Patrick DeWilde

Alle-Jan van der Veen

Complex function theory and linear algebra provide much of the basic mathematics needed by engineers engaged in numerical computations, signal processing or control. The transfer function of a linear time invariant system is a function of the complex vari able s or z and it is analytic in a large part of the complex plane. Many important prop erties of the system for which it is a transfer function are related to its analytic prop erties. On the other hand, engineers often encounter small and large matrices which describe (linear) maps between physically important quantities. In both cases similar mathematical and computational problems occur: operators, be they transfer functions or matrices, have to be simplified, approximated, decomposed and realized. Each field has developed theory and techniques to solve the main common problems encountered. Yet, there is a large, mysterious gap between complex function theory and numerical linear algebra. For example, complex function theory has solved the problem to find analytic functions of minimal complexity and minimal supremum norm that approxi e. g. , as optimal mate given values at strategic points in the complex plane. They serve approximants for a desired behavior of a system to be designed. No similar approxi mation theory for matrices existed until recently, except for the case where the matrix is (very) close to singular.

Time-Varying Systems and Computations

Zhen-Qiu Ning

A modern microelectronic circuit can be compared to a large construction, a large city, on a very small area. A memory chip, a DRAM, may have up to 64 million bit locations on a surface of a few square centimeters. Each new generation of integrated circuit- generations are measured by factors of four in overall complexity -requires a substantial increase in density from the current technology, added precision, a decrease of the size of geometric features, and an increase in the total usable surface. The microelectronic industry has set the trend. Ultra large funds have been invested in the construction of new plants to produce the ultra large-scale circuits with utmost precision under the most severe conditions. The decrease in feature size to submicrons -0.7 micron is quickly becoming availabl- does not only bring technological problems. New design problems arise as well. The elements from which microelectronic circuits are build, transistors and interconnects, have different shape and behave differently than before. Phenomena that could be neglected in a four micron technology, such as the non-uniformity of the doping profile in a transistor, or the mutual capacitance between two wires, now play an important role in circuit design. This situation does not make the life of the electronic designer easier: he has to take many more parasitic effects into account, up to the point that his ideal design will not function as originally planned.

Models for Large Integrated Circuits

Joos P.L. Vandewalle

Computer Systems and Software Engineering is a compilation of sixteen state-of-the-art lectures and keynote speeches given at the COMPEURO '92 conference. The contributions are from leading researchers, each of whom gives a new insight into subjects ranging from hardware design through parallelism to computer applications. The pragmatic flavour of the contributions makes the book a valuable asset for both researchers and designers alike. The book covers the following subjects: Hardware Design: memory technology, logic design, algorithms and architecture; Parallel Processing: programming, cellular neural networks and load balancing; Software Engineering: machine learning, logic programming and program correctness; Visualization: the graphical computer interface.

Patrick DeWilde

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