Tuning Speed Research Articles

Low-noise hybrid frequency synthesizers based on direct digital and direct analog synthesis

The research of the possibility of using hybrid frequency synthesizers based on direct digital and direct analog methods of frequency synthesis as heterodynes of modern spectrum analyzers constructed according to the superheterodyne scheme is presented. The main advantages of such synthesizers over traditionally used heterodyne schemes based on direct digital and indirect frequency synthesis methods are shown. The requirements for the heterodynes of the first mixing stages of spectrum analyzers are presented. A block diagram of a wideband heterodyne generating a frequency range from 4000 MHz to 8000 MHz with a step not exceeding 1 Hz is proposed. Formulas for calculating the main frequency ratios in the structure of the heterodyne have been developed. A mathematical model of phase noise power spectral density (PSD) depending on the offset frequency from the carrier is developed. The noise characteristics of the proposed scheme are studied using the model. It is determined that at the output frequency of the heterodyne equal to 4521,4 MHz, the level of phase noise PSD is: minus 90 dBc/Hz at the offset frequency equal to 100 Hz; minus 140 dBc/Hz at the offset frequency equal to 100 kHz. It is shown that the hybrid synthesizer based on direct digital and direct analog synthesis methods has an advantage in the level of phase noise from 5 to 30 dB over the low-noise heterodynes of modern spectrum analyzers at frequencies above 1 kHz from the carrier. Additional advantages of the proposed scheme are a simple architecture, low power consumption and high frequency tuning speed due to the absence of phaselocked loops in the structure of the heterodyne.

Hierarchical Microswarms with Leader–Follower‐Like Structures: Electrohydrodynamic Self‐Organization and Multimode Collective Photoresponses

AbstractSwarming micro/nanomotors can self‐organize into cohesive groups to execute cooperative tasks. To date, research work has focused on the construction of egalitarian microswarms composed of similar individuals. The construction and collective behaviors of hierarchical leader–follower‐like microswarms are demonstrated. By inducing converging electrohydrodynamic flows under an AC electric field, dielectric microparticles with different sizes and dielectric properties can hierarchically self‐organize into leader–follower‐like microswarms under attractive electrohydrodynamic interactions, and show novel emergent collective behaviors. First, different from immobile single constituents or egalitarian clusters, the hierarchical microswarms autonomously move with tunable speed. Second, they exhibit multimode collective photoresponses emerging from different behaviors of the constituents in response to light signals. With a vertical UV signal, the photoresponsive followers tend to surround the leader and stop the microswarm. In response to sidewise UV signals, the constituents with stronger phototaxis would migrate to the position away from light stimuli, and thus the microswarms reorient parallel/antiparallel to the light direction and perform collective positive/negative phototaxis. Due to differential roles and huge design spaces of constituents, the hierarchical microswarms are envisioned to possess merits of high‐efficiency, multiresponsiveness, and multifunctions, and may serve as intelligent micro/nanorobot systems for biomedicine and microengineering.

Using graphene to tune vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

A novel approach for enhancing the tuning speed of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL) is presented. The design is based on incorporating gated multiple graphene flakes in one of the DBR layers that is adjacent to the cavity to tune the resonance wavelength of the device. Different design structures have been studied. By applying a gate voltage on the graphene flakes, the effective refractive index of the cavity is changed which detunes the resonant wavelength of the cavity. The unique features of graphene ensure fast tuning speed. Our analysis on a 1.3 μm InAs quantum dot-based VCSELs predicts that inserting double graphene flakes separated by 20 nm SiO2 spacer in a λ/4 layer yields ~ 0.6 nm wavelength tuning range and ~ 6.3 GHz tuning speed. The threshold current variation within the tuning range is less than 43%. The wavelength tuning range can be increased to 1.2 nm by using 4 graphene flakes which reduces the tuning speed to ~ 1.9 GHz and increases the threshold current variation to 84%. In another design, we find that inserting 4 graphene flakes separated by 80 nm SiO2 spacer in a 3λ/4 layer yields ~ 0.8 nm tuning range and 14.5 GHz tuning speed. For fine wavelength tuning, the device is capable of providing > 39 GHz tuning speed.

Estimation Procedure Based on Less Filtering and Robust Tracking for a Self-Sensing Control of IPMSM

For the self-sensing control of interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSM), the rotor position and speed estimation based on high-frequency (HF) injection techniques generally employs two parts after the signal injection: signal processing/heterodyning process and tracking. This article proposes significant improvements for these two parts. First, the low-pass filters used in the classical heterodyning process of HF injection techniques are removed, which leads to the proposal of a novel heterodyning process in order to improve the estimation procedure in terms of delays, cost/complexity of implementation, and harmonics. Second, an independent machine parameters estimation based on step-by-step sliding mode observer using only the sign of the rotor position estimation error is developed. Thanks to this observer, the tuning of position, speed, and acceleration observer gains is achieved in a decoupled manner, which ensures states convergence separately in finite time. Third, the machine acceleration is estimated to improve the estimation procedure in transient modes. These contributions enhance significantly the estimation procedure in all operating ranges. A comparative study of the robustness/performance of the proposed strategy and classical tracking algorithms is carried out. Both simulations and experimental tests on an IPMSM rig are conducted in the framework of electric propulsion benchmark used in automotive applications, showing good agreement with the expected results.

Stick-slip suppression and speed tuning for a drill-string system via proportional-derivative control

This paper studies the problems of stick-slip mitigation and speed tuning for a lumped-parameter drill-string system by using a proportional-derivative feedback controller via path-following analysis. In this study, we consider two main control parameters, the weight-on-bit and the desired drill-bit speed. In particular, we determine the combinations of these two parameters for which the proposed control scheme is applicable, which is affected by the non-smooth nature of the system induced by bit-rock interaction. Our analysis using path-following techniques for non-smooth systems reveals the inherent coexistence of stick-slip vibration and constant rotation, and identifies a critical point where the drill-bit speed coincides with the desired angular speed. Furthermore, our analysis proposes a strategy that allows controlling the drill-bit speed to suppress stick-slip, by tuning the controller in a suitable manner.

Continuous Representations of Speed by Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons.

The striatum is critical for controlling motor output. However, it remains unclear how striatal output neurons encode and facilitate movement. A prominent theory suggests that striatal units encode movements in bursts of activity near specific events, such as the start or end of actions. These bursts are theorized to gate or permit specific motor actions, thereby encoding and facilitating complex sequences of actions. An alternative theory has suggested that striatal neurons encode continuous changes in sensory or motor information with graded changes in firing rate. Supporting this theory, many striatal neurons exhibit such graded changes without bursting near specific actions. Here, we evaluated these two theories in the same recordings of mice (both male and female). We recorded single-unit and multiunit activity from the dorsomedial striatum of mice as they spontaneously explored an arena. We observed both types of encoding, although continuous encoding was more prevalent than bursting near movement initiation or termination. The majority of recorded units did not exhibit positive linear relationships with speed but instead exhibited nonlinear relationships that peaked at a range of locomotor speeds. Bulk calcium recordings of identified direct and indirect pathway neurons revealed similar speed tuning profiles, indicating that the heterogeneity in response profiles was not due to this genetic distinction. We conclude that continuous encoding of speed is a central component of movement encoding in the striatum.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The striatum is a structure that is linked to volitional movements and is a primary site of pathology in movement disorders. It remains unclear how striatal neurons encode motor parameters and use them to facilitate movement. Here, we evaluated two models for this: a "discrete encoding model" in which striatal neurons facilitate movements with brief burst of activity near the start and end of movements, and a "continuous encoding model," in which striatal neurons encode the sensory or motor state of the animal with continuous changes in firing. We found evidence primarily in support of the continuous encoding model. This may have implications for understanding the striatal control of movement, as well as informing therapeutic approaches for treating movement disorders.

Generation of wide continuous tunable octupling frequency microwave signal based on modulator cascade without phase shifter and optical filter

Photonic generation of frequency octupling microwave signal is proposed and demonstrated, which is based on a cascading polarization modulator and a dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator. The method avoids using phase shifter and optical filter, which is suitable for generating a frequency octupling microwave signal with a wideband tuning range and fast tuning speed. In the experiment, a photonic generation frequency octupling microwave signal with 20 GHz is generated. The optical sideband suppression ratio, electrical sideband suppression ratio (ESSR), and phase noise of the photonic generation octupling microwave signal are measured. In addition, the tunability of the proposed scheme is investigated.

METHOD OF SIGNAL PARAMETERS ESTIMATION OF RADIOSTATIONS WITH FAST FREQUENCY HOPPING SPREAD SPECTRUM

Modern special-purpose radios utilize ultra-short burst mode with frequency hopping spread spectrum. Such digital radios operate, as a rule, in the fast frequency hopping spread spectrum mode and use a considerable number of frequency channels with frequency separation between adjacent channels, which is significantly less than the spectrum width of the frequency element. The main modulation in such radios is frequency manipulation. The identification of signals with fast frequency hopping spread spectrum and frequency manipulation is performed by estimating the speed of frequency tuning, the speed of information transmission, the number of frequency channels and the step of the frequency grid and comparing the obtained values with the corresponding characteristics of known radio stations with fast frequency hopping spread spectrum. The time limits and the duration of the frequency elements are calculated by the envelope of the received signal. For this purpose, a suitable method has been developed, which consists in filtering the envelope by means of a moving average window for suppression of the noise component and threshold processing. The threshold value is selected by the given probability of its exceeding by noise sample. The proposed approach to determining the time limits of frequency elements does not require any a priori signal information. To determine the frequencies of the frequency elements periodogram estimates are used. An exponential extrapolation of the discrete power spectrum was used to increase the frequency resolution at a fixed window length of the fast Fourier transform. It is shown that in order to uniquely determine the step of the frequency grid and the diversity of frequency manipulation frequencies, it is necessary to analyze the number of frequency elements not less than the number of frequency channels. By analyzing the histogram of the differences of sorted frequency vector of the frequency elements, determine the frequency grid, frequency diversity and the multiplicity of frequency manipulation. An approximate estimate of the number of frequency channels is calculated as the ratio of the magnitude of the frequency vector of the frequency elements to the step of the frequency grid. As a rule, symbol transmission at frequency manipulation is carried out at orthogonal frequencies, so it can be roughly assumed that the symbolic speed is equal to the frequency diversity of the frequency manipulation. The baud rate can be set only after signal demodulation and bit stream analysis, which can determine the frame structure and the number of service and information bits. The proposed method provides the estimation of the values of the parameters necessary for the identification of radio stations of signal parameters with a relative error not exceeding 0.3%, with values of signal to noise ratio not lower than 5 dB.

Dual-wavelength narrowband all-fiber acousto-optic tunable bandpass filter based on dispersion-compensating fiber

A dual-wavelength narrowband all-fiber acousto-optic tunable bandpass filter was proposed and fabricated based on vector mode coupling induced by the acoustic flexural wave in dispersion-compensating fiber with a ring core. In the experiment, the resonant dual wavelengths could be electrically tuned with a range of 1526 nm to 1565 nm and the 3 dB bandwidth was less than 1 nm, which coincides with the calculation results. The structure shows the advantages of fast tuning speed, easy fabrication, and zero frequency shift, which can be applied in fast-tunable dual-wavelength lasers, WDM networks, and microwave and terahertz-wave generation.

High-$Q$ -Factor Tunable Bandpass Filter With Constant Absolute Bandwidth and Wide Tuning Range Based on Coaxial Resonators

This paper presents a method for designing low-loss varactor-based tunable bandpass filters (BPFs) with constant absolute bandwidth (CABW) and wide tuning range based on coaxial resonators. The whole structure consists of a metallic cavity and a piece of printed circuit board (PCB). Varactors and their biasing components are mounted on the PCB, which are connected to the coaxial resonators to enable frequency tuning. The coupling control between coaxial resonators and the nonsynchronous tuning of the resonators are utilized to realize the CABW over a wide tuning range. Moreover, transmission zeros are generated near the passband, resulting in high skirt selectivity. For demonstration, a second-order tunable coaxial BPF with a wide tuning range from 698 to 960 MHz (31.5%) is designed and fabricated. Due to the use of high- $Q$ -factor coaxial resonators, the proposed tunable filter realizes low insertion losses ranging from 0.82 to 2.03 dB under a narrowband specification. The 1-dB bandwidth is measured as 35.3 ± 2.7 MHz, showing excellent CABW responses. Moreover, a third-order tunable coaxial BPF is also designed and implemented with enhanced skirt selectivity and out-of-band rejection. Comparison with other reported tunable BPFs is given, where the proposed designs show excellent performance of wide tuning range, CABW, high selectivity, and high tuning speed.

Hyperspectral infrared laser polarimetry for single-shot phase-amplitude imaging of thin films.

We recently presented a novel laser-based infrared (IR) spectroscopic phase-amplitude polarimeter for sub-decisecond and sub-mm2 measurements of organic thin films [Opt. Lett.44, 4387 (2019)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.44.004387]. Here we report on the hyperspectral-imaging capabilities of this device. The single-shot polarimeter employs a broadly tunable mid-IR (1318-1765 cm-1) quantum cascade laser (QCL) and a four-channel beam-division design for simultaneous phase and amplitude measurements. Fast QCL tuning speeds of up to 1500 cm-1/s enable hyperspectral mapping of large sample areas (50×50 mm2) within several tens of minutes, achieving 120 μm spatial and <0.5 cm-1 spectral resolution. We apply the instrument for imaging both the heterogeneous chemical and structural properties of sub-100 nm thin polymer and fatty-acid films. Our polarimeter opens up new applications regarding laterally resolved IR analyses of complex thin films.

Thermal-optical readout of multi-level thermal emissivity Ge2Sb2Te5 patterns

Abstract Ge2Sb2Te5 thin film (100 nm) can be patterned with multi-level crystalline and thermal emissivity states using laser in large scale. Various patterns can be fabricated by tuning laser power and speed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared analysis results show that Ge2Sb2Te5 thin film has different thermal emissivity at different crystalline states. In-situ repeated heating of the Ge2Sb2Te5 thin film confirms the tendency between crystalline and thermal emissivity. Both the infrared image and thermal emissivity can be readout by infrared camera. The colorful infrared image enables easily identification of Ge2Sb2Te5 crystallite change.

How are response properties in the middle temporal area related to inference on visual motion patterns?

Neurons in the primate middle temporal area (MT) respond to moving stimuli, with strong tuning for motion speed and direction. These responses have been characterized in detail, but the functional significance of these details (e.g. shapes and widths of speed tuning curves) is unclear, because they cannot be selectively manipulated. To estimate their functional significance, we used a detailed model of MT population responses as input to convolutional networks that performed sophisticated motion processing tasks (visual odometry and gesture recognition). We manipulated the distributions of speed and direction tuning widths, and studied the effects on task performance. We also studied performance with random linear mixtures of the responses, and with responses that had the same representational dissimilarity as the model populations, but were otherwise randomized. The width of speed and direction tuning both affected task performance, despite the networks having been optimized individually for each tuning variation, but the specific effects were different in each task. Random linear mixing improved performance of the odometry task, but not the gesture recognition task. Randomizing the responses while maintaining representational dissimilarity resulted in poor odometry performance. In summary, despite full optimization of the deep networks in each case, each manipulation of the representation affected performance of sophisticated visual tasks. Representation properties such as tuning width and representational similarity have been studied extensively from other perspectives, but this work provides new insight into their possible roles in sophisticated visual inference.

A Human Microrobot Interface Based on Acoustic Manipulation.

Micro/nanorobotic systems capable of targeted transporting and releasing hold considerable promise for drug delivery, cellular surgery, biosensing, nano assembling, etc. However, on-demand precise control of the micro/nanorobot movement remains a major challenge. In particular, a practical interface to realize instant and customized interactions between human and micro/nanorobots, which is quite essential for developing next generation intelligent micro/nanorobots, has seldom been explored. Here, we present a human-microrobot user interface to perform direct and agile recognition of user commands and signal conversion for driving the microrobot. The microrobot platform is built based on locally enhanced acoustic streaming which could precisely transport microparticles and cells along a given pathway, while the interface is enabled by tuning the actuation frequency and time with different instructions and inputs. Our numerical simulations and experimental demonstrations illustrate that microparticles can be readily transported along the path by the acoustic robotic system, due to the vibration-induced locally enhanced acoustic streaming and resultant propulsion force. The acoustic robotic platform allows large-scale parallel transportation for microparticles and cells along given paths. The human microrobot interface enables the micromanipulator to response promptly to the users' commands input by typing or music playing for accurate transport. For example, the music tone of a playing melody is used for manipulating a cancer cell to a targeted position. The interface offers several attractive capabilities, including tunable speed and orientation, quick response, considerable delivery capacities, high precision and favorable controllability. We expect that such interface will work as a compelling and versatile platform for myriad potential scenarios in transportation units of microrobots, single cell analysis instruments, lab-on-chip systems, microfactories, etc.

Recent Advances in MEMS Metasurfaces and Their Applications on Tunable Lens.

The electromagnetic (EM) properties of metasurfaces depend on both structural design and material properties. microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology offers an approach for tuning metasurface EM properties by structural reconfiguration. In the past 10 years, vast applications have been demonstrated based on MEMS metasurfaces, which proved to have merits including, large tunability, fast speed, small size, light weight, capability of dense integration, and compatibility of cost-effective fabrication process. Here, recent advances in MEMS metasurface applications are reviewed and categorized based on the tuning mechanisms, operation band and tuning speed. As an example, the pros and cons of MEMS metasurfaces for tunable lens applications are discussed and compared with traditional tunable lens technologies followed by the summary and outlook.

Confined 1D Propulsion of Metallodielectric Janus Micromotors on Microelectrodes under Alternating Current Electric Fields.

There is mounting interest in synthetic microswimmers ("micromotors") as microrobots as well as a model system for the study of active matters, and spatial navigation is critical for their success. Current navigational technologies mostly rely on magnetic steering or guiding with physical boundaries, yet limitations with these strategies are plenty. Inspired by an earlier work with magnetic domains on a garnet film as predefined tracks, we present an interdigitated microelectrodes (IDE) system where, upon the application of AC electric fields, metallodielectric (e.g., SiO2-Ti) Janus particles are hydrodynamically confined and electrokinetically propelled in one dimension along the electrode center lines with tunable speeds. In addition, comoving micromotors moved in single files, while those moving in opposite directions primarily reoriented and moved past each other. At high particle densities, turbulence-like aggregates formed as many-body interactions became complicated. Furthermore, a micromotor made U-turns when approaching an electrode closure, while it gradually slowed down at the electrode opening and was collected in large piles. Labyrinth patterns made of serpentine chains of Janus particles emerged by modifying the electrode configuration. Most of these observations can be qualitatively understood by a combination of electroosmotic flows pointing inward to the electrodes, and asymmetric electrical polarization of the Janus particles under an AC electric field. Emerging from these observations is a strategy that not only powers and confines micromotors on prefabricated tracks in a contactless, on-demand manner, but is also capable of concentrating active particles at predefined locations. These features could prove useful for designing tunable tracks that steer synthetic microrobots, as well as to enable the study of single file diffusion, active turbulence, and other collective behaviors of active matters.

Photonics for Ultrawideband RF Spectral Analysis in Electronic Warfare Applications

Electronic warfare receivers must satisfy particularly demanding requirements, and current electronic solutions must find a tradeoff between the request for high performance (in particular, very wide bandwidth, very high sensitivity, and very linear response) and the need for light and small systems. Photonics has been often proposed as a potential enabler of performance improvements, thanks to its wide tunability and precision, and recently the advancements of the photonic integration technologies are also promising strong reductions of size and weight. In this paper, we present an overview of the photonics-based solutions proposed so far in the field of electronic warfare. In particular, we focus on the specific implementation of a spectrum scanner we have recently proposed. Besides the performance in terms of bandwidth, linearity, and sensitivity, which are on par with the state-of-the-art electronic commercial systems, here, we report on our last advancements in terms of tuning speed. Further improvements are also discussed, in terms of both tuning speed and integrability.

An Intelligent Versatile Model-Based Trajectory-Optimized Active Gate Driver for Silicon Carbide Devices

Using silicon carbide (SiC) power devices can potentially improve the efficiency of a power electronic system, but it may also introduce severe electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems due to the fast switching speed. The conventional gate driver cannot provide the flexibility to adjust the switching speed of SiC dynamically. To address this issue, an intelligent versatile active gate driver (AGD) is proposed to achieve optimized switching trajectory for power devices. The proposed AGD has five operation modes, i.e., faster/normal/slower the turn-on process and slower/normal turn-off process. The availability of multiple operation modes offers extra freedom to improve the switching performance and enable it to be versatile across various systems. The proposed AGD can provide more switching speed adjustment resolution than the other AGDs allowing for fine tuning of the switching speed of SiC power devices. In addition, a novel modelbased trajectory optimization strategy is proposed to determine the optimal gate driver output voltage by trading the EMI noise against the switching energy losses. The functionalities of the multi-level AGD are validated with the experimental results. The hardware design consideration is also given for the product commercialization purpose.

Dynamics of single- and multicontact external cavity semiconductor lasers under intracavity frequency sweeping: effects of material and laser parameters

We present numerical analysis of the dynamic behavior of a single- and multicontact Fabry–Perot semiconductor laser frequency-swept by means of an ultrafast intracavity filter. The interrelated roles of the tuning speed, the filter bandwidth, the cavity length, and the self-phase modulation in laser dynamics are analyzed. Regular and irregular mode hopping, as well as fundamental and second harmonic sliding frequency mode locking and chaotic laser operation are identified as important dynamic regimes. The relation between the tuning dynamics asymmetry and the self-phase modulation in the laser is studied. The operation of a multicontact laser with an intracavity saturable absorber in a combined sliding-frequency and passive mode locking regime is shown; the dynamic asymmetry in the laser behavior is shown to be reduced but not eliminated by the presence of the absorber.Graphical abstract

Classifier performance during dynamic fine grinding in fluidized bed opposed jet mills

Dry grinding of particles to sizes below 10 µm can be realized in fluidized bed opposed jet mills. In these mills the energy for comminution is supplied by pressurized gas, which is introduced through focused nozzles. The gas transports the material towards an internal classifier, which separates the fines from the coarse material. The fines are discharged whereas the coarse material is recycled. Within this study special attention is paid to separation at the classifying wheel. Limestone batch grinding experiments were performed in a fluidized bed opposed jet mill equipped with on-line and in-line probes: The particle size distributions (PSDs) of the product flow and the solid concentration below the classifier were determined on-line. The flow field around the classifier was recorded by a high-speed camera and off-line measurements of the mill inventory and its PSD were performed. Our measurements reveal that the solid transport from the milling zone to the classifier and the classifier performance strongly depend on solid concentration. Increasing the solid feed concentration or the classifier wheel speed leads to unwanted accumulation of product-sized particles inside the mill. In particular, we find high solid loadings of up to 1.05 g⋅g−1 and strong cluster formation (local zones of high solid concentration) in the vicinity of the classifier blades. Estimated separation efficiency curves of the classifier show a strong “fish-hook effect” which increases with the solid concentration. Our findings are relevant for future process optimization by careful tuning of grinding performance, holdup and classifier speed.