International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics - Volume 18, issue 1-3

Article Type: Editorial

Abstract: Guest editorial to the ICMIT '01 special issue.

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-268

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 1-2, 2003

Authors: Takeshita, Kazuhiro | Uchibori, Akihiko | Mizukami, Yoshiki | Satoh, Taiji | Tanaka, Kanya | Uchikado, Shigeru

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The purpose of our research is to design a communication system for ALS patients who have difficulty in using their hands and mouth. In the proposed system, eye blink is adopted as a switch to tell judging patient's intention by using several image processing. A list of intentions is displayed on the PC monitor; each intention is displayed with an adequate time interval. The patient can select the candidate intention by blinking his/her eye. To investigate the efficiency …of the proposed system, we conducted experiments on 10 subjects. The experimental results show that the proposed system distinguished conscious and unconscious eye blink. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-269

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 3-10, 2003

Authors: Kawamura, Takeo | Matsumoto, Tsuneo | Miura, Gouji | Matsunaga, Naofumi | Kido, Shoji | Jiang, Zhongwei

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Purpose: Many diseases such as bronchial asthma or pneumonia are detected by chest auscultation with a stethoscope. However, there are no obvious criteria for evaluating the chest auscultation findings. In the present study, chest auscultation findings were evaluated by digital computer analysis. Material and method: "Crackle" was evaluated among abnormal respiratory sounds. Crackles with very short duration were extracted from recorded respiratory sounds, and FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis was used. …Result: Spike-like waves could be recognized visually in the time-amplitude plot of respiratory sounds. The durations of each crackle ranged between 12.6 and 31.3 msec. The high/low-pitched sound ratio calculated by FFT analysis ranged between 0.059 and 3.24. Conclusion: The characteristics of crackles could be evaluated objectively by computer analysis. The high/low-pitched sound ratio correlated with the computed tomography (CT) findings and the ratio is useful for differential diagnosis of the disease. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-270

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 11-21, 2003

Authors: Tanaka, Mami | Abe, Kazuhiro | Wang, Feng | Nakagawa, Haruo | Arai, Yoichi | Tanahashi, Yoshikatsu | Chonan, Seiji

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents the development of a mechanical SMA urethral valve driven by a portable transcutaneous energy transmission system, which is powered by batteries. Structure of the valve was improved by introducing a bite mechanism in order to prevent the pinch of urethra by the valve. The cycling characteristics and energy transmission efficiency were examined by laboratory tests. Experimental results show that the stable operation can be obtained by introducing a voltage regulating circuit to the …energy transmission system and utilizing the sinusoidal oscillation in the energy transmission system can enhance the transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the function of the valve system was tested by the vitro and vivo animal experiments. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-271

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 23-30, 2003

Authors: Tohmyoh, Hironori | Saka, Masumi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Although it is possible to achieve higher resolution by conventional ultrasonic technique, it suffers from a disadvantage because testing has to be performed in a liquid medium. In contrast with the conventional technique, a dry-contact ultrasonic technique, which can be carried out without wetting the testing parts, is preferable. In a new technique that is developed by the authors, a dry-contact interface is used by inserting a membrane between water and the tested parts. Experiments were …also carried out in search of membrane that can transmit higher frequency components. Dry-contact ultrasonic transmission using two kinds of plastic films and a silicone rubber sheet was performed on an acrylic resin. It was shown that the plastic films far excel in transmitting higher frequency components than the silicone rubber sheet. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-272

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 31-39, 2003

Authors: Kim, Hie-Sik | Choi, Gi Sang

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The yield rate in fabrication of TFT LCD's (thin film transistor liquid crystal display) with high pixel density is strongly dependent upon the effectiveness of precision cleaning method. Ultrasonic cleaners operating at high frequencies (typically above 1 MHz, megasonic cleaners) are known to be effective in removing submicron contaminants without causing mechanical damage to the surface. In this study a megasonic cleaner for TFT LCD manufacturing process is developed and its performance is evaluated through experiments. …The experimental results show that the developed megasonic cleaner is effective in removing very small particles from the LCD panels. Show more

Keywords: ultrasonic cleaner, TFT LCD

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-273

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 41-51, 2003

Authors: Yu, Kee-Ho | Yoon, Myoung-Jong | Kwon, Tae-Kyu | Lee, Seong-Cheol

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper represents the development of a distributed flexible tactile sensor using PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) film. The tactile sensor which has 8 × 8 tactile elements is fabricated using PVDF film and flexible circuitry. Experimental results on static and dynamic characteristics are obtained. In order to investigate the characteristics of the tactile sensor, the output of the tactile sensor is measured by applying arbitrary forces and frequencies those are excited to the shaker. In the static …characteristics the threshold and the linearity of the sensor are investigated. Also the dynamic response of the sensor subjected to the variable frequencies is examined. The signals of a contact pressure to the tactile sensor are sensed and processed in the DSP system in which the signals are digitalized and filtered. Finally, the signals are integrated for taking the force profile. The processed signals of the outputs of the sensor are visualized in personal computer, the shape and force distribution of the contact object are obtained using two and three-dimensional image in real time. The reasonable performance for the detection of contact state is verified through the experiment. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-274

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 53-65, 2003

Authors: Song, Ki Won | Choi, Gi Sang | Choi, Gi Heung | Kim, Jung Soo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Requirements for Distributed Monitoring and Control Networks (DMCN) differ greatly from those of typical data networks. Specifically, any DMCN technology which employs a fieldbus protocol is different from IP network protocol TCP/IP. In general, one needs to integrate fieldbus protocol and TCP/IP to realize DMCN over IP network or internet, which can be viewed as Virtual Device Network (VDN). Interoperability between devices and equipments is essential to enhance the quality and the performance of predictive …maintenance (PM). This paper suggests a basic framework for VDN using DMCN over IP network and a method to guarantee interoperability between devices and equipments. Show more

Keywords: LonWorks, device network, data network, virtual device network

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-275

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 67-79, 2003

Authors: Sasaki, Minoru | Kobayashi, Yoshimitsu | Hori, Yasuro | Fujisawa, Fumio

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper describes an active electromagnetic levitation control of a flexible beam using current and magnetic flux instead of a position sensor. An observer is used to estimate the position based on current, magnetic flux, fundamental, 1st and 3rd modes of vibration of the beam, and input voltage to the electromagnet. The controller combines state-feedback with the observer output to arrive at a new input voltage. Results obtained with a conventional observer and disturbance observer are …discussed. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the approaches. Show more

Keywords: electromagnetic levitation control, disturbance observer, flexible beam, current, magnetic flux

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-276

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 81-92, 2003

Authors: Im, Kyumann | Ham, Cheoljoo | Ham, Woonchul

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this paper, a robust control scheme for a class of nonlinear dynamical system is proposed by using output-feedback linearization method. The presented control scheme is based on the VSS. We assume that the nonlinear dynamical system is minimum phase, i.e., the relative degree of the system is p=r_1+r_2+ … +r_m ≤ n and zero dynamics is stable. We also assume that the states of zero dynamics are not accessible. It is also …shown that the global asymptotically stability is guaranted. And we verified that the proposed control scheme is then applied to the control of a two degrees of freedom (DOF) robotic manipulator with payload. Show more

Keywords: robust controller, parameter update law, nonlinear dynamical system

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-277

Citation: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 93-101, 2003