Abstract
Tinting is a critical issue in communication systems, especially for synchronous communications. These show a high dependence on the clock signal purity due to errors that can be introduced into the decision process. This paper addresses the design, on a 130nm CMOS process, of a Radiation Tolerant Voltage Controlled Quartz Crystal Oscillator (VCXO), including techniques to reduce the influence of radiation and noise on its performance. The VCXO is included on a PLL designed to work within High Energy Physics (IIEP) experiments.

Abstract
This article addresses the design, development, and evaluation of T-shirt prototypes that embed novel textile sensors for the capture of cardio and respiratory signals. The sensors are connected through textile interconnects to either an embedded custom-designed data acquisition and transmission unit or to snap fastener terminals for connection to external monitoring devices. The performance of the T-shirt prototype is evaluated in terms of signal-to-noise ratio amplitude and signal interference caused by baseline wander and motion artefacts, through laboratory tests with subjects in standing and walking conditions. Performance tests were also conducted in a hospital environment using a T-shirt prototype connected to a commercial three-channel Holter monitoring device. The textile sensors and interconnects were realized with the assistance of an industrial six-needle digital embroidery tool and their resistance to wear addressed with normalized tests of laundering and abrasion. The performance of these wearable systems is discussed, and pathways and methods for their optimization are highlighted.

Abstract

Abstract
The work presented herein addresses the development, implementation, and evaluation of a new wearable system for monitoring bio-signals and physical human activity, namely for gait analysis and cardiovascular surveillance. It consists of a wearable textile substrate (pantyhose and/or T-shirt) with embedded conductive yarns interconnecting custom electronic devices, in a mesh or other network type, that acquire bio-signals and/or inertial data. All data are aggregated in a central processing module from where they are sent via a wireless link to a mobile phone or personal computer for final processing. The network topology, sensor nodes architecture and results obtained with first prototypes are presented.

Abstract
In this paper, a novel Bayesian model fusion (BMF) method is proposed for test cost reduction based on wafer-level spatial variation modeling. BMF relies on the assumption that a large number of wafers of the same circuit design (e.g., all wafers from the same lot) share a similar spatial pattern. Hence, the measurement data from one wafer can be borrowed to model the spatial variation of other wafers via Bayesian inference. By applying the Sherman-Morrison-Woodbury formula, a fast numerical algorithm is derived to reduce the computational cost of BMF for practical test applications. Furthermore, a new test methodology is developed based on BMF and it closely monitors the escape rate and yield loss. As is demonstrated by the wafer probe measurement data of an industrial RF transceiver, BMF achieves 1.125x reduction in test cost and 2.6x reduction in yield loss, compared to the conventional approach based on virtual probe (VP).

Abstract
A new wearable data capture system for gait analysis is being developed. It consists of a pantyhose with embedded conductive yarns interconnecting customized sensing electronic devices that capture inertial and electromyographic signals and send aggregated information to a personal computer through a wireless link. The use of conductive yarns to build the myoelectric electrodes and the interconnections of the wired sensors network as well as the topology and functionality of the sensor modules are presented. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2017.