Embedded Radiation sensor with OBIST structure for applications in mixed signal systems

Oscillation based testing (OBT) has proven to be a simple and effective test strategy for numerous kind of circuits. In this work, OBT is applied to a radiation sensor to be used as a VLSI cell in embedded applications, implementing an oscillation built-in self-test (OBIST) structure. The oscillation condition is achieved by means of a minimally intrusive switched feedback loop and the response evaluation circuit can be included in a very simple way, minimizing the hardware overhead. The fault simulation indicates a fault coverage of 100% for the circuit under test.Keywords: fault simulation, mixed signal testing, OBIST, oscillation-based test, VLSI testing.

On the Oscillatory Properties of Solutions of Second-Order Damped Delay Differential Equations

In the work, a new oscillation condition was created for second-order damped delay differential equations with a non-canonical operator. The new criterion is of an iterative nature which helps to apply it even when the previous relevant results fail to apply. An example is presented in order to illustrate the significance of the results.

New Resistorless Third-Order Quadrature Sinusoidal Oscillators

This paper introduces four new resistorless, third-order, electronically tunable, quadrature sinusoidal oscillators using three operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) and three capacitors. The proposed third-order quadrature sinusoidal oscillators (TOQSOs) provide noninteracting control of the oscillation condition (OC) and oscillation frequency (OF) by changing the transconductance of different OTAs, to produce sustained oscillations and offer quadrature output voltages and currents. Two of the proposed quadrature oscillator circuits have capacitor control of OF, a feature, useful in capacitive transducers. The presented TOQSO structures have good frequency stability and exhibit low active and passive sensitivities. PSPICE simulations using CMOS OTAs along with hardware results (using off-the-shelf available OTA IC LM13700) have also been provided to confirm the workability of the presented circuits.

Voltage-Mode Multifunction Biquad Filter and Its Application as Fully-Uncoupled Quadrature Oscillator Based on Current-Feedback Operational Amplifiers

This research introduces a new multifunction biquad filter based on voltage mode (VM) current-feedback operational amplifier (CFOA) and a fully uncoupled quadrature oscillator (QO) based on the proposed VM multifunction biquad filter. The proposed VM multifunction biquad filter has high impedance to the input voltage signal, and uses three CFOAs as active components, while using four resistors and two grounded capacitors as passive components. The VM CFOA-based multifunction biquad filter realizes band-reject, band-pass, and low-pass transfer functions at high-input impedance node simultaneously, which has the feature of easy cascading in VM operation without the need for additional voltage buffers. Additionally, the filter control factor parameter pole frequency (ωo) and quality factor (Q) of the proposed VM multifunction biquad filter can be independently set by varying different resistors. By slightly modifying the VM multifunction biquad filter topology, a VM fully-uncoupled QO is easily obtained. The difference from the previous VM CFOA-based multifunction biquad filter is that the proposed VM CFOA-based multifunction biquad filter can be independently controlled by the filter control factor parameters, ωo and Q. The proposed VM CFOA-based multifunction biquad filter can be transformed into a VM QO with fully-uncoupled adjustable of the oscillation condition and the oscillation frequency. The oscillation condition and the oscillation frequency can be fully-uncoupled and controlled by varying two sets of completely different resistors. The proposed VM fully-uncoupled QO solves the amplitude instability. The constant amplitude ratio of two quadrature sinusoidal waveforms can be realized when tuning FO. PSpice simulation and experimental results prove the performances of the proposed VM multifunction filter and VM fully-uncoupled QO. Simulation and experimental results confirm the theoretical analysis of the proposed circuits.

Versatile Voltage-Mode Biquadratic Filter and Quadrature Oscillator Using Four OTAs and Two Grounded Capacitors

This article presents a versatile voltage-mode (VM) biquad filter with independently electronic tunability. The proposed structure using one dual-output operational transconductance amplifier, three single-output operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) and two grounded capacitors was explored to derive a new VM quadrature oscillator with the independent control of the oscillation frequency and the oscillation condition. The proposed versatile VM biquad filter achieves nearly all of the main advantages: (i) simultaneous realizations of band-reject, band-pass, and low-pass from the same architecture, (ii) multiple-input and multiple-output functions, (iii) independent electronic adjustability of quality factor and resonant angular frequency, (iv) no resistor needed, (v) all input terminals with cascade functions, (vi) no additional inverting amplifier for input signals, (vii) using only grounded capacitors, and (viii) easy to implement a VM quadrature oscillator with independent electronically controlled oscillation frequency and oscillation condition. The proposed versatile VM biquad filter employs only four OTAs and two grounded capacitors. The active components of the proposed VM biquad filter are one less than that of recent reports. The proposed circuit also brings versatility and simplicity to the design of VM biquad filters and VM quadrature oscillators. Filters and oscillators with less active and passive components have the advantages of low cost, low power dissipation, low circuit complexity, and low noise. Commercially available integrated circuit LT1228 and discrete components can be used to implement the proposed OTA-based circuits. The simulation and experiment results validated the theoretical analysis.

Effect of Substrate Concentration on Photo-Fermentation Bio-Hydrogen Production Process from Starch-Rich Agricultural Leftovers under Oscillation

China has plenty of starch-rich agricultural leftovers, which can be degraded and further utilized for biogas production. Potato, which has more and more cultivated areas, was taken as a substrate. The pH, OD540, biogas yield, hydrogen yield, biogas production rate, and hydrogen production rate were determined to evaluate the effect of substrate concentration on the photo-fermentation bio-hydrogen production process under an oscillation condition. Results showed that the photo-fermentation period was extended to 264 h under oscillation, which was two times longer than the static condition. It was found that 8 g per 100 mL fermentation broth was the most suitable substrate concentration under oscillation, the cumulative hydrogen yield was 510 mL VS−1, and the hydrogen content was 38.36%.

Celebration of the centenary of a major scientific milestone thanks to Heinrich Barkhausen

Brief history of a perfect optimization with the oscillation condition and microwave tube as well as contributions to oscillators at the occasion of the centenary of a great step forward thanks to genius Heinrich Barkhausen with his pages of glory in the years 1919–1920.

New Voltage-Mode Sinusoidal Oscillators Using VDIBAs

This paper presents two new voltage-mode sinusoidal oscillators based on voltage differencing inverting buffered amplifier (VDIBA). The first proposed circuit exhibits independent and electronic control of oscillation condition by using the bias current of the VDIBA. The proposed configuration contains only single VDIBA, two grounded capacitors and two resistors, which are the least number of active components and the minimum number of passive components necessary for realizing voltage-mode oscillator topology. The second proposed circuit exhibits independent and electronic control on the condition of oscillation without affecting the oscillation frequency by adjusting the separate bias currents of the VDIBAs. The proposed configuration contains two VDIBAs, two grounded capacitors and one resistor, which can provide four quadrature voltage outputs simultaneously. Both proposed circuits enjoy only two grounded capacitors, which are suitable for monolithic integration. HSpice simulations and experimental results are included to confirm the theoretical analysis.