Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica, Elettronica e delle Telecomunicazioni, di tecnologie Chimiche, Automatica e modelli Matematici
Research topics
1. COMPUTATIONALLY EFFICIENT ALGORITHMS FOR ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF INJECTION-LOCKED MICROWAVE OSCILLATORS
E. Calandra, M. Caruso
1. PHYSICAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL DEPOSITION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC AND PHOTONIC DEVICES
C Calì, R. Macaluso, M. Mosca
Collaborations: - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali (DICAM) dell'Università degli Studi di Palermo (Prof. Francesco Di Quarto), - Novagan, Sàrl - Lausanne, Svizzera (dr. Eric Feltin).
2. DESIGN, FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTOELECTRONIC AND PHOTONIC DEVICES
A. C. Busacca, A. Andò, L. Curcio, G. Adamo, S. Stivala, S. Riva Sanseverino
Collaborations: STMicroelectronics (sede Catania); CNR, Institute for complex Systems; Dept. of Physics, Univ. "Sapienza"; INRS-EMT Varennes (QC) Canada, Telecom Italia, ESA
4. EMBEDDED SYSTEMS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
G. C. Giaconia, G. Fertitta, F. Lo Bue
Collaborations: INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia), SDESLAB (Lab. Per lo Svilippo dell’Energia Sostenibile) Univ. di Palermo, EDF (Electricité de France), Sigma Orionis (Francia), TID (Telefonica I Desarollo), Fagor Electrodomesticos (Spagna), Synelixis (Grecia), Gorenje (Slovenia), GL Noble Denton (UK)
5. SUBMARINE SEISMIC MONITORING THROUGH HIGH PERFORMANCES DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING SYSTEMS
G. C. Giaconia, G. Fertitta, F. Lo Bue
Collaborations: INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia), SDESLAB (Lab. Per lo Svilippo dell’Energia Sostenibile) Univ. di Palermo, EDF (Electricité de France), Sigma Orionis (Francia), TID (Telefonica I Desarollo), Fagor Electrodomesticos (Spagna), Synelixis (Grecia), Gorenje (Slovenia), GL Noble Denton (UK)
COMPUTATIONALLY EFFICIENT ALGORITHMS FOR ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF INJECTION-LOCKED MICROWAVE OSCILLATORS
E. Calandra, M. Caruso
Injection-locked oscillators (ILO) are a class of saturated oscillating amplifiers useful in several applications, especially in the higher microwave range. Because of their nature of stiffly-nonlinear systems, they pose significant difficulties for their study, even if the most powerful and updated circuit simulator tools are adopted. For this reason, their design is commonly made with empirical trial and error based procedures. Moreover, the simulation of some important features, such as the locking-bandwidth, is very time consuming, unless a very simplified model of the ILO is adopted.
To overcome such limitations of the theory, during 2011 this research group worked toward the development of novel approaches to the computationally efficient simulation of ILO with circuit structures more adherent to the ones actually adopted in practical systems. In particular, the attention has been focused on the extension of the perturbation-refined Dynamical Complex Envelope domain approach previously developed by Calandra-Sommariva for the analysis of diode-equipped ILOs to more complex circuit structures employing microwave transistors as active element.
For such systems, some preliminary results (pertaining to a rather general class of quasi-sinusoidal “single-tuned like” feedback-type ILOs) have been already obtained and presented in International Conferences [1-3].
One of the main results has been the development of a semi-analytic formula for the locking bandwidth calculation, which extends the well know Adler’s one to the case of transistor equipped ILOs, fully accounting for their nonlinear output characteristics.
Pubblications in 2011
1) Calandra E., Caruso M., Lupo D.: "Accelerated Analysis of Low-Level Injection Operation for Transistor-Based Oscillating Amplifiers", Proceedings of "ICC-2011" - 15th WSEAS International Conference on Circuits (Corfù, July 2011), pp. 176-181, 2011.
2) Calandra E., Caruso M., Lupo D.: "Influence of Active Device Nonlinearities on the Determination of Adler's Injection-Locking Q-Factor" - 20th European Conference on Circuit Theory and Design (Linköping, Aug. 2011), pp. 109-112, 2011.
3) Calandra E., Caruso M., Lupo D.: "Computationally Efficient Analysis of Microwave Injection-Locked Amplifiers" - 21th International Crimean Conference on Microwave and Telecommunication Technology (Sevastopol, Sept. 2011), pp. 239-242, 2011.
PHYSICAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL DEPOSITION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC AND PHOTONIC DEVICES
C Calì, R. Macaluso, M. Mosca
During the last year the electrochemical fabrication of a hybrid inorganic–organic field effect transistor (IOFET) has been implemented. Ti–Zr mixed oxide (dielectric permittivity ~45) grown by anodizing has been used as a dielectric, while 3,4-polyethylenedioxythiophene has been employed as a semiconducting polymer. The polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene on the oxide has been realized by a photoelectrochemical process. The metal/oxide/polymer junctions have been investigated by photocurrent spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The output transistor characteristics have been recorded in order to test the performance of the junctions in the IOFET structure. [1]
Also, a high efficiency cool white LED was obtained by generation of yellow down-conversion from a GaN/InGaN blue LED. Using photoluminescence of a perylene-based polymer dye we achieved a good substitute for conventional inorganic color conversion. [2]
Finally we investigated on p-type doping of ZnO films grown by pulsed-laser deposition on InP substrates. Electrical properties change of the films, from n-type to p-type, has been observed after postgrowth annealing at
Pubblications in 2011
1) F. Di Franco, P. Bocchetta, C. Calì, M. Mosca, M. Santamaria, and F. Di Quarto: Electrochemical Fabrication of Metal/Oxide/Conducting Polymer Junction - Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 158 (1) H50-H54 (2011)
DESIGN, FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTOELECTRONIC AND PHOTONIC DEVICES
A. C. Busacca, A. Andò, L. Curcio, G. Adamo, S. Stivala, S. Riva Sanseverino
1) We have characterized, electrically and optically in Continuous Wave (CW), a novel class of SiPMs fabricated in standard silicon planar technology. We have measured responsivity carried out on the 400-820 nm spectrum, at different overvoltages (OV) and incident optical power values, in order to evaluate the possibility of applying these detectors in medical imaging systems and in very low power measurements.
2) Air is the transmission medium in a terrestrial Free Space Optical (FSO) link and so it is affected by several impairments that depend on atmospheric conditions: scattering losses, absorption and scintillation. In order to predict irradiance fluctuations we used a correlated channel model based on the Gamma-Gamma statistics and the temporal covariance function of irradiance. We tested the performances of LT, Raptor and RQ codes by simulating a OOK modulated transmission of 100 Mbps (1518 byte frame size) over 500 m, at different fading thresholds.
3) THz radiation has been shown to be suitable in lots of applications because such frequencies cover vibrational and electronic resonances of many important molecular systems and allow us to know and understand the atomic composition of several materials. In particular we quote: imaging with THz pulses; object reconstruction with single-cycle THz pulses; time resolved spectroscopy for solid state physics and material science (Time Domain Spectroscopy, TDS). Although there are several different methods to generate THz waves, the largest bandwidths have been obtained via optical rectification (OR) in nonlinear semiconductors employing ultra-short lasers (<200 fs) together with electro-optic sampling (EOS). For this reason, we propose a numerical model to study and simulate the main phenomena which take place in an experimental set-up we have designed and realized.
4) Inverse photonic crystals made of chemically responsive hydrogels can be used as very sensitive chemical sensors. We obtained transmission curves by changing the vertical position of the opal with a step of 0.5mm: the Bragg resonance was centered around 510 nm and the sample showed its best optical properties (i.e. smaller HWHM and deeper gap) in the first deposited layers near to the up edge of the fabricated OD. Subsequently, we took measurements at a fixed vertical opal position and varying the angle of incidence (from 0° to 42.5°). Initial measurements on inverse opals showed that the Bragg peak was centered around 630 nm.
5) We reported on broadband second harmonic generation in the range between 930 and 970 nm using random quasi-phase matching in planar waveguide fabricated by soft proton exchange in congruent Lithium Tantalate. We compared bulk and waveguide measurements, outlining the averaging role of guided-wave modes and their interactions with respect to spectral acceptance and near-field profile.
Pubblications in 2011
1) Peccianti, M., Phing Ho, S., Buccheri, F., Clerici, M., Busacca, A., Ozaki, T., et al. (2011). Sub-Wavelength Scale THz Source via Optical Rectification and its Spatio-Temporal Properties. Paper presented at Photonics Prague 2011 - The 7th International conference on Photonics, Devices and Systems, Prague, Czech Republic.
2) Busacca, A., Stivala, S., Curcio, L., Riva Sanseverino, S., & Assanto, G. (2011). Backward Frequency Doubling in Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate in the Pulsed Regime. Paper presented at GE 2011 - 43° Riunione Annuale del Gruppo Elettronica, Trani.
3) Andò, A., Busacca, A., Tosi Beleffi, G.M., Forin, D.M., Di Bartolo, S., Incerti, G., et al. (2011). Monitoring System of Passive Optical Networks with Remotely Power Supply of Optical Network Terminals. Paper presented at Convegno Nazionale delle Tecnologie Fotoniche.
4) Buccheri, F., Busacca, A., Peccianti, M., Phing Ho, S., Clerici, M., Ozaki, T., et al. (2011). SPATIOTEMPORAL FEATURES OF THZ GENERATED VIA OPTICAL RECTIFICATION IN SUB-WAVELENGTH TRANSVERSE DIMENSION. Paper presented at Fotonica 2011 - 13° Convegno Nazionale delle Tecnologie Fotoniche, Genova.
5) Phing Ho, S., Peccianti, M., Buccheri, F., Clerici, M., Busacca, A., Ozaki, T., et al. (2011). Space-time features of THz emission from optical rectification in sub-wavelength areas. Paper presented at CLEO: Science and Innovations, Baltimore, Maryland (U.S.A.).
6) Stivala, S., Busacca, A., D’Asaro, E., Assanto, G., & Conti, C. (2011). PARAMETRIC SELF-TRAPPING OF OPTICAL BEAMS VIA RANDOM QUASI PHASE MATCHING IN LITHIUM TANTALATE WAVEGUIDE. Paper presented at Fotonica 2011, Genova.
7) Busacca, A.C., Curcio, L., Stivala, S., Andò, A., Nava, G., Minzioni, P., et al. (2011). All-Optical frequency Shifter in a Periodically Poled Lithium Tantalate Waveguide. Paper presented at Convegno Nazionale delle Tecnologie Fotoniche.
8) Busacca, A.C., Stivala, S., Curcio, L., Andò, A., & Adamo, G. (2011). Random Quasi-Phae-Matching in Tantalatio di Litio: origine del fenomeno, confronto tra propagazione bulk e guidata.. Paper presented at Convegno Nazionale delle Tecnologie Fotoniche.
9) Andò, A., Bonanno, E., Curcio, L., Stivala, S., Adamo, G., Riva Sanseverino, S., et al. (2011). Correlated Channel Model for terrestrial Free Space Optics and project specifications evaluation of LT code in OOK modulation. Paper presented at Riunione Annuale del Gruppo Elettronica.
10) Busacca, A., Curcio, L., Stivala, S., D'Asaro, E., & Assanto, G. (2011). NEAR INFRARED PICOSECOND PULSED BACKWARD SECOND-HARMONIC-GENERATION IN PERIODICALLY-POLED LITHIUM NIOBATE. Paper presented at Fotonica 2011 - 13° Convegno Nazionale delle Tecnologie Fotoniche, Genova.
11) Curcio, L., Stivala, S., Busacca, A.C., Andò, A., Adamo, G., & Riva Sanseverino, S. (2011). Second Harmonic Generation via Random Quasi-phase Matching in a Periodically Poled Lithium Tantalate Waveguide. Paper presented at Riunione Annuale del Gruppo Elettronica.
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
G. C. Giaconia, G. Fertitta, F. Lo Bue
Within an European FP7 Project (www.beywatch.eu) a deep evaluation of the potential energy saving and CO2 emissions reduction on buildings was carried out. The project was devoted to create a viable solution to control electric and thermal consumptions at houses level, while empowering them with renewable energy systems. In particular a CPS (Combined Photovoltaic and Solar system) has been designed, implemented and integrated in a heterogeneous wireless sensor network, capable to collect energy consumption and production within an apartment and to globally optimize performance adopting an “user centric” philosophy. It exploited the ICT possibilities to tailor the usual electric and thermal loads both to the inhabitants needs and to the energy distribution constraints. Finally the adoption of a ZigBee protocol for the CPS system and for some of the heaviest appliances loads led to a high degree of interoperability of the wireless sensor network.
SUBMARINE SEISMIC MONITORING THROUGH HIGH PERFORMANCES DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING SYSTEMS
G. C. Giaconia, G. Fertitta, F. Lo Bue
Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) must fulfil the usual constraints related to seismic monitoring, adding the restriction of fiercely minimizing the power consumption, in order to stretch to the limit the logging autonomy after their release down to the seabed. The implemented prototypes showed very low noise level, thus obtaining an overall value of dynamic range almost equal to 130dB within a large working frequency band range (0.01Hz–100Hz), one of the best reported in literature.
Then the main task of an OBS is to detect and record all the seismic events during a measurement campaign, generally lasting period ranging from weeks to a few months. The monitored undersea environment is virtually unexplored and consequently no a priori information regarding the frequency and the intensity of the collecting phenomena are available at the time of deposit of the measurement system.
These particular conditions impose an OBS to perform a very wide input dynamic range together with the largest possible frequency bandwidth, usually exceeding the ones of the conventional terrestrial seismic stations. These performances must generally fight against the intrinsic constraints of low power consumption, due to the abovementioned long monitoring periods which the OBS has to face. In fact the nowadays most used solution for electric energy supplying is a battery powered system.
The presented implementation showed the dynamic range and the bandwidth already mentioned into the summary, while keeping, during a measurement session, an overall power consumption of 40mW per input channel plus 20mW due to the necessary adoption of an ARM based microcontroller, which accomplished all the tasks related to the control of the overall architecture and the implementation of the filtering algorithms, needed to improve the signal to noise ratio.
Pubblications in 2011
1) Fertitta, G., Giaconia, G.C., La Cascia, D., Lo Bue, F., Miceli, R., & Rando, C. (2011). The FP7 BeyWatch European scientific project: general features and design criteria of the Combined Photovoltaic Solar (CPS) system within the BEYWATCH system architecture. Paper presented at EVER 2011, Principato di Monaco.
2) Fertitta, G., Giaconia, G.C., & Lo Bue, F. (2011). An Embedded System for the integration of a Combined Photovoltaic Solar (CPS) system into a ZigBee Home Area Network. Paper presented at International Conference & Exhibition on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energy, 2011, Principato Di Monaco.
3) Fertitta, G., Di Stefano, A., Fiscelli, G., & Giaconia, G.C. (2011). An embedded datalogger with a fast acquisition rate for in-vehicle testing and monitoring. In M. Conti, S. Orcioni, N. Martinez Madrid, & R. Seepold (a cura di), Solutions on Embedded Systems (pp. 173-185). Springer.