Scanning the Issue

The current issue of the IETE Journal of Research (Vol. 64, No.6, Nov-Dec. 2018) contains 15 articles. These articles present the ongoing research and developments taking place in the broad areas of Biomedical Engineering, Microelectronics, Wireless Communication, Power Systems, Signal Processing, Microwave Engineering and Control Systems.

The paper on “A Review on Upper-Limb Myoelectric Prosthetic Control”, presents a review of the state-of-the-art in surface electromyogram (sEMG) signal pattern classification based myoelectric prosthesis control. Various kinds of parametric and non-parametric feature sets, and classification tools studied in the research literature are presented. Thereafter, methods for simultaneous and proportional control of multiple degrees of freedom used for this purpose are discussed.

The next paper titled “A Self-Powered Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Interface with Wide Input Range in 65 nm CMOS Process,” presents a circuit design for energy harvesting in electrical form from mechanical vibrations. The circuit comprises of two stage active charge pump rectifier and an ultra-low power intermittent power management unit. The circuit is self-powered and works on a wide range of inputs. The design has been simulated and tested on 65 nm standard CMOS technology. The paper compares its design performance with other circuit designs given in the research literature and draws inferences.

In “An Enhanced Source Location Privacy Protection Technique for Wireless Sensor Networks using Randomized Routes,” the authors present a randomized route technique for communications using wireless sensor networks with the explicit aim of preserving the privacy of the node location. The privacy is established in terms of a safety period that is increased by the diversity of the routing paths in the proposed method. The method has been studied analytically and compared with other methods in simulation studies. Inferences are drawn from the comparative study.

The next paper on “An Improved Method for ASEP Evaluation over Fading Channels Based on Q-Function Approximation,” presents a tight approximation for evaluating the average symbol error probability over fading channels. The approximation is evaluated for specific modulation scheme and channel model. The approximation is compared with other Q-function closed-form approximations to bring out the efficacy of the proposed approximation.

In “Anti-Islanding Performance Analysis of Multiple PV Micro-Inverter Operations,” the authors address the phenomenon of islanding that refers to unexpected powering of a distributed resource such as a photovoltaic system in distributed power networks. The problem of islanding with multiple photovoltaic micro-inverters in the same grid is investigated. The paper gives the performance analysis of multiple photovoltaic micro-inverter operations for anti-islanding methods, and observations are made from the analysis and simulation and experimental results.

The paper on “Combined Centre-Weighted Median Filter and BM3D to Filter Digital Images in Mixed Gaussian and Impulsive Environments,” presents an adaptively combined filter for application on images corrupted with impulsive and Gaussian noise. The method for selecting the weight of the median filter is given. The paper presents the efficacy of the filter through simulation studies.

The following paper on “Compact Lowpass Filter with Ultra-High Figure-of-Merit and Flat Group Delay,” presents the design of a compact microstrip lowpass filter with a wide stopband. Such filters are used for suppressing harmonics and interferences from the signal of interest. The design is compared with other filters from the literature mainly in terms of the maximum variation of the group delay in the passband. The measured frequency response from the filter realization is compared with the simulated response.

The paper titled “Computer Model for EDFA Dynamics over 1525nm-1560 nm Band using a Novel Multi Wavelength MATLAB Simulink Test Bed for 8-Channels,” gives the design of computer test-bed for an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) for characterizing various operational parameters. The modelling encompasses quantum well laser based rate equations for pump source. Several cases are studied and compared to bring out the usefulness of the test-bed for design and analysis purposes.

In “Improved EEG Segmentation Using Non-linear Volterra Model in Bayesian Method,” the authors consider the change point detection in EEG signals to segment the signal into pseudo-stationary segments. The method comprises of using linear prediction coding and Volterra filters for noise estimation, determination of a penalty function for change point detection, and detection of change. The method is tested on synthetic and actual EEG signals.

The following paper “Measurement, Analysis, and Understanding of the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) of Navigation Signals,” is concerned with the error vector magnitude of the navigation signal that is an important performance parameter of a navigation satellite. It presents various aspects of the EVM of navigation signals, factors affecting their values, their variation as function of carrier phase noise, and analysis for the IRNSS navigation satellites. The measured values are used to make further observations about EVM.

The paper on “Optimization of Chunk Scheduling Algorithm in Hybrid CDN-P2P Live Video Streaming,” gives a model of optimization of video chunk scheduling for layered live video streaming in a mesh pull based hybrid content distribution network with peer-to-peer (CDN-P2P) architecture. The objective is to improve the quality of service which is studied through simulations for performance parameters such as end-to-end transfer delay, delay variation, and loss ratio. A detailed statistical test based on these parameters is provided from which inferences are drawn.

The next paper on “Resonant Converter for High-Input Voltage and High-Output Current Applications,” presents the design of a resonant converter for high-input voltage and high-output current applications. The design takes advantage of low turn-on switching losses, low reverse recovery losses, and low voltage stress of power semiconductors. The advantages of the given design include equal distribution of load current over two isolated transformers, low voltage stress and conduction resistance of power devices, reduced switching loss for wide zero-voltage switching load range, and reverse recover current removal for rectifier diodes. The design is experimentally studied through a lab prototype and discussed.

The following paper “Target Tracking based on Improved Unscented Particle Filter with Markov Chain Monte Carlo,” presents an algorithm for target tracking based on an improved unscented Kalman filter (UKF). UKF has been studied for the problem of target tracking. The UKF generates a proposal distribution and particle swarm optimization (PSO) integrates into the UKF proposal. Three example applications ranging from bearings-only tracking, trajectory tracking of a car-like robot, and helicopter tracking are given and compared with other algorithms for their efficacy in target tracking.

The next paper on “The Research on Correlated Sensitivity Factors of Flux-Regulation Capability for Axial–Radial Flux-Type Synchronous Motor with Hybrid Poles,” is concerned with axial-radial flux-type synchronous motor with hybrid poles. Such motors provide high efficiency and flux-regulation capability. It analyses the flux-regulation capability based on dependent parameters. A sensitivity analysis of the factors affecting flux-regulation is done.

The next paper “Universal Current-Mode Filters Based on OTA and MO-CCCA,” presents a current mode second-order filtering circuit with single input and multi-outputs using operational trans-conductance amplifiers (OTAs). Their usefulness in current-mode filters lies in the highly linear characteristics, and wide tunability range of trans-conductance and frequencies. The filter design is generic in that it can simultaneously realize second-order low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, band-stop and all-pass filter. The filters are studied against several performance parameters in the paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shiban K. Koul

Shiban K Koul is Dr R P Shenoy Astra Microwave Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He served as Deputy Director (Strategy and Planning) at IIT Delhi from 2012-2016. Currently, he is the Mentor Deputy Director (Strategy & Planning, International affairs and R&D) at IIT Jammu. He is also the Chairman of Astra Microwave Products Limited, Hyderabad. His research interests include: RF MEMS, High Frequency Wireless Communication, Microwave Engineering, Microwave Passive and Active Circuits, Device modeling, Millimeter wave IC design and Reconfigurable microwave circuits including antennas. Completed 34 major sponsored projects, 52 consultancy projects and 56 Technology Development Projects. Authored 383 Papers, 8 state-of-the art-books and 3 Book Chapters. He holds 10 patents and 6 copyrights. He is a Fellow of IEEE, INAE and IETE. He is the Chief Editor of IETE Journal of Research, Associate Editor of the International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies, Cambridge University Press. He served as a Distinguished Microwave Lecturer of IEEE MTT-S for the period 2012-2014.

Recipient of numerous awards including IEEE MTT Society Distinguished Educator Award (2014); Teaching Excellence Award (2012) from IIT Delhi; Award for contributions made to the growth of smart material technology (2012) by the ISSS, Bangalore, Vasvik Award (2012) for the contributions made to the area of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and M N Saha Memorial Award (2013) from IETE. E-mail: [email protected]