http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. (Phys.org) —A NASA team delivered in May a sophisticated microwave radiometer specifically designed to overcome the pitfalls that have plagued similar Earth-observing instruments in the past. http://phys.org/news289670488.html Space & Earth Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:01:38 EST news289670488 (Phys.org) —The ability to guide, bend and focus light at the nanoscale is a highly sought-after goal in the field of nano-optics. Precise and efficient light control has direct applications in solar cells, holography, nanoscale signal processing, CMOS cameras, and many other areas. In a recent study, a team of engineers has proposed a new technique for controlling light at deeply subwavelength scales using a thin stack of patterned surfaces that the engineers call a "meta-transmitarray." The underlying physics of the new concept is very different from any conventional lens and offers greatly improved efficiency and flexibility for manipulating light transmission at the nanoscale. http://phys.org/news289119675.html Physics Thu, 30 May 2013 09:00:01 EST news289119675 Two teams of DARPA performers have achieved world record power output levels using silicon-based technologies for millimeter-wave power amplifiers. RF power amplifiers are used in communications and sensor systems to boost power levels for reliable transmission of signals over the distance required by the given application. Further integration efforts may unlock applications in low-cost satellite communications and millimeter-wave sensing. http://phys.org/news283596417.html Technology Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:47:10 EST news283596417 Advanced mathematical algorithms are essential for processing electronic signals within computers and embedded processors. Scientists and engineers are constantly refining and redesigning their algorithms to obtain higher throughput of information on ever smaller devices that consume less power. http://phys.org/news282379178.html Technology Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:50:04 EST news282379178 Two new patents to improve orthogonal space time codes and decode data transmissions of space time spreading were recently awarded to NJIT Distinguished Professor Yeheskel Bar-Ness, executive director of the Elisha Yegal Bar-Ness Center for Wireless Communications and Signal Processing Research. Co-inventors with Bar-Ness on both patents were NJIT alums Amir Laufer and Kodzovi Acolatse. http://phys.org/news281878211.html Technology Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:30:17 EST news281878211 The last 10 years have seen a flurry of research on an emerging technology called compressed sensing. Compressed sensing does something that seems miraculous: It extracts more information from a signal than the signal would appear to contain. One of the most celebrated demonstrations of the technology came in 2006, when Rice University researchers produced images with a resolution of tens of thousands of pixels using a camera whose sensor had only one pixel. http://phys.org/news278922661.html Technology Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:31:10 EST news278922661 Spintronics is a form of signal processing similar to that used in traditional electronics, but it takes advantage of a property of electrons known as spin. Spin is often visualized as an arrow about which the electron rotates, much like a top spinning around its axis. Generating a stream of electrons in which these 'arrows' are all parallel—a so-called spin-polarized current (see image)—is the foundation upon which spintronics is based. Imperfections in a material, however, can easily destroy polarization. Simply applying an oscillating voltage across the device could help to maintain a spin-polarized current even in the presence of impurities, according to theoretical research by Seng Ghee Tan at the A*STAR Data Storage Institute, Singapore, and co‐workers. http://phys.org/news278749622.html Physics Wed, 30 Jan 2013 06:40:01 EST news278749622 It's a digital world. Or is it? NASA technologist Jonathan Pellish isn't convinced. In fact, he believes a computing technology of yesteryear could potentially revolutionize everything from autonomous rendezvous and docking to remotely correcting wavefront errors on large, deployable space telescope mirrors like those to fly on the James Webb Space Telescope. http://phys.org/news273259342.html Technology Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:22:37 EST news273259342 (Phys.org)—Two professors at the University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering have developed a new method that doubles the efficiency of wireless networks and could have a large impact on the mobile Internet and wireless industries. http://phys.org/news272042695.html Technology Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:25:07 EST news272042695 (Phys.org)—A team of scientists and engineers at the University of Minnesota has invented a unique microscale optical device that could greatly increase the speed of downloading information online and reduce the cost of Internet transmission. http://phys.org/news268406342.html Physics Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:19:17 EST news268406342 Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe has demonstrated the transmission of >100Gbps over a single CEI-28G-VSR channel, effectively quadrupling the data rate throughput defined by the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) for this chip-to-chip electrical interface. This serves as a benchmark for what can be achieved over short-reach electrical channels using the same field-proven CMOS converter technology deployed in long-haul optical transport systems today. Key to the study is a comparison of the relative advantages and disadvantages of PAM (Pulse-amplitude Modulation) encoding versus DMT (Discrete Multi-Tone) over this particular channel. FSEU's test and demonstration platform is based on the test chips and evaluation boards for the family of 40nm, 65GSps CMOS converters ("LEIA" DAC for transmit and "LUKE" ADC for receive). http://phys.org/news266142024.html Technology Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:20:38 EST news266142024 Sony Corporation announced the commercialization of “Exmor RS,” the world's first CMOS image sensor incorporating a unique, newly-developed 'stacked structure.' Shipments will commence in October. Sony is introducing three models of the “Exmor RS,” stacked CMOS image sensor, for use in smartphones and tablets, which combine superior image quality and advanced functionality with compact size. Sony will also launch three corresponding imaging modules incorporating these sensors. http://phys.org/news264673791.html Electronics Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:50:01 EST news264673791 In spring, the sound of birds serenading fills the air. The Department of Signal Processing and Acoustics is developing a system that can recognize a bird species based on a song segment. The system can be put to use by nature enthusiasts and biologists monitoring bird populations. http://phys.org/news256900739.html Biology Tue, 22 May 2012 10:19:08 EST news256900739 Cell phones and flashlights operate by battery without trouble. Yet because of the limited lifespan, battery power is not a feasible option for many applications in the fi elds of medicine or test engineering, such as implants or probes. Researchers have now developed a process that supplies these systems with power and without the power cord. http://phys.org/news252575197.html Technology Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:40:01 EST news252575197 Sony Corporation today announced the development of the industry’s highest picture quality “IPELA ENGINE”, capable of the industry’s first 130dB wide dynamic range in full HD quality at 30 frames/second, which has thus dramatically enhanced image visibility. This level of picture quality, the industry’s highest, is realized through the combination of Sony’s newly developed integrated signal processing system for high picture quality and its new “Exmor” CMOS image sensor that has enabled a further acceleration in signal readout and enhanced noise reduction. The “IPELA ENGINE” will be consecutively equipped into new security camera products from Fall 2012. http://phys.org/news251623513.html Electronics Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:25:38 EST news251623513 Fujitsu today announced the development of a digital signal processing algorithm to compensate for waveform distortion in long-haul transmission systems of over several hundreds of kilometers. This, in turn, enables a roughly twenty-fold improvement in the compensation ability per circuit size compared to typical existing technology, representing a considerable improvement of approximately three times compared to circuits previously developed by Fujitsu. As a result, the new technology has succeeded in extending the long-haul operating range of optical signals. By reducing the energy consumption of compensation circuits by two-thirds, the new technology also helps cut energy consumption throughout an entire network. http://phys.org/news250509342.html Technology Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:56:24 EST news250509342 (PhysOrg.com) -- This week’s NVIDIA announcement of a dressed up version of its CUDA parallel computing platform is targeted as a good news message for engineers, biologists, chemists, physicists, geophysicists, and other researchers on fast-track computations using GPUs. The new version features an LLVM (low-level virtual machine)-based CUDA compiler, new imaging and signal processing functions added to the NVIDIA Performance Primitives library and a redesigned Visual Profiler with automated performance analysis and expert guidance. NVIDIA says the new enhancements are ways to advance simulations and computational work for these users. http://phys.org/news246956451.html Technology Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:50:01 EST news246956451 Sony today announced that it has developed a new next-generation back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which embodies the continuous evolution of the camera. This image sensor layers the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels onto chips containing the circuit section for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. This structure achieves further enhancement in image quality, superior functionalities and a more compact size that will lead to enhanced camera evolution. http://phys.org/news246625887.html Technology Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:11:41 EST news246625887 Sony Corporation today announced the development of two CMOS image sensor models designed for use in smartphones and other devices. They are equipped with Sony's unique “RGBW Coding” function which allows images to be captured with low noise and high picture quality even in low-light conditions. They also contain Sony's “HDR (High Dynamic Range) Movie” function which allows brilliant color to be captured even in bright settings. Sony has also developed a model with built-in signal processing functionality, an element that usually requires external embedment. http://phys.org/news246614276.html Electronics Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:58:21 EST news246614276 The system created by these researchers can be used to automatically adapt the dialogue to the user's situation, so that the machine's response is adequate to the person's emotional state. "Thanks to this new development, the machine will be able to determine how the user feels (emotions) and how s/he intends to continue the dialogue (intentions)", explains one of its creators, David Grill, a professor in UC3M's Computer Science Department. http://phys.org/news241094456.html Technology Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:41:04 EST news241094456 (PhysOrg.com) -- Integrating a complex, single-crystal material with "giant" piezoelectric properties onto silicon, University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers and physicists can fabricate low-voltage, near-nanoscale electromechanical devices that could lead to improvements in high-resolution 3-D imaging, signal processing, communications, energy harvesting, sensing, and actuators for nanopositioning devices, among others. http://phys.org/news240760435.html Nanotechnology Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:00:13 EST news240760435 Fujitsu announced their development of a digital signal processing algorithm to compensate for waveform distortions in signals transmitted by fiber-optic cables in long-haul transmission systems of 100 km or more. Compared to conventional technology in widespread use in literatures, the size and power requirements of the new circuit are reduced by approximately 85%, and are reduced by approximately 50% compared to circuits previously developed by Fujitsu. http://phys.org/news236511496.html Technology Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:38:44 EST news236511496 Dolphins and porpoises use echolocation for hunting and orientation. By sending out high-frequency sound, known as ultrasound, dolphins can use the echoes to determine what type of object the sound beam has hit. http://phys.org/news226666363.html Biology Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:52:56 EST news226666363 (PhysOrg.com) -- Every musical sound comes from a specific way that an instrument is played. With modern technology such as sensors, signal processing, and sometimes machine learning algorithms, researchers can determine the precise musical gesture used to produce a particular sound on an instrument. The ability to recreate musical gestures from sounds can be used for interactive human-computer music performances, music transcription, and other innovative applications. http://phys.org/news208520084.html Technology Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:15:33 EST news208520084 The brain's inner network becomes increasingly more efficient as humans mature. Now, for the first time without invasive measures, a joint study from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL), in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, has verified these gains with a powerful new computer program. Reported in the PNAS early online edition last week, the soon-to-be-released software allows for individualized maps of vital brain connectivity that could aide in epilepsy and schizophrenia research. http://phys.org/news207393276.html Medicine & Health Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:15:01 EST news207393276 (PhysOrg.com) -- Engineers help smaller processors outperform a single superfast processor by working more efficiently in parallel. http://phys.org/news197729807.html Technology Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:00:01 EST news197729807 (PhysOrg.com) -- A researcher from UCL is part of a US-led team investigating how the brain and its microcircuitry react to physiological changes and what could be done to encourage its recovery from injury. http://phys.org/news190991703.html Medicine & Health Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:15:25 EST news190991703 NXP Semiconductors today announced that it will demonstrate working silicon of its newest microcontrollers based on the ARM Cortex-M4 processor at ESC Silicon Valley 2010. http://phys.org/news190452146.html Technology Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:22:51 EST news190452146 Alcatel-Lucent today announced that scientists in Bell Labs, the company’s research arm, have set a new optical transmission record of more than 100 Petabits per second.kilometer (equivalent to 100 million Gigabits per second.kilometer). http://phys.org/news173455192.html Technology Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:00:27 EST news173455192 (PhysOrg.com) -- Technology developed by European researchers is helping the stage production of Ben Hur Live in London's O2 arena. http://phys.org/news172422174.html Technology Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:20:01 EST news172422174