scholarly journals Cost-Effective Design of Amplifiers for Hearing Aides Using Nullors for Response Matching

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Hashemian

This chapter starts reviewing Fixator-Norator Pairs (FNP) as an effective tool used to design analog amplifiers for a prescribed bandwidth and frequency profile. Among number of cases and applications, designing for hearing aides are particularly important, where the hearing frequency profiles, known as audiograms, are changing from person to person, and also for a person by the age. The design is mainly focused on front-end or stand-alone amplifiers. In case of a front-end the response from the amplifier can be digitized, properly controlled and adjusted to fit the digital application. Here is how the design proceed. For a given audiogram, an Audiogram Generator Circuit (AGC) is initially constructed. This AGC, usually a complete passive circuit, produces a frequency response that closely matches with the audiogram, obtained from a hearing impaired patient. The AGC is then embedded in an amplifier circuit where a fixator is placed at its output port, “forcing” the amplifier to generate the desired output frequency response profile. A flat band frequency response, for example, compensates the hearing losses and provides a uniform hearing to the patient in the entire audio bandwidth. The amplifier can be further enhanced to perform other requirements, for example, to cancel undesirable noises in certain frequencies or to magnify the voice in critical frequencies for clarity. Another alternative design methodology is also introduced in this chapter, which uses the negative feedback technique.


Author(s):  
Roger Hitchin

Policies to reduce carbon emissions are leading to substantial changes in the demand for electricity and to the structure of electricity supply systems, which will alter the cost structure of electricity supply. This can be expected to result in corresponding changes to the price structure faced by customers. This note is an initial exploration of how possible new price structures may impact on HVAC system and building design and use. Changes in the price structure of electricity supply (separately from changes in price levels) can significantly affect the cost-effective design and operation of building services systems; especially of heating and cooling systems. The nature and implications of these changes can have important implications for future system design and operation.





2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praveen K. Sekhar ◽  
Jie Zhou ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Eric R. Hamblin

Selective and sensitive detection of trace amounts of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is demonstrated. The screening system is based on a sampling/concentrator front end and electrochemical potentiometric gas sensor as the detector. A single sensor is operated in the dominant hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) mode by varying the sensor operating condition. The potentiometric sensor with integrated heaters was used to capture the signature of PETN. Quantitative measurements based on hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide sensor responses indicated that the detector sensitivity scaled proportionally with the mass of the explosives (10 μg down to 200 ng). The ratio of the HC integrated peak area to the NOxintegrated peak area is identified as an indicator of selectivity. The HC/NOxratio is unique for PETN and has a range from 1.7 to 2.7. This detection technique has the potential to become an orthogonal technique to the existing explosive screening technologies for reducing the number of false positives/false negatives in a cost-effective manner.



2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chir-Weei Chang ◽  
Ching-Chin Wu


Author(s):  
Brandon McHaffie ◽  
Peter Routledge ◽  
Alessandro Palermo

<p>Research on low-damage systems has been significant in the past decade. These systems combine post- tensioning, which provides self-centring; and typically use replaceable devices, which give energy dissipation. WSP has used recent research, carried out at the University of Canterbury, on low-damage bridge piers and applied this into a real structure – the Wigram-Magdala Link Bridge. This is believed to be the first bridge in New Zealand and possibly worldwide to adopt such a system. Given this was the first application of the system to a real structure, there were some valuable learnings during design and construction. Firstly, the application of axial dissipaters has some limitations due to available material sizes, construction difficulty and aesthetics. Secondly, there is still some additional cost and complexity associated with using the low-damage system. Given these difficulties, this paper presents an alternative design philosophy which better captures the benefits of the low-damage system, which include cost-effective repair method, controlled damage and additional robustness and resilience. The alternative design philosophy presented is expected to result in reduced construction costs by reducing pier and foundation demands. Peak displacements and forces will be compared to the results from non-linear time history analysis to verify the performance of the low-damage connection using scaled ground motions. Furthermore, the paper will present the possible application of an alternative dissipation device, the lead extrusion damper, which can further improve the performance of low-damage connections.</p>



Author(s):  
Salar Sajedi ◽  
Navid Zeraatkar ◽  
Mohsen Taheri ◽  
Sanaz Kaviani ◽  
Hadi Khanmohammadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiao Chunming ◽  
Mei Yousong ◽  
Yoo Myungsik ◽  
Zhang Xijun


1990 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Newborough ◽  
M. Newborough ◽  
S.D. Probert




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