Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: Ranging Error, Ranging, Positioning, Indoor Geolocation, Distance Measurement Error. Includes bibliographical references (p.168-171).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Computer Science, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-39).

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-92). Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Abstract: National security needs dictate the development of new radar systems capable of identifying and tracking exoatmospheric threats to aid our defense. These new radar systems feature reduced noise floors, electronic beam steering, and ultra-wide bandwidths, all of which facilitate threat discrimination. However, in order to identify missile attributes such as RF reflectivity, distance, and velocity, many existing processing algorithms rely upon narrow bandwidth assumptions that break down with increased signal bandwidth. We present a fresh investigation into these algorithms for removing bandwidth limitations and propose novel state-space and direct-data factoring formulations such as: the multidimensional extension to the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm; employing state-space models in place of interpolation to obtain a form which admits a separation and isolation of solution components; and side-stepping the joint diagonalization of state transition matrices, which commonly plagues methods like multidimensional ESPRIT. We then benchmark our approaches and relate the outcomes to the Cramer-Rao bound for the case of one and two adjacent reflectors to validate their conceptual design and identify those techniques that compare favorably to or improve upon existing practices. / Keywords: State-space; Super resolution; Doppler; Direction of arrival; DoA; Singular value; SVDl; DSS. . Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-91).

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Le travail réalisé au cours de cette thèse, suite à l’initiative de Turbomeca, est une contribution à l’étude du bruit à large bande à l’échappement d’un turbomoteur d’hélicoptère, portant plus précisément sur la gamme de fréquences qui s’étend sur la gamme de fréquences qui s’étend de 100 à 5000 Hz. Contrairement au bruit à l’échappement des turboréacteurs d’avion sur lesquels le bruit de jet prédomine, ici ce dernier est négligeable en raison de la faible vitesse d’échappement des gaz. L’analyse des données disponibles à Turbomeca et une étude bibliographique approfondie ont permis de préciser la signature fréquentielle du bruit à large bande à l’échappement avec notamment trois contributions distinctes :- Le bruit de combustion direct généré au niveau de la chambre par la flamme (100-400 Hz)- Le bruit de la combustion indirect généré par la turbine haute-pression (500-800 Hz)- Le bruit de combustion indirect généré par la turbine libre (1-3 Hz)Le bruit de combustion indirect est issu de la déformation des perturbations tourbillonnaires et entropiques issues de la combustion lors de leur passage dans les turbines. Ce travail de thèse porte plus précisément sur ce mécanisme. Notamment, des essais sur une turbine industrielle ont été réalisés afin de mettre sa présence en évidence. En parallèle, un modèle analytique de type « disque d’action » (c’est-à-dire dans lequel la turbine est assimilée à une surface de discontinuité) a été développé. Ceci est justifié par le fait que les longueurs d’ondes (acoustique et aérodynamique) sont grandes devant les dimensions des aubes, notamment la corde axiale. On néglige ainsi la géométrie fine des aubes. Seule est prise en compte leur influence sur l’écoulement qui se traduit uniquement par l’accélération et/ou la déviation de ce dernier, et le changement des propriétés thermodynamiques correspondant. La difficulté de la modélisation réside dans l’écriture des relations de saut entre les grandeurs de l’écoulement en amont et en aval de la grille d’aubes. / This thesis work, carried out at the initiative of Turbomeca, focuses on the study of the turboshaft broadband exhaust noise. It aimed more specifically at the frequency range between 100 and 5000 Hz. Unlike turbojet exhaust noise, on which jet noise is the main contribution, jet noise is the main contribution, jet noise is negligible in our case due to low speed of gas ejection. Turbomeca database analysis and extensive literature review helped to clarify the broadband exhaust noise signature, including three distinct contributions :- Direct combustion noise generated by the flame (100-400 Hz)- Indirect combustion noise generated by the high pressure turbine (500-800 Hz)- Indirect combustion noise generated the power turbine (1-3kHz)The indirect combustion noise generation mechanism is the deformation of vorticity and entropy combustion perturbations in turbine stages. This work aimed specifically at the understanding and modelling of this mechanism. In particular, tests were performed on an industrial turbine in order to demonstrate its presence. In parallel, we developed an “action disc” analytical model (in which the turbine is considered as a discontinuity surface). Indeed, acoustic and aerodynamic wavelengths are large compared to the blades dimensions and the axial cord, so the fine geometry of blades is negligible. The blade influence of the flow leads exclusively to flow acceleration or deviation, along with its thermodynamic property changes. The main difficulty of this modelling is the writing of jump relations between upstream and downstream flow parameters.

Abstract The rapid growth in the wireless communications markets together with the emerging need for high-bit-rate (≫ 100 Mb/s) multimedia/data services are pushing the usage of radio spectrum resources below 10 GHz to the uttermost limit. The lack of bandwidth has led to an extensive development of mobile/fixed BWA systems for the higher microwave and millimetre-wave regions up to the V-band frequencies (50–75 GHz). In order for these systems to have mass deployment and to meet cost-sensitive consumer markets’ requirements, their cost and size must be reduced from current levels. One of the most viable packaging approaches to satisfy these demands is the low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) based system-in-package (SiP) module technology combined with fully automated surface-mount assembly techniques. However, one of the main challenges of this approach has been previously associated with the broadband radio frequency (RF) and reliability performance constraints of the board-level solder joints in LTCC/PCB assemblies. In this thesis the primary focus is to tackle these limitations and significantly extend the feasibility of the LTCC module technology to various wireless/mixed-signal packaging applications. The thesis is divided into three main parts. In the first part, design, modelling and implementation of vertical package transitions (BGA, flip-chip, substrate via) over a very wide frequency range are presented. In the second part, the emphasis is on the improvement of the thermal fatigue endurance of the board-level solder joints in the LTCC/PCB assemblies. In the last part, the results are merged to realize a high-performance LTCC module platform for use in a wide variety of SiP products in the telecommunication sector. The flip-chip, substrate-via and BGA transition structures exhibited excellent signal transmission properties up to the V-band frequencies. The developed equivalent circuit models of the transitions matched well with the measurements. Cascading the transitions together allows the building of different combinations of vertical interconnection paths in SiP modules. To demonstrate this, a surface-mountable LTCC filter package for K-band radio link frequencies was implemented. The developed composite BGA solder joint structure with plastic-core solder balls significantly enhanced the thermal fatigue life in LTCC/PCB assemblies in different thermal cycling conditions, indicating adequate board-level reliability for many practical LTCC-BGA packaging applications. Moreover, electromagnetic analysis showed that the use of the plastic-core solder ball has no detrimental impact on the RF performance of the solder joint. Finally, based on the obtained results a reliable lead-free LTCC-BGA module platform was developed for broadband packaging applications. The BGA module platform with a size of 15 mm × 15 mm included 38 low-frequency and two wideband RF input/output connections up to the K-band frequencies. The module structure also allowed plenty of space to mount discrete SMD/bare-die components on the surface and/or to embed passive components in the 1.2 mm thick substrate. Preliminary thermal cycling results of the soldered LTCC/PCB assemblies demonstrated sufficient reliability for telecommunication applications. Therefore, the presented module platform can serve as a physical building block for various wireless/mixed-signal SiP products, and hence significantly reduce their development time and associated costs.

Despite interest from policymakers and the telecommunications sector to deliver superfast broadband to the whole of the UK, rural areas remain underserved, decreasing their ability to benefit from broadband-enabled services. Public intervention, primarily structured as national subsidies, is active across the UK to respond to this rural market failure. Complementing such practices are local-level strategies framed as community-led broadband initiatives. Their inclusion within wider superfast broadband installation strategies has not yet been examined. This doctoral research examines two of these initiatives, their structure and impact on the community to develop an understanding of their potential as replicable rural broadband delivery mechanisms. I analyse both the process of installing superfast broadband technology from community-led perspective and the subsequent engagement with superfast broadband through a qualitative longitudinal approach. A conceptual framework of 'social resilience' is developed as a contemporary analytical tool for examining these individual and community processes. The findings reveal an inherent complexity to rural community-led broadband provision. Community-led broadband reflects a 'localism' development approach, and this process has strengthened local rural identity. Following the adoption of superfast broadband, rural users experienced a growth in digital knowledge and individual resilience. However, the initiatives themselves are often discussed as 'separate from', or incompatible with, the telecommunications industry, as well as sitting outside the scope of current government interventions. In doing so, barriers to external networking and extra-local partnerships are built, limiting the opportunities for community-led broadband networks to become a substantive part of rural broadband delivery across the UK. Throughout the thesis, an understanding of these various tensions, impacting the success, use and replicability of rural community-led broadband, is developed and community-led broadband is shown to be another example of uneven rural development. I conclude by making recommendations for future digital policy interventions in the UK.

The use of electrical networks for telecommunications has a long history. It has been known since the beginning of the twentieth century [Ahola03]. The idea of using electrical networks for broadband communications arose in the 1990s [Hrasnica et al 04]. Recent and growing research interest has indicated that PowerLine Communications (PLC) is the threshold for achieving broadband delivery particularly in very dispersed and low teledensity areas. Currently, there are numerous PLC trials and commercial deployments underway inside and outside South Africa. Nevertheless, these PLC deployments are very isolated, done without clear methodology and performance remains bound to the physical layout of the electrical network. Because of that high bandwidth broadband PLC systems are prone to poor performance and this in turn limits the acceptance and deployment of this emerging alternative broadband technology. Though, PLC technical challenges are being addressed, there has been little analysis and research work that is focused on the “Development of Methodologies for Deploying and Implementing Local & Medium Area Broadband Power Line in Residential and Office Electric Grids” that would lead to broadband PLC being adopted and be of greater use to non-broadband communities of South Africa. PLC is a term describing several different systems using electrical grid distribution wires for simultaneous distribution of data by superimposing an analog signal [Hrasnica et al 04]. The research proposed and presented broadband PLC methodologies for typical medium voltage and local voltage PLC networks. These methodologieswere implemented and experimented with in configurations which closely mirrored residential and office settings through laboratory and multibuilding experiments using commercial 2nd Generation Mitsubishi Electric PLC technology. Research results presented not only serve to provide insight into broadband PLC but also how it handled broadband applications (communications), competed and compared with other technologies such as Ethernet LAN. In combination with networking communication theories, the research explored and analyzed the extent of PLC in providing broadband communication to residential and office electric grids at the University Fort Hare, Computer Science Department.