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An Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) and Google gadgets based micro-injection moulding process monitoring system
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp.2012.0584
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) have been used in various industrial monitoring applications, with the latest trend being their integration and that of other devices into the “Internet of Things (IoT)” vision in which millions of devices will be interconnected online. One industrial environment which still has not had much exposure to WSNs and the IoT is the plastics industry environment particularly Injection Moulding (IM), Micro Injection Moulding (μIM) and Extrusion. In this paper a novel approach is presented for monitoring a typical plastics industry environment based on three major technologies: WSN, Service Orientated Architecture (SOA) and Google Gadgets (GG). This is applied to a heterogeneous network of WSN nodes and National Instruments (NI) high speed data acquisition (DAQ) devices. The SOA (De-facto solution in Enterprise-IT systems) enables IT resources like specific departmental applications, business partners, business processes, systems to be accessed as a service hence allowing seamless interoperability. Here we describe; architectural design, system integration and user interfaces for a prototype system developed for the Centre for Polymer Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) at the University of Bradford which makes use of the WSO2 Carbon Platform's Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) and the GG API. (6 pages)
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Iris image analysis for biometric system
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/ic.2009.0128
Iris recognition is accepted as a one of the most efficient biometric methods. Practical implementation of this biometric method requires special image processing, where the iris feature extraction plays a crucial role. In this paper, we analyze the effect of various parameters of algorithms, different image acquisition system specifications, various environment, and different size of images for iris recognition system. Speed, accuracy and acceptability of iris recognition system depend on all the above parameters. Work has been carried out on various eye databases such as UPOL, CASIA, UBIRIS, and some of the images of eyes taken by our image acquisition system. In iris recognition process maximum time is required for localization. It has been found that good contrast image has more accuracy of localization and small size image results in fast localization. Speed of recognition system also depends upon the specifications of data acquisition system. FAR, FRR, speed and performance of overall recognition system also depends upon iris localization, size of normalized iris and encoding filter parameters. All these factors have been found variable, depending upon data acquisition used. (7 pages)
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Experience of mobile Web-based condition monitoring technology for partial discharge detection and analysis
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp.2009.0582
The implementation of a condition based monitoring system requires the integration of a variety of hardware and software components. A complete system is composed of a number of functional capabilities such as sensing and data acquisition, data manipulation, health diagnostics and prognostics. In addition there are a broad range of system level requirements that include communication and integration with legacy systems, protection of proprietary data, need for upgradeability, and reduction of engineering time and cost. The successful development of such robust, mobile systems with this level of capability requires significant difficulties to be overcome. This paper presents the architecture employed when designing and developing a PD monitoring system and the experiences learnt during testing. (4 pages)
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WiFi and WiMax: break through in wireless access technologies
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_20080165
Data in the good old days was only the stepchild of telephone network, the speech being the main child. This scenario gradually changed with data acquiring important place and this gave rise to access technologies. Data volumes to be transported were constantly on the rise due to computers becoming more and more sophisticated and graduating from mainframe to PCs and necessitating ever growing need for computer- to- computer communication at higher and higher bit rates. All this led to wireless data communication technologies like Wi-Fi and WiMax which combine the techniques developed for modems, LANs, WANs, MANs with the wireless technologies. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the various technologies that have gone into high speed wireless data communication and led to significantly higher data speeds and to look at the IEEE WiFi and WiMax standards.
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Information retrieval of data and state of distribution management based on metadata
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_20061867
The development of information platform for distribution application, based on Common Information Model (CIM) and Utility Integration Bus (UIB) of IEC61970/IEC61968 series standards, enabled information exchanging and sharing between heterogeneous systems. However, how to acquire data and state for system analysis and decision making quickly and easily from massive data and heterogeneous systems, which is called information retrieval of data and state in this paper, is still an urgent problem. In order to solve this problem, metadata theories are applied on design of searching engine based on CIM/UIB for distribution information resources, and a scheme on information retrieval of data and state, which can easily get time depended and topology depended data for distribution application from heterogeneous systems, is proposed in this paper. (6 pages)
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Data acquisition using mobile computing technology to enhance operation and maintenance planning
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_20051286
This paper describes a computational system to treat the forced outage events information cycle, from the field data acquisition to the reports generation, providing a tool to guiding operation and maintenance actions. (5 pages)
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Power quality monitoring and analysis system
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_20051057
This paper describes the disturbance recording and power quality monitoring system due to various structural changes on power distribution system. The collected data will be used for long term statistics in order to support the power system planning department and asset managers. Since power quality data and reports according to EN50160 are archived, the expectations and requirements of the power system regulation authority will be met, for example in case of quality audits. (4 pages)
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Software solution for fault record analysis in power transmission and distribution
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_20040096
Digital protection relays provide the functionality of recording network disturbances during faults. Meanwhile the digital share in the installed relay number is a substantial one, so the utilities can gather valuable information with a large coverage of their grid and can start to enjoy the additional benefits of modem technology beyond the functions built into the devices. After a fault the operating personnel wants to obtain a most precise fault location to narrow the search for possible damage on the line. The fault locator precision of a single relay is limited by physics and by the grid conditions of mixed lines, load taps etc. But an easy-to-use software system for relay fault records can provide the desired precision to the utility personnel. The system is open to fault records of any relay, which is accomplished via the Comtrade data format. It also contains the parameters of segmented or untransposed lines. Furthermore it uses sophisticated self-adapting algorithms for analysis beyond those used at the protection relays.
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How can accident data recorders contribute to road safety?
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_20010497
Since the most common causes of collisions are the behaviour of the road users, and as accident data recorders (ADR) have shown that they improve driver behaviour, the use of ADR contribute noticeably to the reduction of collisions, improve the understanding of the cause of collisions and reduce consequential costs. ADR can also be used to monitor driving styles and provide information for fleet management purposes.
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Wearing computers - an archaeological case study
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/ic_20000512
This paper discusses the results of an archaeological field trial using a wearable (PC/104) image capture system in order to demonstrate the potential of image sequence tagging methods for efficient data retrieval in documentary applications. The goal of a field archaeologist is to extract as much information as possible from a working excavation site. It is important that information is gathered during the excavation to ensure that artefact position and orientation information is preserved, because once excavated the site is effectively destroyed. Data recording is often performed through time-consuming hand-drawing of the site, although it may be better achieved with photographs and detailed topological plans. However, as with many documentary applications, one could usefully take many photographs which themselves need to be carefully catalogued. (4 pages)
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Virtual instrumentation for clinical assessment of cardiovascular and autonomic function
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_20000354
Information about the activity of the autonomic nervous system can be derived by an analysis of key physiological signals on a beat-to-beat basis. However, due the large amount of data and complex mathematical processing involved, analysis by hand is prohibitive. The solution developed facilitates this procedure by performing the entire processing on a dedicated stand-alone PC-based instrument incorporating existing medical equipment, a data acquisition board and a computer program to acquire and process the physiological signals. The automated virtual instrument was written using LabVIEW© as the main platform. The techniques implemented include impedance cardiography, time- and frequency-domain analysis, invasive and non-invasive baroreflex sensitivity assessment, and forearm blood flow measurements. The system was designed to study patients suffering vasovagal blackouts where the changes that occur in the heart and circulation during an attack could increase our understanding of the physiological processes which underlie their blackouts.
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Development of a digital data acquisition system for localised power loss measurement in electrical machines
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_19991017
Computer aided instrumentation is now firmly established. Techniques for data collection and analysis used in experimental situations generate large amounts of information. Therefore, careful design of computer aided data acquisition for parameter measurement is of greatest importance. The development of a full automated system for localized power loss measurement is described. In particular, the interface method is rigorously examined and potential source of measurement errors are outlined. The performance of the system is compared to a commercialised data logger.
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The use of LabView and Matlab in the development of a novel pneumotachograph
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/ic_19980592
A novel pneumotachograph is currently under development which exploits the properties of the Wells turbine used in many wave energy projects during the eighties and the nineties. In order to employ a small scale model of the Wells turbine as a highly sensitive flow transducer a suitable constant speed motor controller is required. This controller has best designed and thoroughly analysed using Matlab with Simulink. Typically airflow data, collected from a pneumatachograph, needs further processing before physicians can extract relevant patient diagnostic data. The now data processing software has been developed using LabView because of its built-in capabilities specifically aimed at data acquisition and data processing. (5 pages)
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Automated acoustic data collection experiments using a directional projector system: Clyde Sea August 1997
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/ic_19980126
As part of a CEC MAST 3 project entitled PROSIM, (propagation channel simulator), the Ocean Systems Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University was given the task of planning and performing acoustic data gathering experiments off the west coast of Scotland, in the Clyde due west of Ayr, in the summer of 1997. The PROSIM project has as its aim the development of a software channel model simulator that will be able to predict or simulate the effect of a broadband audio frequency source (400 Hz to 15 kHz), in shallow water acoustic channels, at realistic long ranges. Sea surface, sea bottom and propagation effects are included in this simulator design. The University of Wales Marine Science Laboratories had the task of collecting oceanographic data during these trials. Acoustic and oceanographic data collected during these (and other) trials are used to assist in the validation of the PROSIM channel simulator. Selected data are also supplied to the UK Oceanographic Data Centre where it is available for use by EC acoustics researchers. Much of the receive equipment, both acoustic and data recording had been developed during a previous CEC MAST 2 project which had used omni-directional acoustic projectors in the 20 kHz to 80 kHz band. Under this project entitled EEVMAC (European experimental validated model for acoustic channels) a high level control strategy based on a LABVIEW environment had been developed which allowed full PC control over both the transmit and receive ships experimental equipment. (5 pages)
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Using modelling tools to optimise the calculation and subsequent reduction of cable distortion parameters with application to oil well logging systems
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/ic_19980597
This paper discusses how the use of computer-based modelling tools has aided the design of a telemetry unit for use with oil well logging. With the aid of modern computer-based simulation techniques, the new design is capable of operating at data rates of 2.5 times faster than previous designs. (6 pages)
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Use of advanced information storage systems: an HV test house perspective
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/ic_19980719
One of the most important tests that high-voltage electrical equipment must pass is that of lightning impulse. This work is concerned with the recording, analysis and storage of, particularly, lightning impulse test voltages from an HV test facility perspective. (3 pages)
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Portable acquisition and identification tool for induction machine diagnosis
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_19980580
A new parameters identification method for induction machine electrical faults detection is presented in this paper. Typical evolving faults like: phase resistance increase caused by poor contacts; turn-to-turn short-circuits; unbalanced supply voltages; magnetic circuit ageing; and squirrel-cage bar rupture, are taken into consideration. A triphase abc frame it was taken into consideration for real phase parameters identification. In order to provide the electrical parameters, an identification technique based on currents, voltages and speed acquisition during transients (e.g. starting-up) has been developed on a portable acquisition and post-processing system. The proposed equipment includes a 486 notebook with PCMCIA acquisition board, current clampmeters, voltages probes and signal conditioning module and can be applied to any drive without interfering with operating conditions. Also, a database software processor was developed for storing and comparison against the reference set of each new parameter set identification, enabling a time evolution behaviour evaluation. The system can be successfully applied to both periodical preventive maintenance and the electrical parameters verification of repaired induction machines.
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Application of electrical impedance tomography to a plant scale mixing vessel
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/ic_19950648
This paper describes the application of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to a plant scale mixing vessel. A cylindrical mixing tank with a diameter of 7 ft (2.13 m) has been equipped with a single plane of sensing electrodes. These sensors connect to a low-cost PC based data acquisition system, which uses a dual-opposing drive signal arrangement. Initial imaging of static discontinuities within the vessel are shown. (4 pages)
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Quarter-inch tape drives: leading the pack for secondary storage
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_19941142
In the late seventies, two concepts were devised which together allowed the development of today's high performance data cartridge drives. The first concept was “streaming”. If the data rate of the storage device was slightly slower than the data rate to or from the host computer, then data flow between the two devices would be continuous. The buffers within the host system would act as reservoirs to regulate the flow of data. There would be no need to stop and start the recording medium between data transactions. This allowed considerable simplification of the tape drive mechanism. The second concept was that of the data cartridge itself. Although deceptively simple in appearance, the data cartridge contains a complete mechanism to drive and guide the tape with high precision. In quarter-inch cartridge drives, data is recorded in the so called “serpentine” fashion. Recording starts on a particular track at the beginning of the tape and runs to the end of the tape. The recording head is then repositioned to a new track location and recording takes place in the reverse direction of the tape motion.
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An image-processing system for pedestrian data collection
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_19940439
The aim of this research project was to investigate the software techniques which can be used to obtain information on pedestrian movements automatically using image processing technology. To fulfil this aim, two separate algorithms have been developed. One is designed to give a measure of the pedestrian density within a crowd scene and the second to count and determine the walking direction of individual pedestrians. The problems presented by a scene of pedestrians include high levels of occlusion, variability in the shapes of pedestrians with time, and the unpredictable nature of changes in walking speed and direction, especially in crowded scenes. To overcome these problems a number of assumptions have been made about the scenes being analysed and the nature of pedestrian movement. The pedestrian monitoring functions investigated in this project illustrate the feasibility of automatic pedestrian data collection. Real-time performance has been achieved for the density measuring routine using a small network of three transputers operating in parallel.
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Development of a very high performance data recorder
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/conferences/10.1049/cp_19941141
The developments in video recording technology did not go unnoticed amongst the users of instrumentation data recording equipment and resulted in the standardization, by the American National Standards Institute, of the ID-1 standard for 19 mm digital data recording. Three different models of the ID-1 recorder have been developed offering a choice of user data rates from 1 MByte/sec up to a maximum of 32 MByte/sec, in several discreet steps. The key design performance specifications are summarized. Despite the similarities to D-l, it was decided early on in the development to design a new, purpose built, tape transport. This clearly major decision was taken after considering three main factors: tape path, loading mechanism and ease of signal processing. In the case of the D-l product the tape wrap angle is 270 degrees. However unlike a VTR, the ID-1 recorder is required to record (and playback) at various data rates while maintaining the same tape footprint and this means that the rotary speed of the scanner and the linear tape speed need to change proportionally. The smaller the wrap angle, the easier this is to achieve. In addition it is highly desirable that the tape path be constructed on a single plane.
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Portable system for data acquisition and transmission based on handheld PC technology
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/el_20021136
A portable system is developed to monitor physical activity by acquiring and storing data from body-mounted sensors; a handheld PC is used for managing data acquisition and storage, including radio-transmission to a remote host. An application related to the use of a gyro-accelerometric sensor for determining walking distance is discussed.
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New prototype NIRS to investigate multi-regional cerebral blood and tissue oxygenation and haemodynamics
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/mbec_20003452
Near infra-red spectroscopy (NIPS) is a non-invasive optical technique used to assess blood and tissue oxygenation and haemodynamics in living tissue. It is presently used as a semi-continuous monitoring technique on a research basis. Multi-regional NIRS information could be beneficial for a better understanding of the development of cerebral injuries and the reduction of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the human newborn. The paper presents the conversion of the continuous wave NIRS single-channel instrument (NIRDCU) into a prototype four-channel instrument which can be used to provide continuous multi-regional information regarding the cerebral blood oxygenation and haemodynamics in the frontal, left parietal, right parietal and occipital region of the neonatal brain. This has been achieved by attaching an optical multiplexing system to the NIRDCU to select different transmitting and receiving fibres, thus addressing different regions in the brain. Preliminary laboratory tests on a phantom and on the adult forearm are presented, illustrating the practicality of regional monitoring.
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Portable datalogger for intracranial pressure monitoring and intelligent diagnosis
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/el.2010.3285
An autonomous, portable and easy-to-handle system for recording and analysing intracranial pressure is presented, which also includes software tools to aid clinical diagnosis. The system has been validated with a significant number of clinical trials demonstrating 100% agreement between the automated diagnosis and the diagnosis of medical specialists.
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Track-recording techniques used on British Rail
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/ip-b.1984.0012
Accurate and consistent data on railway-track quality is required from which track-maintenance action can be scheduled. In recent years two recording vehicles have been designed by British Rail: a high-speed track-recording coach (HSTRC) to provide maintenance data for the Civil Engineering Department, and a self-propelled diesel multiple unit used by the Research and Development Division for investigative work. For HSTRC a measuring system was needed which would be reliable under intensive running conditions, and which could be fitted to a standard coach with the minimum of mechanical modification. Conventional multiwheel or multiprobe systems were rejected because of the considerable mechanical complexity of the undergear, in favour of a single-point system using inertial techniques and measuring in the vertical plane through the running wheels and in the horizontal plane through noncontacting optical-scanning equipment. The inertial measuring system uses transducers, including accelerometers, rate gyroscopes and displacement transducers which provide inputs to special-purpose electronic processing networks which provide the required profiles. Onboard computer systems analyse the data to form track-quality estimates which are listed and recorded on magnetic tape for transfer to a central mainframe data bank. Operation of the track-recording coach is controlled by an automatic route-definition procedure using data stored on a central track-route data bank.
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The efficient acquisition and processing of propagation statistics
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/jiere.1985.0034
This paper shows that the use of a small computer system is an attractive proposition for cost-effective data logging and processing in the field of radio-propagation statistics, particularly when pre-processing and data reduction techniques are applied. In order to illustrate and emphasize the points detailed, reference is made to results obtained with an experimental system for the measurement of microwave scintillations on a satellite link at X-band, described in a companion paper. The requirements for reliable statistical measurements are discussed together with the advantages of on-line pre-processing in terms of reduced data storage requirements and the reduced computation necessary in later analysis. Finally the paper describes the design considerations of an on-line analogue spectrum analyser and its interface with a data logging and pre-processing unit.
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Automatic transcription of keyboard music
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/piee.1977.0081
A system is described which permits the automatic transcription of music from keyboard instruments. An electronic system is used to record online digital data from a keyboard and to provide transmission to a digital cassette recorder. Subsequently, the information stored on the cassette is processed offline to produce a transcription of the original keyboard performance in the format of conventional music notation.
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Implementation of a computer-based data collection and analysis system
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/ree.1984.0063
The data collection and analysis system has been developed for a factory producing beam deflection units for colour television picture tubes. The existing factory information system is described and the requirements of a system more suited to a proposed new product are discussed. The production process for the new deflection coil is described in some detail. The collection of production data during the assembly process is then outlined and the computer-based system is described. An indication is given of the performance achieved.
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Improved microprocessor-controlled pedestrian data-acquisition system
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/el_19800003
In a previous letter a novel pedestrian data acquisition system was described. Inclusion of a microprocessor has since resulted in portable self-contained inexpensive instrumentation. Additional hardware redundancies have been included to improve the count accuracy at junctions and bends. A superior recording format has increased the efficiency of the system.
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PCs: the R&D engineer's magic wand
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/cce_19910007
Close your eyes. Think of a computer. What do you see…? For many industrial and academic professionals today the image of a PC is conjured in their minds. Perhaps it will be the one sitting on their desk at work or on a colleague's. Perhaps it is the one in the glossy brochure which arrived in their mail promising all sorts of bells and whistles. But what really is a PC, and what can it do?
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Effective data collection aperture in long-wavelength imaging systems
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/el_19800494
A new configuration for the acquisition of data in long-wavelength imaging systems is described and is shown to optimise the data collection capabilities of the aperture used. The feasibility of the approach has been demonstrated at a free-space ultrasonic frequency of 40 kHz and typical imagery is presented.
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Automatic data
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/me_19950301
The paperless office or factory is often spoken of as the place of the future, but would such on environment actually work? The author considers the role of shop floor data collection (SFDC) in automatic information flow throughout the manufacturing process. He concludes that several MRP II systems have the capability to automate transactions to a greater or lesser degree, mostly aimed at capturing inventory movements from SFDC systems. However, the scope to automate complete sets of business transactions exists in a great many areas throughout all businesses. Such automation allows manual effort to be concentrated where real decisions are needed by removing non value adding tasks.
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Real-time microprocessor monitoring of skew angle in a compact cassette multitrack magnetic tape system
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/jiere.1986.0019
Tape-skew variation imposes one of the limits on the upper recording frequency at which digital data may be read coherently from a multitrack tape. It can be measured using timers controlled from marker transitions on the outer tracks of the tape. The timers are interfaced to a microprocessor which applies a ratio technique to indicate a bit-cell displacement which is insensitive to tape velocity and circuit variations. Spectral analysis of the skew of C60 compact cassette tapes reveals a cyclic variation of skew angle of about 2 Hz with a total displacement across the tape of within one bit-cell at 10kb/s.The skew angle is not always uniformly distributed across the tape due to tape deformation. The computed values of average tape deformation are 0-67 μm, 0.85 μm and 1.08 μm for C60, C90 and C120 tapes respectively.
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Use of dynamic RAM in a portable data recorder
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/el_19921197
A portable ECG recorder using dynamic RAM as the recording medium has been developed. In the Letter, the dynamic RAM interface hardware which includes three types of communication mode, that is to a PC, a microcontroller (MCS-51) and an A/D subsystem (AD7821) with dynamic RAMs, is described. This technique opens a new path to the deveopment of low cost, small size and large capacity long-term physiological data recorders.
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Nonstationary behaviour of partial discharges in a generator stator conductor due to voltage conditioning effects
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/ip-smt_19960471
Often partial discharge measurements on generators are taken immediately after the application of a test voltage. From measurements on a full-sized bitumen–mica generator conductor, it was observed that partial discharges go through a transient phase immediately after the application of a voltage or after the voltage has been changed. Parameter values derived during this time are therefore subject to variations and do not adequately reflect the true static condition of the insulation. After the transient phase, however, partial discharges behave in a statistically stable manner and repeatable measurements can be obtained even for long durations. The paper describes the long-duration measurement method used to observe the partial discharges and discusses some of the features relevant to computerised partial discharge measurements. A vector representation of the partial discharge data and analytical methods are described that may be used to screen nonstationary data in an automated partial discharge data acquisition environment.
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Simple model of a transport/diffusion system
http://dl-live.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/ip-cta_19971356
The paper presents a simple transfer function model of a diffusive flow system represented by a narrow pipe with longitudinal mixing. This new model is composed of three coupled transfer functions describing the dynamics of flow, delay and diffusion, respectively. Unlike previous models, the contributions of delay and diffusion are kept separate and both depend on the hydraulic submodel. As a result, good delay approximation is achieved even with a very low-order model. The model development is justified by experimental evidence through a laboratory set-up, used to obtain experimental data and perform model testing. To determine the ‘best’ model order, the model structure is assessed from the parameter redundancy point of view and parameter calibration results are presented before model calibration.