What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 2004

CONTENTS:
1. Japanese Researchers to Implement Silicon Carbide Chips in SiC
2. Asynchronous Circuits Conference Proceedings Generate Timely Insights
3. Low-Temp Nanotech Process Makes Advances in Plastic Circuits
4. Solid-State Circuits Quarterly Newsletter Updated Online
5. Applications for Superconductivity Explored in IEEE Journal
6. Handheld Lab-on-a-Chip Devices May Employ New Fluidic Chip Logic
7. International Conference on Electronic Design Premiers in Veracruz
8. Titan Calling: Probe Returns from Seven-Year Mission
9. IEEE Member Digital Library Offers Incentive for New Subscribers
10. Mechanical Silicon Switches Optimize Speed and Power Efficiency
11. Revamped IEEE Online Store Provides Instant Standards Downloads
12. IEEE Members: It's Now Easier Than Ever to Cast Your Vote
13. New Analog-to-Digital Transducer Standard Enables Plug-and-Play
14. Ethics: A Professional Responsibility

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1. JAPANESE RESEARCHERS TO IMPLEMENT SILICON CARBIDE CHIPS IN SIC
Better performance in high-voltage chips, heat conductivity three times better than silicon, and electrical field limits ten times higher than silicon are but a few benefits to be expected of silicon carbide chips, IEEE Spectrum reports. Researchers at Toyota's Research and Development Labs have developed a process, called Repeat A Face (RAF), that rotates the face of growing crystals to produce flawless seed crystals. The seed crystals are then infused with a supersaturated vapor to produce silicon carbide chips, which will be integrated with existing System-in-Chip (SiC) to produce high-performance, miniaturized technologies. Learn more: www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/wonews/oct04/1004nsili.html

2. ASYNCHRONOUS CIRCUITS CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS GENERATE TIMELY INSIGHTS
The proceedings from the 2004 IEEE 10th International Symposium on Advanced Research in Asynchronous Circuits and Systems feature the latest research in asynchronous techniques that improve performance, power consumption, reliability, low EM radiation, or design time. Available now through ShopIEEE, the conference proceedings feature a select 21 peer-reviewed papers that track academic and industrial trends in asynchronous technology. To preview abstracts of the papers presented at this conference, visit IEEE Xplore: ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/tocresult.jsp?isNumber=28866

To purchase the proceedings, visit ShopIEEE at: shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=PR2133
***IEEE members save up to 60% off the list price for conference proceedings titles***

3. LOW-TEMP NANOTECH PROCESS MAKES ADVANCES IN PLASTIC CIRCUITS
A new process allows carbon to react at low temperatures in the presence of a dendrimer catalyst, forming nanotubes that branch out symmetrically four times. According to CentralMichiganUniversity researchers, the process occurs at such low temperatures, 175 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact, that the dendrimer is not destroyed. Once the technology becomes more cost-effective, these nanotubes may support flat-panel displays, solar cells, electronics, and reinforced materials. Learn more at: www.eetimes.com/article/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=48800198

4. SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER UPDATED ONLINE
The latest issue of the IEEE Solid-States Circuits Society quarterly newsletter is now available online in PDF and HTML format. The newsletter features updates on several upcoming conferences, book selections and a review of two classic papers: "The Simple Model of the CMOS Drain Current" by Takayasu Sakurai and "Sigma-Delta Converters" by Bernhard E. Boser. Preview past issues or read the October issue at: www.sscs.org/sscn.htm

5. APPLICATIONS FOR SUPERCONDUCTIVITY EXPLORED IN IEEE JOURNAL
Superconductor IC fabrication technology, quantum interference devices, and analog-to-digital converters are just a few of the applications for superconductivity that are highlighted in the October 2004 issue of Proceedings of the IEEE. Papers in this special issue contain coverage of digital electronics, quantum computing, electric power applications, refrigeration for superconductors and more. A preview, including the editor's introduction, is available online at: www.ieee.org/pubs/proceedings/current.xml

Subscribers will be able to access the entire contents of this issue online through IEEE Xplore at: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?puNumber=5

6. HANDHELD LAB-ON-CHIP DEVICES MAY EMPLOY NEW FLUIDIC CHIP LOGIC
Imagine a handheld, all-fluidic device that requires no external equipment or power supply, and improves pharmaceutical development so that a parent can diagnose a child's ailment at home. A new binary logic function in fluidic chip increases the viability of lab-on-a-chip, say researchers at the Colorado School of Mines. The new device converts the binary inputs of "flow" and "not flow" into outputs of "dyed" or "not dyed." The turbulence within small channels ensures that the intertwining channels do not contaminate each other while the length of the channel controls the resistance and differentiates between specific types of gates, creating passive control system that is inexpensive to mass-manufacture. For more information, visit: trnmag.com/Stories/2004/100604/Fluid_chip_does_binary_logic_100604.html

7. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ELECTRONIC DESIGN PREMIERS IN VERACRUZ
Veracruz, Mexico hosts the first IEEE International Conference on Electronic Design this November. The conference begins on Tuesday, 16 November and will run until Friday, 19 November, and features tutorials and approximately 60 technical papers over the four-day period. The latest trends in electronic design, including analog, digital and mixed-mode circuit design, nanotechnology, bio and power electronics, education in electronics, and communication using circuits systems, will be highlighted. For more information, or to register, visit: www-elec.inaoep.mx/iced04/eng/

Don't miss the next conference you need for your career. IEEE sponsors more than 300 technical conferences and workshops each year, highlighting the latest technological advances. Find events through the IEEE ConferenceSearch Web site at: www.ieee.org/conferencesearch/

8. TITAN CALLING: PROBE RETURNS FROM SEVEN-YEAR MISSION
Since it started orbiting Saturn last June, the Cassini mission has returned incredible images of the gas giant, its dazzling rings and its enigmatic moons. But its most dramatic chapter will come this January, when a European lander probe that has been piggybacking on Cassini for the last seven years is sent on a fiery plunge into the murky atmosphere of Saturn's largest and most mysterious moon, Titan -- a chapter that would have ended in disaster, save for an engineer called Boris Smeds. IEEE Spectrum has the story: www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/oct04/1004titan.html

9. IEEE MEMBER DIGITAL LIBRARY OFFERS INCENTIVE FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS
IEEE members who add a new subscription to the IEEE Member Digital Library between now and 31 December will receive their first month of service free. A subscription to this members-only online library provides instant access to the full text of IEEE's 90 journals, 32 magazines and over 400 annual conferences proceedings. To start your IEEE Member Digital Library subscription and renew your IEEE membership for 2005, visit: www.ieee.org/renewal/

To read more about the IEEE Member Digital Library, visit: www.ieee.org/ieeemdl

10. MECHANICAL SILICON SWITCHES OPTIMIZE SPEED AND POWER EFFICIENCY
A throwback to an older, mechanical era of computing holds promise for improved data storage for modern computers. A Boston University physicist, Pritiraj Mohanty, and his team of researchers have employed electron-beam lithography to produce beam-and-pad design of nano-scale switches made of silicon and silicon oxide. The mechanical switches they produced use less power and process information in the million and billion cycles per second range. They also have angstrom-sized "range of motion," which means they vibrate using femtowatts of power, compared with the milliwatts or microwatts used in current computers. For more information: scienceblog.com/community/article4228.html

11. REVAMPED IEEE ONLINE STORE PROVIDES INSTANT STANDARDS DOWNLOADS
Visitors to ShopIEEE, the relaunched IEEE online store, may now take advantage of improved search features, as well as the ability to instantly download electronic copies of purchased IEEE standards. ShopIEEE provides one-stop-shopping for IEEE standards, conference proceedings and more. IEEE members save up to 50 percent on all titles. Visit: shop.ieee.org

12. IEEE MEMBERS: IT'S NOW EASIER THAN EVER TO CAST YOUR VOTE
Ballots for this year's IEEE election have been mailed to all eligible voting members. For the first time, IEEE members may choose one of two ways to cast their ballots -- electronically or through the mail. Information on voting procedures is included in the election ballot materials. In addition to selecting officers for the top-level leadership positions in the IEEE, members are being asked to vote on an IEEE constitutional amendment. For details regarding the IEEE constitutional amendment, visit: www.ieee.org/about/whatis/bylaws/changesgrid.xml

For information on this year's candidates, visit: www.ieee.org/corporate/elections/candidates.xml

13. NEW ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL TRANSDUCER STANDARD ENABLES PLUG-AND-PLAY
A new industry standard for analog transducers automatically configures test and measurement equipment for digital networks. IEEE 1451.4™, "Standard for a Smart Transducer Interface for Sensors and Actuators -- Mixed-Mode Communication Protocols and Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) Formats," requires EEPROM sensor technology to house auxiliary chip identifiers –- soon to be available via the Internet. The standard simplifies transducer installation, network creation, and system maintenance and upgrade. Learn more about this technology at: standards.ieee.org/announcements/pr_14514.html

14. ETHICS: A PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Many organizations have their own codes of ethics, and the IEEE is no exception. Hiromasa Haneda, chair of IEEE's Ethics and Member Conduct Committee, highlights ten ethical guidelines that the IEEE Code of Ethics asks of all IEEE members, in the latest edition of IEEE-USA Today's Engineer: www.todaysengineer.org/Oct04/ethics.asp

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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