Performance Modelling and Design Techniques for Efficiency Improvement in On-chip Switched-Capacitor DC-DC Converter

Fundamental charge vector method analysis is a single parameter optimization technique limited to conduction loss assuming all frequency-dependent switching (parasitic) loss negligible. This paper investigates a generalized structure to design DC-DC SC converters based on conduction and switching loss. A new technique is proposed to find the optimum value of switching frequency and switch size to calculate target load current and output voltage that maximize the efficiency. The analysis is done to identify switching frequency and switch size for two-phase 2:1 series-parallel SC converter for a target load current of 2.67mA implemented on a 22nm technology node. Results show that a minimum of 250MHz switching frequency is required for target efficiency more than 90% and the output voltage greater than 0.85V where the switch size of a unit cell corresponds to 10Ω on-resistance. MATLAB and PSpice simulation tools are used for results and validation.

Advantages and disadvantages of using the pointer vector method in a vector dataflow processor

Статья посвящена анализу выполнения программы быстрой сортировки (Quicksort) в векторном процессоре с архитектурой управления потоком данных (ВПП), в котором для хранения массивов используется метод векторов/̄указателей. Выявленный ранее на программе Quicksort недостаток хранения массивов с помощью векторов указателей был компенсирован введением команд split и fuse в систему команд процессора. Анализируется усовершенствованный граф программы Quicksort и результаты её моделирования на исходной и модернизированной системе команд ВПП. Производится сравнение результатов моделирования ВПП с производительностью процессорного ядра IntelSkylake.

Combining Polygenic Risk Score and Voice Features to Detect Major Depressive Disorders

Background: The application of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) in major depressive disorder (MDD) detection is constrained by its simplicity and uncertainty. One promising way to further extend its usability is fusion with other biomarkers. This study constructed an MDD biomarker by combining the PRS and voice features and evaluated their ability based on large clinical samples.Methods: We collected genome-wide sequences and utterances edited from clinical interview speech records from 3,580 women with recurrent MDD and 4,016 healthy people. Then, we constructed PRS as a gene biomarker by p value-based clumping and thresholding and extracted voice features using the i-vector method. Using logistic regression, we compared the ability of gene or voice biomarkers with the ability of both in combination for MDD detection. We also tested more machine learning models to further improve the detection capability.Results: With a p-value threshold of 0.005, the combined biomarker improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) by 9.09% compared to that of genes only and 6.73% compared to that of voice only. Multilayer perceptron can further heighten the AUC by 3.6% compared to logistic regression, while support vector machine and random forests showed no better performance.Conclusion: The addition of voice biomarkers to genes can effectively improve the ability to detect MDD. The combination of PRS and voice biomarkers in MDD detection is feasible. This study provides a foundation for exploring the clinical application of genetic and voice biomarkers in the diagnosis of MDD.

Real-Time Strain and Elasticity Imaging in Phase-Sensitive Optical Coherence Elastography Using a Computationally Efficient Realization of the Vector Method

We present a real-time realization of OCT-based elastographic mapping local strains and distribution of the Young’s modulus in biological tissues, which is in high demand for biomedical usage. The described variant exploits the principle of Compression Optical Coherence Elastography (C-OCE) and uses processing of phase-sensitive OCT signals. The strain is estimated by finding local axial gradients of interframe phase variations. Instead of the popular least-squares method for finding these gradients, we use the vector approach, one of its advantages being increased computational efficiency. Here, we present a modified, especially fast variant of this approach. In contrast to conventional correlation-based methods and previously used phase-resolved methods, the described method does not use any search operations or local calculations over a sliding window. Rather, it obtains local strain maps (and then elasticity maps) using several transformations represented as matrix operations applied to entire complex-valued OCT scans. We first elucidate the difference of the proposed method from the previously used correlational and phase-resolved methods and then describe the proposed method realization in a medical OCT device, in which for real-time processing, a “typical” central processor (e.g., Intel Core i7-8850H) is sufficient. Representative examples of on-flight obtained elastographic images are given. These results open prospects for broad use of affordable OCT devices for high-resolution elastographic vitalization in numerous biomedical applications, including the use in clinic.

Kinematic Analysis and Motion Planning of Cable-Driven Rehabilitation Robots

In this study, a new cable-driven rehabilitation robot is designed, the overall design of the robot is given, and the kinematic equation of the lower limbs in the supine state of the human body is addressed. Considering that cable winders move along the rail brackets, the closed vector method is applied to establish the kinematic model of the robot, and the relationship between the human joint angle and the cable length change was deduced. Considering joint compliance, a fifth-order polynomial trajectory planning method based on an S-shaped curve is proposed by introducing an S-shaped velocity curve, and the changes in cable length displacement, velocity, and acceleration are simulated and analyzed. Three planning methods are compared based on two indices, and experimental verification is carried out on the rehabilitation experiment platform. The simulation and experimental results show that the trajectory planning method presents low energy consumption and strong flexibility, and can achieve better rehabilitation effect, which builds a good basis for the subsequent study of dynamics and control strategy.

Kinematic and dynamic analysis and distribution of stress for seven-item mechanism by means of the SolidWorks program

This paper presents a kinematic and dynamic analysis and distribution of the stress for seven-item planar mechanism by means of the SolidWorks software. The authors of the introduced paper deal with the kinematic analysis of planar mechanisms as well as with the implementation of the vector method into the SolidWorks software program in order to determine the kinematic variables (quantities) of the individual bodies in the whole complex system. The dynamic analysis is performed on the basis of the kinematic analysis. Dynamic analysis allows us to design a system of bodies correctly and it is with the respect to the dynamic loading. For the interpretation of the introduced analysis, the seven-item planar mechanism was selected. Graphic dependence of kinematic and dynamic magnitudes of some points is given in dependence on the angle of rotation of the driving item and in dependence on time. In relation to the kinematic and dynamic analysis and subsequent simulation of the planar as well as spatial mechanisms, it is perfect solution to use SolidWorks software program. The considerable advantage of this mentioned program is based on its simplicity from the aspect of modeling and moreover, it is important to point out that utilisation of the mentioned program leads to results which are precise and accurate in the case of the numerical solution of the equations in the whole magnitude referring to motion of mechanism while the given results are obtained in the graphic form.

Kinematic and dynamic analysis and distribution of stress for six-item mechanism by means of the SolidWorks program

This paper presents a kinematic and dynamic analysis and distribution of the stress for six-item planar mechanism by means of the SolidWorks software. The main purpose of the investigation is connected with the kinematic analysis of planar mechanisms as well as with the implementation of the vector method into the SolidWorks software program in order to determine the kinematic variables of the individual bodies in the whole investigated system. The process of the dynamic analysis is based on the kinematic analysis. The dynamic analysis makes possible to design a system of bodies correctly and it is with the respect to the dynamic loading. For the interpretation of the introduced analysis, the six-item planar mechanism was used as example (representative). Graphic dependence of kinematic and dynamic magnitudes of some points is given in dependence on the angle of rotation of the driving item and in dependence on time. In relation to the kinematic and dynamic analysis and subsequent simulation of the planar as well as spatial mechanisms, it is great solution to use SolidWorks software program. The considerable advantage of this mentioned program is based on its simplicity from the aspect of modeling and moreover, it is important to point out that utilisation of the mentioned program leads to results which are precise and accurate in the case of the numerical solution of the equations in the whole magnitude referring to motion of mechanism while the given results are obtained in the graphic form.

A Composite Initialization Method for Phase Retrieval

Phase retrieval is a classical inverse problem with respect to recovering a signal from a system of phaseless constraints. Many recently proposed methods for phase retrieval such as PhaseMax and gradient-descent algorithms enjoy benign theoretical guarantees on the condition that an elaborate estimate of true solution is provided. Current initialization methods do not perform well when number of measurements are low, which deteriorates the success rate of current phase retrieval methods. We propose a new initialization method that can obtain an estimate of the original signal with uniformly higher accuracy which combines the advantages of the null vector method and maximal correlation method. The constructed spectral matrix for the proposed initialization method has a simple and symmetrical form. A lower error bound is proved theoretically as well as verified numerically.

State and Prospective Directions of Development of Methods of Control of Raw Materials Packed in Sealed Containers

The current state of non-destructive testing of radioactive waste (RW) packed in sealed containers by the energy spectrum of gamma radiation coming out of the container is considered. A brief analysis of the methods used in existing installations for the control and certification of containers with RW for conducting nuclide analysis of RW with the determination of the specific activities of the radionuclides contained in them is carried out, and their shortcomings are shown. More effective methods of RW characterization are proposed: the problems of controlling hard – to-detect radionuclides (alpha-and beta-emitting nuclides) and the disadvantages of the “scaling coefficients”method recommended by MAGATE for their control are considered. More promising methods are proposed, which are a further development of the”nuclide vector method”. The list of “reference” gamma-emitting nuclides used in their implementation is justified.

Combinatorial aspects of the Löwenstein avoidance rule. Part I: the independence polynomial

According to Löwenstein's rule, Al–O–Al bridges are forbidden in the aluminosilicate framework of zeolites. A graph-theoretical interpretation of the rule, based on the concept of independent sets, was proposed earlier. It was shown that one can apply the vector method to the associated periodic net and define a maximal Al/(Al+Si) ratio for any aluminosilicate framework following the rule; this ratio was called the independence ratio of the net. According to this method, the determination of the independence ratio of a periodic net requires finding a subgroup of the translation group of the net for which the quotient graph and a fundamental transversal have the same independence ratio. This article and a companion paper deal with practical issues regarding the calculation of the independence ratio of mainly 2-periodic nets and the determination of site distributions realizing this ratio. The first paper describes a calculation technique based on propositional calculus and introduces a multivariate polynomial, called the independence polynomial. This polynomial can be calculated in an automatic way and provides the list of all maximal independent sets of the graph, hence also the value of its independence ratio. Some properties of this polynomial are discussed; the independence polynomials of some simple graphs, such as short paths or cycles, are determined as examples of calculation techniques. The method is also applied to the determination of the independence ratio of the 2-periodic net dhc.