objective lens features a 0.33 numerical apert...; Download File | View full details

A Planer Probe Double Ladder Waveguide for Power Combining and Dividing: Author: Oudrhiri, Mohammed Adil; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents an initial investigation of a planar probe double ladder power combiner / divider. The structure is analogous to the coaxial double ladder of Sanada, Fukui and Nogi*. The planar probe structure utilizes a series of planar transmission lines and probes to inject or receive power which is combined or divided inside a rectangular waveguide cavity. The structure was developed in a manner for its eventual implementation at W-band (75.0-110.0 GHz) frequencies and above using proven micromachining techniques. A combination of analytical modeling, transmission line analysis and fu...; Download File | View full details

Soil Penetrometer with Ramon Sampling, Fluorescence and Reflected Light Imaging: A Feasibility Study: Author: Kadiri, Youssef; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis describes the feasibility and capabilities of a Fluorescence Imaging and Raman Probe (FIRP). This miniature instrument will combine reflected light and fluorescence imaging and Raman spectroscopy for potential exobiology or terrestrial environmental use. With the help of a penetrometer, the probe might be used to assess the presence of life on Mars and gain an understanding of Martian soil. Furthermore, this thesis will delineate how this penetrometer may be used to detect underground constituents and pollutants present on our own planet. The proposed FIRP will be incorporated into...; Download File | View full details

Thermal Infrared Imaging of the Atmosphere: The Infrared Cloud Imager: Author: Thurairajah, Brentha; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Clouds play an important role in regulating the radiation budget of the atmosphere and are responsible for altering or maintaining the global climate. Understanding the interaction between clouds and radiation is necessary for accurate models that predict future climate and weather changes. The present cloud instruments are either zenithviewing, single-pixel instruments that calculate cloud amount using Taylor's hypothesis (spatial statistics are equal to temporal statistics), which do not work under certain atmospheric conditions, or are imagers that operate in the visible spectrum, thereby o...; Download File | View full details

Frequency Stabilization of an External Cavity Diode Laser Employing Digital Control: Author: Drollinger, Cy Taylor; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Optical signal processing can span across bandwidths of hundreds of GHz with resolutions in the kHz range. This can be done by using spectral hole burning materials. A limiting factor in the frequency resolution is the bandwidth of the laser driving the spectral hole burning material. Better control techniques of laser jitter will decrease laser line width and increase frequency resolution of optical processing. This thesis explores the digital control technique of inherent noise in an external cavity diode laser and the use of reconfigurable platform to prototype digital implementation....; Download File | View full details

Distributed Amplifier Circuit Design using a Commercial CMOS Process Technology: Author: Ross, Kyle Gene; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: The demand for ever increasing amounts and rates of data transmission is one of the most significant driving forces in the design of modern telecommunications systems. In response, integrated circuit (IC) designers are forced to achieve higher and higher bit rates. Increased bit rates in turn impel the IC communication systems to achieve ever larger bandwidths while maintaining stringent requirements on other design specifications such as cost, die-size and power consumption. One alternative approach to high-bandwidth design showing promise is the design of distributed integrated circuits. Dis...; Download File | View full details

Wingbeat Modulation Detection of Honey Bees using a Continuous Wave Laser System: Author: Scheppele, Ryan Hall; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Using operant conditioning, researchers at the University of Montana have developed a technique for training entire colonies of honeybees to actively seek out explosive devices. The problem with this method of detecting explosives is that bees are difficult to track due to their small size. In an experiment in 2003, it was shown that a pulsed laser system could be used to detect bees; unfortunately this pulsed laser lacked the ability to resolve wingbeat modulation in the backscattered light. This thesis describes the development of a monostatic, continuous-wave laser system capable of detecti...; Download File | View full details

On-Chip Automatic Tuning of CMOS Active Inductors for Use in Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) Applications: Author: Lyson, Kyle Joshua; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: The lack of high quality factor integrated inductors is a significant impediment to realizing high performance Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFICs) within conventional digital CMOS. While passive spiral inductors continue to improve with different approaches and fabrication techniques, they tend to be large and lossy. Therefore, an accurate inductance with high quality factor and small chip area would be an extremely useful component for RFIC designers. The focus of this thesis is realizing accurate, high-quality factor inductance using an active circuit approach for implementation in R...; Download File | View full details

A New DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell Powered Residential Power Generation Systems: Author: Sharma, Rahul Rajiv; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents a new topology for an isolated DC-DC converter for low voltage to high voltage conversions at high power. The proposed converter is targeted for use in fuel cell powered residential power generation systems, where low voltage to high voltage conversion at high power (>5KW) and isolation between input and output are required. Conventional DC-DC converters like forward, half bridge and full bridge for such applications need to have high turn ratio in their power transformers, to enable the high voltage boosting. This high turns ratio of the transformers results in high le...; Download File | View full details

System for Wireless, Automated and Continuous Monitoring of Resonant Frequency of an Inductor - Capacitor Circuit: Author: Sajeeda; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents a new technique for remote query monitoring of environmental parameters such as pressure, temperature, humidity, complex permittivity, temperature, strain and gases like carbon dioxide, oxygen and ammonia. Resonant peak passive telemetry is used for wireless remote monitoring. The resonance frequency of an inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit sensor changes with the surrounding environmental parameter and detector circuitry employing a loop antenna is used to remotely identify the resonance frequency. The mutual coupling between the antenna and the sensor inductor enables wirel...; Download File | View full details

Development of a 5.8 GHz RF Link for Auditory Neuroscience: Author: Roy, Sabyasachi; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: A thorough understanding of how primates such as humans can identify and extract relevant communication sounds from background noise will allow for the development of signal processing algorithms that can successfully extract speech sounds from realistic noisy environments. In order to test the proposed theories on how primates perform such complex signal processing tasks, elaborate studies need to be conducted where multiple simultaneous neural recordings from the auditory cortex of primate lab animals such as marmosets are studied and correlated with the accompanying communications sounds as...; Download File | View full details

Position Sensing and Feedback Control for a High Precision Accelerometer: Author: Yu, Feng; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: High precision accelerometers have broad applications in space missions and fundamental physics research. However, conventional high precision accelerometers have disadvantages of large volume, high supply voltage and extremely high cost. In this paper, the volume of the sensing element in this accelerometer is reduced on the order of about one hundred. In order to achieve high resolution at the same time when reducing the size of the proof mass, a drag free structure is employed for the sensing element. A capacitive sensing approach is introduced and, in turn, the relationship between the def...; Download File | View full details

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