• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.947-953
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• 2019

The purpose of this paper is to explore an ASIC design for estimating sizes and concentrations of airborne micro-particles by the means of integrating, amplifying and digitizing electric charge signals generated by photo-sensors as it receives scattered photons by the presence of micro-particles, consisting of a pre-amplifier that detects and amplifies voltage or current signal from photo-sensor that generates charges (hole-electron pairs) when exposed to visible rays, infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, etc. according to the intensity of rays; a shaper for shaping the amplified signal to a semi-gaussian waveform; two discriminators and binary counters for outputting digital signals by comparing the magnitude of the shaped signal with an arbitrary reference voltages. The ASIC with the proposed architecture and functional blocks in this study was designed with a 0.18um standard CMOS technology from Global Foundries and the operation and performances of the ASIC has been verified by the silicons fabricated by using the process.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.816-821
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• 2019

A counter-type time-to-digital converter was designed using a dual edge T flip-flop. The time-to-digital converter was designed with a $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS process at a supply voltage of 1.5 volts. In a typical time-to-digital converter, when the period of the clock is T, a conversion error corresponding to the period of the clock occurs due to the asynchronism between the input signal and the clock. However, the clock of the time-to-digital converter proposed in this paper is generated in synchronization with the start signal which is the input signal. As a result, conversion errors that may occur due to asynchronization of the start signal and the clock do not occur. The flip-flops constituting the counters are composed of dual-edge flip-flops operating at the positive and negative edges of the clock to improve the resolution.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2019

In this paper, the results of underwater vibration experiment are analyzed to verify platform vibration-induced noise isolation characteristics of a hull-mounted acoustic sensor. The experimental condition causing platform vibration-induced noise is generated using the mock-up hull, where the acoustic sensor is installed, with shaker in an acoustic water tank. The performance indices of ATF (Acceleration Transfer Function), AVS (Acceleration Voltage Sensitivity), and IL (Insertion Loss) for the acoustic sensor are calculated from the output of the standard accelerometers, which are installed on the mock-up hull and the acoustic sensor, and the output signal of the acoustic sensor. The frequency-dependent noise isolation characteristics of the acoustic sensor are analyzed based on the calculated performance indices and an effectiveness of the experiment is examined.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2019

In order to improve the current efficiency and reduce the energy consumption in the electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate, electrolytic properties of a perfluorosulfonic cation exchange membrane named PGN membrane and the $Al_2O_3$ ceramic membrane in the electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate were studied and compared in a pilot electrolytic cell using a welded platinum titanium as the anode and a Pb-Sb alloy as the cathode. The effect of cell voltage, electrolyte flow rate and electrolysis time of the electrolytes on the current efficiency and the energy consumption were studied. The results indicated that the PGN membrane could improve current efficiency to 95.12% and reduce energy consumption to $1110kWh\;t^{-1}$ (energy consumption per ton of the ammonium persulfate generated) under the optimal operating conditions and the highest current efficiency of the $Al_2O_3$ ceramic membrane was 72.61% with its lowest energy consumption of $1779kWh\;t^{-1}$. Among 5 times of the electrolysis of the electrolytes, the lowest current efficiency of the PGN membrane was 85.25% with the highest energy consumption of $1244kWh\;t^{-1}$ while the lowest current efficiency of the $Al_2O_3$ ceramic membrane was 67.44% with the highest energy consumption of $1915kWh\;t^{-1}$, which suggested the PGN membrane could be used in the 5-stage electrolytic cell for the industrially continuous electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate. Therefore the PGN membrane can be efficient to improve the current efficiency and reduce the energy consumption and can be applied in the industrial electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2019

Polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1), polycystin-L or transient receptor potential polycystin 3 (TRPP3) is a TRP superfamily member. It is a calcium-permeable non-selective cation channel that regulates intracellular calcium concentration and thereby calcium signaling. Although the calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor, calmidazolium, is an activator of the PKD2L1 channel, the activating mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether CaM takes part in the regulation of the PKD2L1 channel, and if so, how. With patch clamp techniques, we observed the current amplitudes of PKD2L1 significantly reduced when co-expressed with CaM and $CaM{\triangle}N$. This result suggests that the N-lobe of CaM carries a more crucial role in regulating PKD2L1 and guides us into our next question on the different functions of two lobes of CaM. We also identified the predicted CaM binding site, and generated deletion and truncation mutants. The mutants showed significant reduction in currents losing PKD2L1 current-voltage curve, suggesting that the C-terminal region from 590 to 600 is crucial for maintaining the functionality of the PKD2L1 channel. With PKD2L1608Stop mutant showing increased current amplitudes, we further examined the functional importance of EF-hand domain. Along with co-expression of CaM, ${\triangle}EF$-hand mutant also showed significant changes in current amplitudes and potentiation time. Our findings suggest that there is a constitutive inhibition of EF-hand and binding of CaM C-lobe on the channel in low calcium concentration. At higher calcium concentration, calcium ions occupy the N-lobe as well as the EF-hand domain, allowing the two to compete to bind to the channel.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.145-152
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• 2020

Purpose: In ionization-chamber dosimetry for high-dose-rate electron beams-above 20 mGy/pulse-the ion-recombination correction methods recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) are not appropriate, because they overestimate the correction factor. In this study, we suggest a practical ion-recombination correction method, based on Boag's improved model, and apply it to reference dosimetry for electron beams of about 100 mGy/pulse generated from an electron linear accelerator (LINAC). Methods: This study employed a theoretical model of the ion-collection efficiency developed by Boag and physical parameters used by Laitano et al. We recalculated the ion-recombination correction factors using two-voltage analysis and obtained an empirical fitting formula to represent the results. Next, we compared the calculated correction factors with published results for the same calculation conditions. Additionally, we performed dosimetry for electron beams from a 6 MeV electron LINAC using an Advanced Markus^® ionization chamber to determine the reference dose in water at the source-to-surface distance (SSD)=100 cm, using the correction factors obtained in this study. Results: The values of the correction factors obtained in this work are in good agreement with the published data. The measured dose-per-pulse for electron beams at the depth of maximum dose for SSD=100 cm was 115 mGy/pulse, with a standard uncertainty of 2.4%. In contrast, the k_s values determined using the IAEA and AAPM methods are, respectively, 8.9% and 8.2% higher than our results. Conclusions: The new method based on Boag's improved model provides a practical method of determining the ion-recombination correction factors for high dose-per-pulse radiation beams up to about 120 mGy/pulse. This method can be applied to electron beams with even higher dose-per-pulse, subject to independent verification.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.421-428
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• 2021

Lithium-ion secondary batteries exhibit advantageous characteristics such as high voltage, high energy density, and long life, allowing them to be widely used in both military and daily life. However, the lithium-ion secondary battery does have its limitation; for example, the output power and capacity are readily decreased due to the increased internal impedance during discharging at a lower temperature (-32℃, military requirement). Also, during charging at a lower temperature, lithium dendrite growth is accelerated at the anode, thereby decreasing the battery capacity and life as well. This paper describes a study that involves increasing the internal temperature of lithium-ion secondary battery by energy circulation operation in a low-temperature environment. The energy circulation operation allows the lithium-ion secondary battery to alternately charge and discharge, while the internal resistance of lithium-ion battery acts as a heating element to raise its own temperature. Therefore, the energy circulation operation method and device were newly designed based on the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the lithium-ion secondary battery to mediate the battery performance at a lower temperature. Through the energy circulation operation of lithium ion secondary battery, as a result of the heat generated from internal resistance in an extremely low-temperature environment, the temperature of the lithium-ion secondary battery increased by more than 20℃ within 10 minutes and showed a 75% discharging capacity compared with that at room temperature.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.319-330
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• 2022

In this study, the optimal driving frequency was derived through finite element analysis (FEA) to optimize the developed piezoelectric ultrasonic medical devices(PUMD) for bone surgery. The core of the PUMD is the piezoelectric ceramic (PZT), which is a vibrator that generates vibration energy. The piezoelectric ceramic shows the maximum current value with respect to the input voltage at the resonance frequency, which generates the maximum mechanical vibration. In the past, various studies have been conducted related to the analysis of PUMD, but most of the research so far has been limited to free vibration analysis. However, in order to derive the accurate resonant frequency, the initial stress generated by bolt tightening in the bolt-clamped Langevin type transducer (BLT) must be considered. In this study, after designing a PUMD, the driving performance according to the bolt tightening value was analyzed through FEA, and this was experimentally verified. First, the resonance mode and frequency response were confirmed through modal and harmonic analysis at 20-40 kHz, which is known as the optimal driving frequency band of PUMD for bone surgery. In addition, the design of the PUMD was confirmed by checking the mechanical behavior of the tip and the piezoelectric ceramic at the resonant frequency. Consequentially, the characteristic evaluation was performed, and it was confirmed that the resonant frequency result derived through the FEA was reasonable. Through this study, we presented a more rational FEA method than before for BLT transducers. We expect that this will shorten the time and cost of developing a PUMD, and will enable the development of more stable and high-quality products.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.508-514
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• 2022

Piezoelectric composite films which are enabled by inorganic piezoelectric nanomaterials-embedded polymer, have attracted enormous attention as a sustainable power source for low powered electronics, because of their ease of fabrication and flexible nature. However, the absorption of applied stress by the soft polymeric matrices is a major issue that must be solved to expand the fields of piezoelectric composite applications. Herein, a flexible and porous piezoelectric composite (piezoelectric sponge) comprised of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles and polydimethylsiloxane was developed using template method to enhance the energy conversion efficiency by minimizing the stress that vanishes into the polymer matrix. In the porous structure, effective stress transfer can occur between the piezoelectric active materials in compression mode due to direct contact between the ceramic particles embedded in the pore-polymer interface. The piezoelectric sponge with 30 wt% of BaTiO₃ particles generated an open-circuit voltage of ~12 V and a short-circuit current of ~150 nA. A finite element method-based simulation was conducted to theoretically back up that the piezoelectric output performance was effectively improved by introducing the sponge structure. Furthermore, to demonstrate the feasibility of pressure detecting applications using the BaTiO₃ particles-embedded piezoelectric sponge, the composite was arranged in a 3 × 3 array and integrated into a single pressure sensor. The fabricated sensor array successfully detected the shape of the applied pressure. This work can provide a cost-effective, biocompatible, and structural strategy for realizing piezoelectric composite-based energy harvesters and self-powered sensors with improved energy conversion efficiency.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.312-317
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• 2022

Piezoelectric energy harvesting has attracted increasing attention over the last decade as a means for generating sustainable and long-lasting energy from wasted mechanical energy. To develop self-powered wearable devices, piezoelectric materials should be flexible, stretchable, and bio-eco-friendly. This study proposed the fabrication of stretchable piezoelectric composites via dispersing perovskite-structured BaTiO₃ nanoparticles inside an Ecoflex polymeric matrix. In particular, the stretchable piezoelectric sensor array was fabricated via a simple and cost-effective spin-coating process by exploiting the piezoelectric composite comprising of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles, Ecoflex matrix, and stretchable Ag coated textile electrodes. The fabricated sensor generated an output voltage of ~4.3 V under repeated compressing deformations. Moreover, the piezoelectric sensor array exhibited robust mechanical stability during mechanical pushing of ~5,000 cycles. Finite element method with multiphysics COMSOL simulation program was employed to support the experimental output performance of the fabricated device. Finally, the stretchable piezoelectric sensor array can be used as a self-powered touch sensor that can effectively detect and distinguish mechanical stimuli, such as pressing by a human finger. The fabricated sensor demonstrated potential to be used in a stretchable, lead-free, and scalable piezoelectric sensor array.