For decades, people have searched for ways to harvest energy from natural sources. Lately, a desire to address the issue of global warming and climate change has popularized solar or photovoltaic technology, while piezoelectric technology is being developed to power handheld devices without batteries, and thermoelectric technology is being explored to convert wasted heat, such as in automobile engine combustion, into electricity.

Featuring contributions from international researchers in both academics and industry, Energy Harvesting with Functional Materials and Microsystems...

This book introduces the reader to a number of challenges for the operation of electronic devices in various harsh environmental conditions. While some chapters focus on measuring and understanding the effects of these environments on electronic components, many also propose design solutions, whether in choice of material, innovative structures, or strategies for amelioration and repair. Many applications need electronics designed to operate in harsh environments. Readers will find, in this collection of topics, tools and ideas useful in their own pursuits and of interest to their...

Both the demographics and lack of resources in the health and well-being industry are increasingly forcing us to find alternative solutions for individualized health and social care. In an effort to address this issue, smart technologies present enormous potential in solving this challenge. This book strives to enhance communication and collaboration between technology and health and social care sectors. The reader will receive an extensive overview of the possibilities of various technologies in care sectors (including ICT, electronics, automation, and sensor technology) written by...

The utilization of sensors, communications, and computer technologies to create greater efficiency in the generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption of electricity will enable better management of the electric power system. As the use of smart grid technologies grows, utilities will be able to automate meter reading and billing and consumers will be more aware of their energy usage and the associated costs. The results will require utilities and their suppliers to develop new business models, strategies, and processes.

With an emphasis on reducing costs and improving...

Circuits and Systems for Security and Privacy begins by introducing the basic theoretical concepts and arithmetic used in algorithms for security and cryptography, and by reviewing the fundamental building blocks of cryptographic systems. It then analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of real-world implementations that not only optimize power, area, and throughput but also resist side-channel attacks. Merging the perspectives of experts from industry and academia, the book provides valuable insight and necessary background for the design of security-aware circuits and...

Exciting new developments are enabling sensors to go beyond the realm of simple sensing of movement or capture of images to deliver information such as location in a built environment, the sense of touch, and the presence of chemicals. These sensors unlock the potential for smarter systems, allowing machines to interact with the world around them in more intelligent and sophisticated ways.

Featuring contributions from authors working at the leading edge of sensor technology, Technologies for Smart Sensors and Sensor Fusion showcases the latest advancements in sensors with...

CMOS: Front-End Electronics for Radiation Sensors offers a comprehensive introduction to integrated front-end electronics for radiation detectors, focusing on devices that capture individual particles or photons and are used in nuclear and high energy physics, space instrumentation, medical physics, homeland security, and related fields.

Emphasizing practical design and implementation, this book:

• Covers the fundamental principles of signal processing for radiation detectors
• Discusses the relevant analog building blocks used in the front-end electronics
• Employs...

Nanoscale techniques and devices have had an explosive influence on research in life sciences and bioengineering. Reflecting this influence, Nanopatterning and Nanoscale Devices for Biological Applications provides valuable insight into the latest developments in nanoscale technologies for the study of biological systems. Written and edited by experts in the field, this first-of-its-kind collection of topics:

• Covers device fabrication methods targeting the substrate on the nanoscale through surface modification
• Explores the generation of...

An increasing number of technologies are being used to detect minute quantities of biomolecules and cells. However, it can be difficult to determine which technologies show the most promise for high-sensitivity and low-limit detection in different applications.

Microfluidics and Nanotechnology: Biosensing to the Single Molecule Limit details proven approaches for the detection of single cells and even single molecules approaches employed by the world s foremost microfluidics and nanotechnology laboratories. While similar books concentrate only on microfluidics or...