A micromachined magnetic field sensing system capable of measuring the direction of the Earths magnetic field has been fabricated, measured, and characterized. The system is composed of a micromachined silicon resonator combined with a permanent magnet, excitation and sensing coils, and a magnetic feedback loop. Electromagnetic excitation of the mechanical resonator enables it to operate with very low power consumption and low excitation voltage. The interaction between an external magnetic field surrounding the sensor and the permanent magnet generates a rotating torque on the silicon resonator disc, changing the effective stiffness of the beams and therefore the resonant frequency of the sensor. MEMS-based mechanically-resonant sensors, in which the sensor resonant frequency shifts in response to the measurand, are widely utilized. Such sensors are typically operated in their linear resonant regime. However, substantial improvements in resonant sensor performance can be obtained by designing the sensors to operate far into their nonlinear regime. This effect is illustrated through the use of a magnetically-torqued, rotationally-resonant MEMS platform. Platform structural parameters such as beam width and number of beams are parametrically varied subject to the constraint of constant small-deflection resonant frequency. Nonlinear performance improvement characterization is performed both analytically as well as with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation, and confirmed with measurement results. These nonlinearity based sensitivity enhancement mechanisms are utilized in the device design. The complete magnetic sensing system consumes less than 200 microwatts of power in continuous operation, and is capable of sensing the direction of the Earths magnetic field. Such low power consumption levels enable continuous magnetic field sensing for portable electronics and potentially wristwatch applications, thereby enabling personal navigation and motion sensing functionalities. A total system power consumption of 138W and a resonator actuation voltage of 4mVpp from the 1.2V power supply have been demonstrated with capability of measuring the direction of the Earths magnetic field. Sensitivities of 0.009, 0.086, and 0.196 [mHz/(Hz and #903;degree)] for the Earths magnetic field were measured for 3, 4, and 6 beam structures, respectively.

There is ever-increasing demand in telecommunication system, data server and computer equipment for low voltage, high current power supply. LLC resonant converter is a good topology on primary side of the converter because it has soft switching and resonant conversion. However, the passive rectifier in the secondary side has high power dissipation. Synchronous rectifier is a popular method to reduce this rectification loss. Although there are many types of synchronous rectifier for PWM converter, most of them do not function well in LLC resonant converters. It is because the wave form of LLC resonant converter is different from PWM. The objective of this research is to reduce the power dissipation and physical size at the same time. In this thesis, a novel current driven synchronous rectifier with saturable current transformer and dynamic gate voltage control for LLC resonant Converter is presented. This novel circuit reduces the rectification loss and size of the current transformer in the synchronous rectifier. This synchronous rectifier has several outstanding characteristics compared with generic voltage driven and current driven synchronous rectifier. The saturable feature reduces the current transformer turns. Inherent dynamic gate voltage controlled by saturable current transformer reduces gate loss in the MOSFET. A novel driving circuit is proposed for accurate turn off time. It reduces loss significantly. This synchronous rectifier is completely self-contained which can replace the rectifier diode as a drop in replacement. It is insensitive to parasitic inductance. In order to explain the current transformer saturable, a model of saturable current transformer is proposed. A prototype demonstrates the advantages of the proposed current driven synchronous rectifier. Furthermore, a novel integrated synchronous rectifier is presented which provides a more compact system. The synchronous rectifier current transformer is integrated with the main transformer which reduces the number of circuit joints in power path. Each soldering joint generates significance loss in power converter. A pair of 0.5mΩ soldering joint in 25A current path produces 0.62W loss. The placement of the integrated current transformer is important. A criterion for the placement of the current transformer within the main transformer is to avoid interference to the current transformer from the magnetic flux of the main transformer. Thus, a placement method to integrate the current transformer into the main transformer is proposed. An integrated current transformer model is suggested to explain the operation of the integrated synchronous rectifier. A prototype demonstrates the advantages of the integrated synchronous rectifier. / published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

High power conversion efficiency is desirable in power supplies. Design optimization of on-line power converter is presented in this thesis. High efficiencies over a wide load range, for example 20%, 50% and 100% load, are often required. It is a challenge for on-line pulse-width modulation (PWM) converters to maintain good efficiencies with light load as well as full load. A two-stage multi-objective optimization procedure is proposed to optimization power converter efficiencies at 20%, 50% and 100% load. Two-FET forward prototype converters are built to verify the optimization results. The LLC (abbreviation of two resonant inductor L and one resonant capacitor C ) series resonant converter can provide high power conversion efficiency because of the resonant nature and soft switching. The design of LLC resonant converter is more difficult than that of PWM converters since the LLC resonant converter has many resonant modes. Furthermore, the LLC resonant converter does not have analytical solution for its resonant operation. In this thesis, a systematic optimization procedure is proposed to optimize LLC series resonant converter efficiency. A mode solver technique is developed to solve LLC resonant converter operations. The proposed mode solver employs non-linear programming techniques to solve a set of LLC state equations and determine the resonant modes. Loss models are provided which serve as the objective-function to optimize converter efficiency. Optimization results show outstanding efficiency performance and experimental agreement with optimization. The optimization work extends to the LLC resonant converter with power factor correction (PFC) circuits where the effect of LLC converter input voltage variation cased by the PFC circuit is considered. Detail comparisons of PWM converter and LLC resonant converter loss profiles are also presented. The reasons that LLC resonant converter has higher efficiency are given and supported by quantitative data. Converter lifetime is highly related to component losses and temperature. The lifetime analysis is presented. The analysis reveals that the LLC resonant converter output capacitor is the weakest component concerning life. / published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Modern communications technology has encouraged an intimate connection between Semiconductor Physics and Optics, and this connection shows best in the combination of electron-confining structures with light-confining structures. Semiconductor quantum dots are systems engineered to trap electrons in a mesoscopic scale (the are composed of [approximately] 10000 atoms), resulting in a behavior resembling that of atoms, but much richer. Optical microrseonators are engineered to confine light, increasing its intensity and enabling a much stronger interaction with matter. Their combination opens a myriad of new directions, both in fundamental Physics and in possible applications. This dissertation explores both semiconductor quantum dots and microresonators, through experimental work done with semiconductor quantum dots and microsphere resonators spanning the fields of Quantum Optics, Quantum Information and Photonics; from quantum algorithms to polarization converters. Quantum Optics leads the way, allowing us to understand how to manipulate and measure quantum dots with light and to elucidate the interactions between them and microresonators. In the Quantum Information area, we present a detailed study of the feasibility of excitons in quantum dots to perform quantum computations, including an experimental demonstration of the single-qubit Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm performed in a single semiconductor quantum dot. Our studies in Photonics involve applications of microsphere resonators, which we have learned to fabricate and characterize. We present an elaborate description of the experimental techniques needed to study microspheres, including studies and proof of concept experiments on both ultra-sensitive microsphere sensors and whispering gallery mode polarization converters. / text

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Recent developments in quantum information processing have presented new and interesting ways to perform advanced algorithms and improve signal to noise ratios. Examples of these include optimal control theory pulse generation algorithms and the usage of high Q-factor resonators. However, these developments are blocked by current spectrometer designs. This thesis details the design and testing of a new spectrometer with sufficient accuracy, bandwidth, and control to implement these advances. The proposed solution is to use an FPGA-based development board together with custom computer software. This gives access to high-speed analogue inputs and outputs, as well as digital output pins. The spectrometer is then used in two X-band electron spin resonance experiments, showing how the advantages of the system allow for superior results to that possible with the previous equipment. In addition, the setup is used in a Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) system where a rabi experiment is performed.

The handset product has been styled in successive years to reach more compact sizes and there has as a result been a reduction in volume available to house antennas; therefore size/performance trade-offs have had to become accommodated. Some of the issues antenna engineers are currently confronted with include; frequency shifting due to the antenna not being isolated from the handset, far field pattern deformation due to close proximity effects from the energy absorbing human tissues, distortion caused by noise from electronic components that share the handheld platform. What is required is antenna technology, which maintains a high enough performance despite the escalating restrictions imposed by the demands of the market. Research is performed on a twisted loop antenna topology that possesses an integral balun as part of its structure. Two rudimentary designs are utilised in the research, a simple bifilar structure that can be adapted for GSM, peN, Bluetooth and W-LAN applications, and a quadrifilar helix structure for use in GPS. Both structures are based on existing industrial dielectricloaded antenna structures but are modelled as novel air-loaded structures using a commercially available Method of Moments (MoM) electromagnetic simulator. In this fashion, the antennas could be generated quickly with low computational requirements. A parametric study is performed on the bifilar antenna structure to gain an enhanced understanding of the twisted loop topology. Once this understanding is achieved proposed modifications to the structure are implemented to improve the performance of the antenna. The main subject of improvement is the broadening of bandwidth as normally dielectric-loaded antennas have inherent narrow bandwidth. Any improvements made on the air-loaded structures could be tested on dielectric structures in future research. The most successful novel approach attempted to increase the bandwidth in the twisted loop structure was the insertion of parasitic helices to create a coupled multi-pole filter response. In conjunction with the work performed on the bifilar, an air-loaded GPS quadrifilar helix antenna was also modelled. A method for inducing circular polarisation is proposed and then by the insertion of parasitics into the quadrifilar helix design a novel dual-band dual-polarised antenna is presented. Finally measurements are made to demonstrate the advantageous properties the dielectric-loaded GPS antenna has over conventional GPS antennas.

Many interesting ideas have emerged from research on electromagnetic eld interactions with di erent materials. Analyzing such interactions has extracted some essential proper- ties of the materials. For example, extracting constitutive parameters such as permittivity, permeability, and conductivity, clari es a material's behavior. In general, the electromag- netic eld interacts with materials either in the far- eld or near- eld of a source. This study focuses on the principle of near- eld microwave microscopy for detection purposes. Many studies have focused on the use of an electrically small resonator, such as a split-ring resonator (SRR) and a complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR), to act as a near- eld sensor for material characterization and detection. At the resonance frequency, the electric and magnetic energy densities are enhanced dramatically at certain locations in the resonator. Any disturbance of the eld around such a resonator with a material under test causes the resonance frequencies to exhibit a shift that is used as an indicator of the sensor sensitivity. In this thesis, a single CSRR is used as a sensing element for detecting cracks in metal surfaces. Many microwave techniques have been developed for crack detection. However, these techniques have at least one of the following drawbacks: working at high frequencies, measurement setup complexity and cost, and low sensitivity. The rst part of this thesis presents a new sensor based on the complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) that is used to detect sub-millimeter surface cracks. The sensing mechanism is based on perturbing the electromagnetic eld around an electrically small resonator, thus initiating a shift in the resonance frequency. Investigation of the current distribution on a CSRR at the resonance frequency shows the critical location at which the enhanced energy is concentrated. In addition, the current distribution demonstrates the sensing element in the CSRR. The sensor is simple to fabricate and inexpensive, as it is etched-out in the ground plane of a microstrip-line using printed circuit board technology. The microstrip-line excites the CSRR by producing an electric eld perpendicular to the surface of the CSRR. The sensor exhibits a frequency shift of more than 240 MHz for a 200 m crack. In the second part of this thesis, the sensitivity of the sensor is increased by lling the same crack with a dielectric material such as silicon oil. While using CSRR to scan a block with 200 m wide and 2 mm depth dielectric lled crack, the resonance frequency of the sensor shifts 435 MHz more than a case scanning a solid aluminum. Finally, the total Inductance of a CSRR for miniaturizing purposes is increased using either lumped or distributed elements. In this thesis, the designs and the results are validated experimentally and numerically.

Thesis (M.Eng.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Mechanical Engineering, 2007. / Includes author's previously published papers. "Dissertation submitted for the award of the degree of Master of Engineering Science on the 25th of September, 2006. Qualified on the 28th November, 2006" Includes bibliography (p. 191-199) Also available in print form.