This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 10010, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing.

In this paper we discuss the background and principles of an optical non-contact sensor fusion concept, the Interferometric Correlator for Acoustic Radiation and Underlying Structural Vibration (ICARUSV) and give practical example of its capabilities, focusing on its ability to simultaneously capture, visualize and quantitatively characterize full-field non-stationary structural dynamics and unsteady radiated sound fields or transient flow fields around the structure of interest. The ICARUSV’s multi-sensor design is based on a parallel architecture and therefore the data capture is fast and inherently support a wide variety of spatio-temporal or spatio-spectral analysis methods which characterize the structural or acoustic/flow field dynamics as it occurs in real time, including short-lived transient events. No other technology available today offers this level of multi-parameter multi-dimensional data¹.

Plasma has been proved as a standard industrial method for surface treatment of solid bulk materials. Recently plasma has also been used in connection with production, treatment and functionalization of powder and granulate materials. Functionalization was originally developed for hydrophylization of hydrophobic surfaces of particles made from various materials.

An industrial scale device with a capacity of several hundreds of tons per year based on plasma treatment will be presented. As examples of the applications are given plasma treated polyethylene powder dispersed in the water; and very good adhesion of polymer powders to metals or glass, which is promising for development of new generation of thermoplastic composites.

Electrical arc faults pose an important problem to electrical installations worldwide, be it production facilities or distribution systems. In this context, it is easy to assess the economic repercussions of such a fault, when power supply is cut off downstream of its location, while also realizing that an early detection of the on-site smaller scale faults would be of great benefit. This articles serves as a review of the current state-of-the-art work that has been carried out on the subject of detection and localization of electrical arc faults, by exploiting the bimodality of this phenomenon, which generates simultaneously electromagnetic and acoustic waves, propagating in a free space path. En experimental setup has been defined, to demonstrate principles stated in previous works by the authors, and signal processing methods have been used in order to determine the DTOA (difference-of-time-of-arrival) of the acoustic signals, which allows localization of the transient fault. In the end there is a discussion regarding the results and further works, which aims to validate this approach in more real-life applications.

The use of a “window” 2D Hilbert transform for reconstruction of the phase distribution of remote objects is proposed. It is shown that the advantage of this approach consists in the invariance of a phase map to a change of the position of the kernel of transformation and in a possibility to reconstruct the structure-forming elements of the skeleton of an optical field, including singular points and saddle points. We demonstrate the possibility to reconstruct the equi-phase lines within a narrow confidence interval, and introduce a new algorithm for solving the phase problem for random 2D intensity distributions.

In this work a on-wafer high temperature characterization system for wide bandgap semiconductor devices and circuits has been designed, implemented and tested. The proposed system can perform the wafer temperature adjustment in a large domain, from the room temperature up to 300⁰C with a resolution better than ±0.5⁰C. In order to obtain both low-noise measurements and low EMI, the heating element of the wafer chuck is supplied in two ways: one is from a DC linear power supply connected to the mains electricity, another one is from a second DC unit powered by batteries. An original temperature control algorithm, different from classical PID, is used to modify the power applied to the chuck.

Experimental data processing is an issue that must be solved in almost all the domains of science. In engineering we usually have a large amount of data and we try to extract the useful signal which is relevant for the phenomenon under investigation. The criteria used to consider some points more relevant then some others may take into consideration various conditions which may be either phenomenon dependent, or general. The paper presents some of the ideas and tests regarding the identification of the best set of criteria used to filter the initial set of points in order to extract a subset which best fits the approximated function. If the function has regions where it is either constant, or it has a slow variation, fewer discretization points may be used. This means to create a simpler solution to process the experimental data, keeping the accuracy in some fair good limits.

The characterization of the quality of communication between an RFID reader and a transponder at all expected positions of the latter on the reader antenna is of primal importance for the evaluation of performance of an RFID system. Continuing the line of instruments developed for this purpose by the authors, the present work proposes an enhanced version of a previously introduced automated platform for 2D evaluation. By featuring higher performance in terms of mechanical speed, the new version allows to obtain 2D maps of communication with a higher resolution that would have been prohibitive in terms of test duration with the previous version. The list of measurement procedures that can be executed with the platform is now enlarged with additional ones, such as the determination of the variation of the magnetic coupling between transponder and antenna across the antenna surface and the utilization of transponder simulators for evaluation of the quality of communication.

The photophysical properties of two polyazomethine polyrotaxanes (4•αCD and 4•TMS-αCD) composed of pyrene and triazole encapsulated into native and permodified α-cyclodextrin (αCD and TMS-αCD) cavities have been investigated and compared with those of the non-rotaxane 4 counterparts. Rotaxane formation results in improvements of the solubility in organic solvents, as well as better film forming ability combined with a high transparency. The polyrotaxane 4•TMS-αCD was soluble in toluene/DMF1/1 v/v mixture and displayed useful levels of thermal stability. The fluorescence spectroscopy of 4•αCD and 4•TMS-αCD shows an obvious blue shift both in excitation and emission spectra with respect to those of non-rotaxane counterparts. 4•TMS-αCD displays a continuous absorption spectrum, whereas the reference 4 does not show any absorption maximum, neither for its emission maximum, presumably because of its very low solubility in DMF. The improved fluorescence efficiency (ΦPL) of both polyrotaxanes is attributed to the hydrophobic micro-environment within αCD and TMS-αCD cavities. The surfaces of non-rotaxane 4 counterparts showed globular formations with an agglomeration tendency, while the encapsulated 4•αCD and 4•TMS-αCD rotaxane compounds exhibited smoother surfaces, comprised by smaller grains uniformly distributed on the surface of the solid films. The presence of the αCD and TMS-αCD in 4·αCD and 4•TMS-αCD polyrotaxanes affects the LUMO energy levels to a greater extent than its HOMO energy with respect to reference 4. The wetting properties of spin-coated film of 4•TMS-αCD in water (polar) and diiodomethane (apolar), indicates that TMS-αCD makes its surface more hydrophobic. The dispersive and polar components are lower than that of the reference compounds. The doping of the rotaxane structures with iodine (I2) indicated smaller improvements of electrical conductivity (σ) values, which presents a tradeoff with their better solubility, process ability, surface characteristics and ΦPL.

There are many modalities to prepare metal nanoparticles, but the reducing of the metal ions with plant extracts is one of the most promising because it is considerate less toxic for the environment, suitable for the use of those nanoparticles in vivo and not very expensive. Various metal ions have been already studied such as: cobalt, copper, iron, platinum, palladium, zinc, indium, manganese and mercury and the number of plant extracts used is continuously increasing. The prepared systems were characterized afterwards with a great number of methods of investigation: both spectroscopic (especially UV-Vis spectroscopy) and microscopic (in principal, electron microscopy-TEM) methods. The applications of the metal nanoparticles obtained are diverse and not completely known, but the medical applications of such nanoparticles occupy a central place, due to their nontoxic components, but some diverse industrial applications do not have to be forgotten.

In this paper production process of Zn nanocrystals in SiO₂ by using an implantation of high dose zinc ions with energy of 130 keV and annealing process in 700°C were described. Using electron microscopy was established that annealing causes extension of admixtures distribution on depth and zinc nanoparticles size increasing from approx. 1 - 6 nm to 12 - 18 nm.

For prepared material AC conductivity measurements were made in temperatures range from liquid nitride temperature (LNT) to 373 K and at frequencies range from 50 Hz to 5 MHz. Strong frequency dependence on conductivity proves that in this nanocomposite Zn-SiO₂ conduction takes place by electron hopping exchange (tunneling) between metallic phase nanoparticles.

It was established that three activation energies of conductivity occurs in temperatures range of LNT – 373 K – in low temperatures ΔE₁≈0.001 eV, in medium temperatures ΔE₂≈0.025 eV and in higher temperatures area ΔE₃≈0.096 eV. This is due to the presence of at least two types of nanoparticles. First there are zinc nanoparticles with zinc oxide coating, second there are nanoparticles without the coating. The highest activation energy occurs during electrons tunneling between nanoparticles with zinc oxide coating. Intermediate activation energy corresponds to tunneling from nanoparticle with coating to nanoparticle without coating or conversely. The lowest activation energy corresponds to electrons hopping between nanoparticles without coatings.

In this paper the influence of 15-minutes annealing in temperature range 398 K – 723 K with step 25 K on the frequency dependence on conductivity of nanocomposite (FeCoZr)_x(CaF2)_(100-x) was exanimate. Nanocomposite with metallic phase content x = 81.8 at.% was produced by ion-beam sputtering in mixed argon and oxygen atmosphere. Measurement were made in frequency range 50 Hz – 5 MHz and temperatures from 15 K to 375 K.

It was found that to annealing temperature 523 K in measurement temperatures a less than room temperature a weak dependence of dielectric type of conductivity occurs in materials – the conductivity increases with temperature increase. At temperatures above room temperature a phase transition dielectric-metal is observed and a conductivity decreases with temperature increase. Growth stage of conductivity was observed in the frequency range above 10⁵ Hz. The relaxation time for this stage is of the order 10^-6 s. Annealing in the temperature above 523 K led to the appearance of additional low temperature stage of conductivity, for which the relaxation time is of the order of 10^-4 s. The appearance of the low-frequency stage of conductivity increase is associated with oxidation of surface of nanoparticles of metallic phase during annealing, the growing barrier of potential and relaxation time. Further increase of annealing temperature above 673 K causes a further increase of the width of the barrier, and activation energy becomes so much that relaxation times for low-frequency stage grown above 10^-2 s. Therefore, low-frequency stage is moves further into the area of low frequency and it becomes unnoticeable because it go beyond the lower range (50 Hz) of used meter.

Researches of formation features of nanostructured film condensates deposited by reactive magnetron (HF and DC) sputtering of transition metals diborides targets was analyzed. Amorphous-crystalline composite film (MeB₂ + BN), consisting of grains of nanocrystalline phase MeB₂ and amorphous graphite-like phase BN filling intergranular space, is formed at reactive sputtering in (Ar + N₂) mixture. Investigations of composition and physico-mechanical properties of transition metals boridenitrides composite films were carried out. The amount of phase МеВ₂ decreases, and phase BN enlarges with an increase in percentage content of nitrogen in a mixture, that leads to hardness and elastic modulus reduction respectively and to elasticity increase of boridonitrides thin films compared with diborides films. It is shown that viscoelasticity of Me–B–N thin films is caused by the presence of amorphous boron nitride phase.

The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis method was used for studying structure and properties of multilayer nitride CrN/MoN coatings fabricated by cathode arc physical vapour deposition (Arc-PVD). Samples were deposited on steel substrate with different single layer thickness from tens nanometers to 1 micron and with total thickness of coatings up to 8-13 μm. Colour grains mapping, grain size distribution profiles, pole figures and texture analyses were the main research instruments. Studying of obtained coatings was performed on specially prepared polished cross-section samples. The dependence between single layer thickness and grain size of materials, which is also changing through depth profile of the coating, was observed. In addition, it was possible to study phase composition, prevailing crystals orientation, dominant texture and grains growth. Studying of grains size, as well as other indicated parameters, is a very important task because it gives an information about grains interfaces volume, which causes changes in mechanical properties of material. Obtained results were cross-checked by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) where it was possible.

The features of structure and properties formation of multicomponent (high-entropy) and multilayer transition metals nitride coatings of deposited by reactive magnetron (HF and DC) sputtering of targets in Ar + N₂ mixture atmosphere was analyzed. It is shown that the formation of texture and columnar structure of films occurs due to changes the deposition conditions. Moreover, transition metals nitride films (TiN, HfN, et al.) have textured growth plane (111) and nanohardness values about 36 GPa at close to stoichiometric compositions. X-ray analysis of nitride multilayer coatings shows that the multilayers have a cubic structure with a preferential orientation (111) or (200) depending on the period of modulation Λ. It is shown that one of the methods of its preparation is the use of elements (Zr,Y). Correlations between structure and physico-mechanical properties of the coatings, as well as the effect of multilayers deposition conditions and modulation period on the hardness value were exhibited. Conducted researches show that the use of multi-component and multi-layered nitride coating allows to obtain super hard nitride coating (> 40 GPa,) with high elastic recovery (W_e up to 83%) and high resistance to plastic deformation (H³/E^*2 up to 0.75).

Preparation and experimental studies on the phase transition and morphology of novel phosphorus-containing copolymers, having bisazobenzene units and variable molar ratio of aliphatic segments in the main chain, were performed. The chemical structure of the novel compounds has been confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The thermal stability was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) while the mesomorphic behavior was closely observed with polarized light microscope (PLM) and by X-ray diffraction measurements, structure-properties relationships being established and discussed.

Over the last period of time silver was considerably studied due to its lower resistivity. In the field of materials science, silver was used in applications such as: microelectronics components of high – temperature superconductiviting materials, bactericidal coatings and others domains. This study presents the process of obtaining and characterization the new complexes of silver (I) with Nhydroxy- succinimide. In the process of obtaining the new complex compounds in aqous solution, first we have to look at conductometry and UV-Vis absorbtion spectroscopy in order to determine the molar ratio silver : N-hydroxysuccinimide and the stability constants. The obtained solid coordination compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and also was investigated of their thermostability. The X-ray powder diffraction reflects that the complexes compounds of silver (I) with N-hydroxysuccinimide are amorphous. In our further studies we want to determine if the new synthetized compounds will present the same or improuved properties as in the above mentioned silver characteristics.

This paper continues our investigations in relatively new developed printed electrochromic displays (ECDs). There are some advantages of ECDs that recommend them for specific low end and short time disposable display applications, for instance the ECD devices present low power consumption (they are non-emissive, reflective, i.e. passive) and have a good viewing angle, looking like ink on paper. It is to note that these displays are still in research, and partly present on the market. There are a lot of papers regarding the chemistry and electro-chemistry of the device, but very few about concrete schematics for driving these displays. Due to their low penetration in applications, and due to lack of standardization, there are not yet realized custom drivers in form of integrated circuits. The driving of these circuits is not at all so simple. These are very sensitive devices in what it concerns exceeding the drive pulse duration and voltage level. In order to take full advantage of the low power consumption of this device, a good driver circuitry needs to be realized also in the “low power” class. We propose in this paper an original driving circuit, that has very low consumption and that can be even supplied by a supercapacitor or by a printed battery. The whole structure can be further integrated as a system on foil.

The range of electronic components and as a consequence, all parts of automotive electronic equipment operating temperatures in a vehicle is given by the location of that equipment, so the maximum temperature can vary between 358K and 478K¹. The solder joints could be defined as passive parts of the interconnection structure of automotive electronic equipment, at a different level, from boards of electronic modules to systems. The manufacturing costs reduction necessity and the RoHS EU Directive^{3, 7} consequences generate the trend to create new Low-Temperature Lead-Free (LTLF) solder pastes family⁹. In the paper, the mechanical strength of solder joints and samples having the same transversal section as resistor 1206 case type made using the same LTLF alloys into Vapour Phase Soldering (VPS) process characterized by different cooling rates (slow and rapid) and two types of test PCBs pads finish, were benchmarked at room temperature. The presented work extends the theoretical studies and experiments upon heat transfer in VPSP in order to optimize the technology for soldering process (SP) of automotive electronic modules and could be extended for home and modern agriculture appliances industry. The shear forces (SF) values of the LTLF alloy samples having the same transversal section as resistor 1206 case type will be considered as references values of a database useful in the new solder alloy creation processes and their qualification for automotive electronics domain.

The cooperative excitation and absorption of light into three cavity modes (pump, Stokes and anti-Stokes), stimulated by excited radiators, is studied as bound entangled states of the photon subsystem. The three modes collective Roman emission and its connection with entangled state is defined introducing the cooperative description between photons of cavity modes. In the case, when the scattering rates in the Stokes and anti-Stokes modes coincide, the SU(2) and SU(1,1) symmetries are applied for a simple description of these cooperative processes. The possibilities to realize this effect in the free space is proposed, replacing the cavity modes with dipole active excited atoms in tow-quantum interaction with dipole-forbidden transitions of D atom. The statistical properties and detection method are proposed using the information entropy and atomic correlation functions.

The theoretical background of azimuthally stable method of Jones-matrix mapping of histological sections of biopsy of myocardium tissue on the basis of spatial frequency selection of the mechanisms of linear and circular birefringence is presented. The diagnostic application of a new correlation parameter – complex degree of mutual anisotropy – is analytically substantiated. The method of measuring coordinate distributions of complex degree of mutual anisotropy with further spatial filtration of their high- and low-frequency components is developed. The interconnections of such distributions with parameters of linear and circular birefringence of myocardium tissue histological sections are found. The comparative results of measuring the coordinate distributions of complex degree of mutual anisotropy formed by fibrillar networks of myosin fibrils of myocardium tissue of different necrotic states – dead due to coronary heart disease and acute coronary insufficiency are shown. The values and ranges of change of the statistical (moments of the 1st – 4th order) parameters of complex degree of mutual anisotropy coordinate distributions are studied. The objective criteria of differentiation of cause of death are determined.

The results of optical modeling of biological tissues polycrystalline multilayer networks have been presented. Algorithms of reconstruction of parameter distributions were determined that describe the linear and circular birefringence. For the separation of the manifestations of these mechanisms we propose a method of space-frequency filtering. Criteria for differentiation of benign and malignant tissues of the women reproductive sphere were found.

This research presents investigation results of diagnostic efficiency of a new azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix method of laser autofluorescence coordinate distributions analysis of dried polycrystalline films of uterine cavity peritoneal fluid. A new model of generalized optical anisotropy of biological tissues protein networks is proposed in order to define the processes of laser autofluorescence. The influence of complex mechanisms of both phase anisotropy (linear birefringence and optical activity) and linear (circular) dichroism is taken into account. The interconnections between the azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix elements characterizing laser autofluorescence and different mechanisms of optical anisotropy are determined. The statistic analysis of coordinate distributions of such Mueller-matrix rotation invariants is proposed. Thereupon the quantitative criteria (statistic moments of the 1st to the 4th order) of differentiation of dried polycrystalline films of peritoneal fluid – group 1 (healthy donors) and group 2 (uterus endometriosis patients) are estimated.

Chalcogenide glasses are attractive materials due to its application in photonics and optoelectronics. Chalcogenide glasses Ge_xAs_xSe_1-2x (average coordination number Z=2.15÷2.90) and (As₄S₃Se₃)_1-xSn_x (average coordination number Z=2.4÷2.56), which contain elements of IV group of the Periodic Table, such as Ge and Sn are important for a wide range of technical applications, such as infrared optical elements, acousto-optic and alloptical switching devices, holographic recording media, diffractive optics, photonic crystals, etc. [1, 2]. Raman spectroscopy is an efficient method for obtaining information on the local structure of the disordered material, especially when the composition is varied. In this paper are reported the Micro-Raman spectra of Ge_xAs_xSe_1-2x and (As₄S₃Se₃)_1-xSn_x bulk glasses and amorphous thin films. The Micro-Raman spectra of bulk glasses and thermally deposited amorphous (As₄S₃Se₃)_1-xSn_x thin films consist of two broad bands located at around ν=236 cm^-1 and ν=345 cm^-1, which corresponds to the symmetric stretching vibration modes of AsSe_3/2 and AsS_3/2 pyramids, respectively. Tin impurities didn’t change the shape of Micro-Raman spectra, but shift the both bands to low frequency region. The Micro-Raman spectra of bulk glasses and thermally deposited amorphous (Ge_xAs_xSe_1-2x thin films consist of one main vibration band located at around ν=246 cm^-1 for lower concentration of Ge and As, and is attributed to (AsSe_1/2)₃ pyramidal units. With increasing of Ge and As concentrations this band shifts to lower frequency region up to ν=236 cm^-1 for x=0.30. The vibration band situated around ν=205 cm^-1 is attributed to Ge(Se_1/2)₄ tetrahedral units and increase in the intensity with increasing of Ge and As concentrations. Some shoulders in high frequency regions at ν=365-390 cm^-1 and ν=500-530 cm^-1, caused by the presence of As-Se bands and Se-Se chains also was observed.

Excellent optical properties of chalcogenide glasses make them interesting for optoelectronic devices in the visible (VIS) and, especially, in the near- and mid-infrared (NIR and MIR) spectral regions. The rare-earth (RE³⁺) doped Ga₁₇Ge₂₅As_8.3S₆₅ glasses were prepared in evacuated (~10⁻⁵ Pa) silica-glass ampoules which were heated up to 1000 °C at 2–4°C min^-1, and then the melt was quenched. The absorption and photoluminescence spectra in the visible and near IR regions for GA_1.7Ge₂₅As_8.3S₆₅ doped with rare-earth RE⁺) ions (Sm³⁺, Nd³⁺, Pr³⁺, Dy³⁺ and co-doped with Ho³⁺+Dy³⁺) are investigated. The energy transfer of the absorbed light in the broad band Urbach region of the host glass to the RE³⁺ ions is suggested for increasing the emission efficiency. The investigated Ga₁₇Ge₂₅As_8.3S₆₅ glasses doped with RE³⁺ ions are promising materials for optical amplifiers operating at 1300 and 1500 nm telecommunication windows.

The energy transferring between three q-bits system flying simultaneously through an optical cavity, is discussed. It is observed the migration of energy from one excited radiator with dipole forbidden transitions relatively to another two- radiators with half excitation energy of first atom. Photon entangled state between distinct atoms and their transfer is studied. These atoms in our interpretations are named, D - dipole forbidden atom, S₁ and S₂ - two dipole active atoms with summer energy ћɷ₁ + ћɷ₂ = ћɷ_n, ɷ₁ observe the periodical transfer of energy from D- atom to ensemble of two S- atoms. This effect may be used for quantum gates processing in which the energy transfer depends on the input information. The quantum discord and entanglement for this system of q-bits was explored.

A fully digital experimental set-up for real-time digital acquisition and digital optical reconstruction of holographic sequences is presented: a He-Ne laser, a CCD camera and a Phase Only Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) area are part of the set-up. CCD registering and SLM projector are working simultaneously. Using a custom made software of our own, real-time Digital Holographic Interferometry (DHI) “fringe motion pictures” can be performed by subtracting consecutive frames from a reference one and instantly displaying the differences on the SLM illuminated with a playback wave. Phase variations of the objects can be visualized in real-time by observing the interference fringe pattern evolution.

The paper presents the experimental results obtained using a laboratory setup installation for fluorescence excitation of CdTe QDs used as biomarkers for clinical diagnostics. Quantum Dots (QDs) made of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), are highly fluorescent and they are used as robust biomarkers. Generally, QDs are referred to as the zero-dimensional colloidal crystals that possess strong size dependence and multi-colored luminescence properties. Along with its intrinsic features, such as sharp and symmetric emission, photo-stability and high quantum yields, QDs play a vital role in various applications, namely the identification of the chemical moieties, clinical diagnostics, optoelectronics, bio-imaging and bio-sensing¹.

The population alarm systems do not represent a new concept. Since hundreds of years ago the man used either smoke signals generated from certain upper locations, visible from long distance, getting through acoustic systems placed on high buildings, until now when mass-media channels extended the possibilities by the television and radio. However, either one of those mentioned above requested the individual to be located at the alarming moment in the area of action of the alarm. Otherwise, the message has no efficiency. This limitation is currently solved by additional communication channels such as the internet and the mobile networks. Messages are now able to be sent to the mobile screen, and the user can reply to messages either by using the short message service (SMS) or by emailing to someone, to a server, to a center. From the general pattern of alarming the population on certain events, the medical applications represent a very important field. Messages are sent from the patient to a central medical center and back to the patient. This paper focuses on the value that virtual tools developed with LabVIEW brings to us.

The rapid growth of wireless communications requires a new generation of multifunction devices operating simultaneously under multiple communication standards, in several bands, small, robust and low cost. Microstrip technology can provide these features. An original topological structure is presented in this paper. It integrates several microstrip lines and lumped components in an asymmetric network, and has three ports. A lot of resonance frequencies occur as a result of combination between normal and degenerate propagation modes. Dual-band and three-bands can be selected, depending on the ports used. The originality of this work is to investigate a pentagonal pattern microstrip and introduces two types of perturbations given by two capacitors and a microstrip line section between the corners of the pentagon. The electric field patterns and insertion loss are calculated and provide the possibility of implementing microstrip and larger flexibility for choosing different frequency bands for wireless applications.

The different assessments provide information on the best methods to approach an artifact. The presence and extent of potential threats to archaeology must also be determined. In this paper we present an underwater robot, built in the laboratory, able to identify the artifact and to get it to the surface. It is an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which can be controlled remotely from the shore, a boat or a control station and communication is possible through an Ethernet cable with a maximum length of 100 m. The robot is equipped with an IP camera which sends real time images that can be accessed anywhere from within the network. The camera also has a microSD card to store the video. The methods developed for data communication between the robot and the user is present. A communication protocol between the client and server is developed to control the ROV.

This paper presents the concept of a universal control system for automation of small test setups. The main purpose is to control the environment in which the electronic component is being tested. The system has two device types: a master device and multiple slave devices. In this control system the devices are able to communicate with each other and are able to monitor and control specific tasks or actions required in the test flow. The system can be configured using a computer application based on text input.

Due to the technology development, navigation systems are widely used in ground vehicle applications such as position prediction, safety of life, etc. It is known that a hybrid navigation system consisting of a GPS and inertial navigation system (INS) can provide a more accurate position prediction.

By applying a Method of Moments (MoM) approach on the acquired data with INS/GPS we can extract both the coordinate and important information concerning safety of life. This kind of system will be cost effective and can also be used as a black box on boats, cars, submersible ships and even on small aircrafts.

We developed a measuring technology using a TDS-THz system to construct hyperspectral images of some objects, including hazardous materials. “T-rays” (the THz spectral domain of the light) have a growing importance in security and imagistic domain. Due to their property of penetrating through dielectric objects, and using non-ionizing radiations, the THz systems have become a standard for “hot-places” (airports, train stations etc.). The hyperspectral images are 3D images having 2D spatial dimension and one spectral dimension. In this way, we obtain simultaneously information about the form of the object and its molecular composition. For discriminating between substances, we must first build a database of spectra for hazardous and dangerous substances. We experiment our system on some items (among them a firecracker, a cigarette and a metal collar) and we tried to discriminate between them using the database of spectra.

Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PS-InSAR) has become a popular method in remote sensing because of its capability to measure terrain deformations with very high accuracy. It relies on multiple Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) acquisitions, to monitor points with stable proprieties over time, called Persistent Scatterers (PS)^[1]. These points are unaffected by temporal decorrelation, therefore by analyzing their interferometric phase variation we can estimate the scene’s deformation rates within a given time interval. In this work, we apply two incoherent detection algorithms to identify Persistent Scatterers candidates in the city of Focșani, Romania. The first method studies the variation of targets’ intensities along the SAR acquisitions and the second method analyzes the spectral proprieties of the scatterers. The algorithms were implemented on a dataset containing 11 complex images of the region covering Buzău, Brăila and Focșani cities. Images were acquired by Sentinel-1 satellite in a time span of 5 months, from October 2014 to February 2015. The processing chain follows the requirements imposed by the new C-band SAR images delivered by the Sentinel-1 satellite (launched in April 2014) imaging in Interferometric Wide (IW) mode. Considering the particularities of the TOPS (Terrain Observation with Progressive Scans in Azimuth) imaging mode^[2], special requirements had to be considered for pre-processing steps. The PS detection algorithms were implemented in Gamma RS program, a software which contains various function packages dedicated to SAR images focalization, analysis and processing.

In this paper we report spectral measurements of some relatively common substances but from the hazardous category (possibly to be used like explosives or their manipulation is dangerous) in view to create a database with spectra of such substances. THz transmission spectra of some pure materials and mixed ones are also introduced. The measurements were performed using a Time-Domain system that work in the range of 0.2-4.5 THz. We develop our algorithm to obtain maximum information from the measurement and to minimize the errors.

Single-pixel imaging based on multiplexing is a promising technique, especially in applications where 2D detectors or raster scanning imaging are not readily applicable. With this method, Hadamard masks are projected on a spatial light modulator to encode an incident scene and a signal is recorded at the photodiode detector for each of these masks. Ultimately, the image is reconstructed on the computer by applying the inverse transform matrix. Thus, various algorithms were optimized and several spatial light modulators already characterized for such a task. This work analyses the imaging quality of such a single-pixel arrangement, when various illumination conditions are used. More precisely, the main comparison is made between coherent and incoherent ("white light") illumination and between two multiplexing methods, namely Hadamard and Scanning. The quality of the images is assessed by calculating their SNR, using two relations. The results show better images are obtained with "white light" illumination for the first method and coherent one for the second.

The applicability areas for sensor networks vary from industrial automation, environmental observation to medical domain [1]. As the quality of life has improved, the life expectancy also increased during the last years, fact that leads to an aging of the population. It is well known that elderly people need special treatment and resources due to their decreasing capacity of self-caring. It is, thus, desirable to increase the length of independent living for this category without depriving them from the known life environment and personal habits. Another possible application is the one of child care and monitoring in closed precincts. This paper illustrates the implementation steps of a sensor network used for discriminating between the presence of a human being and of an animal that may be useful in case of medical emergency situations. The design takes into account the main challenges that may occur such as achievement of not accurate results due to the fact that children are moving much more than an adult. The basic structure is designed using Arduino platform, sensors for distance measurements, for height determination as well as DHT22 temperature sensor and sensors for motion detection and takes into account cases of walking and standing subjects. Several configurations have been tested in order to improve the relative error for discrimination between children and pet entering a room.

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and energy efficiency play a major role in the context of industry expansion. Management practices for improving efficiency in the field of energy consumption became a priority of many major industries who are inefficient in terms of exploitation costs. The effort of adopting energy management means in an organization is quite challenging due to the lack of resources and expertise. One major problem consists in the lack of knowledge for energy management and practices. This paper aims to present authors’ concept in creating a Cyber Physical Energy System (CPES) that will change organizations’ way of consuming energy, by making them aware of their use. The presented concept will consider the security of the whole system and the easy integration with the existing electric network infrastructure.

The devices that ensure atomization of fluids (injectors and atomizers) are largely employed in contemporary technology. Injectors play a very important part in the functioning of various systems based on combustion of liquid fuels, such as internal combustion engines and turbines, jet engines, furnaces etc. During operation, these devices are subjected to important pressures and need to work within very strict parameters. It is therefore important to have very precise active surfaces.

The present work aimed to investigate such devices after certain degrees of usage in order to verify the evolution of surface micro-characteristics and their influence upon operating parameters. In order to achieve the abovementioned purpose, an optical evaluation of the surface was conducted using laser profilometry. Surface measurements were conducted on several injectors, after various degrees of usage, by aid of a laser profilometer equipped with a confocal sensor that has a vertical working range of 13mm and a resolution of 1μm¹. After the surface micro-topography was measured, 3D and 2D representations, as well as individual profiles of the active surfaces, were analyzed and the significant parameters were determined. Surface wear and presence of combustion residues was analyzed in terms of its influence upon operating conditions.

Classical systems have the main disadvantage of being unable to ensure that high load diesel engine vehicles are slowed in good conditions, for the entire range of combinations of inclinations and lengths of sloped public roads. On such roads, where brakes are used repeatedly and for long periods, friction components that enter classical braking systems will overheat and lead to failure.

The present paper aims to investigate, the efficiency of a braking system based on compression release, called a Jake Brake. In such a system, the exhaust valve is actuated at a certain predetermined angle of the crankshaft.

The presented research was conducted on an experimental rig based on a four-stroke mono-cylinder diesel engine model Lombardini 6 LD400. Pressure and temperature evolutions were monitored before and during the use of the Jake Brake system. As the generated phonic pollution is the main disadvantage of such systems, noise generated in the vicinity of the engine was monitored as well. The monitored parameters were then plotted in diagrams that allowed evaluating the performances of the system.

In the present work, the cast glass-coated amorphous microwires manufactured by the Ulitovsky-Taylor method are studied. Interest in the cast glass-coated amorphous microwires has greatly increased in the last few years mainly due to their technological applications, in particular, as the sensor elements in the various devices. Technological aspects of the Ulitovsky-Taylor method for the preparation of the glass-coated microwires with the different radius are analyzed. It is essential that the microwires are manufactured using a rapid solidification technique. The geometrical characteristics of a microwire depend on the physical properties of a metal and of glass, the diameter of the initial glass tube, and the parameters of the heating inductor. The given method provides the microwire geometric parameters of within the wide ranges. Respectively, a metallic core diameter in these microwires can range from 0.5 to 70 μm, and their glass-coating thickness can be varied from 1 to 50 μm. Moreover, the length of the derivable samples can reach up to 10⁴ m. The obtained microwires exhibit the magnetic properties, which are high dependent on the metallic core composition, and similarly as it was done here for the residual stresses, they can be expressed through the microwire geometric parameters.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze different power devices - emitters of optical flow, from the point of view of optical coupling, emitted optical powers, optical fiber losses and receiver. The research and characterization of the transmission through a power optical system is done using a computer system specialized for the automotive industry. This system/platform can deliver current pulses that are controlled by a computer through a software (it is possible to set different parameters such as pulse repetition frequency, duty cycle, and current intensity).

For the experiments a power Fabry Perot 1035 laser diode operating in pulse with μφ 1055 nm, I_th = 40 mA, and I_op =750 mA was used with a single-mode SFM 128 optical fiber and an EM type optical coupler connected through alignment. Two types of measurements were conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of the experimental structure. In the first case the amplitude of the voltage pulses was measured at the output of an optical detector with receiving diode in a built-in amplifier with a 50 kΩ load resistance. In the second stage measurements were conducted to determine the optical power injected in the optical fiber and received at the reception cell of a power meter. Another parameter of optical coupling that can be measured using the experimental structure is irradiation. This parameter is very important to determine the optimum cutting angle of the fiber for continuity welding.

The paper presents the experiments performed in order to determine the most suitable measuring mode which could be used to notably increase the accuracy of the photometric parameters determination for a white LED using a light meter with multiple measurement modes for various classic light sources like tungsten (incandescent), fluorescent, mercury and sodium based. Light meters are used for measuring the illuminance, which is a photometric parameter and its determination is based on the properties of human sight sense. Knowing how the sensitivity of the eye varies with the wavelength, the spectral response of the sensor and the spectral composition of the radiation emitted by a certain light source, a correction curve can be applied over the sensed values and obtain an accurate measurement. Nowadays many light meters can contain multiple calibration curves for typical light sources, but not for LEDs, especially for white ones. Since multiple measurements can be done using each correction curve, the authors conducted experiments to determine how to combine the aforementioned results to obtain a good estimate for the illuminance of white LEDs.

Measurement of a LED junction temperature is very important in designing a LED lighting system. Depending on the junction temperature we will be able to determine the type of cooling system and the size of the lighting system. There are several indirect methods for junction temperature measurement. The method used in this paper is based on the thermal resistance model. The aim of this study is to identify the best device that would allow measuring the solder point temperature and the temperature on the lens of power LEDs. For this purpose four devices for measuring temperature on a high-power LED are presented and compared according to the acquired measurements: an infrared thermal camera from FLIR Systems, a multimeter with K type thermocouple (Velleman DVM4200), an infrared-spot based noncontact thermometer (Raynger ST) and a measurement system based on a digital temperature sensor (DS1821 type) connected to a PC. The measurements were conducted on an 18W COB (chip-on-board) LED. The measurement points are the supply terminals and the lens of the LED.

This paper investigates the relation between the intensity of solar radiation correlated with ambient temperature and energy production, at local scale and area, using a forecasting algorithm. In the first step, using the experimental collected data, the authors have developed a suitable model to study the analyzed phenomena. The model can be applied for forecasts in the energy sector, very useful especially because UAT (territorial administrative unit) of Alba Iulia has a 275kW functional photovoltaic park.

32.768 kHz low frequency crystals are found in a large part of today’s embedded systems that use microcontrollers especially in battery supplied applications which need low power consumption^1]. Their main role is to offer a stable time reference. There are situations in which time measurement is needed when the system works in a mechanically unstable environment (cars, industrial equipment). The paper presents the studies done on the behavior of 32.768 kHz quartz crystals that are part of embedded systems which operate in a vibrating environment, in terms of period and long-time jitter of the generated time reference signal. The investigations of this effect were done using a test bench especially designed for this purpose which can measure the presented parameters determined by controlled mechanical stimulus (waveform, amplitude and frequency of the vibrations).

Since ancient times, mankind has manifested interest in the development and improvement of weapons, either for military or hunting purposes. Today, in competition with these legal practices, the number of those who commit crimes by non-compliance with the regime of weapons and ammunition has increased exponentially. This is why the technology and methods employed in the area of judicial ballistics, requires constant research and continuous learning. The present paper advances a new experimental set-up and its corresponding methodology, meant to measure the force deployed by the firing pin. The new experimental set-up and procedure consists of a mechatronic structure, based on a piezoelectric force transducer, which allows to measure, in-situ, the force produced by the firing pin when it is deployed. The obtained information can further be used to establish a correspondence between this force and the imprint left on the firing cap. This correspondence furthers the possibility of elaborating a model that would permit ballistic experts to correctly identify a smoothbore weapon.

The electroluminescent panel is a light emitting device that requires for normal operations alternative voltages with peak to peak amplitudes in 100V… 300V range and frequencies in 100Hz … 2 kHz range. Its advantages, when compared with standard light sources like incandescent lamps, gas-discharge lamps or light emitting diodes (LEDs), are lower power consumption, flexible substrate and uniform light without observable luminous points. One disadvantage of electroluminescent panels is the complex power supply required to drive them, but the continuous improvement in passive and active integrated devices for switched mode power supplies will eventually solve this issue. The present paper studies different topologies for these power supplies and the effect of the electric parameters like the amplitude, frequency, waveform of the supplying voltage on the light emission and on power consumption for electroluminescent panels with different size and colors.

LED matrix displays are a common presence in everyday life – they can be found in trains, buses, tramways, office information tables or outdoor media. The structure of the display unit is similar for all these devices, a matrix of light emitting diodes coupled between row and column lines, but there are many options for the display controller that switches these lines. Present paper analyzes different types of embedded systems that can control the LED matrix, based on single board computers, on microcontrollers with different peripheral devices or with programmable logic devices like field programmable gate arrays with implemented soft processor cores. Scalability, easiness of implementation and costs are analyzed for all proposed solutions.

Super-capacitors are highly reliable devices, outlasting any existing battery in operating conditions, cycle number and ruggedness. They are perfect candidates for energy storage in remote wireless sensor network nodes. Other applications [1] use a combination of rechargeable battery as the main storage device and a low capacity EDLC as energy buffer. This paper describes the design and the results from a module consisting of a single large capacitor, a MPPC charger and a boost converter. Unlike other devices, this prototype uses one storage device (a single EDLC), it does not involve software components [2] and it can operate from a single solar cell.

The paper presents the experimental results obtained by using the embedded protection diode for monitoring the operating temperature of the power LEDs. The experiments have been done in both heating and cooling conditions, in order to prove the accuracy of the proposed method. Monitoring the thermal regime of power LEDs by using the embedded protection diode proved to be a viable solution.

This paper reviews concepts and applications in low-power electronics and energy harvesting technologies. Various piezoelectric materials and devices for small power generators useful in renewable electricity are presented. The vibrating piezoelectric device differs from the typical electrical power source in that it has capacitive rather than inductive source impedance, and may be driven by mechanical vibrations of varying amplitude. In general, vibration energy could be converted into electrical energy using one of three techniques: electrostatic charge, magnetic fields and piezoelectric. A low power piezoelectric generator, having a PZT element was realised in order to supply small electronic elements, such as optoelectronic small devices, LEDs, electronic watches, small sensors, interferometry with lasers or Micro-electro-mechanical System (MEMS) array with multi-cantilevers.

The article is centralizing and is concentrating the information from a considerable amount of papers related to the field of microelectronics and nanotechnology and also provides an approach to science and to the future evolution of science, based on the theory of the fractals.

The new science of microelectronics and nanotechnology is one of the best examples of how the science of future will look like, namely at the confluence of increasingly more other sciences, where increasingly more sciences are to be added in the structure of the new science and the role of the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary is becoming more and more important.

Although not giving explicit details (e.g. specific formulas) the theory of fractals is used in the paper to explain the way of generation of new science for the specific case of microelectronics and nanotechnology, but is also used in the paper to outline a different way to approach new science and eventually to approach new sciences to come.

There are mainly two motivations for the present article, namely: on the one hand, the position of the microelectronics and nanotechnologies in the fractal-like structure of science, and, on the other hand, that much of the communication, information, knowledge and science transfer, dissemination and advancement in sciences are taking place using the new technologies related to microelectronics and nanotechnologies.

Arsenic selenide glasses are well known as high photosensitive materials with a wide range of application in optoelectronics and information storage systems. Besides, it was found that the impurities influence the electrical and photoelectrical characteristics of the amorphous material, due to the changes in the density of localized states. Introduction of the elements of IV group of periodic table in selenide and sulphide glasses, such as Sn and Ge, conduct to the appearance of tetrahedral structural units in the base glass, which change the coordination number. These particularities lead on non-monotonous dependence of physical properties on the glass composition. Besides that, recently it was established, that in the disordered network of glassy system Ge_xAs_xSe_1-2x exists three distinct phases, floppy, intermediate and stressed rigid, and the dependence of physical properties of the average coordination number Z. In the present paper the experimental results on steady-state photoconductivity of amorphous Ge_xAs_xSe_1-2x and (As₄S₃Se₃)_1-xSn_x thin films are presented and discusses. It was shown, that the spectral distribution of the stationary photoconductivity for both glass systems depends on the composition and polarity on the illuminated electrode. The experimental results are discussed in terms of multiple trapping model for amorphous materials, with exponential distribution of localized states in the band gap.

Were obtained a new nanocomposite (NC) based on poly N-epoxy prolyl carbazol (PEPC) and the coordination compound luminophore Eu(o-MBA)₃Phen, where o-MBA is o- methylbenzoic acid and Phen – phenanthroline. Nanocrystals of Eu(o-MBA)₃Phen with the dimensions ~ 50 nm were uniformly incorporated into the PEPC polymer matrix with various concentrations. The absorption spectra of coordination compounds and thin layers of NC PEPC/Eu(o-MBA)₃Phen revealed 1 intensive absorption bands at 2.02 eV. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed an intense red luminescence at 578 – 699 nm, which is assigned to the transitions ⁴D₀→⁷F_i (i= 0,1,2 3 4) in the 4f-shell of the Eu³⁺ ion.

The atomization process is affected by a number of operating parameters (pressure, viscosity, temperature, etc.) [1-6] and the adopted constructive solution. In this article are compared parameters of atomized liquid jet with two nozzles that have different lifespan, one being new and the other one out. The last statement shows that the second nozzle was monitored as time of operation on the one hand and on the other hand, two dimensional nozzles have been analyzed using laser profilometry. To compare the experimental parameters was carried an experimental stand to change the period and pulse width in injecting liquid through two nozzles. Atomized liquid jets were photographed and filmed quickly. Images obtained were analyzed using a Matlab code that allowed to determine a number of parameters that characterize an atomized jet. Knowing the conditions and operating parameters of atomized jet, will establish a new wastewater nozzle block of parameter values that can be implemented in controller that provides dosing of the liquid injected. Experimental measurements to observe the myriad forms of atomized droplets to a wide range of operating conditions, realized using the electronic control module.

The thermal micro pipes which were aimed to the cooling of the electrical systems, were realized until the present day in different constructive ways. If the first thermal pipes had had at the base the thermo-siphon system ^[1], afterwards it had been developed the thermal micro pipes ^[2], thanks to their increased capacity of heat dissipation of the surfaces covered by big densities of the thermal flow. The article, presents in the first part, the physical characteristics of the elements which embody a thermal micro pipe and which generates an excess of liquid. For this it has been realized an experimental setup. Measurements were taken by aid of a laser profilometer of the coverage material in two cases. The first one considered the material without being soaked in the liquid, and for the second one, the measurements were taken when the material was supersaturated with liquid. Since the setup allows for temperature monitoring, determinations were effectuated in the vaporization, adiabatic and condensation areas. The temperature field was determined along a thermal micro pipe in the case of extra fluid. The experimental determinations allowed verifying if the method proposed by Mihai and Olariu ^[3], for cooling of the electronic components, through a semi active method with the share of extra fluid in the vaporization area of the thermal micro pipe, works. It was studied how the temperature modifies in the vaporization and condensation areas and by the contrast of the theoretical results obtained through the evaluation with the experimental ones.