Gennaro Gelao

A Semiempirical SPICE Model for n-Type Conventional CNTFETs

We present a compact, semiempirical model of carbon nanotube field effect transistor easily implementable in simulation SPICE software to design analog and digital circuits. The model is based on analytical approximations and parameters extracted from quantum mechanical simulations, having compared the results with those of the numerical model online available and of experimental data.

Modelling of Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors oriented to SPICE software for A/D circuit design

We present a model of Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors (CNTFETs) directly and easily implementable in simulation SPICE software for electronic circuit design. The model is based on analytical approximations and parameters extracted from quantum mechanical simulations of the device and depending on the nanotube diameter and the oxide capacitance. Comparison of the simulated output and transfer characteristics with those of a numerical model available online and with experimental data shows a relative error less than 5% in both cases. In order to determine the values of CNTFET equivalent circuit elements a new procedure, based on a best-fitting between the measured and simulated values of output device characteristics, has been proposed. To verify the versatility of the proposed model we use it in the SPICE simulator to design some A/D electronic circuits, demonstrating the importance of the quantum capacitance dependence on polarisation voltages and examining the effects of the CNT quantum resistances.

A New System for Continuous Monitoring of Breathing and Kinetic Activity

We present a new system for acquiring simultaneously breathing rate and kinetic activity over a period of twenty-four hours. The system is based on a couple of sensors, which are very light, absolutely noninvasive, and compatible with everyday life. The proposed breathing sensor is cheap and uses a conductive rubber as active material. An analog signal representing the breathing rate is obtained from the sensors signal, breath by breath, without any averaging or filtering. The kinetic activity sensor is based on a tiny accelerometer whose signal is averaged and filtered, so that both sensors have voltage compatible with a slow data logging.

High Quality Heart and Lung Auscultation System for Diagnostic Use on Remote Patients in Real Time

We propose a medical electronic-computerized platform for diagnostic use, which allows doctors to carry out a complete cardio-respiratory control on remote patients in real time. In the context of telemedicine the proposed system can be considered as a really innovative product in which all the most advanced technologies of biomedical engineering converge to guarantee an efficient and reliable home assistance that allows the patient a highly better quality of life in terms of prophylaxis, treatment and reduction of discomfort connected to periodic patient controls and/or hospitalization. Moreover the system has been equipped to be employed also to real-time rescue in case of emergency without the necessity for data to be constantly monitored by a medical centre. In fact, when an emergency sign is detected through the real-time diagnosing system, it sends a warning message to people able to arrange for his/her rescue. A Global Positioning System (GPS) also provides the patient coordinates. The proposed system, in its version for diagnostic use, has been verified by the heart specialists of the Institute of Cardiology in the General Hospital (Polyclinic) of the University of Bari, Italy.

Architecture and front-end for in-vivo blood glucose sensor based on impedance spectroscopy

We propose a new architecture of a system for blood glucose monitoring based on impedance spectroscopy. The proposed system has been optimized to work in the frequency range 1 MHz – 200 MHz, where the best performances in terms of electrical changes in the blood can be achieved. The proposed architecture allows to acquire easily the dependence on frequency for both amplitude and phase of the dielectric constant from which the glucose levels in blood is estimated.