Microwave Differential Imaging of Myocardium for Assessment and Therapeutic Monitoring of Transcatheter Cardiac Ablation. We propose to develop Microwave Imaging techniques for cardiovascular disease diagnosis at 2.45 GHz. Firstly, we aim to image the contrast in the complex dielectric constants of healthy and ischaemic heart tissue. The second aim is to image the extent and efficacy of therapeutic lesion formation due to cardiac ablation modalities. We propose to develop a cylindrical antenna ....Microwave Differential Imaging of Myocardium for Assessment and Therapeutic Monitoring of Transcatheter Cardiac Ablation. We propose to develop Microwave Imaging techniques for cardiovascular disease diagnosis at 2.45 GHz. Firstly, we aim to image the contrast in the complex dielectric constants of healthy and ischaemic heart tissue. The second aim is to image the extent and efficacy of therapeutic lesion formation due to cardiac ablation modalities. We propose to develop a cylindrical antenna array for near field microwave imaging using novel wire antenna elements. Fast and iterative reconstruction algorithms based on electromagnetic scattering and computational techniques will also be developed.Read moreRead less
Listen and see: Remote sensing and imaging of insect pests. Australia is the third largest market for termite control, after the USA and Japan. It has been estimated by CSIRO that about one in three Australian houses will be attacked by termites at some stage. Currently, an Australian designed, patented and manufactured product is the only reliable termite detector. This research, developing a novel sensor array and imaging technology, will further consolidate Australia's world leading position ....Listen and see: Remote sensing and imaging of insect pests. Australia is the third largest market for termite control, after the USA and Japan. It has been estimated by CSIRO that about one in three Australian houses will be attacked by termites at some stage. Currently, an Australian designed, patented and manufactured product is the only reliable termite detector. This research, developing a novel sensor array and imaging technology, will further consolidate Australia's world leading position in termite detection technology, revolutionise how termite behavioural research will be conducted and significantly increase the world-wide capability in termite control and hence reduce the costs of termite damage. It will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Broadband and Multiband Antenna Systems. Wireless communication has become essential in the modern information society and this has created a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar market for innovative wireless products. Australia has a strong potential to gain from this market, as demonstrated by world-leading products, e.g. wireless computer microchips. By developing innovative antenna systems with new capabilities, the proposed research will create opportunities for Australian industry to com ....Broadband and Multiband Antenna Systems. Wireless communication has become essential in the modern information society and this has created a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar market for innovative wireless products. Australia has a strong potential to gain from this market, as demonstrated by world-leading products, e.g. wireless computer microchips. By developing innovative antenna systems with new capabilities, the proposed research will create opportunities for Australian industry to compete in the global wireless market with advanced, low-cost, high-performance, and universal products. The Australian research community will benefit from new theoretical techniques and trained researchers, while wireless users will benefit from improved quality and low cost of services.Read moreRead less
Smart Antennas for Broadband Wireless Data Systems. Smart antennas can facilitate accommodation of an increasing demand for bandwidth and quality in wireless communications by directing the antenna beam towards the desired user, while suppressing signals coming from interferers. The beam forming processor can adapt to changes in channel propagation conditions as well as movements of the user or interferers. Many algorithms for controlling smart antennas have been proposed, and usually there is a ....Smart Antennas for Broadband Wireless Data Systems. Smart antennas can facilitate accommodation of an increasing demand for bandwidth and quality in wireless communications by directing the antenna beam towards the desired user, while suppressing signals coming from interferers. The beam forming processor can adapt to changes in channel propagation conditions as well as movements of the user or interferers. Many algorithms for controlling smart antennas have been proposed, and usually there is a trade-off between complexity and performance. We aim to find a suitable compromise to implement smart antennas for broadband wireless access systems and to apply smart antenna technology to increase the range of ultra-wideband communications.Read moreRead less
Tools and techniques for cost effective creation of new, reliable and efficient microwave transistors for millimetre wave and wireless applications. Shifting the circuit design paradigm to the requirements of a circuit will provide a low-cost design solution for application with tight size, performance and lifetime constraints. This will enhance the international competitiveness of Mimix Broadband in the microwave wireless, aerospace, and radar markets, which will contribute to Australia's high ....Tools and techniques for cost effective creation of new, reliable and efficient microwave transistors for millimetre wave and wireless applications. Shifting the circuit design paradigm to the requirements of a circuit will provide a low-cost design solution for application with tight size, performance and lifetime constraints. This will enhance the international competitiveness of Mimix Broadband in the microwave wireless, aerospace, and radar markets, which will contribute to Australia's high performance circuit design sector. New knowledge and skilled researchers provided by this project will foster growth of the microwave and wireless industry. The local research community will be advantaged in international reputation and in its efforts to develop future high performance wireless systems.Read moreRead less
High-Performance Microwave and Millimetre Wave Antennae Based on Multi-layer Periodic Structures. Broadband communication has created a rapidly growing market for innovative microwave communication systems such as WiFi and WiMAX. Millimetre-wave technology is expected to deliver the next leap in communication technology with much faster wireless links for 3D TV etc. By developing innovative, low-cost, planar antennas with high performance, the proposed research will create opportunities for Aust ....High-Performance Microwave and Millimetre Wave Antennae Based on Multi-layer Periodic Structures. Broadband communication has created a rapidly growing market for innovative microwave communication systems such as WiFi and WiMAX. Millimetre-wave technology is expected to deliver the next leap in communication technology with much faster wireless links for 3D TV etc. By developing innovative, low-cost, planar antennas with high performance, the proposed research will create opportunities for Australian industry to compete in this growing global market with advanced, cost-effective, microwave and millimetre-wave products. The Australian research community will benefit from new methods, techniques and trained researchers, while Australian consumers will benefit from improved quality and low cost of services.Read moreRead less
Towards Photonic and Electronic Devices for High Indium Content Nitride Semiconductors. Nitride semiconductors are widely used in mobile phone and lighting applications. The Low Temperature Nitride Semiconductor Group at Macquarie University have specialized in improving the quality of these materials using growth techniques that will allow gallium nitride to become commercially viable for room lighting. In collaboration with researchers in Europe we intend to develop and exploit the next genera ....Towards Photonic and Electronic Devices for High Indium Content Nitride Semiconductors. Nitride semiconductors are widely used in mobile phone and lighting applications. The Low Temperature Nitride Semiconductor Group at Macquarie University have specialized in improving the quality of these materials using growth techniques that will allow gallium nitride to become commercially viable for room lighting. In collaboration with researchers in Europe we intend to develop and exploit the next generation of nitride materials for high-speed mobile communications and photonic applications. The team assembled for this project have excellent credentials in the development of these materials and, importantly, an excellent ability to probe and understand material phenomena.Read moreRead less
Hybrid-resonator antennas for wireless communication networks. The rapid emergence of modern wireless communication systems has led to a requirement for small, lightweight antennas. In this project, a new, broadband, low-cost, small and lightweight antenna architecture will be developed for wireless systems. The new architecture is based on a novel hybrid-resonator concept: a dielectric resonator tightly coupled to a metal patch resonator. The rapid design and optimisation of new antennas will b ....Hybrid-resonator antennas for wireless communication networks. The rapid emergence of modern wireless communication systems has led to a requirement for small, lightweight antennas. In this project, a new, broadband, low-cost, small and lightweight antenna architecture will be developed for wireless systems. The new architecture is based on a novel hybrid-resonator concept: a dielectric resonator tightly coupled to a metal patch resonator. The rapid design and optimisation of new antennas will be achieved by developing several new theoretical methods. Antennas targeted for the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) band (5-6 GHz) commercial wireless communication systems will be designed, fabricated, tested and integrated with the systems.
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A Three-Dimensional Ultra-Wideband Microwave Method Based On Multiple Antennas For Early Detection Of Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women in Australia. In 2003, it killed 2,713 women in Australia and approximately 400,000 worldwide. Despite significant advances, current breast screening methods still suffer from several limitations. They may miss as many as 15% of cancers. Inconclusive results are common, leading to invasive, expensive and pa ....A Three-Dimensional Ultra-Wideband Microwave Method Based On Multiple Antennas For Early Detection Of Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women in Australia. In 2003, it killed 2,713 women in Australia and approximately 400,000 worldwide. Despite significant advances, current breast screening methods still suffer from several limitations. They may miss as many as 15% of cancers. Inconclusive results are common, leading to invasive, expensive and painful follow-up tests such as biopsies. About 75% of such biopsies are found to be negative, and this is a major deterrent for women in undertaking breast screening. The proposed project contributes to the cause of finding a more reliable breast cancer detection method, and hence, saving thousands of lives each year.Read moreRead less
Microwave-modulated optical systems for free-space and undersea communications. Although offering flexible, rapid deployment, free space and underwater comunications have not kept up with progress in optical fibre communications, and current systems are signficantly restricted in range and data rate. To address these needs, we will develop novel laser systems using coherent detection, with infrared output for eyesafe transmission in air, and blue-green output for transmission underwater. The s ....Microwave-modulated optical systems for free-space and undersea communications. Although offering flexible, rapid deployment, free space and underwater comunications have not kept up with progress in optical fibre communications, and current systems are signficantly restricted in range and data rate. To address these needs, we will develop novel laser systems using coherent detection, with infrared output for eyesafe transmission in air, and blue-green output for transmission underwater. The signal is a microwave modulation on the optical carrier, which permits longer-range transmission while maintaining signal coherence. Key advantages include increased detection sensitivity, and potential to scale up the modulation frequency and the power for higher data rates and longer propagation distance.Read moreRead less