Patchworking Research Articles

A Wideband Non-Uniform Metasurface-Based Circularly Polarized Reconfigurable Antenna

This paper presents a low-profile circularly polarized (CP) antenna with wideband and polarization-reconfigurable characteristics. The proposed antenna consists of a truncated-corner patch working as a CP source and a non-uniform metasurface (MS) acting as parasitic elements for performance enhancement. The non-uniform MS is utilized to produce additional operating bands in the higher frequency range, which are then combined with the lower band produced by the driven patch to significantly broaden the overall operating bandwidth. The polarization switching mechanism is based on the ON/OFF states of two p-i-n diodes. The fabricated prototype shows the measured overlapped bandwidth between -10 dB impedance and 3-dB axial ratio is 25.6% and peak broadside gain is 7.3 dBic.

Programmable Multifunctional RF/Microwave Circuit for Antenna and Filter Operation

This paper describes a multifunctional microwave device that can be reconfigured to behave either as a filter or an antenna. The device is based around a single-resonant element, referred to as a building block element that is connected to four ports. The resonant element is a microstrip square patch working in the 2.45 GHz unlicensed Industrial Scientific and Medical band used for IEEE 802.11 WiFi. The proposed building block is simple in its design and construction. This paper also presents devices composed of three building blocks, which can realize more complex filtering and antenna mode performance. In addition, p-i-n diodes have also been incorporated into the devices in order to facilitate electronic control. Measured results, pertaining to fabricated prototypes, show that filter and antenna operation can be achieved in the same device at a frequency of around 2.45 GHz with acceptable insertion loss and efficiency. In the future, it is anticipated that this could lead to a new paradigm, namely, a device that is analogous to a field programmable gate array operating in the microwave frequency regime.

Analysis and Design of Dual-Band Microstrip Array Antenna for Automotive Radar

This work presents the design and analysis of the inset-feed single and array patch antennas using in the millimeter-wave band for automotive radar. In the mm-wave band, the ratio compared to the width of 50Ω line and patch antenna is 15.2%. Therefore the feed-point impedance needs to improve to 100Ω to reduce the ratio of the width. Also we have designed the dual-band patch antennas with the slots in the patch working in the mm-wave band. The designed patch array antennas are applied to in ARS (Automotive Radar System). Finally, the designed array antennas have the dual-band characteristics at the frequencies 24GHz and 77GHz. As a result, this paper presents the possibility of the ARS prototype by design and analysis of the patch array antennas with U-shaped slots for dual-band in the mm-wave band.

A3 Process: A Pragmatic Problem-Solving Technique for Process Improvement in Health Care

Short-term approaches or patch working are the predominant modes of solving process-related problems in organizations. As a result, problems recur at regular intervals and inhibit their smooth functioning. Organizational leaders have adopted various quality initiatives to produce sustainable change, but the existing literature suggests that many of them have met with limited success. The ‘A3 Process’, adapted from Toyota Motor Corporation, has been proposed as a pragmatic problem-solving technique for creating sustainable organizational change. Observing, drawing iconic sketches, discussing with other stakeholders, and experimenting has helped each stakeholder gain a deeper, contextualized understanding of the problem. These activities influenced knowledge validation and/or knowledge creation, both instrumental in transforming the stakeholder’s passive mindset to a collaborative and active mindset. This article presents one of the many applications of the A3 Process that produced enduring change in a health care environment.

A Framework for Lean System Implementation in Healthcare

Organizations are complex web of processes. When faced with process-related problems, it grapples to locate the source of the problem. Without proper identification of the source and its root causes, problem solving becomes a frivolous exercise. Problems keep recurring at regular intervals, and organizational members engage in patch working. Although extant literature is surfeited with articles on problem solving, yet many industry practitioners lack clear understanding on how to locate a problem and then resolve it. This article, which is a part of a major empirical research study conducted in a hospital, demonstrates the use of two well established tools: Value Stream Map (VSM) and A3

A Framework for Lean System Implementation in Healthcare

Organizations are complex web of processes. When faced with process-related problems, it grapples to locate the source of the problem. Without proper identification of the source and its root causes, problem solving becomes a frivolous exercise. Problems keep recurring at regular intervals, and organizational members engage in patch working. Although extant literature is surfeited with articles on problem solving, yet many industry practitioners lack clear understanding on how to locate a problem and then resolve it. This article, which is a part of a major empirical research study conducted in a hospital, demonstrates the use of two well established tools: Value Stream Map (VSM) and A3

By way of conclusion: some general implications of Patchworking

By way of conclusion: some general implications of Patchworking

The development of the patch testing procedure and working for consistency

Patch testing is a necessary tool to investigate contact dermatitis, which has developed alongside the increased knowledge of contact sensitivity in the past 100 years. The history of patch testing, the current state of the art with its problems, and future prospects are discussed.