Dr. Lauren Christopher

Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI
723 West Michigan Street, SL160A
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5132
Phone: (317) 2784-9156, Fax: (317) 274-4493
E-Mail: lauchris@iupui.edu

 

Classes Taught
ECE42100 Advanced Digital Systems Design
ECE20200 Linear Circuit Analysis II

Research Interest
Dr Christopher's research interest is the application of VLSI circuits to 3D imaging algorithms to improve throughput and real-time analysis of 3D image data.  The next frontier in image technology is the extension to 3D in displays, image processing and in image capture.  These technologies are seeing growth in medical imaging (3D CT, Ultrasound, MRI) and other applications.   My algorithmic research in 3D statistical Image segmentation uses an iterative Bayesian analysis with the Expectation-Maximization algorithm to achieve results in highly noisy images (such as Ultrasound).  This type of algorithm poses challenges to real-time clinical needs, due to lengthy convergence speeds on traditional hardware.  New challenges in data access and dedicated processing for these types of applications dictate the need for VLSI solutions.   The short term research goal is to map these algorithms to chip solutions.

Research Projects
Research Seminar 2008
MURI 2008 Poster
Fall09 Convocation Short Presentation of Research
3D Medical Imaging Segmentation from Tomographic Breast Ultrasound

Digital 3D Imaging Lab - IUPUI short ad

Education
B.S. and M.S.E.E from MIT,
Ph.D. from Purdue in 2003

Publications
"A VLSI Median Filter for Impulse noise Elimination in Composite or Component TV Signals”, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics February 1988
“A Fully Integrated Digital Demodulation and Forward Error Correction IC for Digital Satellite Television” 1995 IEEE Custom IC Conference Proceedings, p.281.
“IC Requirements for Multimedia Television” 22 nd European Solid State Circuits Conference, 1996
“3-D Bayesian Ultrasound Breast Image Segmentation Using the EM/MPM Algorithm” Symposium on Biomedical Imaging, July, 2002
“New Techniques in 3D Ultrasound Breast Image Segmentation”, Electronic Imaging Conferece, January, 2003
“Bayesian Segmentation of Three Dimensional Image Volumes using the EM/MPM Algorithm”PhD. Thesis Dissertation, March 2003
Patents:
US: 4460958 July 17,1984: “Window-Scanned Memory”
US: 4486851 Dec 4, 1984: “Incrementing/Decrementing Circuit as for a FIR Filter”
US: 4507725 Mar 26,1985: “Digital Filter Overflow Sensor”
US: 4709226 Nov. 24, 1987: “Circuitry for Complementing Binary Numbers”
US: 5263018 Nov 16, 1993: “Apparatus for Time Division Multiplexed Processing of Plural QAM Signals
US: 5264937 Nov 23 1993: “Apparatus for Time Division Multiplexed Processing of Frequency division Multiplexed Signals”
US: 5392230 Feb 21, 1995: “FIR Filter Apparatus for Multiplexed Processing of Time Division Multiplexed Signals”
US: 5386239 Jan 31, 1995: “Multiple QAM Digital Television Signal Decoder”
US: 5313279 May 17, 1995: “Digital Carrier Combining Apparatus in a Multiple QAM Digital Television Receiver”
US: 6912661 June 28, 2005: “Method and Apparatus for Encrypting and for Decrypting Data Arranged in a Data Sector”
US: 7272295 Sept. 18, 2007: “Commercial Skip and Chapter Delineation on Recordable Media"

Honors and Awards
Eta Kappa Nu Recognition of Outstanding Young Electrical Engineers for 1986: Honorable Mention
Tribute to Women and Industry Achievement Award 1990 (by Princeton YWCA)
RCA internal award of “Fast-Track” management in 1983
Thomson internal award for DSS Quality in 1994
Member of Thomson Entrepreneur Management Network 1996-99
Member of Thomson Op-Com Management Network 1996-99
Technical EMMY Award for DSS 2002

Memberships
IEEE Consumer Electronics Society, IEEE Signal Processing Society.
Member, IEEE
Reviewer (2001-present) for IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics
Guest Editor (March 1991) and Reviewer (1990-96) for IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits
Chairman (and various other executive positions) of the Custom Integrated Circuits Conference (1987-1990)
Member of the Custom Integrated Circuits Conference Committee (1983-1987)
Involved in two sub-committees of the ATSC during the Digital TV standards setting process (Digital Communications and VLSI) (1987-1992)
Involved in CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) committees for joint TV-Cable discussions (1992-1994)