What's New @ IEEE in Circuits
VOLUME 5 NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 2004
CONTENTS:
1. 3D Nanodots Self-Assemble with Pulsed Laser Technique
2. Renew Your IEEE Membership for Chance to Win A Dell Notebook Computer
3. Backscatter: Picking A Winner
4. Miniature Atomic Clock Exacts Precise Time in Portable Devices
5. Nuclear Battery Technology May Maximize Potential of Miniature ICS
6. IEEE 1620.1 Working Group Begins Development of Ring Oscillator Standard
7. Japanese Researchers Create Flawless Silicon Carbide Crystals
8. New Wiley-IEEE Press Title Details Chip-Developing Process
9. Precise Nanoscale Self-Assembly Possible with Sticky Patch Simulation
10. 2004 ISSCC Proceedings Highlight Key Innovations in Embedded Systems
11. U.K. Firm Hopes to Retire Embedded Flash in Favor of MEMS Approach
12. IEEE Enterprise Tools Encourage Collaboration Among Researchers
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1. 3D NANODOTS SELF-ASSEMBLE WITH PULSED LASER TECHNIQUE
Ordered arrays of nickel self-assemble on aluminum oxide and titanium nitride matrices under conditions produced by a pulsed excimer laser, creating 3D nanodots that are exactly seven nanometers apart. Developed by researchers at North CarolinaStateUniversity and the National Science Foundation's Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures, this technology may result in LEDs and ultra-dense chips the size of a U.S. nickel that store up to five Terabits of data. Learn more about this process and its applications in lighting, lasers, spintronics, and optical devices at:
www.innovations-report.com/print/print_en01.php3?id=33003&ctyp=1
2. RENEW YOUR IEEE MEMBERSHIP FOR CHANCE TO WIN A DELL NOTEBOOK COMPUTER
IEEE members who renew their memberships online by 15 November will be entered into a drawing to win a Dell notebook computer. The drawing will be held on 29 November. For 2005, IEEE offers its members the opportunity to join 39 IEEE Societies, including the new IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society (ITSS). ITSS brings together individuals who are using synergistic technologies and systems engineering concepts to develop and improve transportation systems of all kinds. To renew your membership online for 2005, visit: www.ieee.org/renewal
3. BACKSCATTER: PICKING A WINNER
New technologies can make or break companies and occasionally revolutionize entire industries. Recognizing the enormous potential of technological innovation, companies have long speculated on "the next big thing." But using mathematical models and expert opinion to forecast which technologies will be successful has often proved less accurate than science fiction. In his latest Backscatter column, Donald Christiansen explores why, when it comes to technology, picking a winner is no easy task. In the latest edition of IEEE-USA Today's Engineer: www.todaysengineer.org/aug04/backscatter.asp
4. MINIATURE ATOMIC CLOCK EXACTS PRECISE TIME IN PORTABLE DEVICES
The "smallest-ever" atomic clock is so precise that it loses only a second every 300 years and may result in energy efficiencies in portable, battery-operated electronics, say researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Pending the fabrication of this technology into chips, the device may be integrated with external oscillator and control circuitry to improve electronics for navigation and wireless communications. For more information, visit: www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2004_0830.htm#supercool
5. NUCLEAR BATTERY TECHNOLOGY MAY MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL OF MINIATURE ICS
Battery power decreases a thousand-fold as the size of a battery decreases by a factor of ten, making smaller, faster and more efficient ICs difficult to implement in current technologies. A set of radioactive isotopes that are not harmful to humans may be a viable alternative power source, say research groups stemming from Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in IEEE Spectrum Magazine. The isotopes may generate enough electricity through radioactivity to recharge batteries. A nuclear microbattery is presently being tested in MEMS devices, but once miniaturized, the technology has applications in cell phones and PDAs. Learn more about this research at: www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/sep04/0904nuc.html
6. IEEE 1620.1 WORKING GROUP BEGINS DEVELOPMENT OF RING OSCILLATOR STANDARD
In anticipation of outgrowing existing silicon-based transistors, the IEEE 1620.1 Working Group is presently drafting the "Standard for Test Methods for the Characterization of Organic Transistor Based Ring Oscillators" for use in OFET-based architectures that anchor high-volume circuits. With potential applications in flexible displays and identification tags like RFID, the standard permits the seamless integration of low-cost transistor technologies. Find out more about this developing standard at: standards.ieee.org/announcements/pr_p16201.html
7. JAPANESE RESEARCHERS CREATE FLAWLESS SILICON CARBIDE CRYSTALS
Until recently, tiny tubes known as micropipes rendered silicon carbide (SiC) crystals impractical in high quality circuits; however, a new technique developed by researchers at Toyota Central R&D Labs in Japan virtually eliminates these micropipes, and could lead to more eco-friendly, heat resistant and cost effective circuits, chips and semiconductors. The technology may improve radio-wave transmissions, create a new generation of SiC circuits that do not overheat and short out, and enable the scientific exploration of the sun's surface. Learn more about the technology and its applications at: www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php?art_id=qw109341162188B251
8. NEW WILEY-IEEE PRESS TITLE DETAILS CHIP-DEVELOPING PROCESS
The second edition of "CMOS: Circuit Design, Layout, and Simulation," published by the Wiley-IEEE Press, combines the practical experience of David E. Boyce, an independent consultant for semiconductor technologies, with the teaching expertise of award-winning professor, R. Jacob Baker, to create a ready-reference guide for students and professional engineers alike. With more than 150 new pages, the second edition elaborates on the distinction between long and short channel CMOS technologies, and generates extensive insight into multidimensional systems. To learn more, or to purchase this title, visit: www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047170055X.html
***IEEE members: Receive a 15% discount on any Wiley-IEEE Press titles. Use code 18493 at checkout***
9. PRECISE NANOSCALE SELF-ASSEMBLY POSSIBLE WITH STICKY PATCH SIMULATION
A computer simulation of a protein-like patch that restructures individual nano-particles into chain, string or double helix structures suggests that the widespread manufacturing of nano-circuits is feasible. Developed by researchers at the University of Houston, this "sticky patch" simulation suggests that scientists may control complex material behaviors more precisely at glass-transition temperatures, while still forcing certain particles attract, repel or unite with other particles independently. Learn more about this nanoscale self-assembly process at: www.eetimes.com/at/n/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=29116670
10. 2004 ISSCC PROCEEDINGS HIGHLIGHT KEY INNOVATIONS IN EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
The proceedings from the 2004 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) track advances in "Embedded Systems for A Connected World." With a focus on solid-state circuits and systems-on-a-chip technologies, the proceedings disclose the latest innovations in integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, networking, non-volatile memory, wireless and other relevant technologies. For more information, or to purchase the proceedings, visit ShopIEEE: shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=CH37519
***IEEE members save up to 60% off the list price for conference proceedings titles***
11. U.K. FIRM HOPES TO RETIRE EMBEDDED FLASH IN FAVOR OF MEMS APPROACH
Of the world's 8 billion microcontrollers, about two-thirds employ embedded memory. That number could rise if embedded flash technology, which can be expensive to develop, is retired. Cavendish Kinetics of the U.K. has developed a new approach to chip memory using thousands of microswitches. Like a light switch, the new technology two stable states and can remember information when the power is off. These switches are super fast and use less power than embedded flash technology, the company claims. To read more, visit: www.smalltimes.com/print_doc.cfm?doc_id=8236
12. IEEE ENTERPRISE TOOLS ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION AMONG RESEARCHERS
Companies that subscribe to the new IEEE Enterprise online product can use the electronic filing cabinet feature to download IEEE documents needed for their research and easily share them with their entire team. IEEE Enterprise subscribers can search over one million technical documents available from the IEEE Xplore platform and download full-text documents from IEEE magazines, journals, transactions and conference proceedings. Downloaded documents are saved to the shared collaborative filing cabinet, which allows all users within a subscribing organization to have unlimited views of these downloaded documents for as long as the subscription is active. Starting at $4,995 for 350 article downloads, IEEE Enterprise offers three access levels which allow you to access the number of articles your research requires. For more information, visit: www.ieee.org/enterprise
WHAT'S NEW @ IEEE IN CIRCUITS is a monthly, opt-in email update designed to provide you with the latest news regarding IEEE activities, industry trends, career development tips, and new IEEE product releases. We welcome your feedback on this service.
Managing Editor: John Platt j.platt@ieee.org
Editor: Bhavika Desai
Contributing Editor: Peg Gallos
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