What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

VOLUME 6 NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER 2005

CONTENTS:
1. Key European Conferences Added to IEEE Online Collection
2. Tubular Clay Provides Avenues for Nanotechnology
3. Members Select Leah H. Jamieson as 2006 IEEE President-Elect
4. Circuits Workshop to Hold 15th Meeting in the Netherlands
5. Researchers Eye Tiny Sensors for Surveillance
6. Proceedings of the IEEE Examines Need to Revolutionize Power Industry
7. Observation of Quantum Heat Flow in Nanostructures A First
8. Abstracts to Integrated Circuits Symposium Due Mid-January
9. IEEE Member Digital Library Offers Incentive for New Subscribers
10. Conference Seeks Papers on Economic-Related Technology Issues

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1. KEY EUROPEAN CONFERENCES ADDED TO IEEE ONLINE COLLECTION
The IEEE has posted online versions of more than 1,700 papers from Europe's flagship conferences on solid-state device research and circuits, dating back to 1997. The proceedings of the two sister conferences, the European Solid-State Device Research Conference (ESSDERC) and the European Solid-State Circuits Conference (ESSCIRC), were not previously available through a single, consolidated source. Many of conference articles in this collection were never previously available online. To view abstracts from these proceedings, or to purchase access to individual papers, visit:

ESSDERC: ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome.jsp?punumber=1000710

ESSCIRC: ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome.jsp?punumber=1000709

2. TUBULAR CLAY PROVIDES AVENUES FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY
NaturalNano, a New York-based company specializing in nanotechnology, says it has found a way to use Halloycite as a carrier in metals and other substances. Halloycite is a naturally occurring clay comprised of microscopic tubular particles. The tubes are between 40 and 200 nanometers in diameter and about a micron long. By filling the tubes with copper and then mixing the tubes in polymer, NaturalNano director of research Aaron Wagner says it can be used to make electrically conductive plastic. Wagner also mentions filling the tubes with fungicide and adding it to paint to make it resistant to mold and mildew, and using them in pharmaceuticals. Because the clay can be mined from the ground, the Halloycite tubes are much cheaper to use than man-made carbon nanotubes, which cost up to US$250 a gram. NaturalNano says the Halloycite tubes will cost between $3.50 and $20 per pound. Read more: news.com.com/Future+nanotech+tools+made+from+clay/2100-11390_3-5914034.html?tag=nefd.lede

3. MEMBERS SELECT LEAH H. JAMIESON AS 2006 IEEE PRESIDENT-ELECT
The ballots have been counted, and Leah H. Jamieson has been selected as 2006 IEEE president-elect. Pending acceptance by the IEEE Board of Directors, Jamieson will begin serving as IEEE president on 1 January 2007. Jamieson, an IEEE Fellow, is only the second woman in the history of the IEEE to be chosen for the president-elect position. An IEEE member for 30 years, she presently serves on the IEEE Board of Directors and Executive Committee, is a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, and holds the position of vice president of the Publication Services and Products Board.

For more about Jamieson, plus additional results from this year's election, visit:
www.ieee.org/portal/pages/newsinfo/elections05.html

4. CIRCUITS WORKSHOP TO HOLD 15TH MEETING IN THE NETHERLANDS
The Workshop on Advances in Analogue Circuit Design will celebrate its 15th meeting with discussions on advancements in analogue and RF circuits and continuing future developments from 4 to 6 April in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Sponsored by the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society and the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society, the workshop aims to unite designers in a unique forum for discussions and presentations on topics such as high speed converters, automotive electronics, and ultra-low power wireless. For information, or to register to attend, visit: www.extra.research.philips.com/aacd2006/index.htm

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/

5. RESEARCHERS EYE TINY SENSORS FOR SURVEILLANCE
A new process called nanorobot fabrication may allow a human operating a powerful microscope and hand-held device to control nano-sized contact points remotely to build the pixel elements that will create the heart of a sensor, which could be incorporated into an infrared camera. Each pixel will be made of carbon nanotubes, which have lower thermal noise than conventional semiconductors. The miniscule sensors are being produced by researchers working with the U.S. Office of Naval Research, with the goal of offering greater protection for multibillion-dollar aircraft carriers and personnel. This new technique was developed by Harold Szu and James Buss of the ONR and undertaken by Xi Ning of Michigan State University, USA. Read more: www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-10/oonr-ggw102105.php

6. PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE EXAMINES NEED TO REVOLUTIONIZE POWER INDUSTRY
On the 40-year anniversary of the blackout of 1965, the November special issue of Proceedings of the IEEE (v. 93, no. 11) takes a close-up look at the increasing need to transform the electric power industry. The issue examines recurring problems in the industry, such as power shortages, issues surrounding engineering and policies, and error prevention techniques. Papers consider online adoption as a realistic method of changing supply demand and patterns, as well as design and operational challenges to reliable electricity services. 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 new journal, depending on their access rights, through the IEEE Xplore digital library: ieeexplore.ieee.org/servlet/opac?punumber=5&isvol=93&isno=11

7. OBSERVATION OF QUANTUM HEAT FLOW IN NANOSTRUCTURES A FIRST
Using carbon nanotubes suspended between two electrodes, scientists at the California Institute of Technology say they have made the first observation of "digital" or quantized heat flow in a nanostructure at ambient conditions. The experiment at Caltech is part of an effort to use carbon nanotubes -- nanometer-wide cylinders made from rolled-up sheets of graphite -- as a conduit for removing unwanted heat from microcircuits. Researchers say because phonons (the particle manifestations of heat flow) can move freely and in straight lines in nanotubes, the findings indicate nanotubes should have "fantastic potential" as thermal conduits. Read more: www.physorg.com/news7574.html

8. ABSTRACTS TO INTEGRATED CIRCUITS SYMPOSIUM DUE MID-JANUARY
The deadline for abstract submissions to the 13th IEEE International Symposium on the Physical Failure and Analysis of Integrated Circuits -- the premier forum for the semiconductor industry in East and Southeast Asia -- is 16 January 2006. The conference seeks high-impact papers on the physical mechanisms of semiconductor device failures and reliability and yield. Topics may include gate dielectrics, low-k and ultra-low-k, and novel device architectures, among others. The conference will take place in Meritus Mandarin, Singapore, in July. For more details, visit: www.ieee.org/ipfa

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 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

10. CONFERENCE SEEKS PAPERS ON ECONOMIC-RELATED TECHNOLOGY ISSUES
What is the role of technology in today's rapidly evolving economy? The 7th annual IEEE-University of Texas Engineering Management Conference seeks papers that address this extremely complex and intriguing question. The conference encourages authors to examine specific facets of the current market's technology-driven economy, such as digital convergence, supply chain operation and innovation. Authors may wish to address more specific issues, such as the role of hybrid technology in the economy, or the future of U.S.-based manufacturing. Abstracts must be submitted by 15 January 2006. The conference will take place next August in Austin, Texas, USA. For further details, visit: www.ieeeUTemc.org

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, Ryan Thomas

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