Analog/RF Built-in-Self-Test Subsystem for a Mobile Broadcast Video Receiver in 65-nm CMOS

A built-in-self-test (BIST) subsystem embedded in a 65-nm mobile broadcast video receiver is described. The subsystem is designed to perform analog and RF measurements at multiple internal nodes of the receiver. It uses a distributed network of CMOS sensors and a low bandwidth, 12-bit A/D converter to perform the measurements with a serial bus interface enabling a digital transfer of measured data to automatic test equipment (ATE). A perturbation/correlation based BIST method is described, which makes pass/fail determination on parts, resulting in significant test time and cost reduction.

Extrinsic Analog Synthesis using Piecewise Linear Current-Mode Circuits

A methodology is presented for the synthesis of analog circuits using piecewise linear (PWL) approximations. The function to be synthesized is divided into PWL segments such that each segment can be realized using elementary MOS current-mode programmable-gain circuits. A number of these elementary current-mode circuits when connected in parallel, it is possible to realize piecewise linear approximation of any arbitrary analog function with in the allowed approximation error bounds. Simulation results show a close agreement between the desired function and the synthesized output. The number of PWL segments used for approximation and hence the circuit area is determined by the required accuracy and the smoothness of the resulting function.

A mostly-digital analog scan-out chain for low bandwidth voltage measurement for analog IP test

A method of precise measurement of on-chip analog voltages in a mostly-digital manner, with minimal overhead, is presented. A pair of clock signals is routed to the node of an analog voltage. This analog voltage controls the delay between this pair of clock signals, which is then measured in an all-digital manner using the technique of sub-sampling. This sub-sampling technique, having measurement time and accuracy trade-off, is well suited for low bandwidth signals. This concept is validated by designing delay cells, using current starved inverters in UMC 130nm CMOS process. Sub-mV accuracy is demonstrated for a measurement time of few seconds.

l-pGlu-(2-propyl)-l-His-l-ProNH2 attenuates 4-aminopyridine-induced epileptiform activity and sodium current: a possible action of new thyrotropin-releasing hormone analog for its anticonvulsant potential

L-PGlu-(2-proPyl)-L-His-L-ProNH(2) (NP-647) is a CNS active thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog with potential application in various CNS disorders including seizures. In the present study, mechanism of action for protective effect of NP-647 was explored by studying role of NP-647 on epileptiform activity and sodium channels by using patch-clamp methods. Epileptiform activity was induced in subicular pyramidal neurons of hippocampal slice of rat by perfusing 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) containing Mg(+2)-free normal artificial cerebrospinal fluid (nACSF). Increase in mean firing frequency was observed after perfusion of 4-AP and zero Mg(+2) (2.10+/-0.47 Hz) as compared with nACSF (0.12+/-0.08 Hz). A significant decrease in mean firing frequency (0.61+/-0.22 Hz), mean frequency of epileptiform events (0.03+/-0.02 Hz vs. 0.22+/-0.05 Hz of 4-AP+0 Mg), and average number of action potentials in paroxysmal depolarization shift-burst (2.54+/-1.21 Hz vs. 8.16+/-0.88 Hz of 4-AP +0 Mg) was observed. A significant reduction in peak dV/dt (246+/-19 mV ms(-1) vs. 297 18 mV ms-1 of 4-AP+0 Mg) and increase (1.332+/-0.018 ms vs. 1.292+/-0.019 ms of 4-AP+0 Mg) in time required to reach maximum depolarization were observed indicating role of sodium channels. Concentration-dependent depression of sodium current was observed after exposure to dorsal root ganglion neurons to NP-647. NP-647 at different concentrations (1, 3, and 10 mu M) depressed sodium current (15+/-0.5%, 50+/-2.6%, and 75+/-0.7%, respectively). However, NP-647 did not show change in the peak sodium current in CNa18 cells. Results of present study demonstrated potential of NP-647 in the inhibition of epileptiform activity by inhibiting sodium channels indirectly. (C) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Role of Tool Design in Influencing the Mechanism for the Formation of Friction Stir Welds in Aluminum Alloy 7020

Design of the required tool is a key and important parameter in the technique of friction stir welding (FSW). This is so because tool design does exert a close control over the quality of the weld. In an attempt to optimize tool design and its selection, it is essential and desirable to understand the mechanisms governing the formation of the weld. In this research study, few experiments were conducted to systematically analyze the intrinsic mechanisms governing the formation of the weld and to effectively utilize the analysis to establish a logical basis for design of the tool. For this purpose, the experiments were conducted using different geometries of the shoulder and pin of the rotating tool in such a way that only tool geometry had an intrinsic influence on formation of the weld. The results revealed that for a particular diameter of the pin there is an optimum diameter of the shoulder. Below this optimum shoulder diameter, the weld does not form while above the optimum diameter the overall symmetry of the weld is lost. Based on experimental results, a mechanism for the formation of friction stir weld is proposed. A synergism of the experimental results with the proposed mechanism is helpful in establishing the set of welding parameters for a given material.

Vehicle Detection Tool - VDtect

The report talks about the implementation of Vehicle Detection tool using opensource software - WxPython. The main functionality of this tool includes collection of data, plotting of magnetometer data and the count of the vehicles detected. The report list about how installation process and various functionality of the tool.

Device oriented statistical modeling method for process variability in 45nm analog CMOS technology

With the rapid scaling down of the semiconductor process technology, the process variation aware circuit design has become essential today. Several statistical models have been proposed to deal with the process variation. We propose an accurate BSIM model for handling variability in 45nm CMOS technology. The MOSFET is designed to meet the specification of low standby power technology of International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS).The process parameters variation of annealing temperature, oxide thickness, halo dose and title angle of halo implant are considered for the model development. One parameter variation at a time is considered for developing the model. The model validation is done by performance matching with device simulation results and reported error is less than 10%.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.