The group's research strengths are in the areas listed below, each of which is described in more detail further down the page. Recent publications are grouped at the foot of the page.

• Applications of electronics
• Applied physics
• Technology enhanced learning (e-learning)
• CEESI collaboration
• Manufacture of electronics-enabled products

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Applications of Electronics

• instrumentation & sensors
• industrial measurement
• analogue design
• medical electronics e.g. medical instrumentation
• digital signal processing applications e.g. speech
• application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)
• embedded systems

The university owns the intellectual property rights to several inventions in the area of instrumentation arising from applied research by the electronics staff,

 

Applied Physics

The team is active in the following areas:

• computational nanoelectronics
• MEMS (Micro Electromechanical Systems)
• electric field theory, dielectrics and insulators

Dr. G. Edwards is collaborating with Prof. E. Siores at the Centre for Materials Research and Innovation, University of Bolton on a project looking at how variable frequency microwave can be used to sterilize food products. Prof. Siores is leading the experimental aspects of this work. Dr. Edwards is directing the computational electromagnetic modelling effort for this project. The COMSOL MultiPhysics software package, which employs the finite element method, is being used to simulate the dielectric heating of bacteria exposed to variable frequency microwave radiation.

Dr Dennis Dodds is working with Prof. E. Siores on a SMART materials project.

 

Technology-enhanced Learning (e-Learning)

The team's particular interests are:

• remote access to applications software via thin client technology
• "authentic activity" in distance learning
• effective teaching techniques over the internet to adult learners studying part time
• use of animation for effective teaching
• synthesis of courseware from a database of topics (learning objects held in a repository)
• intellectual property rights and the "open courseware" debate
• authentication systems (Shibboleth) applied to applications software - SheiLab project

 

CEESI Collaboration

The group administers the CEESI project - a collaboration between ten UK universities to create a "pool" of modules at postgraduate level, all of which can be studied to some extent by distance learning. Details are at www.ceesi.ac.uk|

The group has responsibility for the university's Collaborative Training Account (CTA) with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Part of the CTA has been allocated to fund a number of PhDs by publication, known as "Industrial PhD", by the Centre for Research and Innovation (CMRI).

 

Manufacturing of electronics-enabled products

The University is a member of the National Microelectronics Institute (NMI|) which represents the interests of chip designers and fabricators in the UK. Members of the electronics team are regular contributors to electronics manufacturing groups, particularly the SAMC (Scottish Advanced Manufacturing Centre).

 

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Some Recent MSc Projects

• Adiabatic Switching for Power Dissipation Reduction in CMOS Gates
• Hybrid Electric Propulsion and Power System (HEPAPS)
• Optimisation & Enhancement of an Embedded Industrial Signal Processor
• Voice Actuated Control of Domestic Lighting Systems
• Development of an ISA Bus to PC Card Interface Soft Core
• Non-contact Turbocharger speed Measurement

Some Recent PhD Theses

• Adaptive Control for Laser Marking Process.
  Director of Studies: Prof D Morton
• Hybrid Power Systems Including Renewable Power Sources for Isolated Grids.
  Director of Studies: Prof D Morton
• Laser Marking.
  Supervisor: Prof D Morton
• Analytical Modeling of Laser Processing.
  Supervisor: Prof D Morton
• Investigation of Modelling Techniques and Artificial Intelligence Methodologies to building Energy Management Systems.
  Director of Studies: Prof J Calderwood
• Cognitive Tools for Active Presentation Technology.
  Supervisor: Dr A Elsayed

Some Recent Papers and Publications

• A physical hypothesis for Cole-Davidson behaviour, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation,
  Prof. J.H. Calderwood
• A coaxial conductor of high screening capability, IEE Proc. Science Measurement and Control,
  Prof. J.H. Calderwood
• The behaviour of the Debye rotator, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation,
  Prof. J.H. Calderwood
• Intellectual Property Rights in e-learning programmes, Higher Education Funding Council for England, July 2006 (contributory case study). R. Attwood, R. J. Hood and R. Jackson. Link to HEFCE publications
• The Open Courseware Debate, R.G. Jackson, Alt-C conference, Manchester, 2005
• Novel Sensors and Sensing, R.G. Jackson, Institute of Physics Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0-7503-0989X