1991

Common-Channel Signalling

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 01:17:50 GMT

Signalling is the life-blood of telecommunications and common-channel signalling is the key to providing flexible and cost-effective services to customers. This book commences with the basics of signalling and then unveils the complexities of common-channel signalling systems. The book is written to appeal to a wide range of readership. The novice can build up a comprehensive understanding of signalling by systematically making progress through the book. Experts in telecommunications who wish to understand the specialist subject can select appropriate text, guided by the chapter summaries. Experts in signalling will find the book useful in extending their knowledge of a very broad subject. The glossary cuts through the maze of jargon.

The book describes basic principles, channel-associated signalling systems and the CCITT Signalling System No. 6. However, the focus of the book is upon common-channel signalling and CCITT Signalling System No. 7 and the Digital Subscriber Signalling System No. 1 are described in detail. The latest techniques are explained including, for example, the form of signalling required for gaining access to remote databases. The interworking of common-channel signalling systems is also described.

Michael Faraday's 'Chemical Notes, Hints, Suggestions and Objects of Pursuit' of 1822

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 00:32:00 GMT

Modern life now depends on the application of Faraday's discoveries of the electric motor, transformer and the dynamo; modern physical theories reflect the field-conception of natural powers that he pioneered. Faraday's chemical notebook of 1822 is one of the most significant of Faraday's unpublished writings because it served as a place to explore possibilities and questions, rather than to record laboratory work. Transcribed and published here for the first time, the notebook shows that Faraday's physical achievements emerged from the context of applied, laboratory chemistry. It foreshadows many of his most important discoveries, and offers a revealing glimpse into the mind and scientific aspirations of a master experimentalist.

The Correspondence of Michael Faraday

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 00:20:28 GMT

Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was one of the most important men of science in nineteenth century Britain. His discoveries of electro-magnetic rotations (1821), and electro-magnetic induction (1831) laid the foundations of the modern electrical industry. His discovery of the magneto-optical effect and of diamagnetism (1845) led him to formulate the field theory of electro-magnetism, which forms one of the cornerstones of modern physics.

These and a whole host of other fundamental discoveries in physics and chemistry, together with his lecturing at the Royal Institution, his work for the state, his religious beliefs, his lack of mathematical ability, make Faraday one of the most fascinating scientists ever.

All the aspects of his life and work are reflected in his correspondence. Appropriately, volume one, which covers the years 1811-1831, was published in the year of the bicentenary of his birth. It contains correspondence (previously unpublished) not only with contemporary men of science (such as Davy Ampére and Herschel) but also with major figures in many other areas of early nineteenth century society.

The Correspondence is a valuable resource for historians, philosophers and sociologists of science, as well as historians of the nineteenth century and the industrial revolution. It will also be of great interest to electrical engineers, physicists and chemists who want to know more about one of the most eminent figures in the history.

A Scientist's War

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 00:18:50 GMT

Sir Clifford Paterson, OBE FRS, was Director of the GEC Research Laboratories at Wembley from their foundation in 1919 until his death in 1948. This book contains the daily diary which he kept from the beginning of September 1939 until May 1945.

These were the years of the Second World War, and Paterson records work in the Laboratories and his own wider role in the planning and organisation of the scientific war effort, against the background of the progress of the war, on one hand, and on the other, the personal problems of members of his staff. There are also references to the administration and housekeeping which were necessary for the smooth running of the Laboratories.

There are accounts of visits from, and discussions with Ministers, senior Service officers, and officials in government departments and research establishments. There are comments on the contributions that such people were making and, on occasion, references to the delaying effects of some rivalries and bureaucracy. Paterson expresses opinions on the proper roles of government, the universities, and industry in both war and peace.

The diary outlines the progress and frustrations on the wide variety of projects undertaken by the Laboratories, including the development of the cavity magnetron, airborne radar, radio countermeasures, centimetre wave propagation, visibility of and from aircraft, and many others, as well as support for the industrial war effort through, for example, development of diamond dies and a statistical approach to quality control. A recurring theme is the development and production in the Laboratories of more than 300,000 thermionic valves of 45 new types.

The diary is supplemented by an introduction, a chronology of world events, a number of appendices, and explanatory footnotes to many entries. The diary is an important historical document and will be of great interest to political and social historians, as well as those interested in the history of science.

Radio Direction Finding and Superresolution, 2nd Edition

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:49:54 GMT

This is an enlarged and revised second edition of a book first published in 1978 and reprinted twice since then. The new edition includes updates to all the original chapters, plus two new chapters on developments in superresolution techniques and their application to direction-finding arrays.

Modern direction finders, capable of measuring elevation angles as well as azimuth angles on the components of multi-ray wavefields, have become powerful tools for research in ionospheric physics and HF radio propagation. The complexity of the problem of resolving closely-spaced rays requires the combined use of wide aperture antenna arrays, multichannel receiving systems and sophisticated digital processing techniques.

Published research papers over the last 12 years provide a rich source of information on the development of superresolution algorithms for use in radar, sonar, geophysics and spectral analysis, as well as radio direction finding. Dr Gething reviews the important methods and results, showing how some of the new techniques are related to the wavefront analysis methods described in the first edition. The text is illustrated with computer plots of model wavefields and contain important results on the loci of constant phase and amplitude, and on the statistical properties of bearing-error distributions for specified models. The collection and interpretation of ionospheric data for the purpose of mode identification, and the statistical theory of DF plotting algorithms, are also discussed.

Wavefront analysis and superresolution may be regarded as extensions to classical array theory. The basic principles are widely applicable and should therefore be of interest to research workers in radar, sonar, radioastronomy and adaptive array theory, as well as HF radio direction finding.

Electromagnetic Waveguides

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:14:54 GMT

There are several ways to classify electromagnetic waveguides. Depending on their boundaries, they can be classified into waveguides with perfectly reflecting walls or finite impedance walls, as well as open waveguides. In terms of their applications, there are the low attenuation and low delay distortion waveguides for telecommunication, the low crosspolar field waveguides used as feeds for reflector antennas in frequency reuse schemes, as well as the leaky feeders in continuous access communication systems. There are also the natural waveguides such as tunnels and the earth-ionosphere waveguide.

This text is an attempt to give a unified, analytical treatment to most of these diverse types of waveguides. Emphasis is given to modal characteristics, modal excitation and mode scattering at longitudinal discontinuities. The book will serve not only as a text for undergraduate courses, but also as a reference book for those involved in research work on electromagnetic waveguides.

Electrodynamic Theory of Superconductors

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:12:48 GMT

Electrodynamic Theory of Superconductors is the first book of its kind. It gives a unified and comprehensive theoretical treatment of electromagnetic, thermal and mechanical phenomena in superconductors. Basic concepts and principles in continuum electrodynamics are introduced, with particular emphasis on methodology. Electrodynamic models are developed to study magnetoelastic and thermoelastic superconductors. The author also introduces phenomenological London theory, Cinzburg-Landau theory, electrodynamic models for superconducting thin films, AC losses and Josephson junctions, and BCS microscopic theory of superconductivity. This book can be used as a post graduate level text and as a reference book for researchers and engineers working in the field of applied superconductivity and related areas.

Analogue-digital ASICs

Wed, 16 May 2018 16:51:31 GMT

The inexorable increase in levels of integration of electronic circuits has most often been exploited using digital signals. So much so that design engineers have sought to digitise analogue signals as early as possible in the signal processing chain, and performed digital processing wherever practicable.

However it is increasingly being accepted that such an approach is not appropriate for many applications, and that circuits which combine analogue and digital signals can provide superior solutions. There are at least three factors which support this trend. Firstly improved process technology giving better dimensional and parametric control and the availability of BiCMOS and CMOS processes able to support both analogue and digital components. Secondly the maturing of discrete time circuit techniques giving competitive high performance solutions. Thirdly the gain in terms of reliability and reduction in cost achieved by mixing analogue and digital signal processing and hence implementing 'systems' on a single substrate.

It is therefore timely that wide ranging books such as this one, on the subject of mixed analogue digital ASICs should appear. It comprises eighteen chapters contributed by leading academics and practising engineers in industry. The chapters are arranged in four sections: Processing technology; Circuit Techniques and Building Blocks; Design and Applications; and CAD and Supporting Tools.