Today, there is a general consensus that, in the near future, wide area networks
(WAN)(such as, a nation wide backbone network) will be based on Wavelength
Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical networks. One of the main advantages of a WDM
WAN over other optical technologies, such as, Time Division Multiplexed (TDM)
optical networks, is that it allows us to exploit the enormous bandwidth of an optical
fiber (up to 50 terabits bits per second) with requiring electronic devices, which operate
at extremely high speeds.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Boiler Instrumentation and Controls
Instrumentation and controls in a boiler plant encompass an
enormous range of equipment from simple industrial plant to the complex
in the large utility station.
The boiler control system is the means by which the balance of
energy & mass into and out of the boiler are achieved. Inputs are fuel,
combustion air, atomizing air or steam &feed water. Of these, fuel is the
major energy input. Combustion air is the major mass input, outputs are
steam, flue gas, blowdown, radiation & soot blowing.
enormous range of equipment from simple industrial plant to the complex
in the large utility station.
The boiler control system is the means by which the balance of
energy & mass into and out of the boiler are achieved. Inputs are fuel,
combustion air, atomizing air or steam &feed water. Of these, fuel is the
major energy input. Combustion air is the major mass input, outputs are
steam, flue gas, blowdown, radiation & soot blowing.
LED Wireless
Billions of visible LEDs are produced each year, and
the emergence of high brightness AlGaAs and AlInGaP devices
has given rise to many new markets. The surprising growth of
activity in, relatively old, LED technology has been spurred by
the introduction of AlInGaP devices. Recently developed
AlGaInN materials have led to the improvements in the
performance of bluish-green LEDs, which have luminous
efficacy peaks much higher than those for incandescent lamps.
This advancement has led to the production of large-area fullcolor
outdoors LED displays with diverse industrial
applications.
The novel idea of this article is to modulate light
waves from visible LEDs for communication purposes. This
concurrent use of visible LEDs for simultaneous signaling and
communication, called iLight, leads to many new and interesting
applications and is based on the idea of fast switching of LEDs
and the modulation visible-light waves for free-space
communications. The feasibility of such approach has been
examined and hardware has been implemented with
experimental results. The implementation of an optical link has
been carried out using an LED traffic-signal head as atransmitter. The LED traffic light can be used for either audio
or data transmission.
Audio messages can be sent using the LED
transmitter, and the receiver located at a distance around 20 m
away can play back the messages with the speaker. Another
prototype that resembles a circular speed-limit sign with a 2-ft
diameter was built. The audio signal can be received in open air
over a distance of 59.3 m or 194.5 ft. For data transmission,
digital data can be sent using the same LED transmitter, and the
experiments were setup to send a speed limit or location ID
information.
The work reported in this article differs from the use
of infrared (IR) radiation as a medium for short-range wireless
communications. Currently, IR links and local-area networks
available. IR transceivers for use as IR data links are widely
available in the markets. Some systems are comprised of IR
transmitters that convey speech messages to small receivers
carried by persons with severe visual impairments. The Talking
Signs system is one such IR remote signage system developed at
the Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Research
center. It can provide a repeating, directionally selective voice
message that originates at a sign. However, there has been very
little work on the use of visible light as a communication
medium.
the emergence of high brightness AlGaAs and AlInGaP devices
has given rise to many new markets. The surprising growth of
activity in, relatively old, LED technology has been spurred by
the introduction of AlInGaP devices. Recently developed
AlGaInN materials have led to the improvements in the
performance of bluish-green LEDs, which have luminous
efficacy peaks much higher than those for incandescent lamps.
This advancement has led to the production of large-area fullcolor
outdoors LED displays with diverse industrial
applications.
The novel idea of this article is to modulate light
waves from visible LEDs for communication purposes. This
concurrent use of visible LEDs for simultaneous signaling and
communication, called iLight, leads to many new and interesting
applications and is based on the idea of fast switching of LEDs
and the modulation visible-light waves for free-space
communications. The feasibility of such approach has been
examined and hardware has been implemented with
experimental results. The implementation of an optical link has
been carried out using an LED traffic-signal head as atransmitter. The LED traffic light can be used for either audio
or data transmission.
Audio messages can be sent using the LED
transmitter, and the receiver located at a distance around 20 m
away can play back the messages with the speaker. Another
prototype that resembles a circular speed-limit sign with a 2-ft
diameter was built. The audio signal can be received in open air
over a distance of 59.3 m or 194.5 ft. For data transmission,
digital data can be sent using the same LED transmitter, and the
experiments were setup to send a speed limit or location ID
information.
The work reported in this article differs from the use
of infrared (IR) radiation as a medium for short-range wireless
communications. Currently, IR links and local-area networks
available. IR transceivers for use as IR data links are widely
available in the markets. Some systems are comprised of IR
transmitters that convey speech messages to small receivers
carried by persons with severe visual impairments. The Talking
Signs system is one such IR remote signage system developed at
the Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Research
center. It can provide a repeating, directionally selective voice
message that originates at a sign. However, there has been very
little work on the use of visible light as a communication
medium.
Intel Nehalem
Nehalem (pronounced /nəˈheɪləm/[1]) is the codename for an Intel processor microarchitecture,[2] successor to the Core microarchitecture. The first processor released with the Nehalem architecture is the desktop Core i7,[3] which was released on November 15, 2008 in Tokyo and November 17, 2008 in the USA.[4]
Initial Nehalem processors use the same 45 nm manufacturing methods as Penryn. A working system with two Nehalem processors was shown at Intel Developer Forum Fall 2007,[5] and a large number of Nehalem systems were shown at Computex in June 2008.
The microarchitecture is named after the Nehalem Native American nation in Oregon.[citation needed] The code name itself had been seen on the end of several roadmaps starting in 2000. At that stage it was supposed to be the latest evolution of the NetBurst microarchitecture. Since the abandonment of NetBurst, the codename has been recycled and refers to a completely different project, although Nehalem still has some things in common with NetBurst. Nehalem-based microprocessors utilize higher clock speeds and are more energy-efficient than Penryn microprocessors. Hyper-Threading is reintroduced along with an L3 Cache missing from most Core-based microprocessors.
The first computer to use Nehalem-based Xeon processors was the Apple Mac Pro workstation announced on March 3, 2009.[6] Nehalem-based Xeon EX processors for larger servers are expected in Q4 2009.[7] Mobile Nehalem-based processors are planned to follow in late 2009 or early 2010.
Technology
Various sources have stated the specifications of processors in the Nehalem family:
• Two, four, six, or eight cores
o 731 million transistors for the quad core variant
• 45 nm manufacturing process
• Integrated memory controller supporting two or three memory channels of DDR3 SDRAM or four FB-DIMM channels
• Integrated graphics processor (IGP) located off-die, but in the same CPU package[8]
• A new point-to-point processor interconnect, the Intel QuickPath Interconnect, in high-end models, replacing the legacy front side bus
• Integration of PCI Express and Direct Media Interface into the processor in mid-range models, replacing the northbridge
• Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) by multiple cores which enables two threads per core. Intel calls this hyper-threading. Simultaneous multithreading has not been present on a consumer desktop Intel processor since 2006 with the Pentium 4 and Pentium XE. Intel reintroduced SMT with their Atom Architecture.
• Native (monolithic, i.e. all processor cores on a single die) quad- and octa-core processors[9]
• The following caches:
o 32 KB L1 instruction and 32 KB L1 data cache per core
o 256 KB L2 cache per core
o 4–8 MB L3 cache shared by all cores
• 33% more in-flight micro-ops than Conroe[10]
• Second-level branch predictor and second-level translation lookaside buffer[10]
• Modular blocks of components such as cores that can be added and subtracted for varying market segments
Initial Nehalem processors use the same 45 nm manufacturing methods as Penryn. A working system with two Nehalem processors was shown at Intel Developer Forum Fall 2007,[5] and a large number of Nehalem systems were shown at Computex in June 2008.
The microarchitecture is named after the Nehalem Native American nation in Oregon.[citation needed] The code name itself had been seen on the end of several roadmaps starting in 2000. At that stage it was supposed to be the latest evolution of the NetBurst microarchitecture. Since the abandonment of NetBurst, the codename has been recycled and refers to a completely different project, although Nehalem still has some things in common with NetBurst. Nehalem-based microprocessors utilize higher clock speeds and are more energy-efficient than Penryn microprocessors. Hyper-Threading is reintroduced along with an L3 Cache missing from most Core-based microprocessors.
The first computer to use Nehalem-based Xeon processors was the Apple Mac Pro workstation announced on March 3, 2009.[6] Nehalem-based Xeon EX processors for larger servers are expected in Q4 2009.[7] Mobile Nehalem-based processors are planned to follow in late 2009 or early 2010.
Technology
Various sources have stated the specifications of processors in the Nehalem family:
• Two, four, six, or eight cores
o 731 million transistors for the quad core variant
• 45 nm manufacturing process
• Integrated memory controller supporting two or three memory channels of DDR3 SDRAM or four FB-DIMM channels
• Integrated graphics processor (IGP) located off-die, but in the same CPU package[8]
• A new point-to-point processor interconnect, the Intel QuickPath Interconnect, in high-end models, replacing the legacy front side bus
• Integration of PCI Express and Direct Media Interface into the processor in mid-range models, replacing the northbridge
• Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) by multiple cores which enables two threads per core. Intel calls this hyper-threading. Simultaneous multithreading has not been present on a consumer desktop Intel processor since 2006 with the Pentium 4 and Pentium XE. Intel reintroduced SMT with their Atom Architecture.
• Native (monolithic, i.e. all processor cores on a single die) quad- and octa-core processors[9]
• The following caches:
o 32 KB L1 instruction and 32 KB L1 data cache per core
o 256 KB L2 cache per core
o 4–8 MB L3 cache shared by all cores
• 33% more in-flight micro-ops than Conroe[10]
• Second-level branch predictor and second-level translation lookaside buffer[10]
• Modular blocks of components such as cores that can be added and subtracted for varying market segments
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Graphene-Based Reversible Nano-Switch
This device can extend applications of nanoelectronics to embedded bio-medical devices and explosive-detection devices.
This proof-of-concept device consists of a thin film of graphene deposited on an electrodized doped silicon wafer. The graphene film acts as a conductive path between a gold electrode deposited on top of a silicon dioxide layer and the reversible side of the silicon wafer, so as to form a Schottky diode. By virtue of the two-dimensional nature of graphene, this device has extreme sensitivity to different gaseous species, thereby serving as a building block for a volatile species sensor, with the attribute of having reversibility properties. That is, the sensor cycles between active and passive sensing states in response to the presence or absence of the gaseous species.
This proof-of-concept device consists of a thin film of graphene deposited on an electrodized doped silicon wafer. The graphene film acts as a conductive path between a gold electrode deposited on top of a silicon dioxide layer and the reversible side of the silicon wafer, so as to form a Schottky diode. By virtue of the two-dimensional nature of graphene, this device has extreme sensitivity to different gaseous species, thereby serving as a building block for a volatile species sensor, with the attribute of having reversibility properties. That is, the sensor cycles between active and passive sensing states in response to the presence or absence of the gaseous species.
HTAM
The amazing growth of the Internet and telecommunications is powered
by ever-faster systems demanding increasingly higher levels of processor
performance. To keep up with this demand we cannot rely entirely on
traditional approaches to processor design. Microarchitecture techniques used
to achieve past processor performance improvement–superpipelining, branch
prediction, super-scalar execution, out-of-order execution, caches–have made
microprocessors increasingly more complex, have more transistors, and
consume more power. In fact, transistor counts and power are increasing at
rates greater than processor performance. Processor architects are therefore
looking for ways to improve performance at a greater rate than transistor
counts and power dissipation. Intel’s Hyper-Threading Technology is one
solution.
by ever-faster systems demanding increasingly higher levels of processor
performance. To keep up with this demand we cannot rely entirely on
traditional approaches to processor design. Microarchitecture techniques used
to achieve past processor performance improvement–superpipelining, branch
prediction, super-scalar execution, out-of-order execution, caches–have made
microprocessors increasingly more complex, have more transistors, and
consume more power. In fact, transistor counts and power are increasing at
rates greater than processor performance. Processor architects are therefore
looking for ways to improve performance at a greater rate than transistor
counts and power dissipation. Intel’s Hyper-Threading Technology is one
solution.
FRAM
Before the 1950’s, ferromagnetic cores were the only type of
random-access, nonvolatile memories available. A core memory is a regular
array of tiny magnetic cores that can be magnetized in one of two opposite
directions, making it possible to store binary data in the form of a magnetic
field. The success of the core memory was due to a simple architecture that
resulted in a relatively dense array of cells. This approach was emulated in the
semiconductor memories of today (DRAM’s, EEPROM’s, and FRAM’s).
Ferromagnetic cores, however, were too bulky and expensive compared to the
smaller, low-power semiconductor memories. In place of ferromagnetic cores
ferroelectric memories are a good substitute. The term “ferroelectric’ indicates
the similarity, despite the lack of iron in the materials themselves.
Ferroelectric memory exhibit short programming time, low power
consumption and nonvolatile memory, making highly suitable for application
like contact less smart card, digital cameras which demanding many memory
write operations. In other word FRAM has the feature of both RAM and ROM.
A ferroelectric memory technology consists of a complementry metal-oxidesemiconductor
(CMOS) technology with added layers on top for ferroelectric
capacitors. A ferroelectric memory cell has at least one ferroelectric capacitor
to store the binary data, and one or two transistors that provide access to the
capacitor or amplify its content for a read operation.
A ferroelectric capacitor is different from a regular capacitor in that it
substitutes the dielectric with a ferroelectric material (lead zirconate titanate
(PZT) is a common material used)-when an electric field is applied and the
charges displace from their original position spontaneous polarization occurs
and displacement becomes evident in the crystal structure of the material.
random-access, nonvolatile memories available. A core memory is a regular
array of tiny magnetic cores that can be magnetized in one of two opposite
directions, making it possible to store binary data in the form of a magnetic
field. The success of the core memory was due to a simple architecture that
resulted in a relatively dense array of cells. This approach was emulated in the
semiconductor memories of today (DRAM’s, EEPROM’s, and FRAM’s).
Ferromagnetic cores, however, were too bulky and expensive compared to the
smaller, low-power semiconductor memories. In place of ferromagnetic cores
ferroelectric memories are a good substitute. The term “ferroelectric’ indicates
the similarity, despite the lack of iron in the materials themselves.
Ferroelectric memory exhibit short programming time, low power
consumption and nonvolatile memory, making highly suitable for application
like contact less smart card, digital cameras which demanding many memory
write operations. In other word FRAM has the feature of both RAM and ROM.
A ferroelectric memory technology consists of a complementry metal-oxidesemiconductor
(CMOS) technology with added layers on top for ferroelectric
capacitors. A ferroelectric memory cell has at least one ferroelectric capacitor
to store the binary data, and one or two transistors that provide access to the
capacitor or amplify its content for a read operation.
A ferroelectric capacitor is different from a regular capacitor in that it
substitutes the dielectric with a ferroelectric material (lead zirconate titanate
(PZT) is a common material used)-when an electric field is applied and the
charges displace from their original position spontaneous polarization occurs
and displacement becomes evident in the crystal structure of the material.
Spin Valve Transistor
In a world of ubiquitous presence of electrons can you imagine any other
field displacing it? It may seem peculiar, even absurd, but with the advent of
spintronics it is turning into reality.
In our conventional electronic devices we use semi conducting materials
for logical operation and magnetic materials for storage, but spintronics uses
magnetic materials for both purposes. These spintronic devices are more versatile
and faster than the present one. One such device is spin valve transistor.
Spin valve transistor is different from conventional transistor. In this for
conduction we use spin polarization of electrons. Only electrons with correct spin
polarization can travel successfully through the device. These transistors are used
in data storage, signal processing, automation and robotics with less power
consumption and results in less heat. This also finds its application in Quantum
computing, in which we use Qubits instead of bits
field displacing it? It may seem peculiar, even absurd, but with the advent of
spintronics it is turning into reality.
In our conventional electronic devices we use semi conducting materials
for logical operation and magnetic materials for storage, but spintronics uses
magnetic materials for both purposes. These spintronic devices are more versatile
and faster than the present one. One such device is spin valve transistor.
Spin valve transistor is different from conventional transistor. In this for
conduction we use spin polarization of electrons. Only electrons with correct spin
polarization can travel successfully through the device. These transistors are used
in data storage, signal processing, automation and robotics with less power
consumption and results in less heat. This also finds its application in Quantum
computing, in which we use Qubits instead of bits
WISENET
WISENET is a wireless sensor network that monitors the
environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity. This
network is comprised of nodes called “motes” that form an ad-hoc network
to transmit this data to a computer that function as a server. The server stores
the data in a database where it can later be retrieved and analyzed via a webbased
interface. The network works successfully with an implementation of
one sensor mote.
The technological drive for smaller devices using less power with greater
functionality has created new potential applications in the sensor and data acquisition
sectors. Low-power microcontrollers with RF transceivers and various digital and analog
sensors allow a wireless, battery-operated network of sensor modules (“motes”) to
acquire a wide range of data. The TinyOS is a real-time operating system to address the
priorities of such a sensor network using low power, hard real-time constraints, and
robust communications.
The first goal of WISENET is to create a new hardware platform to
take advantage of newer microcontrollers with greater functionality and more features.
This involves selecting the hardware, designing the motes, and porting TinyOS. Once the
platform is completed and TinyOS was ported to it, the next stage is to use this platform
to create a small-scale system of wireless networked sensors.
environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity. This
network is comprised of nodes called “motes” that form an ad-hoc network
to transmit this data to a computer that function as a server. The server stores
the data in a database where it can later be retrieved and analyzed via a webbased
interface. The network works successfully with an implementation of
one sensor mote.
The technological drive for smaller devices using less power with greater
functionality has created new potential applications in the sensor and data acquisition
sectors. Low-power microcontrollers with RF transceivers and various digital and analog
sensors allow a wireless, battery-operated network of sensor modules (“motes”) to
acquire a wide range of data. The TinyOS is a real-time operating system to address the
priorities of such a sensor network using low power, hard real-time constraints, and
robust communications.
The first goal of WISENET is to create a new hardware platform to
take advantage of newer microcontrollers with greater functionality and more features.
This involves selecting the hardware, designing the motes, and porting TinyOS. Once the
platform is completed and TinyOS was ported to it, the next stage is to use this platform
to create a small-scale system of wireless networked sensors.
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