The Department of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as part of its Distinguished Speaker Seminars series, and the IEEE Kingston Section are proud to present the following talk.

Title: Embrace Circuit Nonlinearity to get Transmitter Linearity and Energy Efficiency

Time: April 4, 2013, 10:00 AM

Location: Walter Light Hall (Room 302)

Speaker: Dr. Earl McCune,  Instructor for Besser Associates presenting courses on Practical Digital Wireless Signals and Frequency Synthesis Principles. Retired Technology Fellow of Panasonic, author and independent consultant.

Abstract: Wireless communications signals have evolved greatly over the past century, from the use of Morse Code to very complicated digital modulation schemes used in wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and 3GPP Long-term evolution (LTE). This progression challenges the design of transmitters to be simultaneously energy efficient, low distortion, and spectrally clean. The increasing peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) characteristic of these signals is a particular problem. Because it is important to understand why this is happening, this presentation begins with a discussion of the physical implications of Shanon’s Capacity Limit combined with the Fourier Transform. A ‘backwords’ design perspective is then presented, where we begin design from a maximally energy efficient circuit (a switch) and then make it generate the required signals, instead of the conventional approach of beginning with linear circuitry and then finding ways to improve its energy efficiency. This directly leads to the design and implementation of polar-modulation to improve both the energy efficiency of the power amplifier and effective linearity of the transmitter. Design of intentionally compressed circuitry is very different from conventional linear amplifier techniques, and these new design techniques will be discussed.

Speaker Bio: Earl McCune received his BS/EECS degree from UC Berkeley, his MSEE (Radioscience) from Stanford University, and his Ph.D. EE from UC Davis in 1979, 1983, and 1998 respectively. He is a serial Silicon Valley entrepreneur, founding two successful start-up companies since 1986: Digital RF Solutions (1986-1991, merged with Proxim) and Tropian (1996 – 2006, acquired by Panasonic). He is now retired from his position as a Technology Fellow of Panasonic, and is an author, instructor, and independent consultant. He is currently an instructor for Besser Associates presenting courses on Practical Digital Wireless Signals and Frequency Synthesis Principles. He holds 63 issued US patents, and is the author of Practical Digital Wireless Signals (Cambridge 2010).

This seminar is intended for a general audience interested in Electrical and Computer Engineering. All are welcome!

The Department of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as part of its Distinguished Speaker Seminars series, and the IEEE Kingston Section are proud to present the following talk.

Date/Time             

Wednesday April 17, 2013.

09:00  - 12:00

Location           

Royal Military College of Canada

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Room S5200

Agenda

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.: Introduction to NI ELVIS: Come learn about the NI ELVIS ecosystem, an educational design and prototyping platform for several different applications, including control design, circuits, and telecommunication. Also, attend to see a live demonstration of the hardware to discover the vast capabilities.

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.: Break (Refreshments will be served)

10:30 a.m. – noon: Advanced Engineering Teaching Platforms:  Learn how the National Instruments embedded platform paired with Quanser hardware creates the ultimate teaching platform for controls. During the presentation we’ll demonstrate how the two products can work together to help you with your coursework and in the lab.

This seminar is intended for a general audience interested in Electrical and Computer Engineering. All are welcome!

The Department of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as part of its Distinguished Speaker Seminars series, and the IEEE Kingston Section are proud to present the following talk.

Title:  Electrification in Transportation and Role of Power Electronics

Time: March 28, 2013, 2012, 2:00-3:15 PM

Location: Walter Light Hall Auditorium (Room 205)

Speaker: Ali Emadi, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Hybrid Powertrain & Director of MacAUTO, McMaster University

Abstract: This presentation provides an overview of the current status and future trends in the transportation industry. It begins with the history of the automotive industry and explains the need for a paradigm shift toward a sustainable solution. Parallels with other industries such as the telecommunications industry are highlighted and it is explained how providing greater levels of empowerment for consumers is a powerful driving force for the next generation of electrified vehicles. This empowerment is part of a new paradigm in energy integrated with renewable energy sources, distributed generation systems, and smart grid. The presentation is then focused on the transportation electrification and how the paradigm shift began with more electric vehicles (MEVs), established by hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), is gaining momentum by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and will be completed by electric vehicles (EVs). The motivation for the research, development, and commercialization of EVs, HEVs, and PHEVs will be explained and role of power electronics will be highlighted. Powertrain configurations and powertrain components will also be presented. Throughout the presentation, related component-level as well as system-level challenges are explained and possible solutions are recommended. Unprecedented opportunities in the areas of power electronics and electric machines will be highlighted.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Ali Emadi is the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Hybrid Powertrain and Director of McMaster Institute for Automotive Research and Technology (MacAUTO) at McMaster University in Hamilton. The CERC appointment receives up to $10 million in federal funding over seven years in addition to significant support from the university. The appointment also includes a new hybrid vehicle research facility that is part of the new 80,000 square-foot McMaster Automotive Resource Center (MARC) at McMaster Innovation Park. Before joining McMaster University, Dr. Emadi was the Harris Perlstein Endowed Chair Professor of Engineering and Director of the Electric Power and Power Electronics Center and Grainger Laboratories at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, where he established research and teaching facilities as well as courses in power electronics, motor drives, and vehicular power systems. In addition, Dr. Emadi is the Founder and Chairman of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. (HEVT) – a university spin-off company of IIT. He is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. He was the advisor for the Formula Hybrid Team at IIT, which won the GM Best Engineered Hybrid Systems Award at the 2010 competition. Dr. Emadi is the principal author/co-author of over 270 journal and conference papers as well as several books including Vehicular Electric Power Systems (2003), Energy Efficient Electric Motors (2004), Uninterruptible Power Supplies and Active Filters (2004), Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles, Second Edition (2009), and Integrated Power Electronic Converters and Digital Control (2009). He is also the editor of the Handbook of Automotive Power Electronics and Motor Drives (2005). Dr. Emadi was the inaugural general chair of the 2012 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo (ITEC) and has chaired several IEEE and SAE conferences in the areas of vehicle power and propulsion. He is the Editor (North America) of the International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles.

This seminar is intended for a general audience interested in Electrical and Computer Engineering. All are welcome!