Low-Cost Inkjet Printing Technology for the Rapid Prototyping of Transducers.

Recently, there has been an upsurge in efforts dedicated to developing low-cost flexible electronics by exploiting innovative materials and direct printing technologies. This interest is motivated by the need for low-cost mass-production, shapeable, and disposable devices, and the rapid prototyping of electronics and sensors. This review, following a short overview of main printing processes, reports examples of the development of flexible transducers through low-cost inkjet printing technology.

Enhancing the resolution of a sensor via negative correlation: a biologically inspired approach.

We demonstrate that a neuronal system, underpinned by "fire-then-reset" dynamics, can display an enhanced resolution R~T(ob)(-1) where T(ob) is the observation time of the measurement; this occurs when the interspike intervals are negatively correlated and T(ob)<Δ/ε, where ε is a parameter characterizing the level of correlation between interspike intervals and Δ is the average interspike interval. We also show that by introducing negative correlations into the time domain response of a nonlinear dynamical sensor it is possible to replicate this enhanced scaling of the resolution. Thus, we demonstrate the potential for designing a novel class of biomimetic sensors that afford improved signal resolution by functionally utilizing negative correlations.

Nonlinear channelizer.

The nonlinear channelizer is an integrated circuit made up of large parallel arrays of analog nonlinear oscillators, which, collectively, serve as a broad-spectrum analyzer with the ability to receive complex signals containing multiple frequencies and instantaneously lock-on or respond to a received signal in a few oscillation cycles. The concept is based on the generation of internal oscillations in coupled nonlinear systems that do not normally oscillate in the absence of coupling. In particular, the system consists of unidirectionally coupled bistable nonlinear elements, where the frequency and other dynamical characteristics of the emergent oscillations depend on the system's internal parameters and the received signal. These properties and characteristics are being employed to develop a system capable of locking onto any arbitrary input radio frequency signal. The system is efficient by eliminating the need for high-speed, high-accuracy analog-to-digital converters, and compact by making use of nonlinear coupled systems to act as a channelizer (frequency binning and channeling), a low noise amplifier, and a frequency down-converter in a single step which, in turn, will reduce the size, weight, power, and cost of the entire communication system. This paper covers the theory, numerical simulations, and some engineering details that validate the concept at the frequency band of 1-4 GHz.

Logical stochastic resonance with correlated internal and external noises in a synthetic biological logic block.

Following the advent of synthetic biology, several gene networks have been engineered to emulate digital devices, with the ability to program cells for different applications. In this work, we adapt the concept of logical stochastic resonance to a synthetic gene network derived from a bacteriophage λ. The intriguing results of this study show that it is possible to build a biological logic block that can emulate or switch from the AND to the OR gate functionalities through externally tuning the system parameters. Moreover, this behavior and the robustness of the logic gate are underpinned by the presence of an optimal amount of random fluctuations. We extend our earlier work in this field, by taking into account the effects of correlated external (additive) and internal (multiplicative or state-dependent) noise. Results obtained through analytical calculations as well as numerical simulations are presented.

A noise-assisted reprogrammable nanomechanical logic gate.

We present a nanomechanical device, operating as a reprogrammable logic gate, and performing fundamental logic functions such as AND/OR and NAND/NOR. The logic function can be programmed (e.g., from AND to OR) dynamically, by adjusting the resonator's operating parameters. The device can access one of two stable steady states, according to a specific logic function; this operation is mediated by the noise floor which can be directly adjusted, or dynamically "tuned" via an adjustment of the underlying nonlinearity of the resonator, i.e., it is not necessary to have direct control over the noise floor. The demonstration of this reprogrammable nanomechanical logic gate affords a path to the practical realization of a new generation of mechanical computers.

Enhanced processing in arrays of optimally tuned nonlinear biomimetic sensors: A coupling-mediated Ringelmann effect and its dynamical mitigation.

Inspired by recent results on self-tunability in the outer hair cells of the mammalian cochlea, we describe an array of magnetic sensors where each individual sensor can self-tune to an optimal operating regime. The self-tuning gives the array its "biomimetic" features. We show that the overall performance of the array can, as expected, be improved by increasing the number of sensors but, however, coupling between sensors reduces the overall performance even though the individual sensors in the system could see an improvement. We quantify the similarity of this phenomenon to the Ringelmann effect that was formulated 103 years ago to account for productivity losses in human and animal groups. We propose a global feedback scheme that can be used to greatly mitigate the performance degradation that would, normally, stem from the Ringelmann effect.

One-way coupling enables noise-mediated spatiotemporal patterns in media of otherwise quiescent multistable elements.

Recent work has demonstrated that undriven and overdamped bistable systems, which are normally quiescent, can oscillate if unidirectionally coupled into arrays with cyclic boundary conditions. Here, we understand such oscillations as corresponding to the propagation of solitonlike waves. Further, in large arrays, we demonstrate how noise and coupling, together, mediate the resulting complex spatiotemporal dynamics.

Cooperative dynamics in coupled noisy dynamical systems near a critical point: The dc superconducting quantum interference device as a case study.

Dynamical systems that operate near the onset of coupling-induced oscillations can exhibit enhanced sensitivity to external perturbations under suitable operating parameters. This cooperative behavior and the attendant enhancement in the system response (quantified here via a signal-to-noise ratio at the fundamental of the coupling-induced oscillation frequency) are investigated in this work. As a prototype, we study an array of dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) rings locally coupled, unidirectionally as well as bidirectionally, in a ring configuration; it is well known that each individual SQUID can be biased through a saddle-node bifurcation to oscillatory behavior. We show that biasing the array near the bifurcation point of coupling-induced oscillations can lead to a significant performance enhancement.

Complex behavior in driven unidirectionally coupled overdamped Duffing elements.

It is well known that overdamped unforced dynamical systems do not oscillate. However, well-designed coupling schemes, together with the appropriate choice of initial conditions, can induce oscillations (corresponding to transitions between the stable steady states of each nonlinear element) when a control parameter exceeds a threshold value. In recent publications [A. Bulsara, Phys. Rev. E 70, 036103 (2004); V. In, ibid. 72, 045104 (2005)], we demonstrated this behavior in a specific prototype system, a soft-potential mean-field description of the dynamics in a hysteretic "single-domain" ferromagnetic sample. These oscillations are now finding utility in the detection of very weak "target" magnetic signals, via their effect on the oscillation characteristics--e.g., the frequency and asymmetry of the oscillation wave forms. We explore the underlying dynamics of a related system, coupled bistable "standard quartic" dynamic elements; the system shows similarities to, but also significant differences from, our earlier work. dc as well as time-periodic target signals are considered; the latter are shown to induce complex oscillatory behavior in different regimes of the parameter space. In turn, this behavior can be harnessed to quantify the target signal.

Complex dynamics in unidirectionally coupled overdamped bistable systems subject to a time-periodic external signal.

Recently, we have studied the emergence of oscillatory behavior in overdamped undriven nonlinear dynamic systems subject to carefully crafted coupling schemes and operating conditions [V. In, Phys. Rev. E 68, 045102(R) (2003).] The theoretical ideas have been validated in an experimental setup of N = 3 coupled ferromagnetic cores subject to a dc external magnetic "target" signal; the oscillations (corresponding to the periodic switching of each core between its stable steady states of magnetization) are triggered when the coupling constant crosses a threshold value, with the oscillation frequency exhibiting a characteristic scaling behavior with the "separation" of the coupling constant from its threshold value, as well as with the external signal amplitude. Here, we consider the system response to a time-periodic signal. We demonstrate experimentally that, depending on the signal amplitude and frequency, the response can be either synchronized to the signal frequency or to one-third this frequency. These phenomena afford unique techniques for time-periodic signal detection and characterization for a large class of sensors.

Multifrequency synthesis using two coupled nonlinear oscillator arrays.

We illustrate a scheme that exploits the theory of symmetry-breaking bifurcations for generating a spatio-temporal pattern in which one of two interconnected arrays, each with N Van der Pol oscillators, oscillates at N times the frequency of the other. A bifurcation analysis demonstrates that this type of frequency generation cannot be realized without the mutual interaction between the two arrays. It is also demonstrated that the mechanism for generating these frequencies between the two arrays is different from that of a master-slave interaction, a synchronization effect, or that of subharmonic and ultraharmonic solutions generated by forced systems. This kind of frequency generation scheme can find applications in the developed field of nonlinear antenna and radar systems.

Coupling-induced oscillations in overdamped bistable systems.

It is well known that overdamped and unforced dynamical systems do not oscillate. However, well-designed coupling schemes, together with the appropriate choice of initial conditions, can induce oscillations when a control parameter exceeds a threshold value. We demonstrate this effect in a specific system, a soft-potential mean-field description of the dynamics in a (hysteretic) single-domain ferromagnetic sample. Using a specific (unidirectional, with cyclic boundary conditions) coupling scheme, together with nonidentical initial conditions, one can cause the coupled system of N elements (N odd) to oscillate when the coupling coefficient is swept through a critical value. The ensuing oscillations could find utility in the detection of very weak "target" signals, via their effect on the oscillation characteristics.

Emergent oscillations in unidirectionally coupled overdamped bistable systems.

It is well known that overdamped unforced dynamical systems do not oscillate. However, well-designed coupling schemes, together with the appropriate choice of initial conditions, can induce oscillations when a control parameter exceeds a threshold value. In a recent publication [Phys. Rev. E 68, 045102 (2003)]], we demonstrated this behavior in a specific prototype system, a soft-potential mean-field description of the dynamics in a hysteretic "single-domain" ferromagnetic sample. The previous analysis of this work showed that N (odd) unidirectionally coupled elements with cyclic boundary conditions would, in fact, oscillate when a control parameter-in this case the coupling strength-exceeded a critical value. These oscillations are now finding utility in the detection of very weak "target" signals, via their effect on the oscillation characteristics, e.g., the frequency and asymmetry of the oscillation wave forms. In this paper we explore the underlying dynamics of this system. Scaling laws that govern the oscillation frequency in the vicinity of the critical point, as well as the zero-crossing intervals in the presence of a symmetry-breaking target dc signal, are derived; these quantities are germane to signal detection and analysis.

Noise-induced divisive gain control in neuron models.

A recent computational study of gain control via shunting inhibition has shown that the slope of the frequency-versus-input (f-I) characteristic of a neuron can be decreased by increasing the noise associated with the inhibitory input (Neural Comput. 13, 227-248). This novel noise-induced divisive gain control relies on the concommittant increase of the noise variance with the mean of the total inhibitory conductance. Here we investigate this effect using different neuronal models. The effect is shown to occur in the standard leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) model with additive Gaussian white noise, and in the LIF with multiplicative noise acting on the inhibitory conductance. The noisy scaling of input currents is also shown to occur in the one-dimensional theta-neuron model, which has firing dynamics, as well as a large scale compartmental model of a pyramidal cell in the electrosensory lateral line lobe of a weakly electric fish. In this latter case, both the inhibition and the excitatory input have Poisson statistics; noise-induced divisive inhibition is thus seen in f-I curves for which the noise increases along with the input I. We discuss how the variation of the noise intensity along with inputs is constrained by the physiological context and the class of model used, and further provide a comparison of the divisive effect across models.

Noise-aided computation within a synthetic gene network through morphable and robust logic gates.

An important goal for synthetic biology is to build robust and tunable genetic regulatory networks that are capable of performing assigned operations, usually in the presence of noise. In this work, a synthetic gene network derived from the bacteriophage λ underpins a reconfigurable logic gate wherein we exploit noise and nonlinearity through the application of the logical stochastic resonance paradigm. This biological logic gate can emulate or "morph" the AND and OR operations through varying internal system parameters in a noisy background. Such genetic circuits can afford intriguing possibilities in the realization of engineered genetic networks in which the actual function of the gate can be changed after the network has been built, via an external control parameter. In this article, the full system characterization is reported, with the logic gate performance studied in the presence of external and internal noise. The robustness of the gate, to noise, is studied and illustrated through numerical simulations.

Reliable logic circuit elements that exploit nonlinearity in the presence of a noise floor.

The response of a noisy nonlinear system to deterministic input signals can be enhanced by cooperative phenomena. We show that when one presents two square waves as input to a two-state system, the response of the system can produce a logical output (NOR/OR) with a probability controlled by the noise intensity. As one increases the noise (for fixed threshold or nonlinearity), the probability of the output reflecting a NOR/OR operation increases to unity and then decreases. Changing the nonlinearity (or the thresholds) of the system changes the output into another logic operation (NAND/AND) whose probability displays analogous behavior. The interplay of nonlinearity and noise can yield logic behavior, and the emergent outcome of such systems is a logic gate. This "logical stochastic resonance" is demonstrated via an experimental realization of a two-state system with two (adjustable) thresholds.