What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

VOLUME 6 NUMBER 12 DECEMBER 2005

CONTENTS:
1. 2006 ISSCC to Focus on Multimedia Technologies
2. Microelectronics Pioneer to Receive 2006 IEEE Medal of Honor
3. Call for Papers: Advances in Silicon Technology
4. Physicists Find Pseudogap Feature in Magnetic Material
5. First Biomechatronic Conference to Open in Italy
6. Low-Temperature Carbon Nanotube Fabrication Goes to Trial
7. Room Temperature Electroluminescence in Telecom Bandwidth
8. IEEE Spectrum Goes Hollywood
9. Tables of Contents Alerts Now Available by Email and RSS
10. Two RSS Feeds Every IEEE Member Should Know

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1. 2006 ISSCC TO FOCUS ON MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES
Coming in February, the 2006 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) will address continuing advancements in electronic media with the theme "Multimedia for a Mobile World.". The event, the largest of its kind, will examine revolutions spurred by the advent of nano-scale silicon circuits. Programs and workshops will take an in-depth look at broadband internet with megabit-per-second capability and the giga-scale integration of IP in system-on-a-chip-based multimedia equipment. The conference will convene in San Francisco, California, USA. For more information, or to register to attend, visit: www.isscc.org/isscc/

This year's IEEE ISSCC will also touch on such topics as bioscience, organic circuitry, and what some consider the unfortunate continuation of silicon CMOS. Speakers from IBM, Sony Computer Entertainment and Infineon Technologies AG plan to discuss the problems that come with silicon CMOS, including power dissipation and process variations. Core processing will be a big topic as well, and this year's conference marks the first time single-core processors are not represented. Instead, multi-core processors, such as Cavium Networks' 16-core chip, will be showcased. On the topic of speed, processing cores will make appearances, including Intel's nine gigahertz inter execution unit and ten gigahertz register file, and Sun Microsystem's eight-core Sparc design. EE Times has a preview: www.eet.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174401532

2. MICROELECTRONICS PIONEER TO RECEIVE 2006 IEEE MEDAL OF HONOR
James D. Meindl has been named the 2006 recipient of the IEEE Medal of Honor for his "pioneering contributions to microelectronics, including low power, biomedical, physical limits and on-chip interconnect networks." Meindl, an IEEE Fellow, serves as the Joseph M. Petit Chair Professor of Microelectronics and Director of the Microelectronics Research Center at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The IEEE Medal of Honor is the Institute's highest award. For more about Meindl, visit: www.ece.gatech.edu/faculty/fac_profiles/bio.php?id=69

IEEE members and online subscribers can find IEEE papers by James D. Meindl using this search string: ieeexplore.ieee.org/search/authors.jsp?key=meindl

3. CALL FOR PAPERS: ADVANCES IN SILICON TECHNOLOGY
Papers analyzing the most recent advances in silicon technology, especially those concerning integration for system-on-chip design, are sought for the 32nd European Solid-State Circuits Conference. Topics can range from analog circuits to digital and mixed signal SoC and SiP. The conference, sponsored by IEEE, will take place in Sweden next September. Papers are due 7 April 2006. For more details, visit: www.esscirc2006.com/

4. PHYSICISTS FIND PSEUDOGAP FEATURE IN MAGNETIC MATERIAL
For the first time, physicists have detected a pseudogap -- a circuit feature traditionally found only in high-temperature superconductors -- in a magnetic material containing lanthanum, strontium, manganese and oxygen. The results of an experiment conducted by a team of researchers at Stanford University and colleagues from around the world propose that the pseudogap is a general feature of all transition metal oxides, possibly putting theorists in a position to revise the role previously played by phonons in high-temperature superconductivity. To measure the electron velocity and scattering rate as a function of energy, the team employed a technique called angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). After using ARPES, the team discovered these spectra show that the electron motion in the ferromagnet phase is heavily linked to the vibrations of the crystal lattice. Read more: physicsweb.org/articles/news/9/11/14/1

5. FIRST BIOMECHATRONIC CONFERENCE TO OPEN IN ITALY
The first IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and Engineering in Medicine and Biology International Conference (BioRob 2006) will provide an opportunity for engineering researchers and scientists to meet and interact in a mediated setting. The conference will attempt to cover all aspects of biomedical engineering and biological systems from a "biomechatronic" perspective, and will explain how biological systems function along with the design and fabrication of novel, high performance bio-inspired machines and systems. BioRob will also try to guide attendees on the development of nano-, micro- and macro-novel devices that can assist human beings suffering from diagnosis, prosthetics, and rehabilitation. The conference will convene 20 to 22 February in Pisa, Italy. For more information, or to register to attend, visit: www.biorob2006.org/cfp.html

6. LOW-TEMPERATURE CARBON NANOTUBE FABRICATION GOES TO TRIAL
A fabrication tool to produce low-temperature carbon nanotubes is in commercial trials with the British firm CEVP Ltd. and the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute. The new tool, NanoGrowth, is designed to deliver nanomaterial growth across areas up to three inches in diameter, while maintaining the growth substrate at room temperature, according to the company. The use of the mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes in precision applications such as integrated circuits and flat panel displays has been hindered by current growth techniques, which can elevate substrate temperatures to 1,000 degrees C or more, resulting in damage or material compatibility issues. The company says its integrated thermal control system allows carbon nanotube materials to be grown with precision on highly heat sensitive materials such as plastic. Applications for the process may include low-resistance nanowires in integrated circuits, semiconducting nanotubes for fabricating high performance transistors, micro-miniature heatsinks, and ultra-tough polymer composites, according to its developers. Read more: neasia.nikkeibp.com/topstory/002844

7. ROOM TEMPERATURE ELECTROLUMINESCENCE IN TELECOM BANDWIDTH
Company researchers in Palo Alto, California, claim to have demonstrated the first use of electroluminescence (EL) at telecommunications wavelengths and at room temperature as part of the Department of Defense-funded Electronics and Photonics Integrated Circuits (EPIC) project. Previous demonstrations of EL in silicon by other groups have been reported at cryogenic temperatures, according to the researchers, but in forms of silicon that are not compatible with current silicon chips. Translucent Inc. says its breakthrough opens the door for advanced photonic devices compatible with current mass-produced chips, and future silicon electronics technology nodes. The company says its ultimate objective is to develop optically active devices, including an electrically driven silicon laser, which can be integrated with mainstream silicon chips. Read more: www.eet.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174401973

8. IEEE SPECTRUM GOES HOLLYWOOD
This month, IEEE Spectrum Online debuts an exclusive, bimonthly column by author David Kushner covering behind-the-scenes science and engineering in Hollywood. The first installment -- "The Science of Pseudoscience" -- looks at how studios try to accommodate an increasingly tech-savvy public by reaching out to entertainment-savvy technologists. An IEEE Web Account is required to read this web-only column. Visit: spectrum.ieee.org/dec05/2377

9. TABLES OF CONTENTS ALERTS NOW AVAILABLE BY EMAIL AND RSS
Researchers may now receive notification of the online posting of new IEEE journals in the format of their choice: email or RSS. Users select which IEEE journal(s) they want to know about, then receive notification whenever a new issue is posted online, along with a link to the issue's table of contents in the IEEE Xplore digital library. Sign up at any journal's home page in IEEE Xplore, or at: ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/tocalerts_signup.jsp

10. TWO RSS FEEDS EVERY IEEE MEMBER SHOULD KNOW
All active IEEE members have full-text access to the contents of IEEE Spectrum and IEEE Potentials magazines through the IEEE Xplore digital library. One way which members can make sure they don't miss an issue of these titles is to subscribe to RSS feeds announcing their latest contents. The feeds can be found at:

IEEE Spectrum: ieeexplore.ieee.org/rss/TOC6.XML
IEEE Potentials: ieeexplore.ieee.org/rss/TOC45.XML

New to RSS? Here's a primer: ieeexplore.ieee.org/guide/g_tools_rss.jsp

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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