why?

Visiting Fellow Programme - University of Technology Sydney

2016-03-02T19:05:00.000+05:30

Applications invited for UTS KTP Visiting Fellow Programme - 2016

Keywords: Key Technology Partner (KTP), University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Visiting Fellow, Collaborative Research, Appln Start - 01Mar16, Appln End - 30Apr16. Result - 15Jun16.

The second round of Inbound KTP Visiting Fellow Programme invites applications which provides opportunities for international research collaboration with UTS. Applications are now open for UTS researchers to invite academics from our KTP partner institutions to undertake a two-to-four week period of collaborative research and engagement with the UTS academic community. Visiting fellows receive up to A$10,000 towards travel, accommodation and living expenses incurred during their stay in Sydney.

The objective of this program is to provide UTS and KTP academics with the opportunity to develop long-term collaboration between their respective research groups, to explore opportunities for joint publications, external
funding, and to discuss co-supervision of PhD students. We also encourage visiting fellows to engage more widely with the UTS community through meetings with academics across the University and through public seminars.

As IISc is a Key Technology Partner (KTP) of UTS, we invite applications from early and mid-career academics and researchers for the KTP Visiting Fellow Programme. Application opens today, that is, March 1, 2016 and the deadline is 30 April 2016. Results will be announced on June 15, 2016.

IISc academics interested in applying for the fellowship may please follow the steps given below:

1. Visit the Inbound KTP Visiting Fellow Program website<http://www.uts.edu.au/partners-and-community/initiatives/internationalisation/key-technology-partnership-program/ktp-0>

2. Identify an academic counterpart at UTS<http://www.uts.edu.au/>, who shares your mutual research interests

3. Contact the prospective UTS host academic to identify opportunities for joint research

4. Define your research project topic and agree on the content of the Application Form

5. Complete the Online Application Form (Please note that this must be submitted by the UTS host)

6. Submit the Application Form by 30 April to participate in 2016 KTP Visiting Fellow Programme

Contact details:

(Dr.) Jamshed A. Siddiqui
Country Director - India &
Chief Representative - South Asia
University of Technology Sydney

www.uts.edu.au<http://www.uts.edu.au>
CRICOS Provider Code 00099F

India contact details:
Suite # 404, Paharpur Business Centre
Nehru Place Greens
New Delhi - 110 019

Tel: +91.11.4120 7175 (Direct) / + 91.11.2620 7175 (Direct)
Cell: +91.98 101 68286 (India) / +61.450 085 040 (Australia)

Nostalgia ! - Didi - Cheb Khaled

2015-09-08T14:49:00.001+05:30

It was nearly two decades ago that I heard this song for the first time. It was a great catchy tune, of those time. I thank Doordarshan and All India Radio for introducing me to this song.
The first Arabic / Algerian music that I heard. I never understood the lyrics then. I just used to enjoy the line "... didi didi didi ...".

I came across this song on my presumed-long-lost-playlist when I was cleaning my HDD. It instantly brought back memories of the times, when my cousins and I, danced on this song in all family gatherings. I loved the artist for his voice. I didn't know his name till about 2-3 years ago.

'Khaled'.

What a voice ! There have been many versions and renditions by many artists globally. But this song, still survived the sands of time.

O! people of the 90's, I present you once again.... 'Didi'

Here are the translation of the lyrics
(Source: Issam Abdelghaffar):

(I'm burning in the fire of love but you're not)
(I will not make you away from me so I don't cry later i.e. he wants to be always close from her)
(but I just have a bad luck and destiny)

[CHORUS]
(take take, take take the beautiful girl away)
(take, take take take this beautiful girl away)
(I will not make you away from me so I don't cry later)
(I will not make you away from me so I don't ask about you later i.e. because she'll always be close from him he'll know everything about her and won't need to ask people about her)
(but I just have bad luck and destiny)

[CHORUS]
(even if they take you to the top of the highest mountain...)
(I will still come to see you)
(This literally means "who doesn't know her belt?". It's a metaphor that means "everybody knows her" or possibly means that she's known well by other men because she always hangs in bars, or maybe he's just saying "just like a woman that hangs in bars is known very well to other men, it's also very clear how I feel towards you (e.g. I love you)". This last one makes more sense to me and it's probably what Khaled is trying to say)

[CHORUS]
(I have a bad luck and destiny)
(I have a bad luck and destiny)
(drop the fishing net in the sea and cry on the bad luck -- this is another metaphor, he's describing his bad luck just like a fisherman who drops his fishing net in the sea and gets no fish)

[CHORUS]
(who doesn't knokw her belt? (explained above))
(he's talking to the taxi driver but I'm not sure what he means by "rofd ahta")
(her belt is made of "spylo")

[CHORUS]
(I have a bad luck and destiny)
(I have a bad luck and destiny)
(drop the fishing net in the sea and cry on the bad luck)

[CHORUS]
(your eyes are sleepy -- he's describing her eyes, he says that they're not wide open, they're opened a little bit only. This is a sign of beauty (for him at least))
(your eyes are nice)
(your eyes are beautiful)

[CHORUS]
(I'll come to see even if you're on the top of the highest mountain)
(or I'll come to see you in the neighborhood (i.e. wherever she is, he'll do anything to see her)
(he's talking to the taxi driver, but again, I don't know what he means by "rofd ahta")

Thank you Khaled !

Iftaar Time – Head to Mosque Road, Frazer Town!

2015-07-03T14:57:00.003+05:30

Assalamu alaikum. The month of Ramadan has come and it has brought with it patience, love, caring and increased spirituality. It also brings in special delicacies and amazing food items. Like every year, the buzz is around Mosque road in Frazer town. All the foodies of Bangalore visit it religiously, every year.

Iftaar food is best had at home. For all those away from home, Bangalore has quite a few places to visit in the month of Ramadan. Old-timer’s restaurants to young generation’s street food – it’s time to indulge in special delicacies specially served in Ramadan. From the haleem by Pista House, the yummy brain puffs and mutton samosa in Albert Bakery, the Biriyani of Paradise and the deep fried kebabs of Savoury – the road transforms itself into a massive destination of meat eaters. I have my favourites and here’s that list:

1. Pista House

This place is synonymous with the world renowned Hyderabadi haleem and the Qubani ka meetha, both must haves. The rich array of spices and the desi ghee used with the tender meat and wheat brings out the flavour of haleem, which imprints a memory for life. The Deccan special dessert made of Apricots, served with slivers of Badam evens out the palate.

How much: Rs 210 for both.

2. Paradise

A legendary name in Hyderabad for its Biriyanis, is the next stop. The mutton Biriyani is the first choice. The tender well cooked meat with soft-on-the-palate spices marinated in curd and served with long grain saffron coloured flavourful basmati rice. Each grain is cooked to perfection with love. For dessert, try the double ka meetha.

How much: Rs 350 for both.

3. Albert Bakery

Old is gold. If you haven’t had mutton samosas and dry fruit cookies here, you have not had them right. One of the oldest bakeries, with the old generation people, who always serve with a smile and instil the belief in you – food has to fill your soul.

How much: Rs 200- for two.

4. Charminar Kabab Paradise

Go here for the ‘dry’ kebabs. A mouth watering array of food items, especially Lemon Chicken and Mutton Sheek. Try the local delicacy – Camel meat – Kebab, Tikkas and Sheek. Do try the Pathar ka gosht too.

How much: Rs 50 per dish

Ending the list are two items: Firni , no iftaar is complete without it and Suleimani chai to wash down all the meat and spices.

Zaika Khane Ka - Paradise

2015-06-29T16:13:00.000+05:30

Paradise

Address: Al Noor, Mosque Road, Next to Green Avenue Apartment, Frazer Town, Bangalore

For all you Biriyani lovers of IISc, the legend is here! Very close to you, not in Indiranagar, but in Frazer Town!. The place is huge with a simplistic ambience and it looks over the busy Mosque Road.

The menu has some Biriyani options mainly Mutton, Chicken, Veg and Egg and serves 2. The starters and gravies are similar to the ones available elsewhere too. They have an option to serve the Biriyani for 4 -5 pax too – Special Supreme Mutton Biriyani with the Mirchi ka Sallan. The quantity was huge and the meat, marinated in curd and spices- was tender and well cooked. Every grain of basmati rice was cooked to perfection, with love. The flavour of the fresh spices is well absorbed and can be felt in the rice and the meat. It was mild and flavourful thanks to the Zafraan and Japhal.

Double ka Meetha and Qubani ka Meetha are a must have desserts. Vanilla Ice cream is a recommended add-on.

I ordered Haleem, one of my favourite dishes and available in the month of Ramadan, priced at Rs 159/-, and it kept up its promise. The amazing flavour of the rich spices, the succulent meat, the soaked wheat and the generous amount of desi ghee used in the preparation, pounded for over 12 hours on a wood stove - enhancing the flavour, just lifts up your senses.

At Rs 1200 +taxes, it is totally worth its money. Overall rating 4.0/5.0

P.S. The place gets silent after the food is served. No conversation!

Indigenous CMOS Wideband Radio Amplifier - Our Lab's Contribution.

2015-02-18T14:22:00.000+05:30

OUR LAB'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATION !!!

It is a proud moment that the work done in your lab (Analog and RF Systems Laboratory) at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, that contributes heavily to the development of the nation is brought out to show it to public of India for its use in strategic applications. A lot of time, money, sacrifice and effort has gone in it making so worthwhile. Kudos to our team !!

We, now, need not import the technology for the strategic applications. It is now indigenous.
The faculty incharge of this project, is my advisor, Dr. Gaurab Banerjee from the Electrical Communication Engineering department, IISc Bangalore.

We are thankful for Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), Govt. of India and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Public Sector Undertaking for Defence and Aerospace for their support.

BEL is the leading Defence Electronic Equipment manufacturer for the Indian Armed forces. You can visit their stall at the AERO - INDIA 2015 to know more.

Javed GS
Research Scholar,
Analog and RF System Lab,
ECE Dept,
Indian Institute of Science, IISc

Plots of "Life"

2015-02-12T19:29:00.000+05:30

It is a troublesome time in a research scholar's life when his/her entire research work has to be summarized in a few plots/graphs. Now capturing all of these are difficult. How much can you show graphically?

Bringing in all the data, the inferences and outcomes due to them, all on a set of plots; I thought it wouldn't do justice to the amount of time, effort and the sacrifices that have come along generating and 'verifying' them .

My peers and seniors would say, 'It is easy. Very very easy'. How, I asked ?

'Don't you know some thing called 'MATLAB'. Use it, my friend.' (Just for the folks working in "my area of interest". There are a score of other tools available)

There are times when just adding a graph increases the value of your work manifold while writing papers to communicate your research work, this is one of them.

Why ? They are the "life" of the work. Each and every plot !!
Plots of "Life"

In my search to add more value to my work, I came across, few interesting links. I am just compiling a few here.

1. Plot 2-D lines on both y-axes
2. 1 x-axis, many y-axes, different y-limits. Try this one !!
3. ...

... to be continued.

FMCW radars

2014-06-01T00:49:00.000+05:30

FMCW radars – Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Radars

A big, fancy name for a distance sensor. Yes, it is a sensor. And it works in the 77-81 GHz range. Where? In automobiles.

Why? Collision Avoidance, Automated Parking, etc.

It is something similar to what bat uses, Echolocation. Ultrasounds are emitted and compared with the returning pulses to create an image of the surroundings for the bat to navigate/hunt.

A modulated frequency is sent and received, and the difference in frequency is used to directly determine the distance as well as the relative speed of the object.

Your car wants to think and drive, by itself. It wants echolocation.

Automotive applications for CW Radars

10 years after BEL CBSE

2014-03-25T15:02:00.000+05:30

10 years after BEL CBSE

An article written for the Silver Jubilee Celebration Memoir of our school

The thought of completing 10 years after graduating out of the school rings back very fond memories. Scores of images were recreated in front of my eyes. Every morning during the morning assembly, news headlines, trivia and the population count for the day were read. I was the school captain then, and opposite to me was the queue for First Std and Second Std students. Even these students have graduated of the school now. This is how fast the time flies.

These are not just images, they are experiences. Each of these experiences has affected us in the next phase of life - work/career. These learnings from school have helped us steer clear of many things. It has taught us some of the most basic skill-sets that a student must have – discipline, obedience, loyalty, punctuality, courage, fearlessness, inquisitiveness and friendliness, only to be shattered in the tough competitive environment outside of school. But in most of us, it surfaces at the right time to solve our challenges.

              How do we do sound judgement? This ability is achieved when we do mistakes. At school, they taught us to learn from these mistakes. The cumulative effect of these mistakes has enabled us to make sound judgement now.
             This school has seen many siblings studying together, likewise in our batch too. My brother, G S Naqvi, was also a student of this institution. Unlike me, he was here for all the 10 years of his schooling. The friends and company he developed here are the ones, I hope, will cherish for life. He too, like his older sibling, was the school captain and shares the similar characteristics. But in some ways, he was a better leader. He was really an all-rounder. He was equally good in education, sports, painting, dance and
drama. The values of friendship, discipline, patience was all learnt and developed in school. He was always, at least, a step ahead of his brother.
         I wish that the school continues to stay as a blessing for generations to come and the new teachers bear the same feelings towards the students and the ones that taught us. Let the school reach great heights and accomplish laurels in the world.

G S Javed
Ph.D Scholar, ECE Dept,
Indian Institute of Science
2002 Batch

10 years after BEL CBSE - A decade

Back to school - after 6 years

Parameter Conversion: S to Z Y h T

2013-08-05T13:10:00.000+05:30

When an RF Engineer starts designing a circuit, there comes a time where s/he encounters s-parameters. Looking at that s/he needs to make a call on the different other parameters like h-, Z-, T- or Y-.

Is there a tool which does it for you?
YES, there is !!

A web based calculator which can do the conversion of S-Y-Z back and forth.

How does it do that ?

The formulae which allow us to go through with the rigour needed are available in most texts and scholarly articles.

But for the people in the MATLAB zone, there is the RF ToolBox which has the s2z converter function to do the needful.

Hey, hello !! Hold on!! What are you talking about ?

The 2-port network shown above is representative of that implied in the application of these equations.

All of the parameter equations make use of complex values for all numbers of impedance and the resulting matrix parameters, i.e., Z = R ± jX.

Z₀₁ and Z₀₂ are the complex impedances of ports 1 and 2, respectively; similarly, Z*₀₁ and Z*₀₂ are the complex conjugates of the respective impedances.

Happy Designing !

Javed

Continuous Time Sigma Delta ADC

2013-07-23T17:16:00.001+05:30

A few links that explain techniques and suggestions that active Analog Circuit Designers can use.

Current Steering DAC is a commonly used circuit to go along with Multi-bit quantizer for Sigma Delta Converters. For a very interesting discussion on them for verilog modelling, read here.
Quantization and Voltage Dynamic Range - here
Measuring SNR and PSD for SD ADC implemented on a FPGA
Simulating a DSM in Simulink

Hope these help you get started with designing a Sigma Delta ADC.

Cheers !!

Edit:

When you characterize your Silicon, you tend to realise that absense of a screw/nail causes more trouble than the absense of a major testing equipment. The respect towards the smaller things in life increases drastically.

Some more links for the information are given below:

Plotting PSD and SINAD of an ADC in Cadence. One of the best links links that I have found in recent times.

The View from the Pamban Bridge

2013-02-03T23:01:00.001+05:30

............ ???

2012-11-29T11:10:00.002+05:30

After a long time, I received a positive response from the UGC. The project proposal took TWO years to move to the next table. (Hope to get the approval before 2013 :) )

Along with it, I received another news from them regarding a central portal for all the news regarding Faculty positions in the country.

At the same time, DST brings out a portal INSPIRE-ing the research careers of its research students.

Einstein's Marriage and His Research - Part I

2012-05-03T18:37:00.000+05:30

After reading a small entry from a fellow Ph.D student, he too in his Second Year, about Albert Einstein in his graduate days, it brought out an amused laugh.

Read Between the lines My friends!!

It says, it was his 2nd year of marriage.

He must be totally freaked out by his wife that he though of the presence of atom, How could that even happen ? .
.
.
.

You know why? Because she was making him go around her again and again. He would have thought, "This is very interesting. She is like a nucleus which keeps me attracted towards her, and also make me run around her. Thank you Honey.

(I get another paper. That too journal. Woo hoo !!)"

Coming to the next point where he got smacked by his "so-called" friends, when he was with them, enjoying bourbon, on how he gets flashes of light when he sees his wife at home, he got goosebumps. All the time.

Something in him realized that these flashes were getting converted into something to give him goosebumps. This was the realization.

PHOTO = light, and Elektron = electron a.k.a Current . Something workable.

That came out to be the photoelectric effect.

To Be Continued ...

Powerpoint presentations

2012-03-14T12:18:00.001+05:30

I have always wondered what people think when they go through the reviews and finally, give the actual presentation.

Here's people react to it when it goes on ...

Cancer Killer - Tree

2012-02-01T13:16:00.000+05:30

Time and again we have found the news of scientists/ Researchers find a cure (Synthetic) for the Cancer Cells.

But, we failed to see that nature had already kept it ready for us.

Soursop or Graviola.

For some more information, go here.

Now you have to think the reason the private pharma companies kept is away from us, why?

God's own country

2012-01-29T21:49:00.000+05:30

The Slopes of Munnar (Moon-ar)

The path from Munnar to Ernakulam

Arguing Baby- Part 2

2011-12-09T18:53:00.001+05:30

A continuation of my Previous post.

Arguing Baby - Part 1

2011-12-09T18:49:00.001+05:30

I was just browsing youtube to take my mind off the exams I had ahead of me and I came across these videos.

Relaxed !!!

The Thirst of Knowledge

2011-12-09T18:07:00.001+05:30

When you work in an industry that deals with Sales and Marketing, you HAVE to acquire knowledge about your customers (Know Your Customers).

This is an example of how you do it.

And, your customer will always come back for you. :D

LaTeX. Why?

2011-12-03T14:08:00.001+05:30

There are times in the life of a Graduate students "Academic" life where all he/she has to do is write reports, thesis, papers, journals ,etc. So, what is so special about this you say.
I say - "Nothing".

Perplexed?

Don't be.

Students (not all) get so accustomed to using Microsoft in their reports in their Undergraduate life, that they begin to use that in Graduate life too.

But, then they see all around them, there are journals and papers so crisply presented and wonderfully formatted with almost effortless ease. "What is it that they use?" I, myself, kept wondering till I heard the one thing that was common to all of these - LaTeX .

I dwelt with it for some time till I decided to write my graduate course report in LaTeX. It was a "steep" learning curve though. But, you get the hang of it soon.

It was fun using it. The output is there to see. NEAT is one word I would use to describe it.

So I thought of compiling a few links that helped me in my "steep" learning curve.

Tutorials(TUG), Mathematical Formulae, Graphics and Xfig(wiki), and an Online formula writer for assistance.

And there is also the FAQ from RSI

Adding Figures:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/~paciorek/computingTips/Inserting_labelling_figures.html
http://www.iam.ubc.ca/old_pages/newbury/tex/figures.html

C ya !!

Cheers !!

P.S.: This is also Latex.

2011-10-06T13:54:00.002+05:30

The words of the wise and a visionary.

He was a lion in the Silicon Valley.

Genius, Steve Jobs is thy name.

2011-10-06T13:47:00.001+05:30

The man with the modern Apple. He is another of the elite to be remembered when the mention of APPLE occurs.
The list goes as,
1. Adam and Eve
2. Newton
3. Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs

An Inspiration.

Jobs, Steve

2011-10-02T23:49:00.000+05:30

A real entrepreneur.

Talented people don't get recognised - Why?

2011-06-16T01:02:00.000+05:30

Why do these people have to sell their wares on the road.

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2011-04-26T15:10:00.000+05:30

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