Modeling Heart Wall Motion in an Echocardiography System

In this letter, we consider a case in which only one radio frequency (RF) signal is of interest over multiple RF signals with contiguous spectrums (i.e., these RF signals are adjacent to each other). The minimum valid bandpass sampling range for a desired RF signal over multiple ones is derived under the assumption of contiguous spectrums. The sampling frequency confined by the derived minimum valid sampling range is significantly reduced compared to the case in which all the RF signals are desired. The minimum valid bandpass sampling frequency can be further reduced when the desired RF signal has symmetric double sidebands.

The center idea behind the software radio architecture is to place analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters as near the antenna as possible, leaving the implementation of the most radio functionality to a programmable micro or signal processor. One way to accomplish this in a radio receiver front end is by direct downconverting the desired radio frequency (RF) signal to a target intermediate frequency (IF) using bandpass sampling. Although the bandpass sampling theory for a single RF signal is well developed, its counterpart for two or more RF signals is relatively immature. For direct downconverting multiple distinct RF signals, determining valid bandpass sampling frequencies using the conventional approach could be a computationally exhaustive process. In this paper, we propose an efficient method to find the ranges of valid bandpass sampling frequency for direct downconverting multiple distinct RF signals. Simple formulas for the ranges of valid bandpass sampling frequency in terms of bandwidths and frequency locations of the RF signals are derived. The result can be used to efficiently choose an appropriate bandpass sampling frequency for multiple RF signals.

Advancement in technology has led to creative and innovative inventions. One such invention includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAVs (also known as drones) are now an intrinsic part of our society because their application is becoming ubiquitous in every industry ranging from transportation and logistics to environmental monitoring among others. With the numerous benign applications of UAVs, their emergence has added a new dimension to privacy and security issues. There are little or no strict regulations on the people that can purchase or own a UAV. For this reason, nefarious actors can take advantage of these aircraft to intrude into restricted or private areas. A UAV detection and identification system is one of the ways of detecting and identifying the presence of a UAV in an area. UAV detection and identification systems employ different sensing techniques such as radio frequency (RF) signals, video, sounds, and thermal imaging for detecting an intruding UAV. Because of the passive nature (stealth) of RF sensing techniques, the ability to exploit RF sensing for identification of UAV flight mode (i.e., flying, hovering, videoing, etc.), and the capability to detect a UAV at beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) or marginal line-of-sight makes RF sensing techniques promising for UAV detection and identification. More so, there is constant communication between a UAV and its ground station (i.e., flight controller). The RF signals emitting from a UAV or UAV flight controller can be exploited for UAV detection and identification. Hence, in this work, an RF-based UAV detection and identification system is proposed and investigated. In RF signal fingerprinting research, the transient and steady state of the RF signals can be used to extract a unique signature. The first part of this work is to use two different wavelet analytic transforms (i.e., continuous wavelet transform and wavelet scattering transform) to investigate and analyze the characteristics or impacts of using either state for UAV detection and identification. Coefficient-based and image-based signatures are proposed for each of the wavelet analysis transforms to detect and identify a UAV. One of the challenges of using RF sensing is that a UAV's communication links operate at the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. Several devices such as Bluetooth and WiFi operate at the ISM band as well, so discriminating UAVs from other ISM devices is not a trivial task. A semi-supervised anomaly detection approach is explored and proposed in this research to differentiate UAVs from Bluetooth

Energy harvesting from the renewable sources has been the main concern in the present scenario. Till now most of the researchers focused on harvesting solar energy and wind energy. However the small amount of energy harvesting without affecting environment is very important. In the recent years mobile communication has become a part of our daily life, extracting energy from the Radio Frequency (RF) signals used everywhere is an attractive solution to the existing energy problem. Another major source of harvesting small amount of energy is from the human body heat. The energy extractions from these sources are emerging as a guaranteed alternative way to substitute the available energy resource to some extent. This paper presents a hybrid model which consists of two sections. First being the harvesting of energy from the RF signals in the range of GSM 4G band (1800-2100 MHz) using a micro-strip patch antenna followed by impedance matching circuit to reduce the dissipated power between load and antenna. Then a rectifier circuit that converts RF into DC signals is used and finally a voltage multiplier circuit is used to boost up the DC voltage. Second section consists of Thermo Electric Generator (TEG) module which converts human body heat into electricity, followed by a voltage booster to increase the level of voltage. The main objective of this work is to find a way to design a hybrid system that can harvest energy from RF signals as well as human body heat and the combined energy that is harvested can be used to power up low voltage implant device.

This paper introduces a novel framework, i.e., RFPose-OT, to enable three-dimensional (3D) human pose estimation from radio frequency (RF) signals. Different from existing methods that predict human poses from RF signals at the signal level directly, we consider the structure difference between the RF signals and the human poses, propose a transformation of the RF signals to the pose domain at the feature level based on the optimal transport (OT) theory, and generate human poses from the transformed features. To evaluate RFPose-OT, we build a radio system and a multi-view camera system to acquire the RF signal data and the ground-truth human poses. The experimental results in a basic indoor environment, an occlusion indoor environment, and an outdoor environment demonstrate that RFPose-OT can predict 3D human poses with higher precision than state-of-the-art methods.

In this paper, the study on applications of radio frequency nano antenna energy conversion and supercapacitors is presented. Radio Frequency (RF) signals are a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths greater than 3 meters. Initially used in wireless communication devices like radios and walkie-talkies, RF signals have found their way into energy conversion and storage applications. When RF signals are received by an antenna with coupled capacitors and a rectifier circuit, they generate a potential difference of a few millivolts. This potential difference can be used as a stable source of energy to power low-voltage applications through ambient RF radiation, and excess energy can be stored in electrochemical storage systems like supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries. While this technology is currently limited to low-power applications, it has immense potential in various fields such as medicine, automotive industry, military applications, and more. Researchers are currently working to improve the energy density of supercapacitors by modifying their electrode materials using nanotechnology. One promising material is lignin, derived from wood fibers, which has shown great performance in tests and is expected to be a low-cost solution for high-performance batteries and supercapacitors. As the renewable energy sector continues to advance, we can expect to see more useful applications based on RF nano antennas and micro/nano-sized supercapacitors. The work done & presented in this paper is the result of the mini-project work that has been done by the first sem engineering students of the college and as such there is little novelty in it and the references are being taken from various sources from the internet, the paper is being written by the students to test their writing skills in the starting of their engineering career and also to test the presentation skills during their mini-project presentation. The work done & presented in this paper is the report of the assignment / alternate assessment tool as a part and parcel of the academic assignment of the first year subject on nanotechnology & IoT.

Disk drives' high data rate frequencies now occupy the same radio-frequency (RF) signal frequency bands of wireless communication networks. RF signals invade into the disk enclosure (DE) through the hard disk drive's slots, which are created by the gap between the top cover and the base between screws. Poor immunity DE designs allow wireless RF signals to interfere with the low-amplitude read signal of the customer's data. It is important to find the invasion path of the RF signal interference, and to apply the countermeasure to improve RF immunity. To determine the best configurations for RF immunity from a slot to the read path, this paper compares the RF immunity among four kinds of signal-trace suspension configurations by two kinds of extrinsic RF coupling measurement methods. Analysis shows that proper ground routing of some signal return traces can significantly improve RF immunity, and electrostatic discharge protection.

Nonlinear transmission lines (NLTL) are gaining extensive research focus as a way to generate high-power radio frequency (RF) signals. NLTLs can be classified into two groups: lumped transmission lines containing L-C sections, and external magnetic field-biased line loaded with continuous ferromagnetic materials known as gyromagnetic lines. Traditionally, without a continuous supply of input excitation, NLTLs cannot produce self-sustaining RF signals. In this regard, the authors present a design and demonstration of a self-sustaining soliton generator. The design is based on a 16-section Schottky diode-based NLTL prototype complemented by a solid-state switch (LDMOS) based 1.5 kW (continuous) rated power amplifier (PA), and a custom-made high voltage (650 V) pulse generator. A closed-loop configuration constructed from these components can produce a continuous stream of RF signals from a single input excitation. The prototype is able to generate a peak pulsed RF power of 2.1 kW across a 50 Ω resistive load. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, solid-state switch-based PA has not been introduced in any NLTL design until now to produce self-sustaining RF signals.

Simple SummaryGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal brain tumor. Combining hyperthermia with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy improves survival of GBM patients. For radio frequency (RF)-induced hyperthermia, the RF signals’ power and phase need to be supervised to achieve a precise formation of the power deposition focal point, accurate thermal dose control, and safety management. Patient position during treatment also needs to be monitored to ensure the efficiency of the treatment and to avoid adverse effects in healthy tissue. This work demonstrates the development, implementation, evaluation, validation, and application of a multi-channel RF supervision module that meets the technical requirements of hyperthermia and provides a cost-effective solution for broad-band RF signal supervision and patient monitoring. It is a key component for a hyperthermia hardware system and facilitates future thermal magnetic resonance applications that integrate RF-induced heating, in vivo temperature mapping, and anatomic and functional imaging in a single RF applicator.Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal and common brain tumor. Combining hyperthermia with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy improves the survival of GBM patients. Thermal magnetic resonance (ThermalMR) is a hyperthermia variant that exploits radio frequency (RF)-induced heating to examine the role of temperature in biological systems and disease. The RF signals’ power and phase need to be supervised to manage the formation of the energy focal point, accurate thermal dose control, and safety. Patient position during treatment also needs to be monitored to ensure the efficacy of the treatment and avoid damages to healthy tissue. This work reports on a multi-channel RF signal supervision module that is capable of monitoring and regulating RF signals and detecting patient motion. System characterization was performed for a broad range of frequencies. Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to examine the impact of power and phase errors on hyperthermia performance. The supervision module’s utility was demonstrated in characterizing RF power amplifiers and being a key part of a feedback control loop regulating RF signals in heating experiments. Electromagnetic field simulations were conducted to calculate the impact of patient displacement during treatment. The supervision module was experimentally tested for detecting patient motion to a submillimeter level. To conclude, this work presents a cost-effective RF supervision module that is a key component for a hyperthermia hardware system and forms a technological basis for future ThermalMR applications.

Ultrasound echoscopy technologies are continuously evolving towards new modalities including quantitative parameter imaging, elastography, 3D scanning, and others. The development and analysis of new methods and algorithms require an adequate digital simulation of radiofrequency (RF) signal transformations. The purpose of this paper is the quantitative evaluation of RF signal simulation uncertainties in resolution and contrast reproduction with the model of a phased array transducer. The method is based on three types of standard physical phantoms. Digital 3D models of those phantoms are composed of point scatterers representing the weak backscattering of the background material and stronger backscattering from inclusions. The simulation results of echoscopy with sector scanning transducer by Field II software are compared with the RF output of the Ultrasonix scanner after scanning standard phantoms with 2.5 MHz phased array. The quantitative comparison of axial, lateral, and elevation resolutions have shown uncertainties from 9 to 22% correspondingly. The echoscopy simulation with two densities of scatterers is compared with contrast phantom imaging on the backscattered RF signals and B-scan reconstructed image, showing that the main sources of uncertainties limiting the echoscopy RF signal simulation adequacy are an insufficient knowledge of the scanner and phantom’s parameters. The attempt made for the quantitative evaluation of simulation uncertainties shows both problems and the potential of echoscopy simulation in imaging technology developments. The analysis presented could be interesting for researchers developing quantitative ultrasound imaging and elastography technologies looking for simulated raw RF signals comparable to those obtained from real ultrasonic scanning.

A switchable dual-band binary and single-band quaternary phase-coded microwave signal generator based on a single dual-polarization dual-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator (DP-DDMZM) is proposed. Two radio frequency (RF) signals are first coupled with two bipolar coded signals and then used to drive the DP-DDMZM. When the frequencies of the two RF signals are different, the generator will be in dual-band binary phase-coded mode and a dual-band binary phase-coded signal can be generated. When the frequencies of the two RF signals are the same but their phase difference is adjusted to be 90°, the generator will be in single-band quaternary phase-coded mode and a single-band quaternary phase-coded signal can be obtained. Detailed analysis is carried out to illustrate the mechanism and a proof-of-concept experiment is also performed to demonstrate the feasibility. The dual-band binary and single-band quaternary phase-coded microwave signal are both experimentally generated and their performance is evaluated. The proposed generator features the advantages of simple structure, high flexibility and stable performance, which is promising in the future multifunctional radar systems.

A technique to estimate an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal angle of arrival (AOA) irrespective of the RF signal amplitude is presented. It is based on measuring the DC voltage at the output of two modules where each of them consists of an optical modulator, an optical filter and a photodetector. An RF signal amplitude‐independent AOA can be obtained from the ratio of the two DC voltages. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate 0°–63° AOA measurement with <3° errors for an RF signal with three different power levels of 3.2, −0.3 and −3.6 dBm into the modulator.

Low-phase-noise dual-tone radio frequency (RF) signal generation is realized by injecting a low-frequency signal into a dual-passband optoelectronic oscillator (OEO). The dual-passband OEO is realized by paralleling two individual electrical filters with different center frequencies in the oscillation loop, and the injection signal’s frequency equals the frequency difference between the two generated oscillation signals. Due to the modulation nonlinearity of the oscillation loop, the low-frequency injection signal enables mutual frequency conversion between the two oscillation frequencies, leading to sustained mutual injection locking. In a proof-of-concept experiment, two RF signals with frequencies of 10.6637 GHz and 14.0008 GHz are simultaneously generated by injecting a 3.3371-GHz signal into the proposed OEO. The phase noises at a 10-kHz frequency offset of the generated RF signals are −140.06 dBc/Hz and −140.13 dBc/Hz, respectively, and the side-mode suppression ratios are larger than 60 dB.

Image quality improvement in single plane-wave imaging using deep learning

The linear relationship between dose of contrast agent and radio-frequency (RF) signal constitutes a means of noninvasive evaluation of intracardiac flows by contrast echocardiography. To assess the concentration of echo-contrast agents by ultrasound, a commercially available echocardiographic instrument was modified. The RF signal (unprocessed backscattered signal) corresponding to a region of interest inside the 2-D echo image was sampled in real time and transferred online to a personal computer. The relationship between different doses of contrast agent and RF signal was tested in an in vitro system of circulation. In the range of doses between 0.25 and 1.5 ml of contrast a linear correlation was found between dose and RF (r=0.92). At higher doses (1.75-2.0) ml, the dynamic converter used in this modified echo instrument produced a significant distortion of the signal. The system also made it possible to study the spontaneous decay of the echo contrast agent. The spontaneous T/sub 1/2/ (68 s) is long enough to allow flow evaluation. >