What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

VOLUME 7 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 2005

CONTENTS:
1. New Biomechatronics Conference Launches in Italy
2. Proceedings of the IEEE Looks at Blue Sky Electronics
3. DNA Nanotechnology May Drastically Reduce Electronics Size
4. Researchers Assert Beliefs on Creating Optical Circuit Parts
5. Keynote Speakers to Visit Nanoelectronics Conference in China
6. IEEE Member Digital Library Offers Incentive for New Subscribers
7. Commercialization Eyed for Room-Temperature Transistor Laser
8. Proceedings of Solid-State Circuits Conference Released
9. Researchers Transform Matter with "Quantum Dots"
10. Podcasts, Blogs, News Feeds and More at New IEEE Spectrum Web Site
11. Semiconductor Workshop Focuses on Nonvolatile Memory & Microelectronics
12. Circuits Symposium Announces February Submission Deadline

IEEE MEMBERSHIP: OPENING THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
Don't Lose Your Benefits!
Renew Your Membership for 2006:
www.ieee.org/renew

1. NEW BIOMECHATRONICS CONFERENCE LAUNCHES IN ITALY
The first IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics aims to provide a forum for the study of biomedical engineering and its impact on scientific technologies. The conference, which will convene from 20 to 22 February in Pisa, Italy, will examine the design and manufacture of high-performance bio-inspired machines and systems, as well as the evolution of devices that can assist human beings in need of medical assistance. Sessions will include discussions on bionics, biomechatronic robot design, exoskeletons and augmenting devices. The conference is sponsored by the IEEE Robotics and Automation and IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Societies. For more information, or to register to attend, visit: www.biorob2006.org

In related news, IEEE Spectrum this month provides a photo gallery of wearable robotic systems in the U.S., Europe, and Asia: www.spectrum.ieee.org/oct05/1974

2. PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE LOOKS AT BLUE SKY ELECTRONICS
The October issue of Proceedings of the IEEE (v. 93, no. 10) centers around the revolutionary impact of "blue sky" electronic devices on today's highly evolving technologies. Papers in this issue examine the dimensions of blue sky electronics, which allows for them to process large amounts of information at rapid speeds, and discuss certain blue sky technologies that have met increased dissemination in the marketplace, such as white light bulbs, integrated electronic/biological devices and next-generation technologies like q-dot photonic bandgap lasers and phasmonic devices. Preview the editor's introduction by visiting: www.ieee.org/portal/pages/pubs/proceedings/current.html

Institutions with subscriptions to IEEE online collections may have access to this journal, depending on their access rights, through the IEEE Xplore digital library: ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/tocresult.jsp?isYear=2005&isnumber=32388

3. DNA NANOTECHNOLOGY MAY DRASTICALLY REDUCE ELECTRONICS SIZE
DNA nanotechnology, in which metal ions are bound in the formation of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) duplexes, has led to the construction of three-dimensional nano-structures that can acquire magnetic and electrical properties, according to researchers at CarnegieMellonUniversity. The technology can lead to functional, three-dimensional nanosize structures such as molecular-scale electronic circuits, researchers say, which could reduce by thousands of times the size of common electronic devices. Artificially manufactured PNAs are significantly more stable than DNA, and should permit researchers to construct large structures useful for material science applications. Read More: www.ccnmag.com/news.php?id=3770

4. RESEARCHERS ASSERT BELIEFS ON CREATING OPTICAL CIRCUIT PARTS
To go past the limits of conventional technology, engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have devised a theoretical system for shrinking electronics so devices could operate using light instead of electricity. In a recent issue of Physical Review Letters, the theorists target familiar optical circuit elements and show how they could be generated on the nanoscale and be powered by infrared or visible light. As an example, they explain how nanoscale particles of specific elements could operate as circuit elements. Read more: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050928081542.htm

5. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS TO VISIT NANOELECTRONICS CONFERENCE IN CHINA
The 2006 IEEE Conference on Emerging Technologies- Nanoelectronics will feature lectures by Prof. Mark S. Lundstromfrom the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, PurdueUniversity, and other well-known experts. The conference, scheduled to take place 10 to 13 January in Singapore, endeavors to draw world-wide nanoelectronics experts, educators, and students into a single forum. The conference will examine design, fabrication, metrology and commercialization aspects of the nanoelectronics industry. To learn more, or to register to attend, visit: www.ieeecet.org/

6. 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 research tool provides instant access to full-text papers from IEEE journals, magazines and conferences proceedings. To start your IEEE Member Digital Library subscription and renew your IEEE membership for 2006, visit: www.ieee.org/renewal/

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

7. COMMERCIALIZATION EYED FOR ROOM-TEMPERATURE TRANSISTOR LASER
In the September issue of the journal Applied Physics Letters, researchers at the University of Illinois show that a heterojunction bipolar transistor laser is capable of room-temperature operation, which posits the laser for commercialization in the near future. The researchers said improving the design could produce a higher speed laser operation, better performance and a way to yield electronic-photonic integrated circuits. The significance of room-temperature transistor lasers is the ability to generate faster signal processing and pave the way for communications without barriers, according to researcher Milton Feng. Read more: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050929083527.htm

8. PROCEEDINGS OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS CONFERENCE RELEASED
The proceedings of the 2005 IEEE International Symposium on Solid-State Circuits (ISSSC), one of the leading forums for the presentation of advances in solid-state circuits and systems-on-a-chip, are now available. The event was themed "Entering the Nano-Electronic Integrated-Circuit Era" and highlighted papers covering new circuit techniques and devices that employ transistors, or other circuit elements, with nanometer dimensions. For more information, or to purchase the complete proceedings of the conference from ShopIEEE, visit: shop.ieee.org/ieeestore/Product.aspx?product_no=CH37636
***IEEE members save up to 60% off the list price for conference proceedings titles***

Individual papers from the conference are also accessible online via the IEEE Xplore digital library for IEEE Member Digital Library subscribers. Institutions with subscriptions to IEEE online collections may also have access to these proceedings, depending on their access rights: ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentCon.jsp?punumber=9995&conhome=1000708

9. RESEARCHERS TRANSFORM MATTER WITH "QUANTUM DOTS"
Physicists at the University of Pennsylvania say they have developed an artificial solid that can be transformed from an insulator to a semiconductor. The artificial solids researchers used in the experiments are formed from closely packed nanoscale crystals, also called "quantum dots." By controlling the coupling of artificial atoms within the crystal, researchers say they increased the electrical conductivity of the entire crystal. The system may enable the creation of artificial solids that can be switched through a variety of electronic phase transitions, according to researchers, a key step towards the fabrication of functional nanocrystal-based devices and circuits. Read more: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051005071549.htm

10. PODCASTS, BLOGS, NEWS FEEDS AND MORE AT NEW IEEE SPECTRUM WEB SITE
IEEE Spectrum, the flagship magazine of the IEEE, has relaunched its website with numerous new features, including an editor's blog, RSS feeds, webcasts, podcasts, streaming audio, opinion polls, and more. Check it out at: www.spectrum.ieee.org

Not yet using RSS (also known as Really Simple Syndication) to get your daily news fix? IEEE Spectrum has a primer on this rapidly developing communication medium: www.spectrum.ieee.org/feedsfaq

11. SEMICONDUCTOR WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON NONVOLATILE MEMORY & MICROELECTRONICS
Coming in February, the 21st IEEE Nonvolatile Semiconductor Memory Workshop aims to cover evolving trends in nonvolatile memory and microelectronics technologies in the current century. It will provide a platform for both specialists and novices who wish to gain a better understanding of microelectronics and related topics, and will cover subjects such as new NVM concepts and technologies, device physics processing, cell design, programmable logic, new applications, and integrated circuits. The workshop, sponsored by the IEEE Electron Devices Society, will take place 12 to 16 February in Monterey, California, USA. For further information, or to register to attend, visit: www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/eds/nvsmw/

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/

12. CIRCUITS SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY SUBMISSION DEADLINE
In the September issue of the journal Applied Physics Letters, researchers at the University of Illinois show that a heterojunction bipolar transistor laser is capable of room-temperature operation, which posits the laser for commercialization in the near future. The researchers said improving the design could produce a higher speed laser operation, better performance and a way to yield electronic-photonic integrated circuits. The significance of room-temperature transistor lasers is the ability to generate faster signal processing and pave the way for communications without barriers, according to researcher Milton Feng. Read more: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050929083527.htm

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
Contributing Editors: Julie Compton, Robert J. Howe, Brian Pedersen

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION
There are several other What's New @ IEEE newsletters to choose from. To subscribe to another newsletter enter your email address at whatsnew.ieee.org and click "Subscribe." To Unsubscribe to What's New @ IEEE, logon to whatsnew.ieee.org to select the appropriate newsletter, enter your email address and click "Unsubscribe."

What's New @ IEEE is intended for the interest of IEEE members and customers and may be shared with other parties. The newsletter, in its entirety or in part, may be reproduced with proper credit given to its source, What's New @ IEEE. For more information, contact the Managing Editor.

IEEE, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854