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Vision has always been one of the most important cognitive tools of human beings. In this regard, the development of image sensors opens up the potential to view objects that our eyes cannot see. One of the most promising capability in some image sensors is their single-photon sensitivity that provides information at the ultimate fundamental limit of light. Time-resolved single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) image sensors bring a new dimension as they measure the arrival time of incident photons with a precision in the order of hundred picoseconds. In addition to this characteristic, they can be fabricated in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology enabling the integration of complex signal processing blocks at the pixel level. These unique features made CMOS SPAD sensors a prime candidate for a broad spectrum of applications. This thesis is dedicated to the optimization and characterization of quantum imagers based on the SPADs as part of the E.U. funded SUPERTWIN project to surpass the fundamental diffraction limit known as the Rayleigh limit by exploiting the spatio-temporal correlation of entangled photons. The first characterized sensor is a 32×32-pixel SPAD array, named “SuperEllen”, with in-pixel time-to-digital converters (TDC) that measure the spatial cross-correlation functions of a flux of entangled photons. Each pixel features 19.48% fill-factor (FF) in 44.64-μm pitch fabricated in a 150-nm CMOS standard technology. The sensor is fully characterized in several electro-optical experiments, in order to be used in quantum imaging measurements. Moreover, the chip is calibrated in terms of coincidence detection achieving the minimal coincidence window determined by the SPAD jitter. The second developed sensor in the context of SUPERTWIN project is a 224×272-pixel SPAD-based array called “SuperAlice”, a multi-functional image sensor fabricated in a 110-nm CMOS image sensor technology. SuperAlice can operate in multiple modes (time-resolving or photon counting or binary imaging mode). Thanks to the digital intrinsic nature of SPAD imagers, they have an inherent capability to achieve a high frame rate. However, running at high frame rate means high I/O power consumption and thus inefficient handling of the generated data, as SPAD arrays are employed for low light applications in which data are very sparse over time and space. Here, we present three zero-suppression mechanisms to increase the frame rate without adversely affecting power consumption. A row-skipping mechanism that is implemented in both SuperEllen and SuperAlice detects the absence of SPAD activity in a row to increase the duty cycle. A current-based mechanism implemented in SuperEllen ignores reading out a full frame when the number of triggered pixels is less than a user-defined value. A different zero-suppression technique is developed in the SuperAlice chip that is based on jumping through the non-zero pixels within one row. The acquisition of TDC-based SPAD imagers can be speeded up further by storing and processing events inside the chip without the need to read out all data. An on-chip histogramming architecture based on analog counters is developed in a 150-nm CMOS standard technology. The test structure is a 16-bin histogram with 9 bit depth for each bin. SPAD technology demonstrates its capability in other applications such as automotive that demands high dynamic range (HDR) imaging. We proposed two methods based on processing photon arrival times to create HDR images. The proposed methods are validated experimentally with SuperEllen obtaining >130 dB dynamic range within 30 ms of integration time and can be further extended by using a timestamping mechanism with a higher resolution.

Biologically inspired logarithmic CMOS sensors offer high dynamic range imaging capabilities without the difficulties faced by linear imagers. By compressing dynamic range while encoding contrast information, they mimic the human visual system’s response to photo stimuli in fewer bits than those used in linear sensors. Despite this prospect, logarithmic sensors suffer poor image quality due to illumination dependent fixed pattern noise (FPN), making individual pixels appear up to 100 times brighter or darker. This thesis is primarily concerned with alleviating FPN in logarithmic imagers in a simple and convenient way while undertaking a system approach to its origin, distribution and effect on the quality of monochrome and colour images, after FPN correction. Using the properties of the Human visual system, I propose to characterise the errors arising from FPN in a perceptually significant manner by proposing an error measure, never used before. Logarithmic operation over a wide dynamic range is first characterised using a new model; yi j =aj +bj ln(exp sqrt(cj +djxi)−1), where yi j is the response of the sensor to a light stimulus xi and aj, bj, cj and dj are pixel dependent parameters. Using a proposed correction procedure, pixel data from a monochromatic sensor array is FPN corrected to approximately 4% error over 5 decades of illumination even after digitisation - accuracy equivalent to four times the human eyes ability to just notice an illumination difference against a uniform background. By evaluating how error affects colour, the possibility of indiscernible residual colour error after FPN correction, is analytically explored using a standard set of munsell colours. After simulating the simple FPN correction procedure, colour quality is analysed using a Delta E76 perceptual metric, to check for perceptual discrepancies in image colour. It is shown that, after quantisation, the FPN correction process yields 1−2 Delta E76 error units over approximately 5 decades of illumination; colour quality being imperceptibly uniform in this range. Finally, tone-mapping techniques, required to compress high dynamic range images onto the low range of standard screens, have a predominantly logarithmic operation during brightness compression. A new Logr'Gb' colour representation is presented in this thesis, significantly reducing computational complexity, while encoding contrast information. Using a well-known tone mapping technique, images represented in this new format are shown to maintain colour accuracy when the green colour channel is compressed to the standard display range, instead of the traditional luminance channel. The trade off between colour accuracy and computation in this tone mapping approach is also demonstrated, offering a low cost alternative for applications with low display specifications.

Os circuladores tradicionais são amplamente utilizados em telecomunicações e defesa militar para o simultâneo envio e recepção de sinais por um único meio. Esses circuitos passivos, fabricados a partir de materiais ferromagnéticos, possuem a desvantagem do aumento de dimensões, peso e custos de fabricação com a diminuição da frequência de operação definida no projeto destes dispositivos, inviabilizando sua aplicação em frequências abaixo de 500 MHz. O circulador ativo surgiu como uma alternativa aos tradicionais, tendo aplicações em frequências desde o nível DC até a ordem de dezenas de gigahertz. As suas maiores aplicações ocorrem quando são necessários dispositivos compactos, de baixo custo e de baixa potência. Os primeiros circuitos propostos possuíam uma grande limitação em termos de frequência de operação e de potência entregue à carga. Entretanto, com os avanços tecnológicos na eletrônica, tais problemas podem ser amenizados atualmente. Neste trabalho é apresentado o desenvolvimento de um circuito circulador ativo para a utilização em instrumentação eletrônica, em particular para a operação em frequências na ordem das utilizadas em equipamentos de ultrassom Doppler de ondas contínuas, na faixa de 2 MHz a 10 MHz. As possíveis vantagens da implementação de circuladores em sistemas de ultrassom estão relacionadas ao incremento da relação sinal-ruído, aumento da área de recepção do transdutor, simplificação da construção do transdutor, simplificação do circuito de demodulação/ processamento, e maior isolação entre os circuitos de transmissão e recepção de sinais. Na fase inicial, o circulador ativo proposto é modelado por equacionamento, utilizando-se tanto o modelo ideal dos amplificadores operacionais como o seu modelo de resposta em frequência. Simulações computacionais foram executadas para confirmar a validade do equacionamento. Um circuito montado em placa de prototipagem rápida foi apresentado, e testes de prova de conceito em baixas frequências foram realizados, mostrando uma grande semelhança entre o teórico, o simulado e o experimental. A segunda parte contou com o projeto do circuito circulador para a operação em maiores frequências. O circuito proposto é composto por três amplificadores operacionais de realimentação por corrente e vários componentes passivos. Uma análise de sensibilidade utilizando os métodos de Monte-Carlo e análise do pior caso foi aplicada, resultando em um perfil de comportamento frente às variações dos componentes do circuito e às variações da impedância de carga. Uma placa de circuito impressa foi projetada, utilizando-se de boas práticas de leiaute para a operação em altas frequências. Neste circuito montado, foram realizados os seguintes testes e medições: comportamento no domínio do tempo, faixa dinâmica, nível de isolação em relação à amplitude do sinal, largura de banda, levantamento dos parâmetros de espalhamento, e envio e recepção de sinais por transdutor de ultrassom Doppler de ondas contínuas. Os resultados dos testes de desempenho foram satisfatórios, apresentando uma banda de transmissão de sinais para frequências de 100 MHz, isolação entre portas não consecutivas de 39 dB na frequência de interesse para ultrassom Doppler e isolação maior que 20 dB para frequências de até 35 MHz. A faixa dinâmica excedeu a tensão de 5 Vpp, e o circuito teve bom comportamento no envio e na recepção simultânea de sinais pelo transdutor de ultrassom. / Traditional circulators are widely used in both telecommunications and military defense for sending and receiving signals simultaneously through a single medium. These passive circuits which are manufactured from ferromagnetic materials, have the disadvantages of having suffered an increase in dimensions, weight, and manufacturing costs along with the decrease in the operation frequency established in the designs of such devices, thus preventing their useful employment in frequencies below 500 MHz. The active circulator emerged as an alternative to the traditional ones, and has applications on frequencies ranging from a DC level to levels involving dozens of gigahertz. It is applicable when compact devices are made necessary, at a low cost, and for low frequencies. The first circuits to be introduced had a major limitation in terms of operating frequency and power delivered to the load. However, due to technological advances in electronics, problems such as the aforementioned can now be minimized. This research work presents the development of an active circulator circuit to be used in electronic instrumentation, particularly for operation at frequencies such as those used in continuous wave Doppler ultrasound equipment, ranging from 2 MHz to 10 MHz. The advantages made possible by implementing ultrasound systems with circulators are related to an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio, an increase in the transducers reception area, a simplified construction of the transducer, simplification of the demodulation/processing circuit, and a greater isolation between the transmission circuits and signal reception. In the initial phase, the proposed active circulator was modeled by means of an equating method, using both the ideal model of operational amplifiers and the model of frequency response. Computer simulations were carried out in order to confirm the validity of the equating method. A circuit mounted upon a breadboard was introduced and proof of concept assessments were performed at low frequencies, showing a great similarity among the theoretical, simulated and experimented data. The second phase is when the circulator circuits design was developed in order make its operation at higher frequencies possible. The proposed circuit is comprised of three currentfeedback operational amplifiers and several passive components. A sensitivity analysis was carried out using Monte-Carlo methods and worst-case analyses, resulting in a certain behavioral profile influenced by variations in circuit components and variations in load impedance. A printed circuit board was designed, employing good practice layout standards so that operation at high frequencies would be achieved. The following evaluations and measurements were performed on the circuit that was assembled: time domain behavior, dynamic range, isolation level relative to signal amplitude, bandwidth, survey of the scattering parameters, and transmission and reception of signals by a continuous wave Doppler ultrasound transducer. The results of the performance tests were satisfactory, presenting a 100 MHz signal transmission band, isolation between non-consecutive ports of 39 dB at the frequency of interest to the Doppler ultrasound, and an isolation greater than 20 dB for frequencies of up to 35 MHz. The dynamic range exceeded the 5Vpp and the circuit performed satisfactorily in the simultaneous transmission and reception of signals through the ultrasound\'s transducer.

<div>Event-Based cameras, also known as neuromophic cameras or dynamic vision sensors, are an imaging modality that attempt to mimic human eyes by asynchronously measuring contrast over time. If the contrast changes sufficiently then a 1-bit event is output, indicating whether the contrast has gone up or down. This stream of events is sparse, and its asynchronous nature allows the pixels to have a high dynamic range and high temporal resolution. However, these events do not encode the intensity of the scene, resulting in an inverse problem to estimate intensity images from the event stream. Hybrid event-based cameras, such as the DAVIS camera, provide a reference intensity image that can be leveraged when estimating the intensity at each pixel during an event. Normally, inverse problems are solved by formulating a forward and prior model and minimizing the associated cost, however, for this problem, the Plug and Play (P&P) algorithm is used to solve the inverse problem. In this case, P&P replaces the prior model subproblem with a denoiser, making the algorithm modular, easier to implement. We propose an idealized forward model that assumes the contrast steps measured by the DAVIS camera are uniform in size to simplify the problem. We show that the algorithm can swiftly reconstruct the scene intensity at a user-specified frame rate, depending on the chosen denoiser’s computational complexity and the selected frame rate.</div>

A presente dissertação trata da implementação e otimização de um sistema de detecção condutométrica sem contato capacitivamente acoplada (C4D) para Eletroforese Capilar (CE). O sistema é caracterizado pela compactação do sistema de detecção, versatilidade e flexibilidade de instalação em diferentes equipamentos comerciais de eletroforese capilar e home made. Desde a década de 80, a eletroforese capilar vem se consolidando como uma das técnicas de separação mais relevantes. Normalmente, os instrumentos comerciais são disponibilizados com detectores ópticos e detectores eletroquímicos. A C4D é utilizada em eletroforese capilar posicionando-se dois eletrodos tubulares envoltos ao capilar. A aplicação de sinais de alta frequência entre os eletrodos permite monitorar variações de condutividade da solução dentro do capilar. Assim, a resposta do detector depende de diversos fatores como mobilidade do analito, do co-íon do eletrólito, da frequência e amplitude do sinal aplicado entre os eletrodos e da geometria dos mesmos. A ausência de componentes móveis torna o presente detector compacto (6,5 cm3) e robusto. O presente C4D é constituído de um oscilador local funcionando a 1,1 MHz, um circuito capaz de converter corrente em tensão, retificar e filtrar os sinais analógcos, além de apresentar um conversor de sinais analógicos em digitais (Conversor A/D) de alta resolução (21 bits efetivos). Outra vantagem é a possibilidade de determinar o diâmetro interno do capilar através da leitura do conversor A/D quando se faz passar um fluxo de ar e, posteriormente água através do capilar. A diferença de leitura de conversor A/D pode ser convertida em diâmetro interno mediante uma curva de calibração. Em uma aplicação típica, os limites de detecção baseado no critério 3s (sem filtragem inicial) foi de 0,6, 0,4, 0,3, 0,5, 0,6 e 0,8 &#181;mol L-1 para K+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+ e Li+, respectivamente, é comparável a outras implementações de alta qualidade de um detector condutométrico sem contato capacitivamente acoplado. / This dissertation deals with the implementation and optimization of a Capacitively Coupled Contactless Conductivity Detector (C4D) applied to capillary electrophoresis (CE). The system is characterized by compaction of the detection system, installation flexibility and versatility in different commercial capillary electrophoresis equipment and home-made. Since the 80s, capillary electrophoresis has been consolidated as one of the most important separation techniques. Typically, commercial instruments are available to optical detectors and electrochemical detectors. The C4D is used in capillary electrophoresis positioning two electrodes encased in tubular capillary. The application of high frequency signals between the electrodes allows monitoring changes in conductivity of the solution within the capillary. Thus, the detector response depends on several factors such as mobility of the analyte, the co-ion electrolyte, the frequency and amplitude of the signal applied between the electrodes and the geometry of the same. The absence of moving parts makes this compact detector (6.5 cm3) and robust. This C4D is composed of a local oscillator, working at 1.1 MHz, a circuit capable of converting current into voltage, rectify and filter the analogs signals, besides presenting a high-resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (21 bits effective). Another advantage is the possibility of determining the internal diameter of the capillary by reading the ADC when it is passed a stream of air and then water through the capillary. A readings different ADC can be converted into inner diameter through a curve a calibration curve. In a typical application, the detection limits based on the 3s criterion (without baseline filtering) was 0.6, 0.4, 0.3, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.8 &#181;mol L-1 for K+, Ba2 +, Ca2 +, Na+, Mg2+ and Li+, respectively, is comparable to other high-quality implementations of a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector.

Une nouvelle méthode de test pour les convertisseurs ADC et DAC embarqués dans un système complexe a été développée en prenant en compte les nouvelles contraintes affectant le test. Ces contraintes, dues aux tendances de design de systèmes, sont un nombre réduit de point d'accès aux entrées/sorties des blocs analogiques du système et une augmentation galopante du nombre et des performances des convertisseurs intégrés. La méthode proposée consiste à connecter les convertisseurs DAC et ADC dans le domaine analogique pour n'avoir besoin que d'instruments de test numériques pour générer et capturer les signaux de test. Un algorithme de traitement du signal a été développé pour discriminer les erreurs des DACs et ADCs. Cet algorithme a été validé par simulation et par expérimentation sur des produits commercialisés par NXP. La dernière partie de la thèse a consisté à développer de nouvelles applications pour l'algorithme.

Along with the rapidly increasing demand for wireless data while more and more crowded radio frequency (RF) spectrum, optical wireless communications (OWC) become a promising candidate to complement conventional RF communications, especially for indoor short and medium range data transmissions. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is considered for OWC due to its ability to boost data rates. However, the average emitted optical power and dynamic range of driving signals of LEDs are two major constraints in OWC. OFDM waveforms exhibits high upper and lower peak-to-average power ratios (PAPRs), which make OFDM signals optical power inefficient and easy to violate the dynamic range of LEDs, resulting clipping and nonlinear distortions. In this dissertation, we analyze and design optical power and dynamic range constrained OWC systems, for which OFDM is our major subject. We first derive distributions of upper PAPR and lower PAPR of OWC-OFDM signals. Then we analyze the clipped OFDM signals in term of error vector magnitude (EVM), signal-to-distortion ratio (SDR), and achievable data rates under both optical power and dynamic range constraints. The next part of this dissertation is the OFDM system design for visible light communications (VLC) considering illumination requirement. We investigate the illumination-to-communication efficiency (ICE) in VLC-OFDM, and design the brightness control and flickering mitigation schemes for VLC-OFDM. In the end, to reduce the complexity of driving circuits of LEDs , we propose using delta-sigma modulators in VLC-OFDM systems to convert continuous magnitude OFDM symbols into two-level LED driver signals without loss of the communication theory advantages of OFDM.

Genomic DNA is the template of life - the entity which is characterized by a self-sustaining anatomical development, regulated signaling processes, the ability to reproduce and to respond to stimuli. Through what is classically known as the central dogma, the genome is transcribed into mRNA, which in turn is translated into proteins. The proteins take part in most, if not all, cellular processes, and it is by unraveling these processes that we can begin to understand life and disease-causing mechanisms. In vitro and in vivo assays are two levels at which protein communication may be studied, and which permit manipulation and control over the proteins under investigation. But in order to retrieve a representation of the processes as close to reality as possible, in situ analysis may instead be applied as a complement to the other two levels of study. In situ PLA offers the ability to survey protein activity in tissue samples and primary cell lines, at a single cell level, detecting single targets in their natural unperturbed environment.   In this thesis new developments of the in situ PLA are described, along with a new technique offering in situ enzyme-free detection of proximity between biomolecules. The dynamic range of in situ PLA has now been increased by several orders of magnitude to cover analogous ranges of protein expression; the output signals have been modified to offer a greater signal-to-noise ratio and to limit false-positive-rates while also extending the dynamic range further; simultaneous detection of multiple protein complexes is now possible; proximity-HCR is presented as a robust and inexpensive enzyme-free assay for protein complex detection. The thesis also covers descriptions on how the techniques may be simultaneously applied, also together with other techniques, for the multiple data-point acquisition required by the emerging realm of systems biology. A future perspective is presented for how much more information may be simultaneously acquired from tissue samples to describe biomolecular interactions in a new manner. This will allow new types of biomarkers and drugs to be discovered, and a new holistic understanding of life.

This work deals with the problem of reverse audio engineering for active listening. The format under consideration corresponds to the audio CD. The musical content is viewed as the result of a concatenation of the composition, the recording, the mixing, and the mastering. The inversion of the two latter stages constitutes the core of the problem at hand. The audio signal is treated as a post-nonlinear mixture. Thus, the mixture is "decompressed" before being "decomposed" into audio tracks. The problem is tackled in an informed context: The inversion is accompanied by information which is specific to the content production. In this manner, the quality of the inversion is significantly improved. The information is reduced in size by the use of quantification and coding methods, and some facts on psychoacoustics. The proposed methods are applicable in real time and have a low complexity. The obtained results advance the state of the art and contribute new insights.