A Smoothing Technique for High-Linearity Wideband Receivers
This invention demonstrates a novel signal processing technique to deconstruct a wideband input signal into a set of reduced amplitude/bandwidth signals, which are then amplified and digitized to be reconstructed in the digital domain using a minimal set of hardware.
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CAPACITIVE ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS
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ARTIFICIAL NEURONS USING DIFFUSIVE MEMRISTOR
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Diffusive Memristor as a Synapse
Neuromorphic computing, systems designed to mimic the biological nervous system, require far less power than current computer processors. The increased efficiency makes feasible artificial intelligence applications for smaller, hand-held devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets). To this end, UMass inventors have designed hardware components that mimic neuronal synapses (Figure A). Specifically, diffusive Ag-in-oxide memristors show a temporal response during and after stimulation similar to that of a biological synapse. The novel diffusive memristor and its synapse-like dynamics enable a direct emulation of both short- and long-term plasticity of biological synapses and represent a major advancement in a hardware implementation for neuromorphic computing.
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RigNet: Neural Rigging for Articulated Characters
Character rigging is the process where animators fit a skeleton to a 3D model, which then allows the animators to manipulate the movement of, or animate, the model. Currently, animators must manually define the skeleton’s joints, how they’re connected, and how the model’s body parts move. This is a very time intensive process that can take hours or days just for a single character. With the rapid rise in need for animation-ready characters and avatars in the areas of games, films, mixed reality and social media, character rigging is presently a major bottleneck to scaling the creation of animated characters.
In this work, the authors have written software called RigNet, which is an end-to-end automated method for producing animation rigs from input character models. By automating character rigging through RigNet, the character rigging process time is reduced from hours to minutes. RigNet is based on a deep learning architecture, trained on a large and diverse collection of rigged models, including their mesh, skeletons and corresponding skin weights. RigNet is able to predict both a unique skeleton and a skinning that match animator expectations, which is in contrast to prior art methods that just fit pre-defined, template skeletons to the 3D models that aren’t high enough quality. Finally, because all that is needed to use RigNet is a 3D model, animators do not need to be trained experts to rig characters, as is the case today. |
Memristor Random Number Generator
True random number generators (TRNGs) are used in cryptography and cyber security, and are increasingly important in an interconnected world at risk from cyber threats. Hardware random number generators use physical variables, such as thermal noise or the photoelectric effect, as sources of randomness in number generation. However, they suffer from drawbacks such as scalability, circuit complexity, and reliance on post-processing. Here, Dr. Qiangfei Xia and Dr. Joshua Yang have invented a memristor-based TRNG. It is the first memristor-based TRNG to pass NISTSs 15 randomness tests without the need for post processing. In operation, the device switches to a low resistance state under a voltage pulse after a random delay time, and relaxes back to a high resistance state spontaneously once the electrical bias is removed. These are the sources of randomness for the TRNG. Memristor-based TRNGs offer a compact, fast, and energy-efficient design.
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Low Cross-Polarization Decade-Bandwidth Ultra-Wideband Antenna Element + Array
Electronically scanned arrays with ultra-wideband (ESA-UWBs) performance are desirable for applications such as multi-functional systems, high-throughput or low-power communications, high-resolution and clutter resilient radar/sensing, and electromagnetic warfare systems. For these applications, Vivaldi arrays are popular for their excellent impedance performance, but do suffer from unintended polarization, which leads to loss of service or reduction of throughput. To correct for these problems, one can add additional feeding circuitry; however, that will add to complexity and cost and reduce bandwidth capability.This invention improves upon prior art Vivaldi designs, creating an antenna that has: (1) large instantaneous bandwidths; (2) excellent impedance matching; (3) good polarization isolation. Dr. Vouvakis' antenna is also easier to manufacture because the body is made up of smaller disconnected components that are easier to solder and notch than a single long flair Vivaldi of the prior art. Finally, because the design is based on Vivaldi, this antenna invention will be backwards compatible with legacy wideband phased array platforms.
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Novel Systems for Improved Backscatter Tag Communications
A new fully asymmetric backscatter communication, which allows for battery-less sensors and readers, protocol where nodes blindly transmit data as and when they sense. This model enables fully flexible node designs, from extraordinarily power efficient backscatter radios that consume barely a few micro-watts to high-throughput radios that can stream at hundreds of Kbps while consuming a paltry tens of micro-watts.
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Braidio - Prolonged Battery Life Through Assymetric Transceivers
Traditionally in data exchange among devices, all devices equally share the energy burden incurred in signal transmission and reception, limiting you to the device with the smallest energy capacity. This invention was developed to address this asymmetric available energy mobile devices encounter, allowing one to shift the energy burden to the highest capacity device, allowing more data to be exchanged before recharging. Braidio is able to dynamically switch the transmission carrier between transmitter and receiver and increases the number of bit exchanges between a transmitter and receiver by more than two orders of magnitude over Bluetooth, particularly in highly asymmetric scenarios. Braidio operates like a standard Bluetooth radio when a device has sufficient energy, but operates like RFID when energy is low, off-loading energy use to a device with a larger battery when needed.
This invention can extend battery life of the smaller device hundreds of times in some cases. Braidio capability can enable power-proportional wireless communication wherein two devices with different battery capacities can multiples between the different carrier modes, making it practical for a range of mobile devices from laptop to smart watch. |
Extremely Small and Fast Radio Frequency Switches
Memristive devices are characterized by their present resistance being dependent on the current that last passed through them. In this invention, a memristive RF switch is created by having two micro-electrodes with a small air gap, e.g., 50nm or less, between them. When in the “off” state, the air gap between the electrodes gives the device a very high resistance. When a “setting voltage” is applied between the electrodes, a conductive filament is self-created from one electrode, which bridges the air gap and contacts the other electrode. The device in now the “on” state, and resistance is very low. To turn the device off again, a “resetting voltage” having opposite polarity is applied, and the conductive filament’s connection to the other electrode is broken.
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