Substantial Reduction In Area Research Articles

Energy-Efficient Approximate Multiplier with Flexible Precision

Abstract: The method that can be utilized to increase accuracy and decrease energy use is approximate multiplication. A key component of many error-tolerant applications is multiplication. Approximate multipliers are increasingly utilized in energyefficient computing for applications tolerant of inaccuracy. Apart from multiplier performance, determining the appropriate approximate multiplier is challenging due to considerations of area and delay. Therefore, selecting the type of approximate full adder (FA) becomes a crucial decision-making factor. These adders are employed for summing partial products in multipliers. This study presents the design and evaluation of an approximate multiplier employing four distinct approximate adders. The design undergoes simulation and synthesis using Xilinx and Model Sim. Compared to previously proposed approximate multipliers, the proposed circuits demonstrate substantial reductions in area, time delay, and power consumption. According to experimental data, the area, latency, and average power consumption of the suggested adjustable approximate multiplier can be lowered by 10%, 34.96 ns, and 300 mW when contrasted to the Wallace tree multiplier.

ASIC Design and Implementation of Automated Coffee and Tea Brewing System with FPGA Validation

Abstract: This paper presents a pioneering approach to enhance the efficiency of automated coffee and tea brewing systems through the integration of an ASIC-GDSII and FPGA validation. Leveraging the power of 45nm CMOS Technology, the design achieves substantial reductions in area, power consumption, and delay. The Verilog HDL code undergoes meticulous verification using Cadence tools like Genus and Innovus, ensuring optimal design performance. Innovus validates timing constraints, ensuring adherence to acceptable delay parameters. The resulting compact design not only minimizes power consumption but also effectively addresses leakage issues. These comprehensive optimizations meet stringent performance, area, and power requirements, elevating the operational efficiency of automated brewing systems. Furthermore, the control algorithm is synthesized and implemented using Xilinx's ISE Design Suite, followed by validation on SPARTAN 6 FPGA, providing invaluable insights for future synthesis and implementation endeavors.

AlxCoCrFeNi (0.5 < x < 3) high-entropy alloys: from cost-effective synthesis to strengthening via thermomechanical processing

ABSTRACT In this study, the cost-effective synthesis, shaping and strengthening through hot and cold rolling of AlxCoCrFeNi (0.5 < x < 3) high-entropy alloys was investigated using an integrated processing method for the first time in the literature that involved non-centrifugal self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) followed by suction-casting. Compositions of the master alloys were well-controlled by virtue of thermochemical simulations (CALPHAD) and were acceptable for secondary processes. The FCC-based Al0.5CoCrFeNi alloy exhibited the highest hot deformability (36%) at 1000°C among the all alloys resulting in a 109% increase in hardness, with respect to its as-cast state. It was possible to obtain Al0.5CoCrFeNi plates with improved hardness (42%) compared to the SHS master alloy, with substantial area reduction (131%) through the cold-rolling route. Despite the calculated phase diagram suggesting no sigma formation around 1000°C, the hardness increase in the hot rolling process caused by the synergistic precipitation of BCC-B2 and σ phases via hot deformation. It was concluded that the FCC-based Al0.5CoCrFeNi alloy can be successfully manufactured from oxides to final or semi-final products for applications requiring various thicknesses and improved mechanical properties through static or dynamic precipitation hardening by the selection of cold and hot rolling routes, respectively.

A Novel ASIC Design Flow Using Weight-Tunable Binary Neurons as Standard Cells

In this paper, we describe a design of a mixed signal circuit for a binary neuron (a.k.a perceptron, threshold logic gate) and a methodology for automatically embedding such cells in ASICs. The binary neuron, referred to as an FTL (flash threshold logic) uses floating gate or flash transistors whose threshold voltages serve as a proxy for the weights of the neuron. Algorithms for mapping the weights to the flash transistor threshold voltages are presented. The threshold voltages are determined to maximize both the robustness of the cell and its speed. The performance, power, and area of a single FTL cell are shown to be significantly smaller (79.4%), consume less power (61.6%), and operate faster (40.3%) compared to conventional CMOS logic equivalents. Also included are the architecture and the algorithms to program the flash devices of an FTL. The FTL cells are implemented as standard cells, and are designed to allow commercial synthesis and P&R tools to automatically use them in synthesis of ASICs. Substantial reductions in area and power without sacrificing performance are demonstrated on several ASIC benchmarks by the automatic embedding of FTL cells. The paper also demonstrates how FTL cells can be used for fixing timing errors after fabrication.

Optimization of Die Design to Abolish Surface Defect on Telescopic Front Fork (TFF) Tube

Background: The telescopic fork is mainly used for suspension purposes in different devices to absorb the vibration and disturbances which come from the road or mechanical devices. Factors such as die angle, drawing velocity, lubrication, and area reduction per pass significantly affect the drawing loads and residual stresses formed in the drawn tube during the tube drawing process. Objective: An instantaneous transverse crack was found on the pipe's outer surface during the drawing process in the current work, and the key challenges were to reduce the percentage of pipe rejection. Methods: In this work, optimum drawing die designs were proposed by using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The FEM solving tool is called Abaqus, and it has been used for simulating and solving the cold-rolling process. The FEM model of cold drawing process is generated in Abaqus with the same boundary condition (Axial load and constrain) as used on the actual wire drawing machine. Result: With current die geometry, there was a substantial reduction in area, axial stress (Tensile) along the die side is 672 MPa, which is 23 % lower than the current die axial stress value 877 MPa. There was 48 % plastic strain found along the purposed die side, which was 17 % lower than the existing strain of 64%. Finally, the area was reduced by changing the die geometry from the current level of ~52% to 35 to 40 %. Conclusion: By reducing the area (35 to 40 %) in the output tube, and strain (17 %), it was possible to abolish the transverse crack on the pipe's outer surface. As part of the optimisation of the FEM work process, this work gives us encouraging results. Further research will be considered for future work.

Carry-Propagation-Adder-Factored Gemmini Systolic Array for Machine Learning Acceleration

Systolic arrays are the primary part of modern deep learning accelerators and are being used widely in real-life applications such as self-driving cars. This paper presents a novel factored systolic array, where the carry propagation adder for accumulation and the rounding logic are extracted out from each processing element, which reduces the area, power and delay of the processing elements substantially. The factoring is performed in the column-wise manner and the cost of the factored logic, placed at each column output, is amortized by the processing elements in a column. We demonstrate the proposed factoring in an open source systolic array, Gemmini. The factoring technique does not change the functionality of the base design and is transparent to applications. We show that the proposed technique leads to substantial reduction in area and delay up to 45.3% and 23.7%, respectively, compared to the Gemmini baseline.

Active Only Realization of Image Reject Complex Filter

A new complex-filter which offers substantial area reduction is presented. According to this topology, the real-active only integrator is used for implementing the first order image reject filter. We have also discussed the design of a new area effective second order complex filter using lossy integrator building blocks. Using SPECTRE simulation tool, we have also justified the feasibility of the proposed circuit.

Genetic diversity and population genetic structure in three threatened Ocotea species (Lauraceae) from Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest and implications for their conservation

The Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil is currently comprised of small fragments due to the history of conversion and degradation in the last five centuries. The rainforest trees, Ocotea catharinensis, O. odorifera and O. porosa have been heavily harvested because of the high economic value of their timber and essential oils. Their respective habitats have undergone substantial reduction in area due to continuing anthropogenic pressures. As a consequence, these species have suffered large declines in population size and are now considered to be potentially vulnerable to extinction. This study investigated the patterns and levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding of these species using eight microsatellite markers in order to define priority populations for conservation management actions focusing on population enhancement and ex situ germplasm collections. High genetic diversity was found for each of the species with moderate genetic differentiation among populations. Most populations displayed significant inbreeding and isolation by distance. The results provide important information to choose priority populations for both in situ and ex situ conservation measures.

Scalable don't-care-based logic optimization and resynthesis

We describe an optimization method for combinational and sequential logic networks, with emphasis on scalability. The proposed resynthesis (a) is capable of substantial logic restructuring, (b) is customizable to solve a variety of optimization tasks, and (c) has reasonable runtime on industrial designs. The approach uses don't-cares computed for a window surrounding a node and can take into account external don't-cares (e.g., unreachable states). It uses a SAT solver for all aspects of Boolean manipulation: computing don't-cares for a node in the window, and deriving a new Boolean function of the node after resubstitution. Experimental results on 6-input LUT networks after a high effort synthesis show substantial reductions in area and delay. When applied to 20 large academic benchmarks, the LUT counts and logic levels are reduced by 45.0% and 12.2%, respectively. The longest runtime for synthesis and mapping is about two minutes. When applied to a set of 14 industrial benchmarks ranging up to 83K 6-LUTs, the LUT counts and logic levels are reduced by 11.8% and 16.5%, respectively. The longest runtime is about 30 minutes.

Fluid Flow Structure in Arterial Bypass Anastomosis

The fluid flow through a stenosed artery and its bypass graft in an anastomosis can substantially influence the outcome of bypass surgery. To help improve our understanding of this and related issues, the steady Navier-Stokes flows are computed in an idealized arterial bypass system with partially occluded host artery. Both the residual flow issued from the stenosis--which is potentially important at an earlier stage after grafting--and the complex flow structure induced by the bypass graft are investigated. Seven geometric models, including symmetric and asymmetric stenoses in the host artery, and two major aspects of the bypass system, namely, the effects of area reduction and stenosis asymmetry, are considered. By analyzing the flow characteristics in these configurations, it is found that (1) substantial area reduction leads to flow recirculation in both upstream and downstream of the stenosis and in the host artery near the toe, while diminishes the recirculation zone in the bypass graft near the bifurcation junction, (2) the asymmetry and position of the stenosis can affect the location and size of these recirculation zones, and (3) the curvature of the bypass graft can modify the fluid flow structure in the entire bypass system.

The bird community of riverine forest in Somalia

BIOGEOGRAPHIA — vol. XIV - 1988 {Pubblicato il 31 dicembre 1990) The Biogeography of Somalia The bird community of riverine forest in Somalia BRIAN WOOD Ecology and Comervm.‘z&#39;0Iz U/zit, Depmtmem‘ of Biology, Um&#39;71e7&#39;rz&#39;ty College London, Gower Street, London W/CIE 6BT, UK. SUMMARY The area of riverine forest in the Jubba valley has been reduced by over 90% since 1960. Only two sizeable blocks now remain and these were studied by the Somalia Research Project in 1986. As part of these studies, over 500 birds were mist-netted in the forest understorey. A group of 47 bird species is considered to be dependent on riverine forest and all of these have very restricted ranges in Somalia. As yet, the substantial reduction in area of riverine forest does not seem to have caused a comparable reduction in bird species. The remoteness of the Jubba valley from Quaternary forest refugia appears to have exerted a more important control on its number of bird species. Competitive interactions between the species which make up this community are considered, as thay may also restrict the number of species that occur. There are several examples of guilds of species which seem to coexist through size separation. If the remaining forest was protected, most of the typical bird species would probably survive. How- ever, the threats from further clearance and from insecticidal sprays are considerable. There are also economic benefits to be gained by protecting riverine forest, since it is a source of medicinal plants, construction materials and honey from wild bees. Forest helps to reduce erosion and flooding of agricul- tural land. It is to be hoped that the Somali government will take this opportunity to demonstrate a committment to nature conservation by introducing effective protection measures as soon possible. INTRODUCTION Little riverine forest now remains in Somalia. At one time it clothed the banks of both the major rivers for most of their length (Pichi—Sermolli 1957), but only tiny fragments now exist along the Shabeelle. For the Jubba valley it has been possible to quantify the recent rate of loss of riverine forest by comparing aerial photographs taken on three different dates (Deshmukh 1987). From 1960 to 1987 a reduction from 9350 ha to 900 ha was recorded. Most of what remains is fragmented and there are now sizeable areas of riverine forest only in the Middle Jubba between Fanoole and Bu’aale. Even in this stretch, over 850 ha was cleared between 1983/84 and 1987, a loss of 63% in less than 4 years. Clearly, unless protection measures are rapidly introduced and enforced, there will be no forest remaining by the end of this century. A gradual and continuous erosion of the area of riverine forest has prob- ably taken place for as long as there have been settlements in the valley, but recent developments have given added impetus to its removal. A major dam is to be constructed north of Bardheere in order to generate electricity and 467

The Mason horn, extension and applications

Warren P. Mason, in the mid 1950s, introduced the inverted exponential horn as a concentrator of ultrasonic waves. In 1968, he published an extended account of a stepped approximation to the exponential horn. Part of the horn was replaced by a half‐wavelength piece that functioned as a mechanical transformer with a step reduction in diameter at the quarter‐wave point. The specimen was shaped like a dumbbell to give a mass‐spring‐mass resonance with a further step down in diameter. The result was a substantial reduction in area and thus an increase in vibratory stress. The apparatus may also be described as a composite resonant oscillator: Each of the three elements, transducer, transformer, and specimen, is at resonance. Mason developed the theory of this stepped horn only for perfect resonance, and allowed for damping only in the reduced part of the specimen. Here, his theory is extended to allow for small deviations from resonance, such as must occur in practice, and for damping in the other elements. When the damping and the deviations from resonance are small, simple sum rules hold. Variations in specimen design are also considered. Applications, past and future, will be discussed.

Effects of Increased Precipitation and Grazing Management on Northeastern Montana Rangelands

Effects of Increased Precipitation and Grazing Management on Northeastern Montana Rangelands