In this proposal, an advanced local oscillator with high resolution, low phase noise and fast switching characteristics is designed for wireless communication applications. The circuit is based on fractional-N frequency synthesis technique in which the use of delta-sigma modulator can remove the fractional spurs effectively. The mechanism in regard to fractional spurs and phase noise for a fractional-N frequency synthesizer will be studied and simulated by developing proper mathematical models. In the implementation of the local oscillator, the analog circuit includes a 1000-1033 MHz VCO, crystal oscillator and loop filter. The digital circuit includes a phase frequency detector, dual modulus divider and 3rd order delta-sigma modulator. At first a FPGA will be used to prototype the digital circuit. The final digital circuit will be implemented in a CMOS process and require 3V operation with low current consumption. The design specifications include that under 1 KHz resolution the phase noise levels are less than -90 dBc/Hz at frequency offets within a loop bandwidth more than 100 KHz. Spurious components are less than -90 dBc/Hz and switching time is less than 1 ms over a 30 MHz tuning range.

The work of this thesis includes designs, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growths and optical study of electro-absorption modulator (EAM) structures. Three EAM structures are designed near 1.5 um : symmetric, asymmetric multiple quantum wells (MQWs) of TE polarization, and polarization insensitive MQWs. For symmetric and asymmetric MQWs simulation of TE polarization, their red-shift are 31 nm and 50 nm, respectively, as the electric field decrease from -40 kV/cm to -120 kV/cm. For polarization insensitive MQWs, we use the strained quantum-well concept to achieve same transition energy and absorption. After growth by MBE system, the samples were fabricated in mesa type by photolithography and wet etching. For symmetric and asymmetric quantum wells of TE polarization¡Gthe red-shift are 16 nm and 49 nm, respectively, as the bias decrease form 0-1 volt to 0-6 volt. Because of small ¡µn near subband transition energy, these two samples exhibit small chirp parameter. However, the photoluminescence (PL) and photocurrent spectra of these two ones were not near 1.5 um and obvious absorption edge. The possible reason is that the molecular beam flux have changed during growth. For polarization insensitive MQWs, the PL spectra shows 1494 nm, which only 25.6 nm differ from our design. Also, the photocurrent spectra of TE and TM polarization nearly exhibit same transition energy and have small chirp parameter.

The use of optical feedback for improving response linearity of electrooptic light modulators has been investigated. The modulator is configured as a straight channel waveguide flanked by electrodes in a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrate. Light is coupled into the waveguide in both TE and TM polarizations, and a voltage applied across electrodes causes a relative phase shift between two polarization components. An output analyzer converts the phase modulation to intensity modulation. Optical feedback of light in both polarization modes results from reflection of light at the polished edges of the substrate. Channel waveguides supporting a single guided mode for TE and TM polarizations were fabricated in x-cut LiNbO3 substrates using titanium-indiffusion technique. The waveguides and modulators were characterized at a wavelength of 1.55 ??m using a distributed feedback laser. The modulators were driven with a sinusoidal voltage waveform. To minimize harmonics of the modulating frequency in the intensity output, the magnitude of the optical feedback and the substrate temperature were adjusted. The feedback level was altered by applying refractive index-matching liquid to one or both ends of the waveguide at the edges of the crystal. It was found that a high degree of response linearity in the presence of feedback was achievable at certain substrate temperatures. The spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) relative to the noise floor was measured at different feedback levels and substrate temperatures in an effort to maximize the modulator response linearity. An SFDR of 68.04 dB, limited by third-order nonlinearity, was achieved by applying index-matching fluid to the input end of the substrate. This compares with an SFDR of 64.84 dB limited by second-order nonlinearity when index-matching fluid was applied at both ends of the substrate. By changing the temperature of the same substrate to adjust the phase shifts experienced by TE and TM polarizations, the SFDR with index-matching fluid at the input end increased to 71.83 dB, limited by third-order nonlinearity. In tests at constant modulation depth, an improvement of as much as 9.6 dB in SFDR vs. the theoretical value for an interferometric modulator without feedback was achieved.

Serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenalin (NA) increase persistent inward currents mediated by sodium and calcium channels on the dendrites of motoneurons. The ability of 5-HT and NA to modulate these channels depends on the distributions of 5-HT and NA synapses. Recent studies of the distribution of 5-HT and NA synapses on motoneurons innervating the neck muscle splenius reported that these synapses are rare on the somata and have a strong bias to dendrites with small diameters. It is unknown whether this distribution pattern represents a general principle of organization (1) for all motoneuron groups or (2) for all types of modulators. To address the first question, we have examined the distribution of 5-HT and NA synapses on flexor motoneurons, which unlike extensor motoneurons, are not able to generate self-sustained discharges known to involve the activation of persistent inward currents. To answer the second question, we have mapped the distribution dopamine (DA) synapses. The dendrites of motoneurons that innervate the neck flexor rectus capitis anterior (RCA) were stained. Synapses containing 5-HT, NA and DA were identified using immunohistochemical techniques. Observations based on five RCA motoneurons indicate that the average densities of 5-HT and NA contacts are 2.3 and 1.4 times less dense than the average densities of 5-HT and NA contacts on splenius motoneurons, respectively. Moreover, pairs of 5-HT contacts and pairs of NA contacts were found to be 3.0 and 1.8 times closer together on splenius compared to RCA motoneurons, respectively. These observations may reflect the inability of flexor motoneurons to generate self sustained discharges. Similar to splenius motoneurons, 5-HT and NA synapses were found to preferentially innervate dendrites with diameters less than 2 µm. Thus, 5-HT and NA synapses facilitate channels in regions where excitatory or inhibitory signals undergo the largest attenuations. DA synapses on the dendritic tree were sparse (0.2 and 0.1 contacts per 1000 µm2), suggesting that the actions of DA synapses are confined to local regions on the dendritic tree. These results highlight that motoneurons do not all share the same intrinsic properties, and the distribution of modulatory synapses have a crucial role in determining these properties. / Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-28 15:17:54.335

A tunable polarization modulator based on the periodic metal strips embedded in a polymer waveguide is presented. The periodic metallic structure is analyzed by Finite Element simulation (COMSOL). The calculation results show that the giant birefringence is formed by the selective cut-off of TE polarization over TM polarization, which makes it possible to design an efficient polarization modulator with a short conversion length. The metallic strips are made by using four-layer lift-off fabrication technology. The transmission and group indices of TE and TM modes are measured. However, it is observed that TE and TM modes cut off at same time, which does not agree with our predictions. The reason for failure is that the change in refractive indices is different from what we expected, which makes the device perform in opposite way. Finally, further suggestions are provided to modify the design so that the device can achieve its expected function.

A tunable polarization modulator based on the periodic metal strips embedded in a polymer waveguide is presented. The periodic metallic structure is analyzed by Finite Element simulation (COMSOL). The calculation results show that the giant birefringence is formed by the selective cut-off of TE polarization over TM polarization, which makes it possible to design an efficient polarization modulator with a short conversion length. The metallic strips are made by using four-layer lift-off fabrication technology. The transmission and group indices of TE and TM modes are measured. However, it is observed that TE and TM modes cut off at same time, which does not agree with our predictions. The reason for failure is that the change in refractive indices is different from what we expected, which makes the device perform in opposite way. Finally, further suggestions are provided to modify the design so that the device can achieve its expected function.

Because of the tough competition inthe telecom business there is aconstant push for higher capacity anddata rates and the companies producingthe telecommunications equipment needmore cost effective products to stayahead of competitors. It is thereforeinteresting to evaluate thepossibilities to use unlicensedfrequency bands at higher frequenciesas a complement to the traditionallower frequency bands. This study isfocusing on the 5.8 GHz band, which ismainly used for WLAN applications. Akey component in most transmitter (TX)designs is is the quadraturemodulator, which upconverts theinformation signal to desired carrierfrequency. In this study an attempt toevaluate the commercially availablequadrature modulator ADL5375 at 5.8GHz. An AWR Visual System Simulator(VSS) model based on measurements ofkey parameters of ADL5375 isconstructed. An attempt is made to seewhether a TX design can pass thespecifications set by 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) for theLong Term Evolution (LTE) standard. Totest this an LTE signal source wasalso constructed. No certainconclusions can be drawn withoutputting the modulator in a complete(TX) design but the results indicatethat it might be possible to use it ina (TX) design for the 5.8 GHz band.

In this thesis digital control techniques for two receiver front-end components i.e. the downconverter mixer and the modulator are presented. With decrease in size of CMOS-based geometries, decrease in performance and yield of analog components has become an issue. Using the digital components on a System-on-Chip to account for the shortcoming in analog circuitry and thereby developing 'self-calibrating' systems has become a reliable way to address this issue. In the telecommunications industry, this is directly correlated to lower post-fabrication testing times, quicker product development and lower overhead costs. The first design presented is a 0.13 um CMOS mixer with variable gain capability. A Digital Assist system was put in place to extend the 3-dB bandwidth of the system using a microcontroller. An interpolation routine was used to predict the bias voltages based on variations in frequency and desired input power. The digital-to-analog converter on the microcontroller was used to set the required bias voltages. The mixer's bandwidth was extended from 12GHz to 15GHz using digital assist. The gain of the mixer with the digital assist in place could be varied from 1.2-9.8dB. The second design presented is a 5.4GHz multi-scheme modulator fabricated in 0.13 um CMOS technology. The modulator is capable of carrying out quadrature amplitude modulation as well as phase-shift keying modulation. The modulator makes use of a novel OTA design to generate a set of orthogonal basis vectors which allows for facile mapping of the modulated data on the I-Q plane. The modulator carries out modulation in 4-PSK, 8-PSK, 4-QAM and 16-QAM modes with a maximum error vector magnitude of only 8.51%. A digital assist model to attain ubiquitous operation inside a system is also presented for this modulator. / Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2014-05-03 13:16:06.018

No description available.

The ability to effectively analyze particulate matter (PM2.5) in air is becoming increasingly pertinent. Allen Goldstein of the University of California in Berkeley is studying the semi-volatile fraction of organic compounds in PM2.5 through the use of the thermal desorption aerosol gas chromatograph (TAG) system. However, as conventional GC does not provide adequate separation power, the development of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) was required. GC × GC works more effectively by utilizing a modulator that periodically traps and focuses analytes from a primary column onto a secondary column. This allows for the primary and secondary columns to separate the analytes based on two different properties. This report focuses on the continuing study and enhancement of a modulator designed by Ognjen Panić during his Masters project. Improving and testing the robustness of this dual stage modulator was originally the focus of this project. However, this study led to the development of a single stage modulator. In addition to that, the effect of modulator characteristics such as length of the restriction, total length of the modulator and wall thickness on the modulator performance were studied. A robustness test of the single stage modulator was also completed. Experiments conducted tested the characteristics of the new modulator to ensure it performed effectively and would satisfy the requirements of the TAG system. A study comparing the sensitivity of conventional gas chromatography and GC × GC was also preformed. The sensitivity of GC × GC was on average an order of magnitude better than that of 1D GC.