Automatic layout generation of static CMOS circuits targeting delay and power

The evolution of integrated circuits technologies demands the development of new CAD tools. The traditional development of digital circuits at physical level is based in library of cells. These libraries of cells offer certain predictability of the electrical behavior of the design due to the previous characterization of the cells. Besides, different versions of each cell are required in such a way that delay and power consumption characteristics are taken into account, increasing the number of cells in a library. The automatic full custom layout generation is an alternative each time more important to cell based generation approaches. This strategy implements transistors and connections according patterns defined by algorithms. So, it is possible to implement any logic function avoiding the limitations of the library of cells. Tools of analysis and estimate must offer the predictability in automatic full custom layouts. These tools must be able to work with layout estimates and to generate information related to delay, power consumption and area occupation. This work includes the research of new methods of physical synthesis and the implementation of an automatic layout generation in which the cells are generated at the moment of the layout synthesis. The research investigates different strategies of elements disposition (transistors, contacts and connections) in a layout and their effects in the area occupation and circuit delay. The presented layout strategy applies delay optimization by the integration with a gate sizing technique. This is performed in such a way the folding method allows individual discrete sizing to transistors. The main characteristics of the proposed strategy are: power supply lines between rows, over the layout routing (channel routing is not used), circuit routing performed before layout generation and layout generation targeting delay reduction by the application of the sizing technique. The possibility to implement any logic function, without restrictions imposed by a library of cells, allows the circuit synthesis with optimization in the number of the transistors. This reduction in the number of transistors decreases the delay and power consumption, mainly the static power consumption in submicrometer circuits. Comparisons between the proposed strategy and other well-known methods are presented in such a way the proposed method is validated.

Mathematical analysis of maximum power generated by photovoltaic systems and fitting curves for standard test conditions

The rural electrification is characterized by geographical dispersion of the population, low consumption, high investment by consumers and high cost. Moreover, solar radiation constitutes an inexhaustible source of energy and in its conversion into electricity photovoltaic panels are used. In this study, equations were adjusted to field conditions presented by the manufacturer for current and power of small photovoltaic systems. The mathematical analysis was performed on the photovoltaic rural system I- 100 from ISOFOTON, with power 300 Wp, located at the Experimental Farm Lageado of FCA/UNESP. For the development of such equations, the circuitry of photovoltaic cells has been studied to apply iterative numerical methods for the determination of electrical parameters and possible errors in the appropriate equations in the literature to reality. Therefore, a simulation of a photovoltaic panel was proposed through mathematical equations that were adjusted according to the data of local radiation. The results have presented equations that provide real answers to the user and may assist in the design of these systems, once calculated that the maximum power limit ensures a supply of energy generated. This real sizing helps establishing the possible applications of solar energy to the rural producer and informing the real possibilities of generating electricity from the sun.

Sizing PZT Transducers in Impedance-Based Structural Health Monitoring

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An approach using Lagrangian/surrogate relaxation for lot-sizing with transportation costs

Neste trabalho estuda-se um problema de dimensionamento de lotes e distribuição que envolve além de custos de estoques, produção e preparação, custos de transportes para o armazém da empresa. Os custos logísticos estão associados aos contêineres necessários para empacotar os produtos produzidos. A empresa negocia um contrato de longo prazo onde um custo fixo por período é associado ao transporte dos itens, em contrapartida um limite de contêineres é disponibilizado com custo mais baixo que o custo padrão. Caso ocorra um aumento ocasional de demanda, novos contêineres podem ser utilizados, no entanto, seu custo é mais elevado. Um modelo matemático foi proposto na literatura e resolvido utilizando uma heurística Lagrangiana. No presente trabalho a resolução do problema por uma heurística Lagrangiana/surrogate é avaliada. Além disso, é considerada uma extensão do modelo da literatura adicionando restrições de capacidade e permitindo atraso no atendimento a demanda. Testes computacionais mostraram que a heurística Lagrangiana/surrogate é competitiva especialmente quando se têm restrições de capacidade apertada.

Um modelo de otimização inteira mista e heurísticas relax and fix para a programação da produção de fábricas de refrigerantes de pequeno porte

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Relax and fix heuristics to solve one-stage one-machine lot-scheduling models for small-scale soft drink plants

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Harmonic, reactive and unbalance compensation by means of CPT framework

This paper presents possible selective current compensation strategies based on the Conservative Power Theory (CPT). This recently proposed theory, introduces the concept of complex power conservation under non-sinusoidal conditions. Moreover, the related current decompositions results in several current terms, which are associated with a specific physical phenomena (power absorption P, energy storage Q, voltage and current distortion D). Such current components are used in this work for the definition of different current compensators, which can be selective in terms of minimizing particular disturbing effects. The choice of one or other current component for compensation directly affects the sizing and cost of active and/or passive devices and it will be demonstrated that it can be done to attend predefined limits for harmonic distortion, unbalances and/or power factor. Single and three-phase compensation strategies will be discussed by means of the CPT Framework. Simulation and experimental results will be demonstrated in order to validate their performance. © 2009 IEEE.

A hybrid multi-population genetic algorithm applied to solve the multi-level capacitated lot sizing problem with backlogging

The present paper proposes a new hybrid multi-population genetic algorithm (HMPGA) as an approach to solve the multi-level capacitated lot sizing problem with backlogging. This method combines a multi-population based metaheuristic using fix-and-optimize heuristic and mathematical programming techniques. A total of four test sets from the MULTILSB (Multi-Item Lot-Sizing with Backlogging) library are solved and the results are compared with those reached by two other methods recently published. The results have shown that HMPGA had a better performance for most of the test sets solved, specially when longer computing time is given. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Genetic algorithm, MIP and improvement heuristic applied to the MLCLP with backlogging

The present paper solves the multi-level capacitated lot sizing problem with backlogging (MLCLSPB) combining a genetic algorithm with the solution of mixed-integer programming models and the improvement heuristic fix and optimize. This approach is evaluated over sets of benchmark instances and compared to methods from literature. Computational results indicate competitive results applying the proposed method when compared with other literature approaches. © 2013 IEEE.

Economic analysis for sizing of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) mechanized harvesting

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of age condition on the distribution and integrity of inorganic fillers in dental resin composites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Hybrid methods for lot sizing on parallel machines

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Integrated pulp and paper mill planning and scheduling

This article describes a real-world production planning and scheduling problem occurring at an integrated pulp and paper mill (P&P) which manufactures paper for cardboard out of produced pulp. During the cooking of wood chips in the digester, two by-products are produced: the pulp itself (virgin fibers) and the waste stream known as black liquor. The former is then mixed with recycled fibers and processed in a paper machine. Here, due to significant sequence-dependent setups in paper type changeovers, sizing and sequencing of lots have to be made simultaneously in order to efficiently use capacity. The latter is converted into electrical energy using a set of evaporators, recovery boilers and counter-pressure turbines. The planning challenge is then to synchronize the material flow as it moves through the pulp and paper mills, and energy plant, maximizing customer demand (as backlogging is allowed), and minimizing operation costs. Due to the intensive capital feature of P&P, the output of the digester must be maximized. As the production bottleneck is not fixed, to tackle this problem we propose a new model that integrates the critical production units associated to the pulp and paper mills, and energy plant for the first time. Simple stochastic mixed integer programming based local search heuristics are developed to obtain good feasible solutions for the problem. The benefits of integrating the three stages are discussed. The proposed approaches are tested on real-world data. Our work may help P&P companies to increase their competitiveness and reactiveness in dealing with demand pattern oscillations. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF MAXIMUM POWER GENERATED BY PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS AND FITTING CURVES FOR STANDARD TEST CONDITIONS

The rural electrification is characterized by geographical dispersion of the population, low consumption, high investment by consumers and high cost. Moreover, solar radiation constitutes an inexhaustible source of energy and in its conversion into electricity photovoltaic panels are used. In this study, equations were adjusted to field conditions presented by the manufacturer for current and power of small photovoltaic systems. The mathematical analysis was performed on the photovoltaic rural system I- 100 from ISOFOTON, with power 300 Wp, located at the Experimental Farm Lageado of FCA/UNESP. For the development of such equations, the circuitry of photovoltaic cells has been studied to apply iterative numerical methods for the determination of electrical parameters and possible errors in the appropriate equations in the literature to reality. Therefore, a simulation of a photovoltaic panel was proposed through mathematical equations that were adjusted according to the data of local radiation. The results have presented equations that provide real answers to the user and may assist in the design of these systems, once calculated that the maximum power limit ensures a supply of energy generated. This real sizing helps establishing the possible applications of solar energy to the rural producer and informing the real possibilities of generating electricity from the sun.

Cationic nanoparticles for delivery of amphotericin B: preparation, characterization and activity in vitro

Abstract Background Particulate systems are well known to be able to deliver drugs with high efficiency and fewer adverse side effects, possibly by endocytosis of the drug carriers. On the other hand, cationic compounds and assemblies exhibit a general antimicrobial action. In this work, cationic nanoparticles built from drug, cationic lipid and polyelectrolytes are shown to be excellent and active carriers of amphotericin B against C. albicans. Results Assemblies of amphotericin B and cationic lipid at extreme drug to lipid molar ratios were wrapped by polyelectrolytes forming cationic nanoparticles of high colloid stability and fungicidal activity against Candida albicans. Experimental strategy involved dynamic light scattering for particle sizing, zeta-potential analysis, colloid stability, determination of AmB aggregation state by optical spectra and determination of activity against Candida albicans in vitro from cfu countings. Conclusion Novel and effective cationic particles delivered amphotericin B to C. albicans in vitro with optimal efficiency seldom achieved from drug, cationic lipid or cationic polyelectrolyte in separate. The multiple assembly of antibiotic, cationic lipid and cationic polyelctrolyte, consecutively nanostructured in each particle produced a strategical and effective attack against the fungus cells.