Development of a sequential robust–tolerance design model for a destructive quality characteristic

Robust design (RD) and tolerance design (TD) have received much attention from researchers and practitioners for more than two decades, and a number of methodologies for modeling and optimizing the RD and TD processes have been studied. However, there is ample room for improvement. Because most existing research considers RD and TD as separate research fields, the primary objective of this paper is to develop a sequential robust–tolerance design method to jointly determine the best factor settings and the closed-form solutions for the optimal specification limits. We then apply the proposed method to a destructive quality characteristic. Finally, a case study and sensitivity analyses are performed for verification purposes, and further studies are discussed.     

The election problem in asynchronous distributed systems with bounded faulty processes

Determining the “weakest” failure detectors is a central topic in solving many agreement problems such as Consensus, Non-Blocking Atomic Commit and Election in asynchronous distributed systems. So far, this has been studied extensively for several such fundamental problems. It is stated that Perfect Failure Detector P is the weakest failure detector to solve the Election problem with any number of faulty processes. In this paper, we introduce Modal failure detector M and show that to solve Election, M is the weakest failure detector to solve election when the number of faulty processes is less than ⌈n/2⌉. We also show that it is strictly weaker than P.

A new LDPC decoding algorithm aided by segmented cyclic redundancy checks for magnetic recording channels

We introduce a new low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoding algorithm that exploits the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) information of data segments. By using the error detection property of the CRC, we can successively decode data segments of a codeword corrupted by random errors and erasures. The key idea is that the messages from the variable nodes with correct checksum are fixed to deterministic log likelihood ratio values during LDPC iterative decoding. This approach improves the decoding speed and codeword error rate without significant modification of the LDPC decoding structure. Moreover, the CRC is also used for an early stopping criterion of LDPC decoding. Simulation results verify our claims.     

A novel integrated silicon capacitive microphone-floating electrode“electret” microphone (FEEM)

A novel principle “electret” microphone, i.e., floating electrode electret microphone, is proposed and implemented in this study. Single-chip fabrication and corrugation technique are used in the design and fabrication of the microphone. The floating electrode is encapsulated by highly insulated materials to ensure that there is no electric-leakage passage between the floating electrode and the electrodes of the microphone. Net-free electronic charges (not “bonded” charges as in traditional electret) in the floating electrode can excite the electric field, which is similar to that of the traditional electret. The floating electrode can be easily charged by use of the “hot” electron technique, available using the avalanche breakdown of the p⁺-n junction. Therefore, the electret microphone is rechargeable, which can greatly increase the lifetime of the device. The preamplifier has been on-chip integrated in a junction-field-effect transistor (JFET) source-follower type with resistors by use of ion implantation. Electret charges are banded in a deep potential trap, thus, this microphone can operate at a high temperature (as high as 300°C) and has high stability and reliability. Experiments show that the prototype has a 3-mV/Pa sensitivity and a larger than 21-kHz frequency bandwidth in a 1 mm ×1-mm diaphragm area. Microphone performance can be further improved by optimized process and design. The fabrication is completely integrated-circuit (IC) compatible, hence, the microphone shows promise in integrated acoustic systems     

Influence of calcination temperature on structural and optical properties of TiO2-SiO2 thin films prepared by sol-gel dip coating

We prepared TiO₂-SiO₂ thin films with various TiO₂/SiO₂ ratios by sol-gel dip coating method and explored the dependence of their structural and optical properties on calcination temperature. The absorption peaks relevant to Si—O, Si—O—Ti and Ti—O bonds appeared in the FTIR spectra. With increasing TiO₂ content, the intensity of Si—O bond peaks decreases and that of Ti—O bond peaks increases. The XRD results show that the temperature of transformation from amorphous to anatase phase is lowered as TiO₂ content increases. The crystallite size of anatase phase in composite thin films increases with increasing TiO₂ content and calcination temperature. At 1000°C, the mixed phase of anatase and rutile appears in the pure TiO₂ thin films. The rutile films are denser than the anatase films. The increase in refractive index of composite thin films with calcination temperature is related to the decreased thickness and increased density as a result of evaporation of water and organic matters below 400°C. On the other hand, it is related to the change in the crystal phase and crystallite size of the films over 400°C.     

Influences of the dynamic strain aging on the J–R fracture characteristics of the ferritic steels for reactor coolant piping system

The leak-before-break (LBB) design of the piping system for nuclear power plants has been based on the premise that the leakage due to the through-wall crack can be detected by using leak detection systems before a catastrophic break. The piping materials are required to have excellent J–R fracture characteristics. However, where ferritic steels for reactor coolant piping systems operate at the temperatures where dynamic strain aging (DSA) could occur, the fracture resistance could be reduced with the influence of DSA under dynamic loading. Therefore, in order to apply the LBB design concept to the piping system under seismic loading, both static and dynamic J–R characteristics must be evaluated.Materials used in this study are SA516 Gr.70 for the elbow pipe and SA508 Cl.1a for the main pipe and their welding joints. The crack extension during the dynamic and the static J–R tests was measured by the direct current potential drop (DCPD) and the compliance method, respectively. This paper describes the influences of the dynamic strain aging on the J–R fracture characteristics with the loading rate of the pipe materials and their welding joints.     

Dual-wavelength cascaded Raman fibre laser

Dual-wavelength lasing at 1480 and 1500 nm has been demonstrated from a cascaded Raman fibre laser with a WDM coupler and two pairs of Bragg gratings. Intensity-adjustable, wavelength-tunable laser operation was achieved by tensile stress wavelength tuning of the gratings     

A formation of cobalt silicide on silicon field emitter arrays byelectrical stress

A novel process utilizing electrical stress is proposed for the formation of Co silicide on single crystal silicon (c-Si) FEAs to improve the field emission characteristics. Co silicide FEAs formed by electrical stress (ES) exhibited a significant improvement in turn-on voltage and emission current compared with c-Si FEAs. The improvement mainly comes from the lower effective work function of Co silicide and less blunting of tips during silicidation by electrical stress in an ultra high vacuum (UHV) environment less than 10^-8 torr