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The motion of the object or the infrared (IR) imaging system during the integration time causes blurring of the IR image. This study covers real-time field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based deblurring for IR detectors, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) was used to quantify the blur caused by the IR detector movement. Point spread function for each pixel was calculated using the angular position data of the IR detector obtained from IMU. Both spatially invariant and spatially variant blur cases can be modeled for the IR detector motion. After the quantification, the spatially invariant-type blur was eliminated using a Wiener filter-based deblurring algorithm. Deblurring algorithm was implemented in the Xilinx system generator environment directly using FPGA IP cores. The simulation results in the Xilinx system generator environment indicate that the proposed image deblurring method is real-time applicable, and it reduces the processing time of a single frame to 4 ms. For the implementation of 2D-fast Fourier transform design in FPGA using the corner turn matrix method, memory management is the most critical factor influencing the speed. The real-time deblurring solution given herein has the potential to be used in IR cameras on the moving platforms to increase the performance and robustness in systems such as object tracking and visual navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, polymer composite-based flexible electronic designs and applications have been gradually increased. Production process flows cause cost in time and budget without predefined percolation threshold that is the most critical level of polymer conductor composites (PCC). Also, the onset of the percolation threshold is defined in this study which is the starting and avalanche point of the conduction regime. By knowing the percolation threshold, the composite ingredient ratio can be altered for proper conduction. This yields a lean conductive composite design with the potential to be utilized prior to fabrication. Determining the main recipe of composite becomes faster and easier. This article evaluates the methodologies for finding the onset of the percolation threshold and provides a reduction in the number of experiments to determine the recipe. Experimentally, materials containing different ratios of carbon black (CB) were tested. Simulation software is created, and the results are verified with the experimental findings. Accordingly, the percolation onset was around 5.6% by weight. To create a suitable methodology, models based on resistive networks were worked out. A*, A* Depth, Best First Search, Breadth-First Search, Dijkstra's Fastest Pathfinding Algorithms are run for different CB ratios. With this study, a feasible simulation was designed for all composites in which the percolation threshold changes depending on the tunneling distance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research investigating self-terminating growth of platinum (Pt) films by electrochemical deposition. Topics include an overview of the team's development of a self-terminating rapid electrodeposition process for controlled growth of platinum (Pt) monolayer films from a K2PtCl4-NaCl (potassium, platinum chloride, and sodium chloride) electrolyte, which is similar to wet atomic layer deposition, the team's methodology for Pt deposition via quenching, and the use of periodic pulsing of the potential for sequential deposition of two-dimensional Pt layers to fabricate films of desired thickness, which the authors note is relevant to advanced technologies.

Abstract: The study of the kinetics of metal deposition via surface limited red-ox replacement of underpotentially deposited metal monolayers is presented. The model system was Pt submonolayer deposition on Au(111) via red-ox replacement of Pb and Cu UPD monolayers on Au(111). The kinetics of a single replacement reaction was studied using the formalism of the comprehensive analytical model developed to fit the open circuit potential transients from deposition experiments. The practical reaction kinetics parameters like reaction half life, reaction order and reaction rate constant are determined and discussed with their relevance to design and control of deposition experiments. The effects of transport limitation and the role of the anions/electrolyte on deposition kinetics are investigated and their significance to design of effective deposition process is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Design of the quantum sensor to detect the external magnetic field based on the European Robins procedure. • Analyzing the designed system with the quantum electrodynamics theory. • Engineering the quantum sensor to create microwave photons entanglement. • The study of the RF source effect on the microwave cavities entanglement. In this article, we design a quantum device to duplicate the European Robins procedure to precisely determine the migratory route. In the mentioned procedure, the important issue is the geomagnetic field effect on the magnetic momentum of the created radical pairs (triplet-singlet states) dancing with a special frequency. To duplicate the procedure, a quantum sensor consisting of two coincident tripartite systems is designed. Each tripartite system is independently excited with the entangled photons (signal and idler). The interesting point is that by manipulation of the system in the right condition, the microwave cavities modes separately affected by the entangled photons can be entangled. The entangled microwave photons play the same role as the triplet-singlet states present in the bird's navigational system. The key point in the design of the quantum sensor is that the entanglement between microwave photons can be strongly affected by the external magnetic field. In fact, this is the criterion employed by the quantum sensor to sense the magnetic field intensity and the direction. To analyze the system, the canonical quantization (or microscopic) method is used to determine the sensor's Hamiltonian, and also the system dynamics equations of motions are analytically derived using Heisenberg-Langevin equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Triple mode (piezoresistive, piezocapacitive, piezoimpedance) operation capabilities of produced sensors are evaluated. • An equivalent circuit model for sensors is introduced in this report. • The relation of electrical characteristics of sensors with measurement frequency is elaborated. • Multiple-purpose sensors fabricated using CB/TPU composite with propolis into flexible-soft 3D printed TPU substrate. • Changes in the electrical and mechanical characteristics due to the presence of propolis are detailed. [Display omitted] This study reports the design, fabrication, and application of strain and tactile sensors molded with Carbon Black (CB)/Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) composite ink into flexible-soft 3D printed TPU substrate. In sensor design, three different geometries, namely Straight Line/Zigzag/Wavy, are produced to investigate the effect on the sensing behavior. 3D printed molds are preferred due to their low cost and simplicity in fabrication. Additionally, propolis, which is antibacterial and has therapeutic properties for wound and fungal diseases, is added to the composite material to benefit its healing and protective properties. The sensing properties of propolis are investigated for its use as mixing and coating materials. According to electrical characterization, the fabricated structures can be used in triple mode as piezoresistive, piezocapacitive, and piezoinductive sensors. The gauge factor (GF) values for sensors using different ratios of materials varies between 3 and 10. Given conventional metallic strain gauges whose GF is typically around 2, the obtained GF values are remarkable. The distribution of the applied stress on the sensor surface is given by simulations. In addition, the characteristic changes of the samples according to the frequency are examined, and equivalent circuits are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A capacitive motion sensor that can detect human walking and motions up to a certain distance was designed using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the primary sensor material. A read‐out circuit was designed to detect capacitive coupling with the sensor material caused by the motion in the surrounding. The read‐out circuit consists of sensing, filtering, and amplifying stages. A high‐pass filter was used to avoid DC components, and to eliminate adverse impacts of 50Hz noise in the sensing signal, a sixth‐order low‐pass filter consisting of active Sallen–Key and passive RC filters was utilized. The signals obtained from the complete read‐out circuit revealed that the sensor system could accurately detect human movements up to 2 m away. Also, different signal patterns were obtained from the output of the sensor system for various human motions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the design and fabrication of a flexible tactile sensor printed on a cellulose paper substrate using a carbon black (CB) – filled polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer matrix as ink material. In the design, electrodes are obtained by screen printing of CB/PVA composite on dielectric cellulose paper. The screen-printing method is preferred for fabrication because of its simplicity and low manufacturing cost. The tactile sensor is formed by overlapping two ink-printed sheets. Electrical properties are investigated under compressive and tensile strains. The results indicate that the tactile sensor configuration and materials can be used for piezoresistive, capacitive, and also impedance sensors. The same tactile sensor structure is also examined using a commercial carbon-based ink for performance comparison. The comparative study indicates that CB/PVA ink screen-printed on paper demonstrates superior sensitivity for capacitive sensing with low hysteresis, as well as low response and recovery times. The piezoresistive-sensing properties of CB/PVA on cellulose paper show a gauge factor (GF) of 10.68, which is also very promising when conventional metal strain gauges are considered. CB/PVA screen-printed on cellulose paper features impedance-sensing properties and is also sensitive to the measurement frequency. Therefore, the response type of the sensor can be altered with the frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been substantial interest in research aimed at conductive carbon-based supports since the discovery that the electrical stimulus can have dramatic effect on cell behavior. Among these carbon-aerogels decorated with biocompatible polymers were suggested as future materials for tissue engineering. However, high reaction temperatures required for the synthesis of the aerogels tend to impair the stability of the polymeric networks. Herein, we report a synthetic route towards carbon-aerogel scaffolds decorated with biocompatible ceramic nanoparticles of tricalcium phosphate. The composites can be prepared at temperature as high as 1100 °C without significant effect on the morphology of the composite which is comparable with the original aerogel framework. Although the conductivity of the composites tends to decrease with the increasing ceramic content the measured conductivity values are similar to those previously reported on polymer-functionalized carbon-aerogels. The cell culture study revealed that the developed constructs support cell proliferation and provide good cell attachment suggesting them as potentially good candidates for tissue-engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]