In this episode, we define the components of a single binary signal as its value changes over time. This will provide us with a starting point for the terminology we will be using throughout the rest of the series.

This episode continues the work of the previous episode by examining the methods used to convert between decimal and binary and vice versa. We also take a look at the effects of shifting the bits of a binary number both left and right and how those operations can be used to simulate multiplication and division. Oh, and since we will be discussing a lot of different numbers, it couldn’t hurt to have a piece of paper and a pencil close by.

Binary can be challenging. The values tend to have a lot of digits, long sequences of ones or zeros can be difficult to distinguish, and the relative magnitudes of multiple binary values can be difficult to resolve. In this episode, we discuss a couple of the popular methods to quickly represent binary in a more human readable form.

Ask a computer to store a decimal whole number in binary and it will do it without any fuss. A decimal fraction, however, that’s another thing. In this episode, we will present a method called Packed BCD that is used to accurately represent decimal values in binary by storing each digit in its own nibble.

Computers don’t cope well with infinite, but that’s pretty much what the real world is about, limitless accuracy with as near to limitless boundaries as can be imagined. So how do we fit infinite inside the computer? That’s what this episode is about: converting analog measurements to binary with suitable accuracy. And we will do all of this with an eye to using these techniques later in our applications.

Up to this point, we’ve limited our discussion to binary integers. In this episode, we are moving the curtain to reveal the powers of two to the right of the binary point in order to begin representing fractions.

What does it take to switch on a device? In some cases, like getting a soda from a vending machine, a number of conditions must be just right. That’s where binary decoders come in.

Feature detection, description and matching are crucial steps in many computer vision algorithms. These rely on feature descriptors to be able to match image features across sets of images. This paper discusses a hardware implementation and various optimizations of our lab's previous work on the SYnthetic BAsis feature descriptor (SYBA). Previous work has shown that SYBA can offer superior performance to other binary descriptors, such as BRIEF. This hardware implementation on an FPGA is a high throughput and low latency solution, which is critical for applications such as: high speed object detection and tracking, stereo vision, visual odometry, structure from motion, and optical flow. Finally, we compare our solution to other hardware methods. We believe that our implementation of SYBA as a feature descriptor in hardware offers superior image feature matching performance and uses less resources than most binary feature descriptor implementations.

<p> Phase equilibrium relations were determined in the system NaAlSiO8-NaAlSiO4-H2O on a P-T projection in the P-T range 0.5-10Kb and 150°-900°C, and on three isobaric (2Kb, 5.15Kb and 7. 32Kb) T-X projections. The T-X stability field of analcite determined in this study has a relatively large distorted pentagonal shape. The petrogenetic problem of analcite is fully discussed. On the composition join NaAlSiO4-H2O, the phase relation is not binary for the transition: nepheline hydrate I = nepheline + H2O; there exists a narrow three-phase zone for the transition. The true P-T curve was determined in terms of a ternary univariant reaction: nepheline hydrate I+ analcite = nepheline + H2O. Another univariant reaction (zeolite species P. = analcite + nepheline hydrate I+ H2O) was found at 2Kb/215°C and 5.15Kb/235°C and determined on a P-T projection. In the system NaAlSi3O8-SiO2-H2O, albite contains a maximum of about 5 Wt.% silica in solid solution at 5.15Kb/670°C.</p> <p> The equilibrium compositions of various univariant phases were determined essentially by phase boundary-location on several isobaric T-X projections. Three singular points were determined: two of them are approximately located at 0.8Kb/390°C and 9.4Kb/475°C on a univariant curve (N-h I+ Anl =Ne+ H2O). The other one is approximately located at 6Kb/655°C on the (Ab) univariant curve.</p> </p> A simple method for determining H2O-solubility in melts was developed and applied to the study of the system NaAlSi3O8-NaAlSiO4-H2O. Using this method, solubility data are simply obtained as by-products of the experimental runs made for the investigation of the phase equilibria. The amount of water required to make an H2O-saturated melt (from the total amount of water in the original charge) is taken as the dissolved water in the melt; the solubility value is corrected by determining the amount of moisture originally absorbed in the starting powder. The method is generally applicable to the determination of H2O-content in any hydrous phase. The H2O-solubility in a melt is not too sensitive to a variation in anhydrous composition of the melt (~ 6±1 Wt.% H2O at 2Kb and ~11±1 Wt.% H2O at ~5Kb in the range of compositions Ab100Ne0-An40Ne60). H2O-solubility in the (Anl) and (Ne) univariant melts was determined up to l0Kb (H2O contents: 4.7 Wt.%/1.1Kb and 850°C, 6.2 Wt. %/2Kb and 804°C, 10.8 Wt. %/5.2Kb and 672°C, l2.2 Wt.% /6.6Kb and 655°C, 13.2 Wt. %/7.3Kb and 652°C and 14(?) Wt.% /10Kb and 632°C ). The origin of water bubbles in quenched hydrous glasses is essentially attributed to the exsolution of the dissolved water in melts upon quenching.</p> <p> The sequence of P-T curves around a quaternary invariant point (~5Kb and ~635°C) in the system NaAlSiO4-KAlSiO4-SiO2-H2O was theoretically discussed. The most probable four P-T diagram types are proposed, one of which is expected to be the real one.</p> <p> Phase relations in the system NaAlSi3O3-NaAlSiO4-H2O are theoretically discussed up to ~15Kb. The discussion is largely based on the equilibrium compositions of invariant phases approximately estimated from data presented in Parts 1 and 2. Six invariant points are examined. Two of them, I5 and I6, have been predicted to occur; I5 is inferred to be located at ~13Kb/~500°C where five phases Jd, N-h I, Anl, Ne and V coexist, and I6 to be located at ~0.5Kb/-375°C where Ab, Ne, Anl, N-h I and V coexist. The phase relations around the other four are partly modified. The maximum P-T stability field of analcite is deduced. The stability field of solidus analcite is extremely large whereas that of liquidus analcite is very much limited. The maximum stability field of liquidus analcite is a small triangular area defined by three invariant points I1 (5.15Kb/657°C), I2 (11Kb/650°C) and I4 (12.5Kb/575°C).</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p> A self-synchronized echo ranging system with optimum utilization of signal estimation and detection strategies has been designed and simulated. A binary convolution code has been utilized to modulate the transmitter signal. The random medium is modelled by a vector sum of a fixed and a random component; the medium fading process has a Rician distribution density. A channel estimator has been derived using a maximum a posteriori probability criterion. The estimator is an adaptive processor whereby the variance of the medium fading process is recomputed during each updating cycle. The estimator attempts to provide a coherent input to the correlator. An optimum processor for the signalling described is an ordered serial estimator-correlator combination. It is conjectured that the estimator offers an improvement in signal processing gain of approximately 5 dB over and above the non-optimized system. Accompanying this is an improvement in peak-to -sidelobe ratio and in false alarm probability. A 3 bit (8 level) quantized system is conjectured to be a 'good' trade-off between degradation in system performance and simplification in system implementation.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)