scholarly journals A Hardware Accelerator for Fault Simulation Utilizing a Reconfigurable Array Architecture

VLSI Design ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungho Kang ◽  
Youngmin Hur ◽  
Stephen A. Szygenda

In order to reduce cost and to achieve high speed a new hardware accelerator for fault simulation has been designed. The architecture of the new accelerator is based on a reconfigurabl mesh type processing element (PE) array. Circuit elements at the same topological level are simulated concurrently, as in a pipelined process. A new parallel simulation algorithm expands all of the gates to two input gates in order to limit the number of faults to two at each gate, so that the faults can be distributed uniformly throughout the PE array. The PE array reconfiguration operation provides a simulation speed advantage by maximizing the use of each PE cell.This new approach provides for a high performance, cost effective, gain over software simulation. Simulation results show that the hardware accelerator is orders of magnitude faster than the software simulation program.

Author(s):  
Xiufeng Li ◽  
Victor T C Tsang ◽  
Lei Kang ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Terence T W Wong

AbstractLaser diodes (LDs) have been considered as cost-effective and compact excitation sources to overcome the requirement of costly and bulky pulsed laser sources that are commonly used in photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). However, the spatial resolution and/or imaging speed of previously reported LD-based PAM systems have not been optimized simultaneously. In this paper, we developed a high-speed and high-resolution LD-based PAM system using a continuous wave LD, operating at a pulsed mode, with a repetition rate of 30 kHz, as an excitation source. A hybrid scanning mechanism that synchronizes a one-dimensional galvanometer mirror and a two-dimensional motorized stage is applied to achieve a fast imaging capability without signal averaging due to the high signal-to-noise ratio. By optimizing the optical system, a high lateral resolution of 4.8 μm has been achieved. In vivo microvasculature imaging of a mouse ear has been demonstrated to show the high performance of our LD-based PAM system.


Author(s):  
Holger Roser

In this paper, a simple positive displacement mechanism is investigated, which comprises two counter-rotating meshing rotors within a casing. Although considered for various applications more than a century ago, the basic geometry of this mechanism has not been further explored or adapted to modern gas compressor technology. As a fully balanced rotational mechanism operating at uniform angular velocity, potential applications range from pumps to expanders, from slow large displacement to high-speed devices; nonetheless, this research focuses on high-performance oil-less gas compressors as an ideal application. During one complete cycle, the main rotor compresses and discharges the fluid, whilst the secondary rotor seals the compression chamber. Important features of this mechanism are the circular profiles of the rotors, the potential to accommodate large ports for reduced flow losses, and ease of cooling. The simple geometry facilitates a cost-effective means of achieving tight operating clearances between rotors and casing for enhanced sealing without the need for liquid lubricants such as oil. This study and preliminary tests indicate that pressure ratios suitable for standard industrial applications can be obtained over a broad speed range, whilst minimizing friction and flow losses, a major drawback of current technologies. Moreover, two-phase compression and injection of liquids prior to compression have been studied and identified as a means to further improve efficiency and cooling.


Author(s):  
Mahadevan Suryakumar ◽  
Lu-Vong T. Phan ◽  
Mathew Ma ◽  
Wajahat Ahmed

The alarming growth of power increase has presented numerous packaging challenges for high performance processors. The average power consumed by a processor is the sum of dynamic and leakage power. The dynamic power is proportional to V^2, while the leakage current (therefore leakage power) is proportional to V^b where V is the voltage and b>1 for modern processes. This means lowering voltage reduces energy consumed per clock cycle but reduces the maximum frequency at which the processor can operate at. Since reducing voltage reduces power faster than it does frequency, integrating more cores into the processor would result in better performance/power efficiency but would generate more memory accesses, driving a need for larger cache and high speed signaling [1]. In addition, the design goal to create unified package pinout for both single core and multicore product flavors adds additional constraint to create a cost effective package solution for both market segments. This paper discusses the design strategy and performance of dual die package to optimize package performance for cost.


Author(s):  
N. Yoshimura ◽  
K. Shirota ◽  
T. Etoh

One of the most important requirements for a high-performance EM, especially an analytical EM using a fine beam probe, is to prevent specimen contamination by providing a clean high vacuum in the vicinity of the specimen. However, in almost all commercial EMs, the pressure in the vicinity of the specimen under observation is usually more than ten times higher than the pressure measured at the punping line. The EM column inevitably requires the use of greased Viton O-rings for fine movement, and specimens and films need to be exchanged frequently and several attachments may also be exchanged. For these reasons, a high speed pumping system, as well as a clean vacuum system, is now required. A newly developed electron microscope, the JEM-100CX features clean high vacuum in the vicinity of the specimen, realized by the use of a CASCADE type diffusion pump system which has been essentially improved over its predeces- sorD employed on the JEM-100C.


Author(s):  
Marc H. Peeters ◽  
Max T. Otten

Over the past decades, the combination of energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays and scanning electron microscopy has proved to be a powerful tool for fast and reliable elemental characterization of a large variety of specimens. The technique has evolved rapidly from a purely qualitative characterization method to a reliable quantitative way of analysis. In the last 5 years, an increasing need for automation is observed, whereby energy-dispersive analysers control the beam and stage movement of the scanning electron microscope in order to collect digital X-ray images and perform unattended point analysis over multiple locations.The Philips High-speed Analysis of X-rays system (PHAX-Scan) makes use of the high performance dual-processor structure of the EDAX PV9900 analyser and the databus structure of the Philips series 500 scanning electron microscope to provide a highly automated, user-friendly and extremely fast microanalysis system. The software that runs on the hardware described above was specifically designed to provide the ultimate attainable speed on the system.


Author(s):  
M. T. Postek ◽  
A. E. Vladar

One of the major advancements applied to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) during the past 10 years has been the development and application of digital imaging technology. Advancements in technology, notably the availability of less expensive, high-density memory chips and the development of high speed analog-to-digital converters, mass storage and high performance central processing units have fostered this revolution. Today, most modern SEM instruments have digital electronics as a standard feature. These instruments, generally have 8 bit or 256 gray levels with, at least, 512 × 512 pixel density operating at TV rate. In addition, current slow-scan commercial frame-grabber cards, directly applicable to the SEM, can have upwards of 12-14 bit lateral resolution permitting image acquisition at 4096 × 4096 resolution or greater. The two major categories of SEM systems to which digital technology have been applied are:In the analog SEM system the scan generator is normally operated in an analog manner and the image is displayed in an analog or "slow scan" mode.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (09) ◽  
pp. 507-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Skuse ◽  
Mark Windebank ◽  
Tafadzwa Motsi ◽  
Guillaume Tellier

When pulp and minerals are co-processed in aqueous suspension, the mineral acts as a grinding aid, facilitating the cost-effective production of fibrils. Furthermore, this processing allows the utilization of robust industrial milling equipment. There are 40000 dry metric tons of mineral/microfbrillated (MFC) cellulose composite production capacity in operation across three continents. These mineral/MFC products have been cleared by the FDA for use as a dry and wet strength agent in coated and uncoated food contact paper and paperboard applications. We have previously reported that use of these mineral/MFC composite materials in fiber-based applications allows generally improved wet and dry mechanical properties with concomitant opportunities for cost savings, property improvements, or grade developments and that the materials can be prepared using a range of fibers and minerals. Here, we: (1) report the development of new products that offer improved performance, (2) compare the performance of these new materials with that of a range of other nanocellulosic material types, (3) illustrate the performance of these new materials in reinforcement (paper and board) and viscosification applications, and (4) discuss product form requirements for different applications.


2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Surendranath ◽  
M. Dunbar

Abstract Over the last few decades, finite element analysis has become an integral part of the overall tire design process. Engineers need to perform a number of different simulations to evaluate new designs and study the effect of proposed design changes. However, tires pose formidable simulation challenges due to the presence of highly nonlinear rubber compounds, embedded reinforcements, complex tread geometries, rolling contact, and large deformations. Accurate simulation requires careful consideration of these factors, resulting in the extensive turnaround time, often times prolonging the design cycle. Therefore, it is extremely critical to explore means to reduce the turnaround time while producing reliable results. Compute clusters have recently become a cost effective means to perform high performance computing (HPC). Distributed memory parallel solvers designed to take advantage of compute clusters have become increasingly popular. In this paper, we examine the use of HPC for various tire simulations and demonstrate how it can significantly reduce simulation turnaround time. Abaqus/Standard is used for routine tire simulations like footprint and steady state rolling. Abaqus/Explicit is used for transient rolling and hydroplaning simulations. The run times and scaling data corresponding to models of various sizes and complexity are presented.


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