Signal Processing and Telecommunication, with emphasis on
Source Modelling
Effects of Sparse Sources on Telecommunication Systems
Forward Error Correcting (FEC) Codes with emphasis on LDPC Codes
The main engineering assumption under scrutiny during this work is the validity of the assumption that equiprobable source models may be used to simulate modern communication systems, a concern raised when both Hagenauer et al. and Vembu et al. revisited Shannon's theory and discussed situations where the assumption is inaccurate. The research work focused on determining a parameter to quantize the sparseness of the data stream, which is now employed to investigate optimal receiver structures able to adapt to changes in sparseness level, as is common for e.g. when joint source/channel coding is employed. This work is done within the Centre for Radio and Digital Communication (CRDC).
Micro-electronics, with emphasis on
Uncooled MEMS IR sensor (bolometer) characterisation and modelling
This is an AMTS funded research and development project consisting of a number of industry and academic consortium members. The primary focus areas of the Carl Emily Fuchs Institute for Micro-Electronics (CEFIM) members are the design, development, characterisation and measurement of the IR sensor elements, including the development and manufacturing steps and processes, as well as the SPICE modeling, parameter extraction techniques and the development of experimental setups. Even though some of these techniques are already well published, novel techniques have been proposed and will be investigated.
Schoeman J. and Du Plessis M., “Characterisation of the electrical response of a novel dual element thermistor for low frequency applications”, SAIEE Africa Research Journal, Vol. 103 (1), March 2012, pp. 9-13
Maclean W., Du Plessis M. and Schoeman J., “Optimization of CMOS compatible microbolometer device performance”, SAIEE Africa Research Journal, Vol. 103 (1), March 2012, pp. 3-8
Du Plessis M., Schoeman J., Maclean W. and Schutte C, “The electro-thermal properties of integrated circuit microbolometers”, SAIEE Africa Research Journal, Vol. 102 (2), June 2011, pp. 40-48
Schoeman J. and Linde L.P., “Employing a measure of sparseness to investigate sparse data compression in AWGN conditions”, SAIEE Africa Research Journal (Africon '04 – Special Issue 1 : Towards Next Generation Wireless Communication Systems) Sept. 2006, Vol. 97, No. 2, pp. 157-161
Visser P.J., Schoeman J. and Du Plessis M., “A CMOS based logic driver design for a 16 × 16 multiplexer based read-out array for infrared microbolometers”, Proceedings, Africon 2009, September 2009, pp. 1 - 4
Schoeman J. and Linde L.P., “Work in Progress - An optimal UMTS/WCDMA receiver structure for possibly sparse data streams,” Proceedings, IEEE Third International Conference on Broadband Communications, Information Technology Biomedical Applications, 2008 , 23 - 26 Nobember 2008, pp. 117 - 119
Schoeman J. and Linde L.P., “A novel approach to improve sparse data models” Proceedings, Africon 2007, 26 - 28 September 2007, pp. 1 - 5
Vorster N. and Schoeman J., “Design and implementation considerations for an MPEG-4 encoding system” Africon 2007, 26 - 28 September 2007 (Poster Presentation)
Schoeman J. and Linde L.P., “Evaluation of the effect of Hamming, LDPC and convolutional encoding on the sparseness of a data source,” Proceedings, IEEE 12th International Conference on Telecommunications ICT 2005, May 2005, pp.
Schoeman J. and Linde L.P., “Performance investigation of a sparse data compression technique with AWGN channel effects,” Proceedings, IEEE AFRICON (7th), September 2004, pp. 275 - 278
Staphorst L., Schoeman J. and Linde L.P., “Performance evaluation of a joint source/channel coding scheme for DS/SSMA systems utilizing complex spreading sequences in multipath fading channel conditions,” Proceedings, IEEE CCECE 2003, Vol. 3, May 4-7, 2003, pp. 1679 - 1682
Schoeman J. and Maharaj B.J.T., “Development issues in a DSP based software radio,” Proceedings, IEEE AFRICON (6th), Vol. 1, 2-4 Oct. 2002, pp. 347 - 352
Schoeman J. and Du Plessis M., “Characterisation of the electrical response of a novel dual element thermistor for low frequency applications”, Proceedings of the Sensors, MEMS and Electro-optic Systems (SMEOS) Conference 2011 (ISBN 978-0-620-525604-3), pp. 59 - 63, 19-21 September 2011
Maclean W., Du Plessis M. and Schoeman J., “Optimization of CMOS compatible microbolometer device performance”, Proceedings of the Sensors, MEMS and Electro-optic Systems (SMEOS) Conference 2011 (ISBN 978-0-620-525604-3), pp. 69 - 74, 19-21 September 2011
Du Plessis M., Schoeman J., Maclean W. and Schutte, C., “The electro-thermal properties of integrated circuit microbolometers” Proceedings of the Test and Measurement Conference T&M 2010, Paper M112, Champagne Resort, Drakensberg, South Africa, 7-10 November 2010, pp. CD
Schoeman J. and Du Plessis M., “Characterisation of the electrical response of a thermistor for low frequency range application” Proceedings of the Sensors, MEMS and Electro-optic Systems (SMEOS) Conference 2009 (ISBN 978-0-620-45648-7), pp. 91 - 93, 7-9 September 2009
Visser P.J., Schoeman J. and Du Plessis M., “A CMOS Based Design of a 16 × 16 Pseudo-Pixelwise Read-Out Array for Infrared Microbolometer Sensors” Proceedings of the Sensors, MEMS and Electro-optic Systems (SMEOS) Conference 2009 (ISBN 978-0-620-45648-7), pp. 100 - 103, 7-9 September 2009
Visser P.J. and Schoeman J., “A CMOS based multiplexer design of a 16 x 16 read-out array for infrared microbolometer sensors” Proceedings of the South African Conference on Semi and Superconductor Technology (SACSST) 2009 (ISBN 978-0-620-43865-0), pp. 66 - 70, 8-9 April 2009
Buckle J.P. and Schoeman J., “A CMOS implementation of Jakes Fading Channel” Proceedings of the South African Conference on Semi and Superconductor Technology (SACSST) 2009 (ISBN 978-0-620-43865-0), pp. 111 - 115, 8-9 April 2009
Sinha S., Božanić M., Schoeman J., Du Plessis M. and Linde L.P., “A CMOS based multiple-access DSSS transceiver” Proceedings of the South African Conference on Semi and Superconductor Technology (SACSST) 2009 (ISBN 978-0-620-43865-0), pp. 19 - 24, 8-9 April 2009
Schoeman J. and Linde L.P., “Investigation of the effect of LDPC coding on the sparseness of a data source in AWN channel conditions” Proceedings of the Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC)2004, September 2004
