The gate bias and geometry dependence of random telegraph signalamplitudes [MOSFET]

A new random telegraph signal (RTS) amplitude model based upon band bending fluctuations has been developed, in contrast to other studies of RTS noise amplitudes, which are derived from RTS fitting parameters, it is demonstrated in this work that noise amplitudes may be predicted from band bending calculations and device DC characteristics. This new model suggests that the decrease in band bending associated with slow-state trapping results in mobility degradation for low gate biases (Coulombic-scattering-limited) and an enhancement in mobility due to vertical field reductions at high gate biases (surface roughness/phonon scattering limited). The band bending formulation shows good correlation with experimental data and accurately predicts the observed dependence upon effective channel length and width     

Down to the wire [aircraft wiring]

Aging, brittle wiring within aircraft poses a hidden hazard that emerging technologies aim to address. Among the most promising technologies are advanced reflectometry methods, for routine maintenance; so-called smart wire systems, for continual, on-the-spot wire testing; and arc-fault circuit breakers and advanced fire suppression techniques, for minimizing damage and injury should a fault occur. Remaining challenges include detecting the minuscule insulation breaks that encourage arcing; optimizing the benefits and mitigating the risks of the various wire testing techniques; and getting a better handle on the labyrinthine complexity of aircraft wiring systems     

The generalized Gilbert-Varshamov bound is implied by Turan'stheorem [code construction]

The generalization of the Gilbert-Varshamov bound due to Gu and Fuja (1993) is a direct consequence of Turan's theorem on the existence of a clique in a graph with many edges. Turan's theorem allows a slight improvement of Gu and Fuja's result. This improved generalized Gilbert-Varshamov bound is in fact equivalent to Turan's theorem     

A foggy notion [solar photovoltaic power system]

When completed, the Bavarian Solarpark will count as one of the largest photovoltaic power plants in the world. With 57,600 solar panels covering a total of 25 hectares of farmland, the 10-megawatt peak station actually consists of three collector installations located within a 50 km radius. While the plant is expected to partially replace Germany's nuclear and fossil fuel power plants with homegrown solar PV plants, the losses due to transmission of central station solar power negate the benefits enjoyed by users of on-site solar generation. The ultimate goal, however, is to foster the growth of a global PV industry and to count on economies of scale to bring the price of PV down to levels that even developing countries can afford.     

Multidisplay system [automobile displays]

A specially-developed multidisplay system using a 6 inch color CRT, created through actual testing in experimental vehicles, was mass-produced for the Japanese market in January 1985. A year later, the multidisplay system was improved through an addition in the information displayed on the CRT and mounted in the 1986 Toyota Soarer. These improvements are described, and an outline of the multidisplay system and details regarding newly developed technology consequent to its development are also described     

Relationship between the saddlepoint approximation and the modifiedChernoff bound [optical communication]

A comparison is made of two methods for the computation of the probability that the sum of a Gaussian and a nonGaussian random variable exceeds a certain threshold value. The two methods, the saddlepoint approximation (SAP) and the modified Chernoff bound, are closely related to one another. For the computation of error probabilities in digital optical communications where both methods can be applied, the modified Chernoff bound is found to lie close above the saddlepoint approximation for all cases of practical interest. The ratio of signal-dependent to additive noise has been established as the parameter dominating the bound tightness. Since the SAP has been reported to be extremely precise, this result indicates that the more versatile upper bound can be used with confidence both for performance evaluation and for optimization of optical communication systems     

Magnetovision [magnetic field scanning system]

The experimental analysis of magnetic fields by scanning methods can effectively support and verify modern numerical methods. The scanning methods are especially suitable for testing the material structure and as a method for material evaluation. By applying the appropriate imaging techniques it is possible to reconstruct the magnetic field strength in an arbitrary plane. In the Magnetovision system, the specific area of a material is magnetized using a C-yoke. A line of miniature thin-film magnetoresistive sensors measures the magnetic field strength above the magnetized sample. Graphical results of the magnetic field strength scanned around steel samples are presented, showing that Magnetovision could be an effective system for nondestructive materials testing.     

Spinning reserve [energy storage system]

Combining a flywheel, a motor and a generator results in a novel energy storage system with some remarkable attributes. In this paper, the author describes how the application of modern materials and power electronics has given new life to one of humankind's oldest inventions     

A MOS cursive-character generator [for deflection system of CRT graphic display]

Cursive characters can be made to be more readable, more attractive, and better suited to the operation of graphic CRT terminals than the usual dot-matrix type; a system using cursive-type characters achieves much higher writing rate while requiring much less bandwidth than that using dot-matrix-type characters. An economical method of generating the x, y, and z analog signals for forming cursive characters with the deflection system of a CRT is presented. A circuit design embodying a complete 48-stroke character generator on a single MOS integrated circuit is described. The IC accepts 7-bit ASCII code and outputs x, y, and z analog signals to generate any one of 32 standard ASCII characters in 5 /spl mu/s. Additional groups of 32 characters can be added by merely paralleling additional chips. The entire 32 character digital and analog function has been implemented on a single self-contained 16-pin silicon-gate MOS chip 125/spl times/165 mil in size. Character encoding on the chip is accomplished in one mask at the diffusion step, and a straightforward mask-generation procedure has been developed.     

Standards by consensus [telecommunications]

The global process of voluntary standards development is necessary for the convergence of voice, data, image, and broadcast media. The author discusses the view from the computer industry. B-ISDN standards are considered in particular     

A kinder catheter [bioelectronics]

Three million people in the UK are affected by urinary incontinence. This article looks at whether modern systems engineering can improve their quality of life by improving catheter design.     

POWER-side [independent sideband system of AM stereo]

The independent sideband system of AM stereo can, by use of special audio processing, significantly improve mono reception. The resulting transmitted signal, called a `POWER-side' signal, allows listeners to `sideband tune' with new types of mono receivers so as to reduce co and adjacent channel interference, improve the effective fidelity of the AM receiver, and make the receiver's tuning significantly less critical. Furthermore, due to the inequality of low frequency sideband components, the system reduces selective fading, antenna null distortion and re-radiation problems when the POWER-side signal is received by both `sideband tuned' mono receivers as well as digitally tuned stereo and mono receivers which center tune to the carrier frequency. Most importantly, this type of wave substantially reduces co-channel `beating' effects that have, since the earliest days of broadcasting, plagued AM signal reception     

Diagnosis from within the system [built-in test]

There has been an increasing need for technologies to better monitor the condition of their complex products and systems from the design stage, through manufacturing, to their applications. Better condition monitoring enables better quality control, which is essential for economical, environmental, availability, and safety reasons. One way to achieve such a goal is using built-in-test (BIT), which incorporates test and diagnostic functionality into a component's structure at the design stage. A system with BIT is characterized by the ability to identify operational conditions by itself, through the built-in diagnostic capabilities. Such a design philosophy has been widely applied to the design and testing of complex, mixed-signal electronic systems, such as ICs and multifunction instrumentation. Various techniques have been developed over the past three decades to implement BIT in industry, especially in semiconductors, manufacturing processes, aerospace, and transportation (Bardell and Mcanney, 1988; Baker et al., 1990; Cox et al., 1999). This article looks at BIT implementation in the IC industry, manufacturing, and the automobile industry, along with the future prospects of this technique     

Keeping the lights on [power system reliability]

Of all the energy conversion processes in existence, the US electric power system is the largest and most complex. Unlike industries such as communications and transportation, where a demand in excess of supply produces a “busy signal” or temporary grid lock, the nature of the electric power system is one of instantaneously matching supply and demand. Failure to sustain this balancing act can result in partial or complete breakdown of the grid system. In this paper, the authors describe how maintaining reliable electricity grids in a deregulated power industry will become harder, as temptations to cut corners multiply