Controller Area Network (CAN bus)

A Controller Area Network (CAN bus) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each others' applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol, designed originally for multiplex electrical wiring within automobiles to save on copper, but can also be used in many other contexts. For each device the data in a frame is transmitted sequentially but in such a way that if more than one device transmits at the same time the highest priority device is able to continue while the others back off. Frames are received by all devices, including by the transmitting device.

Controller Area Network (CAN), an overview

CAN (Controller Area Network) is a serial bus system, which was originally developed for automotive applications in the early 1980's. The CAN protocol was internationally standardized in 1993 as ISO 11898-1 and comprises the data link layer of the seven layer ISO/OSI reference model.
CAN, which is by now available from around 40 semiconductor manufacturers in hardware, provides two communication services: the sending of a message (data frame transmission) and the requesting of a message (remote transmission request, RTR). All other services such as error signaling, automatic re-transmission of erroneous frames are user-transparent, which means the CAN chip automatically performs these services.

The equivalent of the CAN protocol in human communication are e.g. the Latin characters. This means a CAN controller is comparable to a printer or a type writer. CAN users still have to define the language/grammar and the words/vocabulary to communicate.

CAN provides

• a multi-master hierarchy, which allows building intelligent and redundant systems. If one network node is defect the network is still able to operate.
• broadcast communication. A sender of information transmits to all devices on the bus. All receiving devices read the message and then decide if it is relevant to them. This guarantees data integrity as all devices in the system use the same information.
• sophisticated error detecting mechanisms and re-transmission of faulty messages. This also guarantees data integrity.

CAN history

In February of 1986, Robert Bosch GmbH introduced the serial bus system Controller Area Network (CAN ) at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) congress. It was the hour of birth for one of the most successful network protocols ever.
Today, almost every new passenger car manufactured in Europe is equipped with at least one CANnetwork. Also used in other types of vehicles, from trains to ships, as well as in industrial controls, CAN is one of the most dominating bus protocols maybe even the leading serial bus system worldwide.

CAN physical layer

• Bit encoding
• Bit-timing and synchronization
• Interdependency of data rate and bus length
• Physical media
• Network topology
• Bus access
• Physical layer standards

Physical layer standards

ISO 11898-2 (high-speed)
ISO 11898-3 (fault-tolerant)
SAE J2411 (single-wire)
ISO 11992 (point-to-point)
Others

The Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol defines the data link layer and part of the physical layer in the OSI model, which consists of seven layers. The International Standards Organization (ISO) defined a standard, which incorporates the CAN specifications as well as a part of physical layer: the physical signaling, which comprises bit encoding and decoding (Non-Return-to-Zero, NRZ) as well as bit timing and synchronization.

USB Type-C - USB 3.1

Seminar Topic on USB Type-C - USB 3.1

Abstract

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard developed by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which defines standard interfaces between computers and peripherals.USB Type-C is a specification for a 24-pin reversible-plug connector for USB devices and USB cabling. It was published by the USB Implementers Forum.USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery are exciting new standards that allow customers to use a single flip-able cable to connect personal electronics. Texas Instruments helps bring USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery benefits to market faster with the most complete host and peripheral solutions and the industry’s best support for fast and easy implementation.

USB History:

USB is implemented in several forms today:

• USB 2.0 (also known as High Speed USB) achieves 480 Mb/s data rate while retaining backwards compatibility to USB 1.1 devices.
• USB 3.1 Gen 1 (also known as SuperSpeed USB) achieves 5 Gb/s data rate and implements a dual-bus architecture. One bus is a USB 2.0 bus and the other is a SuperSpeed bus.
• USB 3.1 Gen 2 (also known as SuperSpeedPlus USB) achieves 10 Gb/s data rate.
• USB-C cable and connector enables smaller product designs, enhances usability by providing reversible plug orientation and direction, and establishes a power delivery and charging infrastructure. Multiple serial standards including USB, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort and MHL, have announced support for the Type-C connector.

About USB Type - C

Physically, the Type-C port and connector is about the same size as that of the Micro-B USB mentioned above. A Type-C port measure just 8.4mm by 2.6mm. This means it's small enough to work for even the smallest peripheral devices. With Type-C, a USB cable's both ends will be the same, allowing for reversible plug orientation. You also don't need to worry about plugging it in upside down.

Set to be widely available starting 2015, Type-C USB will support USB 3.1 with the top speed of 10Gbps and has much high power output of up to 20V(100W) and 5A. Considering most 15-inch notebook computers require just around 60W of power, this means in the future laptop computers can be charged the way tablets and smartphones are now, via their little USB port. In fact Apple's latest 12-inch Macbook is the first notebook that incorporates a Type-C USB as its power port.

Going forwards, USB-C will enable storage vendors to make bus-powered (no separate power adapter required) external hard drives of much larger capacity, since it provides enough power to run one or even multiple desktop hard drives.

Type-C USB also allows for bi-directional power, so apart from charging the peripheral device, when applicable, a peripheral device could also charge a host device. All this means you can do away with an array of proprietary power adapters and USB cables, and move to a single robust and tiny solution that works for all devices. Type-C USB will significantly cut down the a amount of wires currently needed to make devices work.

Why  USB Type-C ?

Enhanced power delivery capabilities would allow this new technology to support traditional mobile device charging, but would also allow a laptop to power a computer monitor or a computer monitor with a power supply to charge a laptop through its USB C connector.

Native support of DisplayPort video and four channel audio will allow your device to connect to a computer monitor, HDTV, surround sound system and headphones — it will even support microphone connections — all over the same small, robust, powerful connection.

Transfer rates up to 10Gbits/s will make USB 3.1 the ideal solution for transferring large amounts of data, such as HD video for editing, Blu-ray™ authoring, or high resolution photos for editing or storage.

Backwards Compatability

The physical USB Type-C connector isn’t backwards compatible, but the underlying USB standard is. You can’t plug older USB devices into a modern, tiny USB Type-C port, nor can you connect a USB Type-C connector into an older, larger USB port. But that doesn’t mean you have to discard all your old peripherals. USB 3.1 is still backwards-compatible with older versions of USB, so you just need a physical adapter with a USB Type-C connector on one and and a larger, older-style USB port on the other. You can then plug your older devices directly into a USB Type-C port.

Realistically, many computers will have both USB Type-C ports and larger USB Type-A ports for the immediate future — like Google’s Chromebook Pixel. You’ll be able to slowly transition from your old devices, getting new peripherals with USB Type-C connectors. Even if you get a computer with only USB Type-C ports, like Apple’s new MacBook, adapters and hubs will fill the gap.

Referred link:

http://www.cnet.com/news/usb-type-c-one-cable-to-connect-them-all
http://www.cablestogo.com/tech/usb-3-1

http://www.howtogeek.com/211843/usb-type-c-explained-what-it-is-and-why-youll-want-it/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_Type-C

Smart Quill

Abstract  on Smart Quill seminar topic

In the market there are various pen’s available but none of them performs operations other than writing. This paper focuses on the extraordinary invention of a pen that performs operation more than writing. Smart Quill is a computer housed within a pen. This pen replaces the keyboard in the office, but it is highly convenient for people who takes notes by hand. The present fashion of computations has started desiring small computers. This has made computer manufacturing companies to go for roughly tool similar to computers. Reducing the size of the handheld computers can only be taken so far before they become impracticable. Keyboards become so infinitesimal you require needle-like fingers to operate them and screens that necessitate stable indicator control to study trouble-free text. 

Introduction

In this paper we are going to discuss about a pen that will retain the words that it is used to write, and then convert them into computer text. The idea that "it would be neat to put all of a handheld-PDA type computer in a pen". It is claimed to be the biggest revolution in handwriting since the invention of the pen. Users don't have to write on a special pad in order to record what they write. User could use this pen on any platform for writing such as tablet, screen or even air. The Smart Quill is not all space-age, though it contains an ink sealed unit so that users can witness what they write down on paper. Smart Quill contains sensors that trace movement by using the earth's solemnity system, irrespective of the device used. The pen report the information inserted by the user. Your words of data can also be uploaded to your PC through the “digital inkwell”, while the files that you might want to outlook on the pen are downloaded from Smart Quill as well. The Smart Quill overcomes the problem of typing.with subscripts and superscripts in a slightly smaller font size. This is acceptable. 

Working of Smart Quill

Smart Quill measures the movement of pen and then matches them to the movements that produce the words and letters programmed into its memory. It is a bit larger than an ordinary fountain pen. By pushing a button on the pen and writing what the user would like to enter, users can enter information and it does not necessarily need a screen. This technology has the ability to read handwriting not only on paper but on any horizontal or vertical flat surface. There is a three-line screen for reading the information stored in the pen. The users might also scroll down the screen by slightly tilting the pen. The user trains the pen to recognize a particular handwriting , as long as the handwriting is consistent. Even if the handwriting is quite messy the pen can recognize it. The notes are stored on the pen’s hard disk 

There are two techniques used:

1. Accelerometer technology

2. Handwriting recognition software.

The Accelerometer Technology

This technology uses a device called Accelerometer which is used for measuring motion. A tiny accelerometer in a pen could be used to detect the stops and starts, arcs and loops of handwriting, and transmit this information to a small microprocessor that would make sense of it as text. There's also the possibility of viewing a full page of text through a special monocular magnified "virtual" screen that could be built into the end of the pen. Invisible writing in air is achieved through this unique technology called accelerometer that monitors hand movements a n d can also be used as a virtual hinge to scroll around the small screen on the pen and detect left or right- handed use. It records movement by using the earth's gravity system, whether you write on paper or in the air. Hence it is independent of surface used. Movements are stored within the Smart Quill. This information is transmitted on to a small microprocessor that would make sense of it as a text displayed on the sleek built in screen. 

There are 2 types of accelerometer

1 ) Two Axes Accelerometer: This accelerometer measures acceleration in two axes. An example for Two Axes Accelerometer is ADXL202 Accelerometer.

2) Three Axes Accelerator: - This accelerometer measures acceleration in three axes. An example for Three Axes Accelerometer is Tronics +/- 2g accelerometer.

Handwriting Recognition Software

This software embedded in the microprocessor of the pen is used to recognize handwriting of the user. Pen works in conjunction with a regular PC on to which users install special handwriting recognition software.

The handwriting recognition software translates movements in to text on screen. Handwriting recognition software constitutes two major phases:

1. Handwriting transcription

2. Handwriting recognition

Handwriting Transcription

In this phase, the recorded acceleration signals are then transcript to its original form. Here this aspect is solved using simple double integration method in order to retrace the pen tip movement on paper.

Handwriting Recognition

The second huge aspect is the characters and signatures recognition. The hardware (accelerometers plus contact detector) embedded in the pen has

Advantages on Smart Quill

i. SmartQuill can read on any flat surface and not only on paper.

ii. SmartQuill is protected by password.

iii. It is portable and highly convenient.

iv. With modems, printers etc it can be linked.

Disadvantages on Smart Quill

i. SmartQuill has accelerometer errors.

ii. People with hand tremours have inconvenience with it.

iii. It has a size bigger than a normal pen.

iv. Due to the thermal variations in the spring errors are introduced in the system. 

Conclusion

This paper concentrates on providing people with a pen that performs much more functionality than an ordinary pen. We have discussed in detail about how SmartQuill works. It is a big support for people who takes notes on

paper. This paper includes the various features and how they are useful. Also, in this paper we have discussed the various advantages and disadvantages of this extraordinary pen. This paper includes the details on how the idea that

came to the inventor in her dreams work.

Reference Site:

http://ijcsn.org/IJCSN-2016/5-1/An-Overview-of-Smart-Quill.pdf

http://ijcat.org/IJCAT-2016/3-4/Smart-Quill-Pen-The-Hand-Held-Computer.pdf

Tango technology

Tango technology

What is Project Tango?

Project Tango is a Google technology platform that uses computer vision to enable mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to detect their position relative to the world around them without using GPS or other external signals. Project Tango technology gives a mobile device the ability to navigate the physical world similar to how we do as humans. Project Tango brings a new kind of spatial perception to the Android device platform by adding advanced computer vision, image processing, and special vision sensors.

Project Tango is different from other emerging 3D-sensing computer vision products, such as Microsoft Hololens, in that it's designed to run on a standalone mobile device and chiefly concerned with determining the device's position and orientation within the environment.

The software works by integrating three types of functionality:

    Motion-tracking:

 using visual features of the environment, in combination with accelerometer and gyroscope data, to closely track the device's movements in space
    Area learning: storing environment data in a map that can be re-used later, shared with other Project Tango devices, and enhanced with metadata such as notes, instructions, or points of interest

    Depth perception: 

detecting distances, sizes, and surfaces in the environment Together, these generate data about the device in "six degrees of freedom" (3 axes of orientation plus 3 axes of motion) and detailed three-dimensional information about the environment.

Applications on mobile devices use Project Tango's C and Java APIs to access this data in real time. In addition, an API is also provided for integrating Project Tango with the Unity game engine; this enables the rapid conversion or creation of games that allow the user to interact and navigate in the game space by moving and rotating a Project Tango device in real space. These APIs are documented on the Google developer website.


Refered Link:
https://www.google.com/atap/project-tango/about-project-tango/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Tango

Zettabyte file System (ZFS)

Zettabyte file System  (ZFS)

 ZFS is a 128-bit file system developed by Sun Microsystems in 2005 for OpenSolaris. A Solaris file system that uses storage pools to manage physical storage. The ZFS pooled storage model eliminates the concept of volumes and the associated problems of partitions, provisioning and stranded storage by enabling thousands of file systems to draw from a common storage pool, using only as much space as it actually needs. ZFS also uses RAID-Z, a data replication model that is similar to RAID-5 but uses variable stripe width to eliminate the RAID-5 write hole-that is stripe corruption due to loss of power between data and parity updates. 

ZFS runs on Solaris, FreeBSD and Linux variants, and includes built-in data services and features such as replication, deduplication, compression, snapshots and data protection. The Sun development team began work on ZFS in 2001 and integrated it into the Unix-based Solaris and open source OpenSolaris operating systems in 2005.

After acquiring Sun in 2010, Oracle Corp. discontinued work on open source ZFS. The company trademarked the name "ZFS" and turned ZFS into its proprietary root file system for Oracle Solaris, Oracle's ZFS Storage Appliances, mainframe storage (VSM) and other Oracle technologies. Oracle continues to develop and add features to its proprietary ZFS. The open source version of ZFS is now known as OpenZFS.

Features  

• Endless scalability

Well, it’s not technically endless, but it’s a 128-bit file system that’s capable of managing zettabytes (one billion terabytes) of data.  No matter how much hard drive space you have, ZFS will be suitable for managing it.

• Maximum integrity

Everything you do inside of ZFS uses a checksum to ensure file integrity.  You can rest assured that your files and their redundant copies will not encounter silent data corruption.  Also, while ZFS is busy quietly checking your data for integrity, it will do automatic repairs anytime it can.

• Drive pooling

The creators of ZFS want you to think of it as being similar to the way your computer uses RAM.  When you need more memory in your computer, you put in another stick and you’re done.  Similarly with ZFS, when you need more hard drive space, you put in another hard drive and you’re done.  No need to spend time partitioning, formatting, initializing, or doing anything else to your disks – when you need a bigger storage “pool,” just add disks.

• RAID

ZFS is capable of many different RAID levels, all while delivering performance that’s comparable to that of hardware RAID controllers.  This allows you to save money, make setup easier, and have access to superior RAID levels that ZFS has improved upon.



References:-

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/Z/ZFS.html
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/Z/ZFS.html
http://www.howtogeek.com/175159/an-introduction-to-the-z-file-system-zfs-for-linux/