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Hybrid Processing

Citation

Carroll, Christopher Ralph (1982) Hybrid Processing. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/ssgy-ep18. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-09132006-131111

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed a revolution in digital electronics. As the cost per function has decreased, digital techniques have pushed the older analog methods into the background. This thesis explores a method of merging digital and analog techniques into a hybrid combination of the two. Representing the analog information as continuously variable intervals of time minimizes the effects of noise on the analog data. Ensuring that only digital data pass from one computation to another prevents the accumulation of errors.

As an example of hybrid processing, this thesis includes the design of Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuit that implements the Lee-Moore maze solving algorithm, extended to cover the two-layer path finding case. The use of digital information to describe the path geometry and analog information to describe the path costs demonstrates the system's hybrid nature.

The design of this system provided several lessons applicable to the design of other hybrid systems. It also unexpectedly demonstrated the importance of the communication structure in determining the costs involved in all kinds of processing. These lessons are summarized in the last chapter.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Computer Science
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Computer Science
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Mead, Carver
Thesis Committee:
  • Mead, Carver (chair)
  • Sutherland, Ivan Edward
  • Johnsson, S. Lennart
  • Cuk, Slobodan
  • Fox, Geoffrey C.
Defense Date:8 March 1982
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
CaltechUNSPECIFIED
NSFUNSPECIFIED
Office of Naval Research (ONR)UNSPECIFIED
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-09132006-131111
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-09132006-131111
DOI:10.7907/ssgy-ep18
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:3518
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:29 Sep 2006
Last Modified:16 Apr 2021 22:34

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