Neste trabalho, foi realizado um estudo da caracterização elétrica dos ISFETs com estrutura Si/SiO2/Si3N4, utilizando pseudoeletrodos de Pt, Ag e Au como alternativas aos eletrodos convencionais para medições de pH. Primeiramente, foram empregados três métodos reportados na literatura (extrapolação linear para obtenção da tensão de limiar, segunda derivada para obtenção da tensão de limiar e corrente de sublimiar, respectivamente) com o objetivo de obter a sensibilidade dos ISFETs (mV/pH) e analisar a confiabilidade dos resultados utilizando eletrodo de referência padrão de Ag/AgCl. Posteriormente, tendo como base o eletrodo de Ag/AgCl, foram estudados os desempenhos de pseudoeletrodos de Pt, Ag e Au nas medidas de pH. Como resultado, observou-se que os pseudoeletrodos de Pt e Ag apresentaram sensibilidades compatíveis com o eletrodo de referência padrão de Ag/AgCl (~50mV/pH) para pH ácido na faixa de 1 a 3. Já o pseudoeletrodo de Au, manteve um comportamento aproximadamente linear ao longo de toda a faixa de pH estudada (1 a 10), porém, com sensibilidade inferior na faixa de 32 à 34mV/pH. / In this work, it is presented a study of the electrical characterization of Si/SiO2/Si3N4 estructured ISFETs using Pt, Ag and Au pseudoelectrodes as alternative references to the conventional ones for pH measurements. At first, it was used three different methods (linear extrapolation method to obtain the threshold voltage, second derivative method to obtain the threshold voltage and subthreshold-current method, respectively) having as objective to obtain the sensitivity of the ISFETs (mV/pH) and to analyze the reliability of the results using the standard Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Subsequently, using the Ag/AgCl electrode as a base for comparation, it was studied the performance of Pt, Ag and Au pseudoelectrodes for pH measurement. As a result, it was observed that the Pt and Ag electrodes presented sensitivity similar to the standard Ag/AgCl reference electrode (~50mV/pH) for pH in the range of 1 to 3. On the other hand, the Au pseudoelectrode presented an approximately linear behavior in all studied range of the pH (1 to 10), but, with lower sensitivity varying in the range of 32 to 34mV/pH.

Este trabalho consiste no projeto de uma Fonte de Tensão de Referência CMOS com coeficiente de temperatura inferior a 50 ppm/ºC. Esta fonte deve ser aplicada em receptores/transmissores de radio freqüência mas pode também ser utilizada em qualquer sistema analógico. A tecnologia utilizada foi a CMOS 0,35 µm da AMS (Austria Micro Systems) com quatro níveis de metal e dois de silício policristalino. A fonte de tensão implementada é do tipo Bandgap e utiliza dispositivos MOS em inversão fraca, um transistor bipolar parasitário e resistores de silício policristalino de alta resistividade. No circuito é produzida uma tensão PTAT (Proportional to Absolute Temperature) que somada a tensão base-emissor do transistor bipolar resulta numa tensão de saída independente da temperatura. O projeto e o desenho do layout desta fonte foram realizados. A partir do layout foram gerados netlists para simulações realizadas utilizando o software ELDO com o modelo MOS BSIM3v3, nas condições de operação típicas, worst speed e worst power. Através destas simulações verificou-se que o circuito atendia as especificações iniciais. O valor da tensão de saída, no entanto, apesar de estar próximo do valor desejado de 1,25 V, variou com as condições de simulação empregadas. Dois circuitos Bandgap diferentes foram enviados para fabricação: um circuito com resistores integrados (dimensões de 220 µm x 76 µm) e outro sem os resistores (dimensões de 190 µm x 36 µm). Este último permite, com o ajuste do valor dos resistores colocados externamente, modificar, se necessário, as condições de operação do circuito. Os circuitos foram caracterizados obtendo-se para o circuito com resistores integrados um coeficiente de temperatura inferior à 40 ppm/ºC, taxa de variação da saída com a tensão de alimentação próxima de 19 mV/V. O valor da tensão de saída a 50 ºC esteve entre 1,1835 V e 1,2559 V (1,25 V ± 67 mV). Para o circuito sem os resistores integrados, obteve-se um coeficiente de temperatura que chegou à 90 ppm/ºC, taxa de variação da saída com a tensão de alimentação inferior à 28 mV/V. O valor da tensão de saída a 50 ºC esteve entre 1,247 V e 1,2588 V (1,25 V ± 9 mV). A faixa de temperatura utilizada para as medidas foi de -30 ºC a 100 ºC. O consumo de corrente dos circuitos é de aproximadamente 14 µA e seu funcionamento é garantido para tensões de alimentação tão baixas quanto 1,8 V. / This work consists in the design of a CMOS Voltage Reference Source with a temperature coefficient inferior to 50 ppm/ºC. This voltage source should be applied in radio frequency receptor/transmitter but can be also applied in any analog system. The technology employed in the design is the CMOS 0.35 µm from the AMS (Austria Micro Systems) with four metal levels and two poly-silicon levels. The implemented voltage source is of the Bandgap type and uses MOS devices in weak inversion, a parasitic bipolar transistor, and resistors made with high resistive poly-silicon. The circuit produces a PTAT (Proportional to Absolute Temperature) voltage that is added to the bipolar transistor base-emitter voltage to build an output voltage independent of temperature. The project and the drawing of the layout of the circuit had been carried out. The netlists of the circuit were generated from the layout and they were employed in simulations done with the software ELDO and the BSIM3v3 MOS model, in typical, worst speed, and worst power conditions. Through these simulations it was verified that the circuit reached the initial specifications. The value of the output voltage, however, although being next to the desired value of 1.25 V, varied with the employed simulation conditions. Two different Bandgap circuits had been sent to the foundry: a circuit with integrated resistors (dimensions of 220 µm x 76 µm) and another one without the resistors (dimensions of 190 µm x 36 µm). This last one allows, with the adjustment of external resistor values, modifying, if necessary, the operation conditions of the circuit. The circuits had been characterized and the circuit with integrated resistors has a temperature coefficient inferior to 40 ppm/ºC, an output variation rate with the power supply close to 19 mV/V. The output voltage value at 50 ºC is between 1.1835 V and 1.2559 V (1.25 V ± 67 mV). The circuit without the resistors has a temperature coefficient as high as 90 ppm/ºC, an output variation rate with the power supply inferior to 28 mV/V. The output voltage value at 50 ºC is between 1.247 V and 1.2588 V (1.25 V ± 9 mV). The temperature range used in the measurements was from -30 ºC to 100 ºC. The current consumption of the circuits is approximately of 14 µA, and they operate with power supply voltages as low as 1.8 V.

Neste trabalho foram crescidos filmes finos de oxinitreto de silício (SiOxNy) por processamento térmico rápido (RTP) utilizando um forno térmico convencional adaptado, objetivando fabricar células solares MOS com baixo custo agregado e bom rendimento de conversão de baixas intensidades luminosas em energia elétrica de forma reprodutível. A receita de oxinitretação otimizada foi desenvolvida em ambiente misto de 5N2:1O2 na temperatura de 850°C para tempos de processo, na faixa de 10 a 80s seguido por uma passivação em 2L/min de N2 por 80s. Os dielétricos crescidos foram caracterizados fisicamente quanto à espessura (entre 1,50 e 2,95nm), à microrugosidade (<0,95nmRMS) e à concentração de nitrogênio (1,0-2,1%atm). As características de tunelamento foram investigadas em capacitores MOS e apontaram para a existência de armadilhas interfaciais do tipo K capazes de armazenar cargas positivas. Nas células solares MOS, a corrente de fundo foi característica para todos os processos de oxinitretação empregados (~0,5-2µA/cm2) e apresentaram níveis de resposta à luz incidente na faixa de 1 a 8mA/cm2 compatível com aplicações de conversão de energia em ambientes internos e externos (energy harvesting). A característica densidade de corrente x tensão de porta (JxVG) das células solares apresentou um comportamento aproximadamente linear desde a densidade de corrente de curto-circuito (JSC) até a tensão de curto-circuito (VOC) implicando em potência gerada máximas (PGmáx) de até centenas de µA/cm2 para VG ? VOC/2 para uma ampla faixa de intensidade radiante incidente (11,8 - 105,7mW/cm2) alcançando rendimentos de conversão de até 5,5%. / In this work, silicon oxynitrides (SiOxNy) were grown by means of a homemade Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP). The goal was to manufacture MOS solar cells with a reduced price and reasonable light conversion efficiency for low light intensity. The optimized oxidation recipe consisted of using an environment with gas mixture of 5N2:1O2 at a temperature of 850°C and different processing times in the range of 10 to 80s followed by a passivation step in ultrapure N2 (2L/min) at the same temperature of 850oC for 80s. The oxynitrides were grown with thickness in the range of 1.50 to 2.95nm with surface microroughness lower than 0.95nmRMS and nitrogen concentration in the range of 1.0 to 2.1%atm. The tunneling characteristics were studied with the aid of MOS capacitor and K-type interfacial traps related to Si(p)/Si?N structure were detected positively charged for VG > 0. The background current in the MOS solar cells (~0.5-2µA/cm2) were similar for all samples and the current response to the incident light was in the range of 1 to 8mA/cm2, which is compatible with energy conversion for indoor and outdoor environments (energy harvesting). The current density x gate voltage (JxVG) characteristics of the MOS solar cells presented a nearly linear behavior since the short-circuit current density (JSC) till to the open circuit voltage (VOC) so that the maximum generated power was of hundreds of µA/cm2 for VG ? VOC/2 for a large range of radiant intensities (11.8 - 105.7 mW/cm2) and achieving efficiency conversion up to 5.5%.

The demand for efficient video coding techniques has increased in the recent past, resulting in the evolution of various video compression techniques. SVC (Scalable video coding) is the recent amendment of H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding), which adds a new dimension by providing the possibility of encoding a video stream into a combination of different sub streams that are scalable in areas corresponding to spatial resolution, temporal resolution and quality. Introduction of the scalability aspect is an effective video coding technique in a network scenario where the client can decode the sub stream depending on the available bandwidth in the network. A graceful degradation in the video quality is expected when any of the spatial, temporal or the quality layer is removed. Still the amount of degradation in video quality has to be measured in terms of Quality of Experience (QoE) from the user’s perspective. To measure the degradation in video quality, video streams consisting of different spatial and temporal layers have been extracted and efforts have been put to remove each layer starting from a higher dependency layer or the Enhancement layer and ending up with the lowest dependency layer or the Base layer. Extraction of a temporally downsampled layer had challenges with frame interpolation and to overcome this, temporal interpolation was employed. Similarly, a spatial downsampled layer has been upsampled in the spatial domain in order to compare with the original stream. Later, an objective video quality assessment has been made by comparing the extracted substream containing fewer layers that are downsampled both spatially and temporally with the original stream containing all layers. The Mean Opinion Scores (MOS) were obtained from objective tool named Perceptual Evaluation of Video Quality (PEVQ). The experiment is carried out for each layers and also for different test videos. Subjective tests were also performed to evaluate the user experience. The results provide recommendations to SVC capable router about the video quality available for each layer and hence the network transcoder can transmit a specific layer depending on the network conditions and capabilities of the decoding device. / Efterfrågan på effektiva video kodningstekniker har ökat under de senaste åren, vilket resulterar i utvecklingen av olika tekniker videokomprimering. SVC (Scalable Video Coding) är den senaste ändringen av H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding), vilket ger en ny dimension genom att möjligheten att koda en videoström till en kombination av olika sub strömmar som är skalbara i områden som motsvarar rumslig upplösning, tidsupplösning och kvalitet. Introduktion av skalbarhet aspekten är en effektiv video kodningsteknik i ett nätverk scenario där kunden kan avkoda sub strömmen beroende på den tillgängliga bandbredden i nätverket. En elegant nedbrytning i videokvaliteten förväntas när någon av den rumsliga, tidsmässiga eller kvaliteten skiktet avlägsnas. Fortfarande mängden nedbrytning i videokvalitet måste mätas i termer &quot;Quality of Experience&quot; (QoE) från användarens perspektiv. För att mäta försämring i video-kvalitet, har videoströmmar består av olika rumsliga och tidsmässiga skikt hämtats och ansträngningar har lagts för att ta bort varje lager från ett högre beroende lager eller förbättrande lagret och slutar upp med den lägsta beroendet lagret eller basen skikt. Extraktion av ett tidsmässigt nedsamplas lager hade problem med ram interpolation och för att övervinna detta, var temporal interpolering används. På liknande sätt har en rumslig nedsamplas skikt har uppsamplas i rumsdomänen för att jämföra med den ursprungliga strömmen. Senare har en objektiv videokvalitet bedömning gjorts genom att jämföra den extraherade underströmmen med färre lager som nedsamplade både rumsligt och tidsmässigt med den ursprungliga strömmen innehållande alla lager. De genomsnittliga yttrande poäng (MOS) erhölls från objektivt verktyg som heter Perceptuell utvärdering av Videokvalitet (PEVQ). Experimentet utförs för varje skikt och även för olika test video. Subjektiva tester utfördes också för att utvärdera användarupplevelsen. Resultaten ger rekommendationer till SVC kapabel router om videokvaliteten för varje lager och därmed nätverket kodomvandlaren kan överföra ett visst lager beroende på nätverksförhållanden och kapacitet avkodnings anordningen. / Tilak Varisetty, 518, Gamlainfartsvägen, Annebo, Karlskrona -37141, Mobil: 0723060131

In this thesis, the effect of buffer strategy on video quality has been investigated. For this purpose, a software system was developed to implement buffer strategy at sender and receiver sides. Four experiments were performed under this system and five scenarios were designed under each experiment. A subjective test of MOS was conducted for all the scenarios to collect people’s perception about three different videos. People from different background and of different age group were invited to take part in all the experiments. Three different videos were shown to each participant in order to investigate user perceived quality of video. MATLAB and MS Excel were used for data collection and plotting graphs. We conclude that people have convergence of opinions when communication break time increases than the size of buffers at both ends. Finally, the MOS ratings of this subjective test prove that by the use of same size buffers at both ends improves the user’s perceived quality of video at acceptable level. Because of empirical study, the main focus was on implementation strategy of buffers at both ends. The implementation strategy was the design of a number of scenarios in which the statistics of the behavior of sender and receiver buffers have been collected. / 0092 662 424477

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第14628号 / 工博第3096号 / 新制||工||1460(附属図書館) / 26980 / UT51-2009-D340 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科電子工学専攻 / (主査)教授 木本 恒暢, 教授 鈴木 実, 教授 藤田 静雄 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

This thesis studies the assessment of picture quality using the artificial neural network approach. In the first part, two main ways to evaluate the picture quality are described. It is the subjective assessment of picture quality, where a group of people watches the picture and evaluates its quality, and objective assessment which is based on mathematical relations. Calculation of structural similarity index (SSIM) is analyzed in detail. In the second part, the basis of neural networks is described. A neural network was created in Matlab, designed to simulate subjective assessment scores based on the SSIM index.

Tato disertační práce se zabývá navržením nízkonapěťových, nízkopříkonových analogových obvodů, které používají nekonvenční techniky CMOS. Lékařská zařízení na bateriové napájení, jako systémy pro dlouhodobý fyziologický monitoring, přenosné systémy, implantovatelné systémy a systémy vhodné na nošení, musí být male a lehké. Kromě toho je nutné, aby byly tyto systémy vybaveny baterií s dlouhou životností. Z tohoto důvodu převládají v biomedicínských aplikacích tohoto typu nízkopříkonové integrované obvody. Nekonvenční techniky jako např. využití transistorů s řízeným substrátem (Bulk-Driven “BD”), s plovoucím hradlem (Floating-Gate “FG”), s kvazi plovoucím hradlem (Quasi-Floating-Gate “QFG”), s řízeným substrátem s plovoucím hradlem (Bulk-Driven Floating-Gate “BD-FG”) a s řízeným substrátem s kvazi plovoucím hradlem (Bulk-Driven Quasi-Floating-Gate “BD-QFG”), se v nedávné době ukázaly jako efektivní prostředek ke zjednodušení obvodového zapojení a ke snížení velikosti napájecího napětí směrem k prahovému napětí u tranzistorů MOS (MOST). V práci jsou podrobně představeny nejdůležitější charakteristiky nekonvenčních technik CMOS. Tyto techniky byly použity pro vytvoření nízko napěťových a nízko výkonových CMOS struktur u některých aktivních prvků, např. Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) založené na BD, FG, QFG, a BD-QFG techniky; Tunable Transconductor založený na BD MOST; Current Conveyor Transconductance Amplifier (CCTA) založený na BD-QFG MOST; Z Copy-Current Controlled-Current Differencing Buffered Amplifier (ZC-CC-CDBA) založený na BD MOST; Winner Take All (WTA) and Loser Take All (LTA) založený na BD MOST; Fully Balanced Four-Terminal Floating Nullor (FBFTFN) založený na BD-QFG technice. Za účelem ověření funkčnosti výše zmíněných struktur, byly tyto struktury použity v několika aplikacích. Výkon navržených aktivních prvků a příkladech aplikací je ověřován prostřednictvím simulačních programů PSpice či Cadence za použití technologie 0.18 m CMOS.

This thesis work aims to explore the characteristics of a gas sensor with respect to input voltage and duty cycle. To complete this, a pilot study has been done to design a working prototype for production where the appropriate components have been selected. A printed circuit board has been produced and the components have been mounted. The result shows that the common uncharacteristic behavior of the sensor is a negative value or the possibility of no value instead of the typical value of 1.00. The maximum values to avoid these uncharacteristic sensor behaviors are 1% duty cycle of a 1 second period and an input voltage of 2.5 volt. The result is greatly affected by humidity.

Acoustic Physical Modeling has emerged as a newer musical synthesis technique. The most common form of physical modeling synthesis in both industry and academia is digital waveguide synthesis. Commercially available for the past thirteen years, the top synthesizer manufacturers have chosen to include physical modeling synthesis in their top of the line models. In the area of audio quality testing, the most common tests have traditionally been group listening tests. While these tests are subjective and can be expensive and time-consuming, the results are validated by the groups' proper quality standards. Research has been conducted to evaluate objective testing procedures in order to find alternative methods for testing audio quality. This research has resulted in various standards approved by the International Telecommunication Union. Tests have proven the reliability of these objective test methods in the areas of telephony as well as various codecs, including MP3. The objective of this research is to determine whether objective test measurements can be used reliably in the area of acoustic physical modeling synthesis, specifically digital waveguide synthesis. Both the Perceptual Audio Quality Measure (PAQM) and Noise-To-Mask Ratio (NMR) objective tests will be performed on the Karplus-Strong algorithm form of Digital Waveguide synthesis. A corresponding listening test based on the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) will also be conducted, and the results from the objective and subjective tests will be compared. The results will show that more research and work needs to be done in this area, as neither the PAQM nor NMR algorithms sufficiently matched the output of the subjective listening tests. Recommendations will be made for future work.